On vacation!

by Carol6 Comments
Today we left for vacation. We're heading down to the Outer Banks, North Carolina for a week. We're staying at Carol's Castle on Hatteras Island. And look at the gorgeous view of the sound from the deck. So, when you don't see me around much this week, just know that I'm relaxing on the beach or sitting on the deck....
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Comments: Hamlet by William Shakespeare

by Carol7 Comments
I listened to Shakespeare's Hamlet performed by Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I'll grant you, it's not the same as seeing the actual play, but it's closer than just reading it would be, though I do wish I had had a print copy to refer to at times. Most of us know the basic plot line. Hamlet's father, the King of Denmark is dead. His uncle, Claudius, has taken the thrown, and the queen, and to top it off, the ghost of Hamlet's father claims that Claudius killed him. Hamlet swears to the ghost to avenge his death and suggests that he will act crazy to divert suspicion. We've also got Ophelia, who he was courting but now has more or less turned his back on. She may or may not be pregnant. So, Hamlet's going crazy or at least pretending to, and also wanting to make sure that Claudius is guilty before killing him. He ends up accidentally killing Ophelia's dad and she...
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Teaser from Breaking Up with God

by Carol9 Comments
I don't go to church, but I do go to the covered stalls of the farmers' market on Saturday mornings—wildflower honey, olive oil, butter lettuce, collard greens, arugula, Swiss chard, beets, snap peas, artichokes, fava beans, haricots verts, strawberries, peaches, oranges, orchids, ranunculus, butternut squash, avocados, heirloom tomatoes, lemons, lavender, basil, thyme—a place in which I can believe. I buy eggs from Varden, a farmer from Nipomo who wears overalls and shows me pictures of hens—my girls, he calls them—and they are not in cages. He talks about his girlfriend, lends me books about soil, makes compost tea, and asks, every week, What's for show and tell? (Tuesday Teaser from pg. 212 (ARC) of Breaking Up with God: A Love Story by Sarah Sentilles)...
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Review: “The Hoosegow Strangler” by Camille LaGuire

by Carol13 Comments
Right now, my problem is that I'm in the middle of Empire Falls by Richard Russo, a great book, but a slow read for me for some reason. Anyway, one day I forgot it, but had my Kindle with me  and had picked up Have Gun, Will Play by Camille LaGuire, so I started it, and I'm really getting a kick out of it, but want to finish Empire Falls first. The point is, the LaGuire book is about a couple of gun-slingers in the Old West, Mick and his young wife, Casey, great characters, so when I found "The Hoosegow Strangler" the first story featuring the couple, I had to read it. At heart, it's a locked room mystery. Mick and Casey had been hired to guard a witness, Albert Wilkins, who ends up dead. The only way into the room is through a locked door and the hallway and stairs are being guarded by Mick and Casey. They don't...
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Eating out: Scaffidi’s

by Carol11 Comments
The other day we ate at Scaffidi's, a local Italian restaurant. It's actually one of Amber's favorite spots; in her opinion, they have the best gnocchi anywhere. It's a cute little place, only 8 tables, but they do offer carryout. The menu is not overly extensive, but the pasta's homemade and everything I have had has been delicious. Just a note, though, as far as I know they don't serve beer or wine, which is a little unusual. We were actually lucky to get seated as soon as we walked in. I guess they're moving later this year, to the old Lenore's building for any of you who are local, so hopefully they'll have more space then. They serve bread and butter, and David had a really nice, fresh salad, but I'm going to skip straight to our entrees, since that's the part I consider most important. Amber had the gnocchi of course, but she just gets it plain, only butter, not...
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