Shutter Island

Anyone else read Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane?

Please notice I am not necessarily recommending it. The book is about the events that occur over a 4 day period at a hospital for the criminally insane which is located on Shutter Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. The plot is very disturbing, violent and extremely confusing but I would also say it is a well-written book. I have been googling various sites looking for clues to the ambiguous events in the book and most people seem about as confused as I am. If you read the book, send me an email... I have several thoughts. Do they still sell Cliff Notes? If so, I sure need them for this book.

No, I am not going to see the movie that is coming out in a week. I am almost always disappointed with books that have been made into movies. Also, I do not enjoy scary movies and this one could be terrifying.

P.S. I reread the book. The 2nd time though was easier as I knew what sections I needed to examine closely and I was able to catch all the clues that helped me understand the ending. I think I really liked this book AND I am kind of surprised at myself....I would like to go see the movie!

Dish Rags

I wash the dishes in our house. (Well, most of the time. The ones that need scrubbing, at least.) Thus, I choose the tools for washing the dishes. I have to say: I'm a dish rag holdout. Modern science has brought us sponges with all manner of scrub-brush attached, but I still prefer a simple, cotton, knitted, dish rag.

This does mean that I've worn through a few rags in my time. One thread gives, then another, until I'm spending more time manipulating the rag to find a solid patch than I am actually scrubbing anything.

Such was the case last weekend. I pulled the oldest dish rag out of the drawer, and mumbled something to the effect of, "It might be time to start watching for a craft sale." The best rags are the hand-knitted ones you find all over the corner table at the charity fair (or made by your mother-in-law), of course.

Amanda turned and said, "You know, those really aren't that hard to make."

Music to a hobbyist's ears. "Oh really?"

"Absolutely. Simple, introductory, knitted square."

She saw the twinkle in my eye before I said anything. "Have any yarn?"

Of course, Amanda had yarn. And, one of the reasons I married her, she was ready to spend a few minutes teaching me. So now, three hours and a couple of aching knuckles later, I have new dish rags.



Mine's the shaky one on the left. Amanda made the one on the right, so she'd have examples to show me at the right times.

An interesting skill. I wonder if I'll ever find the time to go back and try the many different twists and loops I kept pestering Amanda about. She's just sure that there's a Knitting Anarchists Society, known for breaking all the rules, which I should seek out.

Snow Shoeing and a Giant Tree

I've been doing a lot of snowshoeing this winter. Maine has had a ton of snow lately, although I am afraid most of it will be gone after it rains tomorrow. Maybe we will be able to ice skate then.

Last weekend, a couple friends and I climbed up Bald Mountain. Here are a couple pictures of us. From the left we have my roommate Nate, our friends Sara and Mike, and me!
And a jumping one!

Also, last weekend a group of us went down to Yarmoth (a town about an hour south of where I live) to look at the tallest and oldest Elm tree in New England. It took all 6 of us to hold hands around its trunk! The tree, named Herbie, has been protected since the 50's when the tree warden decided if he couldn't save all the trees from Dutch Elm Disease, he would at least save one. Sadly, it was cut down a couple days after we visited because of Dutch Elm Disease. You can read the article about the tree here
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34765157/ns/us_news-life/

Here is a picture of me by its trunk.

Croissants!

On our honeymoon, we became morning regulars at a cafe across the street from the Vltava. Our first visit was mere chance: it was the first café we passed on our morning walk. Chance had nothing to do with our second visit. We we after one thing: freshly-made croissants. Flaky, buttery, delicious croissants.

In a fit of nostalgia (and my typical hobbyist curiosity), I decided I just had to take a shot at making my own croissants. After having to abandon plans last weekend, when I realized that time constraints meant we wouldn't be eating croissants until Wednesday, I got on the ball this weekend. Fresh out of the oven:



A second attempt will be required to apply the lessons I've learned (proper shaping, attention to temperatures and egg wash, air-tight sealing…), but they are tasty, even if not beautiful. I've been given assurance that they'll pass for this week's breakfast. ;)

(By the way, they pair wonderfully with the peach-ginger jam Rachel gave us for Christmas. Thanks!)

Beads!

When we went to the fair trade store in Fond du Lac after Christmas, I bought a bag of really cool paper beads. Yesterday, I bought some findings, and today I made five pairs of earrings and a bracelet.


We've had an incredibly productive Sunday. We went to the gym for the beginner yoga class - not what I would consider beginner level, but it was a good workout. We ran a few errands and ended up at a new Asian grocery called H-Mart. Lovely meat/fish, an entire wall of rice cookers, a food court, a diamond merchant, and a toy store - completely packed with people! We'll have go again when it's not so busy, but we got some fun things to try.

Breakfast on the Wing

Yesterday morning Jeff was standing at the sink looking at the birdfeeder. The birds, mostly sparrows, fly back and forth from the evergreens by our house to the birdfeeder all day long. All of a sudden "swoosh" our resident red-tailed hawk flew between the house and the bird feeder picking up a sparrow in mid-air. Wow. Guess trimming the trees really helped the hawk-a larger airspace now around the feeder.

I wonder if the hawk knows what happened to my bunny. I had been feeding him hay in hopes he would leave my shrubs alone and suddenly the bunny has disappeared. Hum?

Color

I felt the need for the colors of winter. Anyone have any winter pictures from Christmas I can use behind the blog's title?

I know, the "Fresh Bait" is hard to read over the photo of the trees.  But, it is a nice photo.

Quilts

So nice to see you posted a picture Jackie. I am perplexed as blogger seems to have improved (changed) the menu bar. Lots of fancy options now, but I can't seem to find the spell check - which it what I use the most......

Thought those who quilt might appreciate a look at my neighbor Judy's quilt. Her first needle-turned hand appliqued quilt. It won first prize at the Oshkosh Guilds EAA show last summer (forgot the category). Most of Judy's quilts have houses on them.

A Learning Experience!

Amanda is teaching me how to post pictures on the blog, and I really liked this one! Such beautiful nieces we have!

It's Snowing!

Good morning, everyone!

It's snowing here - very pretty, and falling determinedly. We were going to go to a new yoga class this morning...but I think we'll just stay home. It's cozy here, and the driveway isn't plowed yet.

We had an incredibly productive Saturday. Laundry, grocery store, made and canned applesauce, baked a giant squash for soup, dried apples, and Christmas movie. Today, we have to finish wrapping some gifts and write those darned Christmas cards.

Have a nice day, everyone! See you on Friday!