The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Society - Book Review

This is the most charming book I have read in a long time. Masterpiece Theatre had a mini-series a few years ago about the German take over of the Guernsey Islands off the coast of Britain. It was a tragic and difficult event in so many ways. The author Mary Ann Schafer has taken a very serious topic and crafted a story with fun human elements that help people get through difficult times together. All but a few diary entries at the end are written as letters, which I thought might be tedious, but they make the story unique and charming. The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for me but it turns out that the author died before the book was completed and her young niece finished the story. Costco has this for about $8

The following description comes from Goodreads which is a great place to go for book reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb.

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society--born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island--boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

GRANDSONS LUKE AND MICHAEL COME TO VISIT

MUSINGS ON DIETING - WITH MY HUSBAND

This photo was taken when we were both down about 10 lbs.

Mike and I came home from a road trip after Memorial Day weekend and went on a diet – both of us. I don’t think we have ever dieted at the same time before. In the past I would go on a diet and he would lose weight. Mike’s dieting experience is that he loses 10 lbs. in two weeks and quits gaining it all back within the next month. But this time we were both successful—doing it together may have helped. 10 weeks later I have lost 21 lbs. and Mike has lost 16. And no, no one has asked me if I have lost weight but they have him. Do I sound a little jaded here? Well, maybe I am. Dieting with a man makes you realize how unfair the eating situation is between men and women.

Dieting is 95% will and determination. My clothes were getting tight and trying on "my size" was not working so I was in the determined mode. Mike was looking at a larger size pant so he was there also. In the first 2 weeks Mike lost 10 lbs. and I lost 3. We were not on the same diet but that wasn’t really the problem. Women have to starve to lose weight. Mike’s diet consisted of a protein drink for breakfast and lunch, except on T, Thurs., and Sat. when I made him a salad at home, and a "sensible dinner, " which included a couple of pieces of corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and gravy and such. But he also ate watermelon, Creamies ice cream bars and other cheats, which I shall disclose later.

My diet routine was protein for breakfast and lunch and a "very sensible dinner", no sugar in any form. I mostly ate 1/3 C. cottage cheese and a few walnuts for breakfast and a small salad with chicken or shrimp for lunch and half what my usual dinner would have been. Instead of two tacos I ate one, or a small serving of whatever. I also fasted one day a week. This worked for the first 8 lbs. but then I went several days without losing and so for the next month I eliminated carbs. It started to feel like I was in a contest with my body. I was determined to show it that I would win. Although I lost 20 lbs. in 10 weeks this was not a 2 lbs. a week loss. Bodies are very illogical in the way it responds to dieting. You can starve for 4 days and lose nothing and then lose 4 lbs. the next 3 days. Or you can gain a pound when you starved all day and went to bed hungry. None of it made much sense.

When I was down 16 lbs. I went on a 4 day cruise with Maren. We tried to be careful and even worked out on the ship but there were those molten chocolate cakes at dinner and tempting food everywhere all day. I mostly resisted but came home up 4 lbs. I was able to get it off in a week—of starving. Now I would feel bad if Mike was home dieting but he was eating out at his favorite burger and fry joints while I was gone.

The worst part about dieting is going somewhere for dinner, like to one of our favorites, Market Street Broiler, with friends. I was good and had a salad. Mike ate clam chowder (40 fat grams worth) and the early bird halibut special with lots of French bread and ice cream at the end. I ate no bread. Then there was the family home evening where he ate 2 ice cream sundies for dessert. I had salad. And can I forget the box of Hostess cupcakes that I got for Michael. He ate one and Mike finished off the box to the tune of 3 before that evening was over. I could write another page about his cheats but you get the picture. Now tell me, is this fair?

Because of Mike’s hip replacement he was unable to exercise much during our dieting. I walked for an hour in the hills 3 days a week and biked 10 miles the other two. The exercise didn’t seem to make much difference in what I could eat.

On Friday night we celebrated our weight loss at Roosters. We had their wonderful bread pudding for dessert. The next day I was up 1 ½ lbs., not Mike. Will I ever eat again? It is no wonder we give up and decide that maybe it is not worth it. I wasn’t really that fat in the first place. But I am determined and hopefully I can stay that way. Mike seems determined too. He is even talking about losing another 5 lbs., but when you can eat like he can, why not.

Here is one last little diet secret that I picked up from Maren: if you are in a diet slump eat nothing but 5 apples in one day—every 2 hours from 10AM to 6PM. You can lose 2 lbs. in a day. It worked for me. Dieting is pure misery when you are a woman but it is also a conquering challenge—Women, charge on because in the end I lost the most.

CURRIED ZUCCHINI SOUP

I know it is summer and not necessarily soup season but when the fresh zucchini comes on I can't resist making this soup. It is hard to get good zucchini in the winter. It aways tastes bitter to me.

Chop ½ large or one small onion with 2 sliced garlic cloves and 2 T light oil butter in a dutch oven size pan. Stir until the onion and garlic are brown and caramelized. Add 1 rib if sliced celery and 5 cups of water. Simmer for 10 minutes and then add 1½ lbs of zucchini cut into cubes. (This is about 3 medium- 7-8 inches long and 2 inches wide) Small crook neck would be good too. Peel and cube one medium potato or one red potato with the skins on if you like. Then add 4-5 broccoli flowerettes or a little chopped cabbage (cabbage is good). The broccoli is optional but the restaurant I had this in said they added a little so I did and liked it. Frozen is fine. Simmer for 20 minutes until everything is soft. Blend—hopefully you have a hand blender, which is worth the $10 at Walmart. If not pour into the regular blender in batches as it fits. Add curry, salt and pepper to taste, I think people don’t like curry because recipes call for too much. Start with ½ tsp. and build up to the desired taste. I like Golden Curry paste in the oriental section of the grocer. I like 1 cube in this. Then add ½ C. whipping cream or 1 C. half and half.

MIKE'S STAINED GLASS

We planned from the inception of our Fruit Heights house that Mike would make a stained glass for our bathroom. He made two others for the house. One for my studio door and one for an entry transom that ended up too big and got moved to the basement family room.

We finally came up with an idea last fall. Mike is a project man. Once he gets started you know he will work consistently until his idea is a reality. He spent many hours last winter in the garage with his workshop heater on and then again this summer in the heat. He is a careful craftsman, always meticulous and concise. Stained glass has many precise steps from mapping the design, cutting and grinding the glass, making sure they fit together exactly, foiling the edge of each piece with copper, soldering the pieces together and adding the solder patina. (I get credit for the color choices) These are the biggest design he has ever done. The identical pieces are about 2’X4’ each and are framed together like a shutter on hinges so we can open them and clean the bathroom window behind. The afternoon sun shoots a colorful light show all over the bathroom as it shines through the many colors. Every time of day gives a different aura of color and glow. Our neighbors next door are lucky to see it from their dining room at night. (instead of us streaking by) I couldn’t be more pleased and Mike should be proud of his work. We will enjoy this beautiful piece of art for many years to come.

HOW TO STAY NORMAL IN A TECHIE WORLD

I think there is a rare person now days who does not spend too much time on media in its various forms. We humans are very addictive and then some have computer jobs and that compounds the problem. My husband brought this article home from work recently. I think the ideas to help us unhook are good. (Taken from "Crosstalk" July-August, Journal of Defense Software Engineering)

1. Turn off the computer, leave your cell phone and iPod at home. Invite family or friends on a walk. Talk about anything but talk the whole walk. If you are not talking, stop walking. When you start talking you can walk.

2. Read a book. Not a technical manual, not a comic book...and you can’t use your Kindle. Preferably classic literature (but not from iPhone’s "Classics" app). Don’t race to the end; instead, savor the story.

3. Take in a live concert, musical, play, or comedy.

4. Learn the basics of human communication—transmission, reception, as well as verification and validation—without the use of technology.

5. (For business) Add someone to your design team who knows absolutely nothing about technology or can recount the salient points of "les Miserables" in one minute.

The very technologies designed to bring us together are keeping us apart. They promote isolation instead of collaboration...In designing our brave new world—where everything is a click away—remember to ask yourself if that’s a good thing..."O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world! That has such people in’t!" (Shakespeare, William, The Tempest. Act V, Scene I)

ENJOY THE PEOPLE MORE!
　
　

CRUISING WITH MAREN

Maren was going on a Mexican Riveria Cruise with her friends in May that got canceled because of the swine flue. The cruise line would only give her a credit and the girls couldn’t come up with a date to go together so Maren took me on a shorter version last week.

We went to Catalina Island for a day, where we snorkeled—not the best place for fish but it was fun anyway. The island is quaint and charming. I would go there again.

Then we sailed to Ensenada Mexico for a day. I have been there before but never to shop like Maren and I did. She bought trinkets. I mostly checked prices on Retin-A at all the farmacias—Mexico is a gold mine for Retin-A. No prescription is needed and it is less than a third of the US price. The Retin A was for friends. I stocked up last time I was there.

The third day I think the ship mostly floated around in circles. The food was good and there is lots of it everywhere all day. We tried to be good and eat reasonably. We even worked out in the gym. The evening meal is a very nice sit down, order off the menu, dinner. We had some very enjoyable table-mates every evening. The yummiest thing all week was the Warm Chocolate Cake baked in ramekins with a soft fudgy bottom. I ate one every night after dinner. I got on line for the recipe when I returned. I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe you would like to try it first. (Can you see the butter in this? 35 grams of fat! No wonder I liked it.)

CARNIVAL CRUISE CHOCOLATE MELTING CAKE
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
7 eggs, divided use
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter; cool 10 minutes.
In separate bowl, mix 4 eggs with sugar. Whisk. Add flour and whisk. Add remaining 3 eggs. Add egg mixture to chocolate mixture. Pour in individual baking cups or ramekins.
Bake until just done, about 15-20 minutes (interior will be melting, not set).
Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Makes 8 servings. Approximate nutritional values per serving: 460 calories (64.7 percent calories from fat), 8 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate, 27 g sugar, 2 g dietary fiber, 35 g fat, 250 mg cholesterol, 60 mg sodium.
Source: Carnival Cruises/bb.affordabletours.com

What did we mostly do? -- Sit on the adult deck in a lounge chair and read novels. It was a very relaxing vacation. Maren was the mom on this trip and I was her little girl. She took good care of me. I enjoyed these 4 days with her very much. This was our first cruise. We will do it again.

　

CONDUCTING

Written as a word of the day writing adventure - CONDUCTING

There are times in the car or at home when I am listening to my favorite music that I am transported in my mind to a stand where I am conducting an orchestra or choir with great gusto. Every part of my being feels the beat pattern and time. I can pick it up in perfect sequence in any part of the music. It feels as natural as the beats of my heart. Sometimes in church when we sing I can’t stop myself from beating little patterns under the hymnbook. I get very weary when songs drag because I have a strong sense of meter. But I am not a musician. I know a little music but very little. I learned all I know about conducting from Brother Belnap in the Wellington Church and in my teen years I had lots of practice conducting music.

Wellington is a dusty little town, close to Price, on the edge of the dessert. During my sojourn in the town there were a few farmers but most men worked in the coal mine, including my dad. There was an old school with three wings, 1-3, 4-6 and 7-9. Moving within these wings was like advancing to another cosmos. Wellington school had no kindergarten and since my birthday is in November, I was almost 7 when I started first grade.

On Tuesdays instead of waiting the usual hour for the bus after school I would tag along with the little girls my age, two blocks, to the church for Primary. My mother was not active so this was my first experience with the gospel. Today when we sing "The Light Divine," in meetings, I am wafted away to those long wooden benches in the old church. The afternoon light is soft, coming through the tall windows. I feel the spirit come into my young soul and it whispers, "God is here, for you." After Primary someone, who lived out of town like I did, would load me and my brothers into their car and drop me home. It was my favorite day. I loved Primary.

My mother began to attend church when I was 11 because some lovely women knew my mother had a special soprano voice and they invited her to sing in programs and church. It was a sweet time for us then. My mother quit smoking and was called to be in the Primary so she was there in the chapel with the soft light, after school. She always looked nice in one of her few home made shirt-dresses. Her hair was naturally curly with soft brown waves around her face. I liked it that she wore mascara and lipstick on Primary day. She conducted the music. I could hear her strong voice with its angelic tones above the children. It was good to have her with me at this time of spiritual awakening for both of us.

My mother had a strong clear soprano voice. She could have sung professional opera. I wanted to sing like my mother but it wasn’t to be. God had other plans for me. I tried. Once my mother and I sang "Teach Me to Walk in the Light of His Love," at a program. There are 3 verses, one for the child, one for the parent and one together. I sang my part, but I never had her gift. My brothers all had better voices than I did. I resented it a little. It seemed to me that my mother’s only daughter should get her talent. My mother sang with a group of ladies and occasionally I went with her to their practice sessions. They sang the "Bridge Builder" often and I learned every verse with them. I still know all the words.

THE BRIDGE BUILDER
An old man going a lone highway.
Came at even' tide cold and gray.
To a cavern vast and wide and steep.
With waters rolling cold and deep.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim.
The swollen stream held no fear for him.
But he turned when safe on the other side.
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Good friend", said a fellow pilgrimed near.
"You are wasting your strength with building here.
Your journey will end at the close of day.
You never again shall pass this way.
You've crossed the ravine deep and dark and wide,
Why, why build this bridge at even' tide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head,
"Good friend, in the path I have come", he said.
"There followeth after me this day,
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
The chasm that was naught to me.
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He too must cross in the twilight dim.
Good friend I'm building this bridge for him.

"

Now when I think of this song I know why I loved the words. I understood that bridges were being built for me.

When I was about 13 I was called to conduct the music in Jr. Sunday School. I don’t even know if I knew what I was doing until Brother Belnap came to town and I don’t know how old I was when he was sent by the church to rural Utah Wards to teach, anyone who wanted to learn, how to lead music. (I think he also taught piano players how to play the organ as accompaniment.) We met for several weeks and he drilled us on conducting skills over and over until we all could do it perfectly. Brother Belnap was young and handsome and I am sure I had a crush on him or I wouldn’t remember his name today.

I led music for years in Jr. Sunday school, Jr. Primary and Mutual. When my grandpa retired and moved to Wellington (this was his first church activity) he worked with the scouts. I liked seeing his beaming face in the MIA crowd. He often expressed his joy at my ability to conduct music.

I attended CEU junior college in Price, and lived at home, for two years. After that conducting experiences all came to a halt when I went to Utah State to finish my last two years of college. Now, 40 years later I volunteered in my new ward to lead in Relief Society once and now I fill in on occasion when needed. I don’t think I ever conducted music in my 29 years living in Somerset. There always seemed to be plenty of musical talent in the Ward. The opportunity to conduct in Wellington at such a young age blessed my life. Knowing how to conduct makes listening to music more interesting to me. There are times when I see me in my next life as the guest conductor of a heavenly choir, just like I have practiced in my kitchen, where my mother will sing the solo part. I can hear her belt out one of her famous high notes, right now.　
　

BOOK REVIEW - THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE

I was excited to read this book because the subject matter is very interesting to me. Jan and Antonia Zabinski were owners of the Warsaw Zoo during the German occupation of WWII. The Germans took many of the animals and shipped them to Germany, killed and let many of them go. Jan Zabinski was part of the Polish resistance. This couple hid Jews in the Zoo and their home throughout the war risking their lives, finances and personal comforts to do so. This is more of a documentary than a novel. It is a good overview of all that was going on in Warsaw Poland at this time. I didn’t enjoy some of the animal segments, like the breeding of Bison by the Germans. Parts of the book progressed slowly. Diane Ackerman relied heavily upon diaries kept by Antonia and quotes them throughout the book. I have a lot of admiration for the Polish people who risked so much hiding thousands of Jews or helping them escape. The Zabinski’s saved the lives of 300 Jews during the years of the war and helped countless others with creative ways to escape. I have a clear picture in my mind now of the atrocities of the Warsaw Ghetto. It is not a page turner but a worthwhile read. I would read it again.

AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS - Dr. Wally

Wallace Goddard, a spiritual mentor on my blog roll: http://www.drwally.org/ had this to say today on his blog. I think it is an interesting idea that I plan to think a lot about.

Question: Strengths
A powerful idea from Martin Seligman’s excellent book, Authentic happiness: “Authentic happiness comes from identifying and cultivating your most fundamental strengths and using them every day in work, love, play, and parenting.” Many of us fret endlessly about our mistakes, faults, and shortcomings. Yet the key to our happiness is using our god-given strengths regularly. What are your strengths? How can you create more opportunities to use your strengths this week?

http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx Go here for some interesting questionnaires.