Week 3 - Does a Coupon Book Count??

You can guess by my title that I did not get a book read this past week.  It is also Monday, and I am just posting.  That explains how busy my week was.  I did get the Valentine dress started for my daughter, though.  I still have the zipper to put in, any necessary adjusting, and the hem.  I also got a bunch of house cleaning done on Saturday and, of course, several basketball games and some work!  It's been a good week but a long one.  So, back to the coupon book.  That's it for me this past week (I'm not counting my Bible reading).  Maybe this week I'll get something more substantial in this brain of mine!  Happy reading, Everyone!

Baking Illustrated - Week 3

This week I read Baking Illustrated:  The Practical Kitchen Companion for the Home Baker.  It was not a quick read--at 500 pages.  It was, however, interesting because I love to bake.  I only had time to try one recipe, though.  We were so busy with basketball games, work, church, etc.  I made a double batch of the Hearty Country Bread.  I finished the two-day process, enjoyed the wonderful scent of fresh bread, and suddenly realized...I forgot the salt!!  Wow!  Do you know what bread tastes like without salt?  The last time I forgot the salt in my bread, we just threw it out.  Surprisingly, this was still edible (we made it into French toast).  The recipe basically is a sponge that rests about 24 hours in the refrigerator.  Then, you add the remaining ingredients and knead.  The kneading time is when you add the salt.  This is so different from a regular bread recipe, that I completely forgot it.  I hope to try it again plus a few more recipes before I have to take the book back to the library.  I'd love to have it in my kitchen libary.  Maybe soon we'll try the different coffee cakes, danishes, pretzels, and quick cinnamon buns.  The editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine have done a wonderful job.  I'll probably have to check it out again. 

The Digital Photography Book - Week 2

I pride myself in always reading the directions, right away, for new purchases.  This obviously was not the case several years ago when my husband gave me a brand new digital camera for Christmas.  I've been using the pre-set camera settings for years and have always wondered why I can't get good shots of the kids playing basketball in the gym!  Why can't I take those cool portraits with the blurry backgroud??  Lucky for me, I decided to buy my husband a new digital slr camera for Christmas this year.  He loves photography, and is a beast with his Canon AE-1 film camera.  He's just too selfless to buy himself a new one.  Having bought the camera, I promptly visited the library for instructions on how to use it (since I always read the directions, you know).  I checked out The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby.  Lo and behold!  I should be getting great shots with my lowly little Kodak!  I could be getting those clear shots of the kids at the gym, if I just learn how to use my camera.  Who knew?!  I am determined to make this year a better picture year for me.  Maybe soon I'll post some of the results of my work.

The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby is a fun easy book to read.  It has given me great information on how to use my camera and how to look for and take great shots.  I hope to buy it soon to add it to my library.  I would recommend it for anyone interested in photography.

I have no clue what I'll read for next week, but I'm looking forward to it with Great Expectations!  (No, I haven't finished that book yet...I just had to throw that in.)  Until then, Happy Reading!

The Weight of Glory - Week 1

It's 9 p.m. Saturday night, and I've finished my first book of the new year.  Early in the week success was doubtful.  On Sunday I dove into Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.  At Tuesday's basketball game, I realized I'd finished only 53 pages and had 404 to go.  Not being a night owl, I couldn't bring myself to read when we got home at 9:40 p.m.  It was off to bed.  Wednesday night was church and Thursday evening a dinner for work.  That's when I decided the only way to success was to choose a different book.  The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis seemed like a good choice (and it was on sale at the book store).  So, here I sit ready to tell you what I learned.  Not a whole lot to be truthful.  All the addresses included in the book make you think, hard--characteristic of all Lewis's writings.  But, I was a little disappointed with the book as a whole compared to some of his other works.  By far, the best address is the one bearing the title of the book in which he discusses what it means to be glorified.  "On Forgiveness" caused me to think deeply and ask myself a few questions about how I view forgiveness of sins and forgiving others.  If you're looking for something to make you think, by all means pick up a copy of The Weight of Glory and give your brain a workout.  As for next week's book maybe I'll pick up Great Expectations again, but I don't have the great expectation of finishing it.  We'll just have to wait and see...