Tasha and Julia

There are two women I admire very much. I'm not sure where either have stood in their relationship with the Lord but their lives have influenced me many times over the years.

The first will be recognized by the picture at the left. Tasha Tudor is a woman who lives life on purpose. She has definite ideas about the way she wants to live her life, so much that she has surrounded herself with an environment she can live with. It doesn't matter that we are in the 21st century, Tasha has decided she will live in the 19th (or perhaps the 18th) century and she does so beautifully, while using 21st century technology to her advantage.

I receive her newsletter and I've read a great deal about her philosphy of life throughout the years. I've decided one of my goals for next year is to make an attempt to think through what part of my life I can control and make those necessary adjustments in my home, my reading, my relationships, my use of technology, etc. I want to be more like Tasha.

The other woman I admired a great deal was Julia Child. She was my first inspiration to try my hand at gourmet cooking and she made it look so easy. (Actually, most gourmet cooking is easy, it only requires patience.) I appreciated the way she accepted fame gracefully.

Like so many of her fans, she taught me it was okay when mistakes happen in the kitchen. There is usually a way to overcome them and go on. My love of cooking began with her and continues to this day because of the fun she brought "to the plate".

I love this picture of Julia and Jacque. I have a crush on Jacque. That's okay, my husband knows all about it.

I have been wanting to read the book Julie & Julia since it came out. I finally found it on the New Non-fiction shelves at the library last week. It is subtitled "365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen". It is the true story of a young woman who decides to make all the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I have heard so much about this book that I can't wait to read it.

Once again, I'm shuffling my present reading. One decorating book is finished and returned to the library, three others continue to be perused. I thought of returning them today but there is more to be gleaned from them. (Shabby Chic was read a couple of times before so I could quickly finish it and take it back.) I'm setting aside the novel to read Julie & Julia, which in a way is appropriate as we enter the season my mind is constantly on food.