Carol's Notebook – Page 203

American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic by Victoria Johnson

August 16, 2018August 15, 2018 by Carol5 Comments

I have to thank Katie at Doing Dewey and her Nonfiction Reading Challenge for encouraging me to read more non-fiction this year. This is the 9th non-fiction book I've read this year, which is the most since Amber was little and I'd read aloud to her. We used to read a lot of animal, science, and history books but, in general, I don't tend to pick them up on my own, so it's been nice to do a bit of learning with my reading lately. American Eden is the story of David Hosack (August 31, 1769 – December 22, 1835), a botanist and doctor in New York City in the late 18th - early 19th centuries. I admit, I was drawn to the book at first because he was the doctor at the duel between Hamilton and Burr. (I have not seen Hamilton the musical yet, but it's coming to Pittsburgh in January if anyone wants to buy me tickets.) Turns out he...

The Benefits of Eating Organic Foods

August 15, 2018 by Carol3 Comments

If you're like me, you're always trying to eat healthier - and failing more often than not. One thing to consider is putting organic foods in your diet. Organic foods are healthy, tasty, and easy to find in your local grocery store. Prices may be a little higher than non-organic foods, but the health benefits are well-worth the difference. Over the last decade, organic foods have become very popular because of their numerous health benefits. You can now find a variety of organic food items from fresh produce to organic crackers in most grocery stores. Whether you're making a simple green or fruit salad, a family dinner for the kids, or freshly baked deserts to calm your sweet tooth, you can cook and prepare food with healthy organic ingredients. When you see food labels that say “organic,” it refers to how products are grown and processed by manufacturers. In America, all organic crops like lettuce, tomatoes, corn, wheat, vegetables, and fruit must be...

A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell

August 13, 2018August 13, 2018 by Carol2 Comments

A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell shows up on several "best mysteries" lists, which is why I added it to my to-read list. I had read several of her Inspector Wexford series, but none of her stand-alone novels. And then it was my Classic Club Spin book for the month, which pushed it to the top of my stack. From the opening sentences, the book had my attention. "Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write. There was no real motive and no premeditation; no money was gained and no security." We know from the first chapter, which is only two pages long, who was killed, when they were killed, and who the murderers were. The rest of the book relates what led up to the crime and the aftermath. Eunice Parchman is illiterate, a fact that she is desperate to keep secret. The Coverdales are a decent enough family, intelligent, a little snobby, but overall well-meaning....

Mystery! edited by Chantelle Aimée Osman

August 7, 2018 by Carol2 Comments

The Origins Game Fair in Columbus is something we like to do every year, but this year we didn't make it due to my new job. I did have a friend who was nice enough to pick up this year's anthology - with the Mystery theme, I didn't want to miss is. He also got several of the writers to autograph it. Mystery!, like most anthologies, is a bit uneven. Some stories were excellent, some fine, and one didn't fit at all. There were 14 stories in all, but I'll only mention a few that struck me. "The Abomination of Fensmere" by Lucy A. Snyder was the first story in the collection, but it felt more horror with a Lovecraftian bent than mystery. I don't think it was the best way to start. Timothy Zahn's "(Ms.) Taken Identity" was good, both the mystery plot and the world he created where doppels are people who can look like anyone they want, until they're dead, then they...

The Pot Thief Who Studied Edward Abbey by J. Michael Orenduff

August 2, 2018 by Carol4 Comments

The Pot Thief Who Studied Edward Abbey is the second Pot Thief mystery that I've read. It's just a really good book. I read it during the readathon last weekend and I kept reading it past the end time to finish it. Hubie Schuze is fun, honest, and I would have enjoyed taking his pottery class. I didn't know who Edward Abbey was before I picked up the book. Edward Paul Abbey (January 29, 1927 – March 14, 1989) was an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. A couple of his best known works are a novel, The Monkey Wrench Gang, which has been cited as an inspiration by environmental groups, and the non-fiction work Desert Solitaire, both of which Hubie reads during the course of the book. He tends to think along similar lines as Abbey, it seems. One of Hubie's students is killed, not during his class,...

Readers’ Workouts – 7/31

July 31, 2018July 31, 2018 by Carol1 Comment

I really need to get out and walk more. The problem is the dog just doesn't want to walk lately. I don't know if it's the weather or the hills. On Wednesday, we went on a mile walk downtown, during a bike/walk event they had. He went the whole mile without complaining, but it was flat sidewalks, people around and all new smells. I tried taking him to a park yesterday, but apparently it just wasn't interesting enough. This Week's Activities: Tuesday: FitGirl Booty Wednesday: FitGirl Abs, Walk downtown Thursday: Elliptical Current Audiobook: I'm still listening to American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic by Victoria Johnson. This week's dinners: Tuesday: Sausage and peppers, mashed cauliflower Wednesday: Egg roll bowl Thursday: Taco salad Friday: Burgers and fries Saturday: Spaghetti Sunday: Chicken fried rice Monday: Hot dogs and baked beans Meal ideas for next week: Sausage, peppers and onions Sweet and sour chicken Shrimp stir fry Barbecue chicken 2018 Fitness Goals: - Lose weight. Goal - Lose 25 lbs. - Run 4 races of any length -...