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Scared Spaces written by Carley Summers

It is possible to get lost in an Interior Design book, especially when the highlighted stories are just as alluring as the gorgeous photographs.  I devoured Carley Sommer’s new design book last weekend and found myself lost in her world.

It’s not a revelation that our homes reflect who we are and that a home should be our refuge after a long day of work.  Nothing new here, but what Carley does is interlace a story with the pictures and the people behind the pictures have stories, real, raw stories. Stories of heartache, intrigue, passion, hopelessness and hopefulness. I was so captivated that I read the entire book, each word and spent hours looking at each picture.

After spending time with the book, I realized I was getting so much out the stories, I started following some of the people she interviewed on Instagram like Courtney Madden #Cocollected– her pictures are beautiful. And Elle Patille # leydi_milagros_ offers a unique perspective on home interiors.  I never would have found these two women to follow if I hadn’t picked up Carley’s design book, so glad I did and so glad I loved all of it! 🙂

The book is available at your Public Library!

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The Librarianist

Author: Patrick DeWitt

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 352

Setting:

Tone/Mood:

Subject headings:

Bob Comet, a retired librarian, is 71 and has lived an unremarkable life in Portland, Oregon, in a house that belonged to his late mother. Bob has no friends, his phone does not ring, and he has no family left. Upon one of his daily walks, he comes upon an elderly woman who appears confused.  He helps her get back to her senior living center and while there, he becomes intrigued with the residents and decides that he should donate his time at the center to feel more productive and to fill the emptiness in his life. As we get to know Bob, he reveals that he was once married and had a best friend. The year was 1959, the same year Bob becomes a librarian. AS we listen to Bob tell his story we find out that the women he helped get back to the Senior Center is his divorced wife.  

This novel has worth and provides keen insight into the narrator’s life.  Although the story moves slowly, and my interest was not peaked. I would only suggest this title if the Book Club is looking for a good example of a character study.  

This book is available in your Public Library!

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Montreal and Beyond

It’s been a while (2019) since we’ve been to the Montreal area of Canada. But we made it during the early part of September 2023. In addition to Montreal our adventures took us to Three Rivers (halfway between Montreal and Quebec City, Kingston, and Ganonoque (gateway to the 1000 Islands). We biked about 130 miles during our time in Canada, with a lot of running and walking too. Overall, a very active trip with the Montreal portion being very hot (near 90 and humid most days).

Map showing the Trans-Canadian Bicycle routes. We rode Route 5 in Montreal, Dorval, Lachine, Three Rivers, Kingston, and Ganonoque
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The House of Eve

Author: Sadequ Johnson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 369

Setting: Philadelphia, 1948

Tone/Mood: thought-provoking, dark, heart-breaking

Subject headings: motherhood, single mothers, adoption, racism, social classes, African American

In Philadelphia, we first meet Ruby as she is trying desperately to get to Saturday school- she needs bus fair and has only a few minutes to find it, or else risk being late for school and losing out on a 4-year full- ride scholarship.  Ruby has been selected to participate in a program for gifted students and she has been warned numerous times about her tardiness.  The opening chapters reveal the hardship Rudy (15-year-old) suffers as a child of a single mother shacking up with a string of ruthless men. 

In Washington DC, Elenore is preparing for her College sophomore year at Howard University while working in a library as an archivist apprentice. One day in the library, she meets the man of her dreams, although as she gets to know him and falls in love, she realizes she will never fit into his family picture.

Both Rudy and Elenore share experiences of Racism and Sexism, different cites, different ages and yet their paths cross in a remarkable way. Told in authentic voices while each chapter alternates between both characters. Both characters find love and heartbreak while enduring racism in the 1950’s. 

Very good storytelling with a painful story to be told, one I would recommend for book clubs.  

Available in your public library!

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Instagram Lemon Bars

You have probably seen these lemon bars all over the net, that is why I decided to make them and take them to my neighborhood gathering last week.  They were as easy as everyone says, and they were absolutely delicious!! Only two ingredients and yet they tasted like I spent hours in the kitchen preparing them. 🙂

Here is the recipe I chose to use.

https://retropotluck.com/2-ingredient-lemon-bars/

Give them a try , you will not be disappointed!

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A mid-summer jaunt to Manistee

DaK decided to take a few days to explore the northern west coast of Michigan’s lower peninsula (including Ludington, Manistee, Frankfort, and Cadillac.) We haven’t spent much time in most of these towns, so off we went. We based our trip in Manistee in a brand new (opened the week we arrived) Hampton Inn right on Lake Michigan. 

Manistee is an old, small town that is hanging in there with a cute main street and river walk, but not a lot to do other than enjoy the beautiful beach on Lake Michigan. So, we split up our time spending one full day each in Manistee, Frankfort, Cadillac and Ludington. Each offered different advantages. Along the way we visited at least one brewery in each town as well as biking in Frankfort and Cadillac. Surprisingly, there was also a nearby concert every day of the week including a Gordon Lightfoot cover band in Onekoma (20 minutes north of Manistee) and a jazz band from Detroit that performed right on the grounds of our hotel.

We started and ended our trip by discovering a phenomenal new brewery in Manistee on the east end of Main Street. Third Life Brewing Company opened less than a year ago and serves fantastic beer (bring in your own food). We met the brewer who was very friendly, knowledgeable and dedicates his beers to local customers. Summers on the Beach (12.25% abv) was one of the best Imperial Stouts I’ve ever had! Karen experimented with mixing two of their beers (a Belgian peach and a blueberry wheat) and really enjoyed it too!)

View from our balcony at the Hampton Inn
Our room
Sunset from our balcony
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