More Bookish Thoughts...

Part cookbook, part reference compendium, The Flavor Thesaurus provides a fun and unique guide to flavour pairings.  Niki Segnit, a food and beverage marketer from London, has chosen 99 common ingredients and categorized them into 16 families.  The "Earthy" category includes mushroom and cumin; the "Woodland" group features carrot and hazelnut; the "Creamy Fruity" highlights are mango and coconut.

The book dedicates a few pages to each flavour, detailing what pairs well with it and why (some pairings even include a recipe).  The dyads range from the classic (tomato & basil, chocolate & peanut) to the obscure (watermelon & pork, banana & caviar), leaving little doubt that the author did exhaustive research to assemble such a comprehensive volume.  The writing is witty and engaging to boot, making for an enjoyable lesson in cooking, culture and culinary science.     

Lovin' My Toys

Eliot enjoys playing more everyday!  He currently adores his inch worm, which Auntie Marna's friend Wendy gave him.  It's big enough to sit across his lap for easy grabbing, its head rattles, and, of course, it has lots of soft bits that fit perfectly in his little mouth.  Who could ask for more?

Fun in the booster chair

Huge smile!

Exhausted after playing

The Youngest Lindenite

Jean has started bringing Eliot to Linden rehearsals; we figure it's never too early to begin musical training!  

Sleeping through Russian opera

Saturday morning rehearsal

Piano lessons with Jane

More Bookish Thoughts...

Ken Follett's newest tome opens with a five-and-a-half page list of characters followed by just under a thousand pages of text. An epic? Absolutely. Daunting? Definitely.  But, like Follett's other works, Fall of Giants reads so smoothly and captivates the reader so intensely that its 20-year span flies by.


The novel, which is book one of "The Century Trilogy," tells the stories of five intertwined families against the backdrop of World War One.  In Wales, coal miners demand better working conditions and women fight for the right to vote.  Members of the British aristocracy struggle to simultaneously maintain integrity and popularity. Germany roller coasters between portraying intimidating confidence and suffering ultimate defeat.  Russian citizens overthrow their monarchy and move towards a Communist dictatorship. America assumes its role as mediator and spearheads The League of Nations.


Each of the characters experiences The Great War from a unique perspective; this complex multi-vocality combined with Follett's astonishingly deep understanding of history make the book gripping, educational and immensely enjoyable.  I eagerly await the second installment! 

Homecoming

After ten days of holding down the fort, I happily welcomed Jean and Eliot home from Whitehorse yesterday.  They had a great time relaxing at the cabin, cooking meals and visiting with family and friends ;)

I certainly notice changes in Eliot even after his short time away: he's even more alert, he holds on to toys and he attentively listens to stories.  Such fun!

Playing with the O-Ball

In the Cabin with Nana

Cabin Sunset

Keeping warm

Back Home

Tales From The Frozen North

Despite one cancelled flight, two delayed suitcases and -30 degree weather, I was glad to get up to Whitehorse for a couple days after Christmas.  We did step outside for some adventurous walks and even made it downtown one afternoon but we mostly relaxed in Fred and Mary Lou's warm, comfortable home.

After our morning walk

Warming up in the bath

Bundled up with the Babe

Happy New Year!

According to astrologer Georgia Nicols, the new year begins "with fabulous celestial energy!" Lucky Jupiter is aligned with unpredictable Uranus, which means that many will experience unexpected good fortune. It could take the form of money, opportunity or even an emotional high; regardless, such fortune provides "hope for the future and the strength to go on living in this busy, demanding, crazy world." I wish everyone joy and success in 2011!