Friday, August 12, 2022

Food, books, lazy days and Instagram

Random happenings from my neck of the woods...... 

FYI - I deleted my Instagram account.  I wanted to let those who followed me there know that I didn't dump you, I dumped Instagram. Years back when I started an account I didn't realize it was a product of facebook.  Call me naive. The latest shenanigans of FB sharing private messages between a mother and daughter regarding abortion was the last straw. Read about this violation of privacy HERE or any number of news outlets. 

Out the front door / Mushrooms, flowers and basil.



I have several basil plants and it's great to step out the door and pinch off what I need.  The aroma is wonderful.



Kitchen / a repeat we have every few months is Chicken Fajita Pasta .


Other meals this week have been Shepherd's Pie Stew (I don't care if it's unbelievably hot here) and Spaghettini with bacon and mushrooms (recipe upcoming).

Books /  Last week I mentioned how excited I was about the upcoming Galbraith and Harper books.  Well, I signed up for the Kate Morton newsletters and just read she is finished with her latest book called Homecoming!!  It will be published April 2023 in North America, Canada, U.K, Australia and New Zealand.  She is deep in edit mode but next April is the publication date. Yea!


Last book read was I, Mona Lisa by Natasha Solomons. Today I started Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Hoping to get out of my reading slump.

Dog humor



Sharing with Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon and Marg at The Intrepid Reader for Weekend Cooking.





35 comments:

  1. I rarely use Instagram anymore, but I still may delete my account. The stuff going on today is crazy!

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    1. Vicki, it was the last straw for me. Wish I'd never started an account to be honest.

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  2. I have an Instagram account but almost never look at it. The only reason I keep it is as a contact for some people. I don't care if it is too hot, I make shepherd's pie in the summer too. I love my basil and rosemary on the balcony too.

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    1. Jackie, I did like some of the photos but it's not a social media where peopel "talk" much. Guess I'll stick with Twitter. Fresh herbs are always a treat and I'm glad you can grow them on your balcony.

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  3. I hope you enjoy the Lessons in Chemistry novel -- I just finished it and liked it quite a bit. I have read one of Kate Morton's books The Forgotten Garden which I liked too long ago. Thanks for the news on her new one coming up. I think it's admirable you canceled your Instagram account. I'm not on it too much.

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    1. CueCard - I am loving the Lessons in Chemistry book. Reminds me a bit of the show Mad Men the way Elizabeth is perceived. All of Morton's books are so good - and so fat!

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  4. Your plants are beautiful! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who cooks foods meant for cooler weather even when its hot out. Dog humor is hilarious 🙂. Hope you have a great weekend!

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    1. Gretchen, I figure most dinners are served hot anyway so occasionally we have a "heavier" meal. Thanks for visiting!

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  5. Like the others here, I have IG but rarely look at it....just too many platforms to keep up w/ all of them. However, I'll keep it open because for now that's where my adult boys post and I want to see what they're up to :) I'm impressed that you cook anything at any time! Neither my hubby nor I are much of a cook so we eat whatever we can throw together in 10 minutes.....so microwave. :) Have a great week!
    Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
    https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/sunday-post-11

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    1. Terrie, my son is also on Instagram but he sends me texts so, I will keep up that way with photos. But I do get what you mean. As for cooking, I like to use the kitchen and try different things but I also appreciate a quick dinner!

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  6. I'm so glad to see Kate Morton is coming out with another book! It's been far too long since I've read one of hers and I think there are two I haven't read yet. We started doing Hello Fresh every other week because I was completely burned out on coming up with meal ideas. Love the dog joke!

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    1. Katherine, I was super excited about the Morton book. She writes some fat novels but only publishes about every 5 years or so. I probably won't live long enough for anything after this one!

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  7. That cartoon made me laugh. Thanks.

    Instagram wasn't always part of Facebook, but they bought it years ago. I couldn't tell you how long ago at this point.

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    1. Mark, I didn't know that about Instagram. Still, I don't regret ditching it.

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  8. Yay! A new Kate Morton book!

    I also like Shepherd's Pie at any time.

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    1. Marg, I'm not usually a seasonal and could dig into lasagna in the hottest weather.

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  9. My son and daughter-in-law who work in media tell me that nothing is private anymore. My dad has deleted his FB account several times, but he ends up going back to it because it's a great way to keep in touch with faraway friends and relatives. I don't know what to do.

    I hope Lessons in Chemistry pulls you out of your reading slump. I hate it when that happens to me.

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    1. Deb, I agree that privacy is an issue with the social media but I knew that - to some degree. I'm happy to have ditched IG.
      And yes, this book definitely has me out of my reading slump! I can't stop reading it. Some scenarios remind me of the show Mad Men. Grrrrr

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  10. Here's to getting out of a reading slump! I counted on my air fryer and grill for dinners this past week.

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    1. BFR - that's a great idea. Keep your kitchen cool.

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  11. I just pinned your Chicken Fajita Pasta recipe, I'm going to try it this week.

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    1. Diane, I hope you like it. It's a good recipe.

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  12. I'm pretty much addicted to TikTok these days so could PROBABLY delete my FB and Insta.

    I bookmarked the Chicken Fajita Pasta recipe. Looks and sounds delicious. I was excited to click on the Shepherd's Pie Stew but, unfortunately, I am not a fan of gnocchi. It's a texture thing. lol

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    1. Jinjer, I have thus far avoided TilTok! You'll love the fajita pasta recipe. You could adapt the sherpherd's Pie stew by using real potatoes!

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  13. The photos look great. It is always good to grow fresh things. I want to read Lessons in Chemistry.

    Have a great weekend!

    Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
    My post:
    https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/08/14/sunday-salon-16/

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    1. Emily, I just finihed the book, couldn't put it down. Excellent writing.

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  14. How is Lessons in Chemistry? I have it in my TBR pile and am wondering how it would be for CTB.

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  15. I never got into Instagram. I have an account there but never use it. I probably should delete it. Lessons in Chemistry looks good. I hope you have a great week!

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    1. Yvonne, you aren't missing mch from IG, but that is just my opinion. The book was great, the writing style had me straight away.

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  16. Don't get me started on FB and IG, I usually don't use the brakes. Both are too big for their own good AND ours! The pasta looks great, now off to see the Shepard's Pie Stew...have a great week ahead, take care.

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    1. Melynda, thanks and I hope you enjoy the recipes.

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  17. So gross. I hear ya. I've been wanting to do it for awhile now. I just rarely ever post on either FB or instagram. Good for you, though.
    Beautiful garden pics and that fajita pasta looks yummy!

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    1. Heather, it was the last straw. I hesitated because my son and his girlfriend post there. There are some people I will miss but the only social media we shared was IG. Had to go with my heart.

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  18. Yum! That chicken fajita pasta looks great. After being on the road for 3 weeks, I'm running out of inspiration for meals. We'll be home for 3 weeks then heading out for a month. I need to cook a bunch of meals to freeze to take along. Stews, soups, etc. are always my go-to, but this pasta is one I want to try.

    Did you hear that Lessons in Chemistry is going to be a series for streaming next year? Should be good!

    Hope you have a good week!

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    1. Les, I can't imagine being on the road that long! No, I had not heard the book would be a series. I wonder who they will get to play Elizabeth. I'd watch it if we could stream!!

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