Book Talk

My reading has mostly been on the Kindle lately as the vision in my right eye grew worse.  However, I saw a specialist on Tuesday and he scheduled surgery for next week to remove a cataract that formed as a kind of scarring on that eye.

My retinal specialist couldn't understand why my vision hadn't improved until he examined the eye on my last appointment, he was surprised to see such a thick cataract had formed.  It isn't unusual when an eye has had trauma but it happened quickly within the last few months.  All prayers are appreciated!

There are two books I've enjoyed very much these past couple of weeks.  I'm also happy that The Hallmark Channel once again has started their Christmas movie marathon.  When they first started showing movies early, I thought it was rushing the season.

However, I love Christmas and while some of the movies are rather silly (not that silly is always a bad thing)... many are lovely stories that are usually family friendly and are visually beautiful. Having them available each November has been good since in December, one can get overrun with options.

The first book is Andrew Peterson's new nonfiction book called Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making... which is about the process of creating Beauty in all ways but especially through writing.  He also shares his story of developing as an author of fiction and nonfiction books, songwriter, and as a musician.

I'm half way through it now and had to stop just as he was sharing how Wendell Barry's novel Jayber Crow formed his thinking about community and the need for roots in our life.  Even if you never write anything but a grocery list, I think you would find this interesting.
More information... here.

The other book is The New Frontier, the new cookbook by Ree Drummond (aka: The Pioneer Woman).  I had preordered it after hearing her talk about how this cookbook would be a little different than past books.  It reflects the changes in her life.  Her two daughters were away at college (the older daughter has now graduated), her challenges of cooking dinner with two teenage sons playing sports, and she began to use the Instapot her friend had given her as a gift.

As with all of her cookbooks, which I have given as gifts to my oldest granddaughter as she learned to cook, this book is fun to read and there are step-by-step photos of the dishes she prepares.  Which is why all of her cookbooks make perfect gifts for those learning to cook.

As well as the comfort food recipes we have come to expect, you will like the lower carb options available for some favorite recipes.  If you have an Instapot, there are a lot of recipes which use it (although she also gives instructions for if you do not have any kind of pressure cooker).  She continues in this cookbook to offer suggestions for sheet pan meals, which I love.
More information... here.

I will be sharing more favorite Christmas DVDs later but here are a couple of favorites I watched on the Hallmark Channel since they started the Christmas Movie Marathon.  I add two or three favorite Christmas movies to my collection each year since sometimes they are only available for a short time.

The Nine Lives of Christmas - This is one of my very favorite Hallmark movies.  You will especially enjoy it if you have ever been owned by a cat but even if you haven't, it is so nice to have a love story the entire family can enjoy.  The two cats provide some very funny scenes.

More information... here.

Christmas Getaway - I loved this movie about a travel writer and a widower dad from the first half hour I saw it.  It's one of those rare movies these days that have a budding romance but also loving relationships between a grandmother, son, granddaughter, and the woman all three come to love. 

One of the side benefits of the main character being a travel writer is that she shares Christmas traditions from a few countries. I will be adding it to my DVD collection this Christmas since it is now available.
More information... here.

Just to throw in one of my favorite old timey Christmas movies...  I can't think of any better movie to watch on a cold night, snuggled at the corner of the sofa with a throw over me and a hot beverage on the coffee table.  Carey Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven in The Bishop's Wife is lovely and classy and classic.
More information... here.

I'll be sharing more next week if my eyes can handle the screen after surgery.

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Image:  Book Shop by Kim Sung