The Five

It's been a long time since I've discussed what my five senses have been up to. I've been reading a ton because I've been willing to give up precious sleep time to do so. I love being the only one up at night. I just know I can't be interrupted! I've been swamped with tons of great books from my library request system. I love that the books have been on my list so long and that I've waited so long that I'd forgotten that I'd requested them. These are just a sampling. Sadly, my mom mind can only hold so much, I've forgotten many of the books that I read. But, they were good and maybe someday I'll remember them enough to review here.

Sight

Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan

This book puzzled me. Just when I thought I knew where the author was going with it, he didn't, but then he did. Ugh. I don't want to tell too much of the story because I don't want to give it away.

Fran and Ed are happily married with two daughters. This is the story of what happens when one of their daughters disappears. This book kept me up late reading. I took it with me on carpool duty (not to read while driving, but for those 10 minute waits here and there). I read every word and went back to reread parts just to hear the language. What a gifted author and once again, I am struggling with how I let this guy's books slip under my radar.

I was so struck by how the family and all its members handled the situation. Not only did O'Nan provide insight into their thoughts, but he really made me empathize with people who did not react as I would. This story, a mother's worst nightmare, has become so commonplace in our society that we sometimes just briefly pause when we hear it, yet again. This book did more for me than make me pause. It made me think about just what I would do if the same happened to me. As a mother, I've only thought about the initial crumbling that would happen to my soul. The broken, instant, terrifying fear that would begin and never end. I never really thought about all the rest of it.

A must read, for sure.

Infected by Scott Sigler

This is a book I wouldn't normally pick up, but I was reading about the author on the Internet and decided to give it a try. Part Stephen King part John Grisham, it's a thriller with a Sci Fi spin. I thought it was a good summer read, a bit too gross in parts, and a little predictable. But, enjoyable and an easy read. Would I recommend? Only if you're into that sort of thing.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

I loved this book and I don't usually gravitate towards war stories. Set during the siege of Leningrad, this book is the story of two unlikely friends sent on a nearly impossible mission. I figured out how it would end long before the finish, but I still enjoyed every bit. The glimpses into this part of history were fascinating.

As a child, we used to visit a Russian couple who's land we had to drive through to get to some family hunting land. I don't know their history except that they came from Russia in pursuit of a better life. One of us kids complained about being, "Starving!" and I remember Fedor saying, "Ah, but have you ever eaten grass?" I'll never forget that. I've never known hunger. This book paints a picture of true hunger that will remain with me a long time.

Sound

Thriller by who else? Michael Jackson

This was the first CD that Young One downloaded onto his iPod and I've been listening to it humming down the stairway for the last couple of weeks. (And on every channel in their endless reselling of this man's soul) OK, I'll admit, I listened to it on MY iPod just once right after Michael died. Cried a little and no, I didn't do the Moonwalk. I'm still struck by what a sad, lonely, tragic life he had. And how we're all just a little bit responsible for his imprisonment. My hope is that so much about the stalking of celebrities and the abuse of children entertainers changes because of his life story. And that his children are given the gift of a relatively normal life.

Scent

Roses. The deer have left my roses alone this year and I've been thrilled with the results. Imagine, full blooming roses and not stumpy, thorny stems!

Taste

Sugar and Spice Coffee Cake

1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup skim milk

Topping:
5 TB brown sugar
2 TB white sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare an 8x8 pan by spraying with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Mix batter ingredients and spread into prepared pan. Mix topping until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of batter. Using a knife, swirl topping into batter. Bake for 25 minutes. Cake is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Touch

Food. I'm sorting through our pantry and making a run to the food shelf. I have many things that we cannot use and so many families are struggling right now, I just can't keep them here at home and feel good.

The Five

Here's what my five senses have been experiencing...

Sight

Eve: A Novel of the First Woman by Elissa Elliott

Somehow, I managed to read a review of this book early enough that I was one of the first at my library to request it! Score! This was a great book. If you liked The Red Tent, you'll love this one. This novel takes the Garden, Cain and Abel, and Adam and Eve and puts them in a perspective that you've most likely never thought about before. They were real people, with real emotions, thoughts, actions. I found this book fascinating and an easy read. Once I picked it up, I didn't want to put it down.

Picture yourself as Eve, mother of all, and the one that everyone blames for the banishment from the paradise of the Garden. The angst! The guilt! I think this is where all our mother guilt comes from. (Yes, dear Eve another thing for people to blame on you. As if painful labors weren't enough!)

Would make for great discussion for a women's group or church group.

Candles Burning by Tabitha King and Michael McDowell

I thought this book would scare the crap out of me. The manuscript was found in McDowell's effects after he died. Apparently, I was too scared to read any of his work before. His genre is horror and while I will delve into the occasional Stephen King, somehow this guys work scared me. I picked up this book at a library book sale. I thought D would enjoy it, but somehow it worked it's way into my hands.

And I loved it.

Written from the perspective of Calley Carroll Dakin, the unfortunate daughter of Roberta Ann Caroll Dakin and Joe Cane Dakin. Calley can hear the dead, but according to her, they aren't really worth listening to. But, they are. Calley's father is murdered and her horrible mother takes her to live in Pensacola Florida where they live in a small inn on an isolated island with a cast of odd characters. Calley's gift of hearing the spiritual world helps her to solve her father's murder, but the justice that is found isn't what you might expect.

Mesmerizing, with characters that stick with you long after the book is done, you have to wonder how Tabitha King was so well able to seamlessly end the book that McDowell left unfinished with his death.

The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families--How they Do It by Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar

I'm fascinated by this family. I think, because they are the absolute opposite of me. Eighteen kids and I have one. Extremely conservative and I'm liberal. She's a subservient wife and I'm a full partner in my marriage.

I think the title would best be changed to Blind Faith. For that's what the Duggars live on . I admire that wholeheartedly, for I'm often the Doubting Thomas. No, not doubting in the sense that Thomas was, but I'm much more likely to use the free will and thought that God gifted me with. I often wonder how they can so blindly follow. I've found using scripture for your own needs to be quite dangerous and controlling. Any church or person that asks for blind faith is frightening.

I've studied both the Old and New Testament at the college level. Both of these classes were some of my most difficult (until nursing school, chemistry, etc.) My Bible is dog eared and written in. It's well used. So, I could match verse for verse just about anything that these people hand out. That's not my point, though. My point is that I've noticed that they pick and choose scripture to fit their needs. That they isolate themselves and their children from the world, which they consider evil and filled with temptation.

That's fine, I guess, to each their own, but I often wonder which one of those children will be the one to escape the confines of their family and venture out on their own. I wonder what will happen when they realize that the world really isn't this evil place after all. I wonder if their family will shun them. I wonder how they would see their parents through these new eyes.

If we raise our children up to be good, decent people then they must be challenged. They must be out in the world, evil or not, to find out if our guidance has led them to the right path. If you don't allow them that, then that's your issue. Not theirs.

Like I said, I'm fascinated by these people. I enjoy watching them on TV. I enjoyed reading their book, for to me, it was eye opening. This is important for us all to do. Reach outside ourselves to try to learn more and understand more about others. Unfortunately, I doubt that the Duggars would ever step outside their world to look into mine.

As a side note, the recipes contained within the book are an unbelievable tribute to the power of the can. Cream of whatever soup, pasta, heavy cream, ground meat, canned vegetables. Heavy, rib sticking food, but not necessarily healthy. I'm sure that the point is to fill aching stomachs, but my hope is that these kids are getting more than just filling. I'd love for the Duggars to touch on that in future episodes. Man cannot live on cans alone.

Sound

Books on my iPod and the vacuum. I hate to vacuum, so listening to books on helps keep me motivated.

Scent

Pansies. I planted my Spring planters last week. Pansies were my Grandpa Hank's favorite flower. It takes me almost an hour, every Spring, just to decide which ones I want to bring home from the garden center. Their little faces are very endearing to me and as I plant them and watch them grow, I remember my Grandpa. His sweet smile and gentle manner still guide me.

Taste

Experimental brownies. I'm trying to make a mix more Weight Watchers friendly. I'll post as soon as I get it right.

Touch

Lots of junk in the basement. I'm clearing out in preparation for a garage sale. Yuck. I can't believe how much stuff we need to pitch or sell.

The Five

Here's what my five senses have been experiencing:

Sight

American Wife: A Novel (New York Times Notable Books) by Curtis Sittenfeld

This book surprised me. A novel, based on the life of Laura Bush. How interesting could that be? I never really thought about Mrs. Bush as anything other than in the background of a man I have no respect for. It was difficult for me to think of this as a novel. Of course I know that none of it could be trusted to be completely true. It was a novel after all, but throughout the book, I only pictured the characters as the Bushes.

True or not, this novel helped me to sympathize with Mrs. Bush. She's an extremely intelligent woman, so I can imagine her life has been challenging with her husband. This novel was a page turner. I'd definitely recommend, however, there were some parts of it that I found went a little too far. Perhaps it was because I had trouble separating truth from fiction, but some of the descriptions were a little disturbing. (Even I have respect for the office, even if I don't like the performance of the individual, so perhaps that was what bothered me? That in my mind, I couldn't separate the characters from their real life counterparts and just didn't want to delve into that part of them.) Alice's trip to the one bathroom at the Blackwell compound is one example. The description of Charlie in a wedding photo, another one. I just think the characters personalities could have been fully depicted without going this far. It didn't take much to figure them out, holding back a bit would have suited the novel better. I found myself revolted rather than enlightened. It's still a highly recommended read, but I had to discuss that to feel like I'd done a full review.


Mighty Queens of Freeville, The: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them by Amy Dickinson

Amy of the column Ask Amy hits a home run with this memoir. Divorce and single motherhood run in Amy's family. She eventually ends up right back at home surrounded by the people that love her most. Her wit and wisdom shine in every chapter. Claiming that she "makes all the mistakes so you don't have to" has made her relatable. She tells her life story with an irreverence that makes her oh so likable. Definitely recommend.

Testimony: A Novel by Anita Shreve

It's not often that I don't finish a book. I'll muddle through most whether their challenge is a difficult read or a fluffy story. I love language. I love each writer's individual style and voice. Shreve is a great contemporary author, but she misses the mark with this one. The book is not compelling even though it's premise is attention getting. The story of a sexual scandal at a private school told by many voices could have been riveting. I found it merely muddied and ill conceived and quit reading about 20 pages from the ending. At that point, I didn't care enough about the characters to see where they ended up.

Not recommended.

Sound

I took a bunch of books on cd out of the library to put on my iPod. Great to listen to while working around the house or out walking. I'm such a reader that this is a great way for me to fit in even more books!

Scent

Fresh baked bread.

Taste

Bread Machine Third Bread
Named for the three types of flour that this recipe contains, this is a very old recipe. Serves 8 at 6 WW Points per BIG serving. This is great toasted with honey.


2 1/2 tsp yeast
3/4 cup(s) light rye flour
3 cup(s) Flour, wheat, white, Bread
3/4 cup(s) uncooked cornmeal
1/2 cup(s) honey
1 1/2 cup(s) water, very warm

Place in your bread machine. Set at: 1 1/2 lb loaf, medium crust, regular cycle. Or knead, rise until double and bake.

Touch

The new cactus and palm trees that friends brought us back from Arizona. (And the sparkly rock that has a special place in the cactus pot!) How nice to get surprise souvenirs from friends!

The Five

Here's what my five senses are experiencing...

Sight

A ton of books that I requested from the library have suddenly come available. So, I'm reading in the car (not while driving, I promise!), reading late into the night, and trying to fit in "just a chapter" here and there. Young One laughed as he watched me stirring a pot while deep in a book. These two books were fantastic and I couldn't wait to talk about them.

The Hour I First Believed: A Novel by Wally Lamb

Remember the Columbine school shootings? Do you remember where you were and how it affected you? April 20, 1999.

This book delves into the massacre, not so much detailing the actual events, but how that day changes the lives of a couple. Caelum is a teacher at Columbine. Maureen is a school nurse. The story wraps around this couple, their imperfections, their past, and their struggles as they try to survive the aftermath of Eric Harris' and Dylan Klebold's rampage. Interwoven in this story is the story of Caelum's family and his troubled past.

I don't want to detail too much of the story. There were several pages where I just stopped and couldn't believe where the story was going. At over 700 pages, this book is hefty, but it was compelling and called to me whenever I had a spare moment.

This book touches on really deep subjects. Broken childhood and post traumatic stress syndrome are focused on, but not in ways that have been heard before. Quite honestly, I never really thought about the aftermath of this horrible tragedy and how it's victims, the survivors are never going to heal, but merely march on through life, scarred.

The history of Caelum's family struck a chord with me. I remember someone once saying to me, "Must have been nice growing up behind that picket fence." That comment literally stopped me in my tracks. I said to her, "Every family is dysfunctional. We all have our problems." She was shocked. I suppose from her take, from the outside, things did look that way. I, like Caelum have shattered family histories. Who doesn't? We all have alcoholism, mental illness, sadness, unanswered questions, and possibly violence in our past. It's how we come out of it that matters. Caelum gets some answers to questions he's lived with his entire life. It isn't always as it seemed. We all know this truth, don't we?

The 19th Wife: A Novel by David Ebershoff

This book. I loved it. Loved it.

Two intertwining stories of polygamy, the modern day and past, mingle to create a fascinating look at this controversial subject. I've always been fascinated by this topic. Last year's Texas polygamists and their children was riveting to me. Who knew such an other world existed?

This book focuses on modern day Firsts who differ greatly from Latter Day Saints mainstream members. You'll find out these differences in detail, which, although this is a novel, seemed very enlightening. This book was researched extensively, and although still a novel, it rings with truth.

There has been a murder in the First's community and Jordan's mother is the suspected killer. Jordan had been outcast as a child and somehow has floundered around and figured out how to live on his own. He's determined to help his mother get out of jail and has returned home to do so. I won't tell you how it comes out, but I will say in the process you get a closer look at the hidden life of modern day polygamists. The welfare fraud, tax fraud, and abuse of this sect are examined in frightening detail.

Intermingled with this story is the story of the LDS church as it forms and their journey across the country to Zion in Utah. This part of the story focuses on Ann Eliza, Brigham Young's supposed 19th wife, although it's later revealed her number is much higher. This story is written with a fascinating combination of letters, research documents, personal diaries, Wikipedia entries, and excerpts from Ann Eliza's book.

The author is quick to point out that this is a novel and that, while some parts are truth, others are stretched or maybe it's best to say that he fills in for unknowns. I found his style of writing to be deeply compelling. I honestly couldn't stop thinking about this story and the plight of women in polygamist sects.

I think that perhaps it's because I'm a strong, vocal woman, that I find the polygamist life so fascinating. There's no way I could or would share my husband, nor could I be part of a religion that takes away my ability to have free thought. I suppose if one is born into such a society you become accustomed to this life. The abusive lives of these women, their courage to escape , well, I can't even imagine those challenges. The boy children that are outcast because they would compete for wives, are the lost boys of our country.

I strongly recommend this book. Be prepared to carry it with you everywhere.

Sound

Toddlers and Tiaras

I'm listening to this show as I'm typing. Pageant parents. Kids with false teeth and shaving their legs and highlights in their hair at 7 years old. Spray tans on their kids and unbelievable credit card bills, these families are unbeliveable. For the first time in my life, I'm glad I don't have a daughter. Nope, that's not it. It's that I would never, never, do this to a child.

As I type, they're trying to shove a two year old into a ruffly costume and the teaser for the after the commercial break hints at Mean Girls behavior. Yikes.

Scent

Chocolate Fudge Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting. Recipe coming. I don't want to share it because D is a sneaky peeker.

Taste

Chopped veggie salad. One must cleanse before one eats cake.

Touch

Homemade birthday celebration presents, cards, balloons, and cake.

The Five

Here's what my five senses have been experiencing!



Sight

The Lace Reader: A Novel by Brunonia Barry

The Whitney women read the future by gazing intently through pieces of lace that they make themselves. Each is gifted with this second sight and each has their own story. Towner Whitney is the central character of this novel. There's something not quite right about her. She's just had surgery and is going home to Salem, Massachusetts to recover. Her Aunt Eva, whom she's been extremely close with and who she plans to stay with, drowns under mysterious circumstances. Towner begins to investigate her death with the help of police officer John Rafferty, and a romantic relationship develops . The story is woven just like lace, with twists and turns raveling and unraveling until the whole pattern is finally seen.

I adored this book. It was one of those that I clutched to my chest and wished for more once I was finished. In fact, I had a hard time letting these characters go and was thrilled to find out that Barry has written another book, Bone Lace, with the same characters, due out sometime this year. I've already requested that my library purchase it and can't wait to read it.

Sound

Elton John - Greatest Hits 1970-2002 by Elton John

It's Elton John. Nuff said.

(I could scrub tile off my shower listening to good music and Elton helps me get it done.)

Scent

French pressed coffee. Really, this is the best way to make coffee. It's so strong it's thick!

Taste

Homemade raisins.

Now don't freak out. I'm not completely weird. Notice I said completely.

I can never buy the right amount of grapes at my house. Either they get gobbled up or they sit untouched. I don't like to be wasteful and we had a big bowl full of grapes that weren't looking their best anymore. So, I decided I would pop them in the dehydrator and see what happened. They're delicious. And they used up the sad, wrinkly grapes that I would have thrown out otherwise.

One of my favorite (and very filling) breakfasts is oatmeal, raisins, pecans, and cinnamon. I usually stir a little raw sugar in before I top it. Yummy.

Touch

Fabric to recover our dining room chairs with. I've been looking at this fabric for a few years (yes, I'm funny that way), but I could never justify $34 a yard for it. The chairs are antique (so is the table). I paid $20 for all six chairs at a garage sale. I love them, but they came with pretty ugly fabric on the cushions. We've lived with them because I was hoping to find antique, needlepoint cushion covers, but I've never found them in a price that I can afford. The fabric matches our living room furniture and I was thrilled to find it in the remnant bin at the fabric store. I paid $14 for 2 yards!

The Five

A little green is needed on a gray Minnesota day.

Here's what my five senses have been experiencing.

Sight

Oxygen by Carol Casella

I expected this book to be a fluff read. You know, a good book to read on a beach. Well, since it's winter here in Minnesota, maybe I should just say, a good book to curl up by the fireplace with. It was definitely much more than that. I request books from my library that I've read reviews of or heard about from friends. This one had so many requests. I've been waiting so long, I've forgotten where I heard about it.

Dr. Marie Heaton is a dedicated anesthesiologist. She loves the technical aspect of her job, yet it's her compassion that makes her an excellent physician. Jolene is a young girl under her care in the operating room for a relatively routine surgery. She's mentally retarded and the daughter of a single mother. Something goes terribly wrong during Jolene's surgery and she dies. All sharply pointing fingers of blame are aimed at Marie.

During the course of the investigation of Jolene's death, much comes out about Dr. Heaton. Her almost estranged relationship with her father is detailed as is her relationship with her friend and former lover. Dr. Heaton goes over and over every detail in an attempt to figure out just what went wrong during that surgery. While the ending wasn't surprising to me, I would imagine anyone without medical experience would miss the give away at the beginning. And, though not surprising, it was still cleverly presented.

Casella is clearly an excellent writer. She's able to convey her medical expertise, blending her technical skill with a talent for mixing words. I hope we will see much more from her.

Sound

Rock Ferry by Duffy

I just love this girl, her voice, her attitude. She's got it all goin' on. I downloaded this from iTunes as a reward for losing some weight. Those little goal gifts really help! She's soulful, her ballads are amazing, and if you don't sing along to Mercy, then there's just something wrong with you.

Scent

It's Not Banana Bread Snack Cake--I made it as cupcakes this time. 24 cupcakes, 3 WW Points each. Young One and his friends love these.

Taste

BBQ Chicken Legs. Chicken legs were on sale last week. Since they come in at about 1 Weight Watchers Point each, if skinless, they're a great option for me. I just drizzled with a little honey BBQ sauce, covered and baked for about an hour with some potatoes. Simple, kid friendly, and delicious. You must allow for the BBQ sauce when you count your Points.

Touch

The new kitchen light switch. We had horrible lighting in the kitchen. D ripped it out this week, creating much more of a mess than anyone should be allowed to make. But, I love the new lighting. Too bad the ceiling isn't finished yet, but I'm so thankful I have a husband that can do these things. I'm very lucky.

The Five

Sight

I've read so many books since the last time I did a review, that I can hardly remember what I read.

Here are just a few.

Joy School (Ballantine Reader's Circle) by Elizabeth Berg

I loved this short novel and read it in one sitting. It brought me back to what it was like to be thirteen years old again. Katie, the thirteen year old heroine of the book, is new in town. Her mother has died and her Army Colonel father is distant and angry. It seems no one likes her at her new school and she's having trouble fitting in. She just wants a friend and so she falls in with a few girls who aren't quite perfect matches for her. She learns a lot from them while also falling love with a much older man. I started this early one Saturday morning and finished it in just a couple of hours. I found it so true to what it was like to be that age again. Excellent book.

The Stand: Expanded Edition: For the First Time Complete and Uncut (Signet) by Steven King

This book is about 1200 pages long, so it took me a very long time to read it. It was great to take along when I was shuttling my mom around for all of her appointments following her knee surgery (although it was really heavy to carry!) I found myself trying to carve out time in my day, just to read it. King does that to me. He gets in my brain and makes me want to read incessantly. It's the version of the story that King originally wrote, adding four hundred pages to the one that was originally published. I read the other version many, many years ago and wanted to see what King had originally wanted to say. This is King's most popular book, according to a review on Amazon. I found it riveting, again. The entire world population is wiped out by a superflu let loose accidentally by a secret military installation. I loved the characters in this book, King gets you right into their minds. Their intertwining stories of what they did immediately after the plague, how they combated the loneliness, and how they found company are chilling. If you haven't read King, this one is intense, but it's a good one.

Multiple Blessings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets by Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin, and Beth Carson

I'm a huge Jon and Kate Plus Eight fan. I've watched this family since their first documentaries filmed a few years ago. The sextuplets are now four years old and I'm still watching. Maybe it's because I have only one child that I find it so fascinating, but I think it's more than that. I'm a lot like Kate. I would have to be as organized and cling to routines like lifelines just like she does. There's no other way you could survive so many kids in one house! The book is delightful. Another one that I read in practically one sitting. It's much more faith filled than I expected. That aspect of Jon and Kate's life doesn't transmit to their reality show. As well, you learn in the book more about their innermost thoughts, fears, and the extreme stress that they went through. It hasn't been easy for them, but God has a plan for them and they've left it up to Him. So far, I think it's working!

I've started several books and put them down again just because they haven't caught my attention. I figure life is too short to try to push yourself through something that's just not doing it for you! I've got a stack home from the library, though, that are very intriguing.

Sound

The Living Room Tour Carol King

Her voice just gets me and her duet with her daughter makes me cry every time. Carol King is timeless. If you don't have any of her work in your collection, you must get some.

Scent

Baked potatoes baking in the oven. I just hate microwaved baked potatoes. They get all wrinkled and ugly and the texture is just all wrong. Bake them in the oven and you have a crisp-tender skin and a fluffy inside. When I can't be home to get them in the oven, I just set my oven timer to turn on at the right time.

Taste

Oven Fried Chicken
This recipe originally appeared in In the Kitchen with Rosie, Oprah's chef. We've loved this recipe since the book came out. I like to marinate the chicken in the yogurt mixture or in a pinch, I'll use fat free buttermilk. Below is the original recipe. Be sure to customize it to suit your family's preferences.

light vegetable oil cooking spray
6 chicken drumsticks, skin removed
3 whole chicken breasts, halved and skin removed
3 1/2 cups ice water
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt

For The Breading
1 cup dried Italian breadcrumbs--I like to use half Panko crumbs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon creole seasoning
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 dash cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with 3 sprays of the vegetable oil.
Put the chicken in a large bowl with the ice water. Put the yogurt into a medium bowl.
Set both bowls aside.
Toss all the breading ingredients into a large, tightly-sealing plastic bag. Seal and shake well to mix.
Remove 2 pieces of chicken from the ice water. Roll each piece in the yogurt.
Put the chicken into the plastic bag, reseal, and shake to coat thoroughly.
Transfer the breaded chicken to the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat the process until all 12 pieces are breaded.
Spray the chicken lightly with the vegetable oil.
Place the baking sheet on the bottom shelf of the oven and bake for 1 hour, turning the pieces every 20 minutes to allow even browning.
Serve hot or at room temperature

Touch

A new haircut and color. I'm trying grow my hair out into a different style. I hate growing my hair out but, it is time for a change. I've been going to the same salon, Rocco Altobelli, since I was in college. When we lived out of state, I would long for a great haircut and miss this salon tremendously. When you move, sometimes it takes a while to find the stylist that works well for you. I had some seriously weird hair experiences moving so much! My stylist, whom I call Hairy Mary, and I have been together for ages now. My colorist is new, but she's fabulous and so kind. I think a really good haircut is worth EVERY penny. I scrimp and save so that we can fit it in the budget.

The Five

Big flakes of snow are falling outside. It's so beautiful. I'm taking a break from cleaning to post.

And in the time it took me to start this post, the clouds have passed, the snowflakes are gone, and the sun is shining. You gotta love Minnesota!

I haven't had much time to concentrate on my Five Senses lately. I'm a little behind posting this!

Sight

The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker Kline

Angela delves into the world of online dating and meets, who she thinks, is the perfect man. He's a sailing instructor in Maine. She pictures a quaint existence in Maine, matching the little seaside cottage she has tacked up on her bulletin board. Losing her job, she packs her old car with her belongings and heads North to her online love match. Of course, things aren't what they seem. But, she gets the life she's dreamed about, it just doesn't happen the way she expected it to.

I adored this book. Yes, it's chick lit. Yes, it was predictable. But, it was exactly what I needed to read during this busy time in my life. I'll definitely read more of Kline's work.

Sound

The Greatest Hits (Remastered) Crosby Stills Nash

The Best of Blondie Blondie

I hit the first few albums that were on my iPod while cleaning. These two kept me bopping while dusting, vacuuming, and picking up our second floor. I haven't listened to Blondie in years! I still have The Tide is High stuck in my head.

I'm also listening to the Christmas hints that Young One keeps dropping into every day conversation. We don't allow Christmas lists in our house--just screams of selfishness to me. Our goal is to celebrate the season, not the presents. AND to learn that presents shouldn't be asked for, but given. As an only child, he has so much. It's a unique challenge that parents of only children have. Probably doesn't sound like much of a problem from the outside, but we're trying to teach selflessness, not selfishness. So far, it's working very well. He's a very generous and appreciative child.

Scent

Pine boughs. That scent is so delightful this time of year.

Taste

The annual, after Thanksgiving, bowl of Turkey Rice Soup made from the turkey carcass (that word, ew, but what else can you call it). Young One just loved it. I wish I would have made a bigger pot. But, after our dinner, freezing some for my Grandma, and delivering some to my mom, there was only one bowl left--and I enjoyed that for lunch today!

I gave my basic poultry soup recipe here. Instead of dumplings in the recipe, just add, rice and cook until done. I strained out the onions and celery so Young One would eat them. Well, here's the scoop, I made turkey broth by simmering the turkey carcass, onions, celery, carrots, and bay leaf in a big stock pot filled with water. I strained out everything and then defatted (is that a word?) the stock by using a gravy separator (which you really should get if you want to cut the fat out of your diet). Then I returned some of the stock to the pot, added more carrots, some peas, and some rice. I seasoned it and it simmered while I labeled and froze the rest of the turkey broth for future use. (And did a load of laundry, and scraped an unknown substance off the counter tops, and sorted through the mail, and talked to Young One about a video game that I really don't get, but his enthusiasm for it is contagious-- you know, I did Mom stuff.)

Touch

Dried orange and grapefruit slices. I do this every year, just before Christmas. I like to make garlands from them or fill clear containers with them. I love to wrap presents with brown packing paper or use plain brown market bags with string handles (I buy them in bulk online).

The Five

Sight

Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen

Gibby survived an auto accident that claimed the lives of both of her parents. She survived, but she's NQR (not quite right) and now lives with her Grandpa. This book is filled with Southern charm and characters. Set in the 1970s, you get a peek into the way of the world there and then. This novel has a little mystery, a little romance, and a lot of humor. Gibby's inside view of a head injured patient was fascinating to me. It was an easy read, a nice story, and a great way to spend a few hours.

Thanks to Booking Mama for this recommendation. You can follow a link to her blog on the right sidebar of mine.

Sound

Spring Awakening The Original Broadway Cast

Warning, you just might sing along. This isn't one that you want to listen to with the kids around, the lyrics are explicit. This musical is based on Frank Wedekind's scandalous 1891 drama, but kicked up a bit with modern rock music. Teen angst is universal. This musical is filled with "rage, frustration, confusion, excitement, joy, anger, and of course budding lust of those hormone-driven years" (Elisabeth Vincentelli). Unfortunately, this musical is closing on Broadway. I had so hoped I would get to see it.

Scent

Clove oil. I just love essential oils and clove is one of my very favorites. I have some sprinkled on some scentless potpourri and it's making my first floor smell like I'm baking or like those oranges studded with cloves.

Taste

Crustless Pumpkin Pie. So simple and hits that pumpkin pie craving without going overboard. Simply purchase a can of pumpkin pie filling, mix a directed using fat free evaporated milk, and bake in a 9x13 inch pan until a knife comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool and top with fat free Cool Whip. Serves 12 at about 1 Point per serving.

Touch

I got a beautiful hand painted antique plate at a thrift store this morning with my mom. It's muted shades of blue and gold with a Dutch windmill. Very soothing and very well painted. Mom and I love to go antiquing, but we don't like to pay antique store prices, so we go and search garage sales and thrift stores. I also got a great coat for our little dog who gets really cold in the winter and a Puzz3D for Young One.

The Five--Abbreviated

I really only have time to talk about books this week. I'm still not watching much TV, unless I TiVo it so I can fast forward through the commercials. Instead, in the evenings, we read. Here you go.

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

I've read Meyer's Twilight series books. I found them quick, easy reads. Just light, fluffy young adult novels. Entertaining, but great beach reads or an easy escape read. This one was very different. A much deeper story, with more mature themes. The Host is Invasion of the Body Snatchers, sort of. It's several years after a parasitic alien species has invaded earth. The Souls need host bodies to survive and have been doing so for all of time. They arrive on a planet and take over their host's bodies and live like the former inhabitants do, but with slight differences. On Earth, Melanie, Jared, and Jamie are some of the last Soul-free human inhabitants, when Melanie is caught. She is inhabited by a Soul, called Wanderer. Usually, the host being disappears, but Melanie hangs on, becoming a strong voice in Wanderer's head. In fact, she's still there so much that Wanderer starts to love and feel strongly for the people that Melanie loved when she was the soul inhabitant of the body. She begins to engage Melanie in conversation and she begins to empathize with Melanie and the other humans. Melanie's crazy uncle was a survivalist and had given her a map to his hideout. Wanderer follows this map and becomes entrenched with a group of surviving humans. Her struggles at befriending the humans are among the least of her problems.

It's an engaging read. I loved the inside view of the alien beings and would have liked to hear more about how the humans reacted when they first arrived. I grew up with two brothers who were huge SciFi fans, so I'm a bit of a fan myself--I didn't have much choice, they controlled the TV remote! This book doesn't disappoint. Meyer is a talented writer. I hope that she delves into some adult fiction, with more elaborate themes, soon.

Southern Fried by Cathey Pickens

I don't think I've read a mystery since high school. I mean a paperback, relatively predictable, mystery full of quirky characters and slight plot twists. I mean the kind of book that you can read while the TV is blaring a Cartoon Network show or one that you can read while in the pick up lane at school with the car radio on. Well, this is that book. I wanted a quick read. I've been reading books that are close to one thousand pages and I just needed a break. I'm not going to bother with the plot line. Just wanted to mention, that every once in a while, you've just got to read something that's not on the New York Times Best Sellers List. (Maybe this was? If so, I beg the author's humble forgiveness.)

I'm a library girl. Rarely do I purchase a book, except as a real treat or perhaps a cookbook or a reference book or travel guide. I don't reread novels and I found that most of the time that I would lend out a novel, I would never see it again. (One person actually told me that they took all of the books I "lent" them to a used book store for credit!) So, to me, purchasing a novel wasn't worth the money. I did have a really good friend give me a novel once for a birthday gift. It was a hardcover, currently on the NY Times Best Sellers List. What a nice treat! Cheapskate that I am, I think that's the last full price book that I've owned (that was 7 years ago!) She always is really good at giving presents!

Every once in a while, you've got to wander the library and just come home with something different. It's good for your thinker.

The Five

Sight

Hawaii by James Michener



I've never read any of Michener's work and now, at the end of this 1130 page, ultra-fine print book, I feel as if I just run a marathon, but, my feet don't hurt. I've invested 3 weeks of my life with this book and I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed it and I'm so glad I read it after visiting Hawaii. What I kept thinking while reading it, though, was this man wrote dozens of books this long, with this much research. How in the heck did he do it? This book got right to the heart of many of the questions I had about the islands and the people that lived there. It explained so much about the history of the island and finally got me to understand why the people are so unique. When we were there, I didn't feel like I was part of the United States at all. I felt like I was in a foreign country with just a hint of America thrown in. This was a great read, but it's an endurance read, not a vacation book. I definitely have to read something relatively fluffy next.



On a side note, I bought about a dozen Michener books at the request of my mom at a library sale. You can't go wrong paying $3 for a huge shopping bag of books, but perhaps there was a reason that the Michener books were all still there! :)



Sound

Just my iPod, nothing new. And public radio for news and chat.



Scent

Homemade chicken broth simmering on the stove.



Taste

Hot cinnamon oatmeal with dates, raisins, and pecans. That's REAL oatmeal, not that sissy prepackaged stuff.



Touch

Political propaganda. Birthday invites, favors, and thank you notes for Young One.

The Five

Sight
The Ten Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer

This book had me shouting, "Yes! Yes! That's it!" and reading passages to my husband, much to his annoyance, I'm sure. Wolitzer perfectly captures so much of what being a mother is. To say I loved this book isn't enough. I can't say it better than Publishers Weekly, so I'm sharing their review here: Wolitzer takes a close look at the opt out generation: her cast of primary characters have all abandoned promising careers (in art, law and academia) in favor of full-time motherhood. When their children were babies, that decision was defensible to themselves and others; 10 years on, all of these women, whose interconnected stories merge during their regular breakfasts at a Manhattan restaurant, harbor hidden doubts. Do their mundane daily routines and ever-more tenuous connections to increasingly independent children compensate for all that lost promise? Wolitzer centers her narrative on comparisons between her smart but bored modern-day New York and suburban mommies and the women of the generation preceding them, who fought for women's liberation and equality. Contemporary chapters, most of which focus on a single character in this small circle of friends, alternate with vignettes from earlier eras, placing her characters' crises in the context of the women, famous and anonymous, who came before. Wolitzer's novel offers a hopeful, if not exactly optimistic, vision of women's (and men's) capacity for reinvention and the discovery of new purpose.

Sound
I'm Not Dead by Pink

I think Pink is brilliant. Her duet with Steven Tyler, Misery, and her haunting, Family Portrait on Missundaztood hooked me when that CD was released. I'm Not Dead (Platinum Edition) gets me pumped when the last thing I feel like doing is cleaning. Snap on the iPod, hit play and try not to bop around and sing along while doing what you need to get done. I can't even begin to pick a favorite song of hers. She's just brilliant. Dear Mr. President is the perfect protest tune. Stupid Girls is delightful commentary on those girls that seem to gather great media attention. Please don't purchase the clean version, censorship is deplorable and they're just words. Clean it up and you don't get the artist as she was intended.

Scent
Cinnamon Apples drying in the oven.

Taste
Warm Cinnamon Apples. Yum.

Touch
New clothes. I'm down another size and am enjoying some cooler weather clothes in my new size. Purchased at my favorite shopping "mall", a local thrift store, I just bought 6 shirts, two pairs of jeans for under $30!

The Five

Sight

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

I can't believe I've never read any of Capote's work, at least, not that I can remember. Maybe at some point in college, but those English classes were so easy compared to all my other coursework, I'm not surprised they didn't leave a lasting impression. I found this book riveting. Everyone I spoke with about the book claimed to be terrified while reading it. I suppose, maybe at the time it was written it was shocking, but it wasn't as terrifying as say, Law and Order or CSI. Alas, we've been desensitized! Anyway, this is the true story of the murder of an family in Kansas. Not just the story of the murder, but the story of the murderers too. I did find myself sympathizing with the murderers, Capote did a great job of that. What was so riveting was his descriptions, the suspenseful build of what you knew was the inevitable. Saying I loved the book seems trite, trivializing the subject matter. Love isn't a word that should be used when reviewing this book. I found it fascinating, riveting, and mesmerizing, the pages called to me and I had to stay up to read it's conclusion. I would definitely say it's a must read, but leave yourself time to really immerse yourself in it. It's not a book that should be stopped and started, but read through as much as you possibly can.

Sound

Life Death Love and Freedom John Mellencamp

Really quite brilliant. I've been a long time fan. This was worth waiting for.

Scent

Freshly brewed coffee in our new Breville Single-Serve Coffee Maker. So, our Cuisinart coffee pot died, not being that old, and I did a ton of research trying to figure out the best replacement for it. I knew I wasn't going to get another Cuisinart--I just wasn't happy with our past experiences. So, I really wanted an automatic espresso machine, but I couldn't justify the price. Maybe one day and maybe for a gift, but not today. I never thought I would want one of these single serve coffee makers. I found the pod versions to be intriguing, but not quite there. This one got me. The sealed K Cups keep coffee very fresh, right until the point of brewing. The filter pods were too open and allowed coffee to get stale, not to mention, they just didn't produce a great tasting cup of coffee. So, after reading countless reviews, we chose this one. And after getting to see it in action at Williams Sonoma (and on You Tube, you gotta love that!). We were sold. We waste much less coffee now and we both can choose what we want for blend or flavor. Plus, Young One can make his own hot chocolate with the touch of a button and he intends to do some experimenting with using the hot water to quickly make hot cereals for breakfast.

It's such a great gadget. Fill the reservoir with water, set the clock and timer for when you'd like the water hot (there's a start and end time so it shuts off when you don't need it anymore). If you do want to bypass this set time, you can always just turn it on. It takes less than 3 minutes to heat water. Then pop in a K Cup or fill your My K Cup (a little reusable filter cup), chose the size cup you want, and brew away.

You will need to play around with the strength, the type of coffee, etc to get the perfect cup. So far, I've really enjoyed some Italian Roast, both hot and iced. The Kona is a blend, so I'll stick with grinding my own beans when I want a taste of Hawaii! Environmentally, I don't like throwing away the K Cups, so I pull them apart and recycle the foil top and the cup. Clean up is simple and the really large reservoir makes a lot of cups, so you don't have to refill very often.

Definitely a great addition to our home.

Taste

Definitely coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.

Touch

Our new gadget. And tons of tomatoes from the garden. Yum!

The Five

Sight

The Memory of Running: A Novel by Ron McLarty

I'm currently riding high on several great books. I loved this book. It's central character, Smithy Ide is a very overweight, chain smoking, factory worker, who loses his parents in a terrible car crash. While reeling from this situation, he receives a letter that informs him of his mentally ill sisters death in California. So, he hops on his bike and starts to ride to California. And in the process, he loses more and gains more. A great book. I devoured this book while on vacation and am looking forward to reading more of McLarty's work.

This book hit very close to home for me and the author got it dead on. It's not easy to have a mentally ill member of the family. Harder yet is dealing with your own issues when theirs are almost always much bigger. Well done.

Song Yet Sung by James McBride

I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know much about the history of slavery in our country. It's something that I've wanted to learn more about and this book did just that. No, it doesn't detail specifics, but reaches straight into the souls of those people involved in such a horrific business. The traders, chasers, owners, and the slaves themselves are profiled in this amazing novel. I felt like I was right inside the minds of the characters and this book truly opened my eyes to the run away slave's experience. I can't imagine what it would have been like to live this way, denied freedom and treated less humanely than most animals of the time. Please read this book and share it. It's story will haunt you.

On a side note, I found it very interesting how the author incorporated the Dreamer's visions of the future. Thought provoking to say the least. Well done James. Like all good books, I held this one to my chest, sighed, and wished that it didn't have to end.


Sound

The Essential Billy Joel (2CD) by Billy Joel

Oh Billy, I hereby apologize for belting out your tunes and not getting the lyrics right, but I can't help myself. You are timeless. And, I must say, that if I can't hear you in concert, I've just got to get my fix somehow. This CD does it nicely for me.


Scent

Canned spaghetti. Can't school start soon? This is one of Young One's favorite treats and although I know as a mom venturing on a new, healthy lifestyle I should not allow such disgusting food articles in the house, this is one of his quick fix lunches. I'm lowering my standards slightly so that he can make his own lunch. Sometimes, I think, we as moms have to do this in order to boost their self confidence and self sufficiency, right? (A total rationalization of unhealthy behavior, I know. Please forgive me.) We have a delightful high fiber pasta tossed with chunky marinara hidden in the fridge behind the coffee creamer and the Greek olives, but somehow this sickly sweet canned concoction is what he craves. Sigh.

Taste

Definitely not the canned spaghetti, not that I would want it, but those cans are single servings, Young One informed me. Actually, I'm munching on cherry tomatoes from the garden which are sweet and delightfully Point free.

Touch

My new birdhouse, thanks mom. Purchased at a craft fair while on vacation, I got to pick the color. It's bright yellow and looks so great stuck in a flower bed near our red chairs and fire pit. A Debbie Downer informed me that painted birdhouses are toxic to the baby birds, so until I investigate further, I'm blocking the hole with a little netting. It's too late in the season for baby birds anyway, right?

The Five

Rainier Cherries at Pike Place Market Seattle

Sight

Found by by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I'm a big fan of young adult fiction. I read most everything that Young One does. There are some great authors out there and you're missing out if you don't check out these shelves at your library. Don't let the genre fool you, the stories can be very complex and eloquently executed. I'm a Haddix fan. I enjoyed her Shadow Children series. This is a new series. Thirteen years ago a plane suddenly appears on the tarmac of an airport. The plane is empty except for 36 babies. This first book in the series concentrates on the kids, now thirteen years old, how they come together and how they start to unravel where they come from. A great read and one that just begs to be shared with the young ones in your life.

Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West

How have I missed this author? This book tells Renata's story and the story of her parents. You know the story we're talking about. It's the real one of what really happened with her parents and their relationship, not the one that Renata thinks is true, but the truth. It's told from the individual perspectives of all the major characters all filled with their own unique charm. This book gripped me, kept me up late to finish it, and it's depiction of the gulf coast of Alabama is still with me. Brava Michael. I will definitely read more of your work.

Sound

Adele 19 and ABBA's Greatest Hits Gold

An interesting combination, I am sure, but that's my usual. I'm just loving track 9 from Adele. Beautiful. And ABBA, just because I want to reminisce a bit. My brother used to play their albums and I'd sing Dancing Queen into my jump rope microphone. Sweet memories.

Scent

Pancakes. Hodgson Mill Baking Mix comes to the rescue. It's been a busy weekend getting ready to head out of town, so breakfast for dinner it is! I improvised a bit and left out the sugar and the oil in their pancake recipe on the back of the box and subbed two overripe bananas quick defrosted in the microwave. I usually make my own baking mix, but I haven't had the time lately. This mix was a bargain at $2.00 for the box, so it's almost as thrifty as homemade. It's very Point friendly.

Taste

Pancakes with real maple syrup--no substitute at our house. We buy from local producers and it's delicious! A little goes a very long way, I usually only use about a tablespoon for my serving. Drizzled over my pancakes, it's divine without being too high in Points. We served our cakes tonight with fresh Rainier cherries, my favorite summer fruit. I wait for their season every year, but the best ones I've ever had were fresh from Washington and purchased at Pike Place Market in Seattle (see picture above).

If you ever want to impress your guests, bake a simple layered chocolate cake and frost with rich, chocolate frosting. Then, decorate with Rainier cherries. This was D's cousin's wedding cake and I've stolen the idea several times over. Simply beautiful and delicious.

Touch

New clothes! I've dropped another size and nothing fits. It was so fun this weekend trying on sizes I haven't worn in years. And because it's the end of the season, I saved a ton of money. What a great feeling!