Sunday, March 8, 2009

Sunday Salon


For the first time in a while, a quiet Sunday. Last night was my last baking class at Cambridge Culinary, and we made the most delicious cakes and frostings ever. And I really do mean that. I made a white cake with chardonnay (yum!) and chocolate buttercream frosting. It was a dream. I have to say my favorite thing was the toasted coconut cupcakes with cream cheese frosting that one of the instructors made. I took home as many as I could get my hands on- because no one else wanted them, and they were (are!) exquisite. I just had some chocolate or I would go have one right now, with a big glass of milk.

Anyway so I'm not just eating today. I'm reading, too, and if I'm very lucky I might even be able to go to a bookstore. The past couple of weeks have been very, very busy- I've had very little access to my computer and I'm way behind on reviews and on comment-catching-up and blog-visiting, but I'll try to get caught up soon. I finished three books in the last two weeks- The Funeral Party, by Ludmila Ulitskaya, which was lovely, The Translator by Leila Aboulela, also wonderful, and From There You Shall Seek, a rather serious theological tome by Joseph Soloveitchik which I had to review for a professional journal. I probably will not post my review of that book here on the blog, unless one of you tells me you are interested. It's on the academic side to put it mildly and I'm not sure how interested folks would be. But if you are, let me know, and I'll gladly repost my little review.

Now I'm happily involved in Muriel Barbery's The Elegance of the Hedgehog, and a manuscript of my husband's novel-in-progress. He's writing a science-fiction novel about a man trapped in a dream state. It's very good so far- and I'm not just saying that cause I'm more or less obligated to! It's shaping up to be a real page-turner. He's off at his writing group right now, and I'm enjoying a little quiet Sunday time. What are you enjoying today?

12 comments:

RuthDFW said...

You should post your review, you never know who might find it of interest.

Lenore Appelhans said...

I planned to have a quiet weekend reading and cleaning. But it's turned out quite social with lots of friends dropping by unannounced.

wisteria said...

I have no sweets in my house, a ton of work to do and you are making me soooooo hungry for yummies. I think I'll have to bake a cake or something. Have a nice quiet weekend reading...the temperature must be beautiful there.

Anonymous said...

I'm interested in reading the theological review as well. And of course hearing more details on the cake with chardonnay mixed in!

Meytal Radzinski said...

You'd be surprised in regards to the academic review. While I won't deny that a lot of people would probably be bored and just pass it over, anything described as "a rather serious theological tome" sounds intriguing to me, if only because I'm curious as to what it references. Academic read or not, it's still a book and we could probably learn quite a bit from your review. So I too toss my hat into the "post the review" column.

As for my reading plans, I'm aiming to pass the 150-page threshold of my current read, which is taking a bit longer than I expected. I figure a couple hours concentration should help me reach that number...

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I've spent most of the day reading What Really Matters: Searching for Wisdom in America. Here and there, I found it a bit out there, but the parts about meditation in all its guises and its benefits were intriguing.

Vasilly said...

I would love to take a cooking class one day! I'm also reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Have a great week!

bermudaonion said...

Your baking class sounds like so much fun!

kalea_kane said...

I think you should post your review too! And your husband's manuscript sounds very interesting. Tell him on the premise alone...I'd read it! I am a very lucid and vivid dreamer and I would LOVE to read something like you describe! :)

PS Your desserts sounded divine!

Kelly :)

Ana S. said...

Your cooking class sounds like so much fun! And I say post the review too.

Today I picked up Sara Zarr's Sweethearts just to read the first chapter, even though I was in the middle of other books. And well, I ended up reading the whole thing. That happens to me so often with YA.

Kitten said...

I was drooling over your baked goodies...yummy...

Today I've been reading up a storm. Finished Note to Self, and am continuing with Pillars of the Earth. It's been the most relaxing day I've had in weeks...

Shana said...

That cake you made sounds delicious, Marie. What a fun class it must have been.