Saturday, February 9, 2013

Saturday Stuff


A day of odds and ends!

-- I am reading the best book: "Wild," by Cheryl Strayed. I know some of my readers have read it because they've mentioned it on their blogs. I literally cannot put it down. It's a combined memoir and outdoor adventure story about a woman who's been through some rough patches (and, it must be said, made some poor life choices) hiking the Pacific Crest Trail solo. The interesting thing is, I'm not sure how much I like her, but I still love the story. It makes me want to hike and camp myself! (If I do, I'll have to do it solo, because Dave would never go for it.) It's really about the transformative experience, the personal purging that goes with dropping everything and striking out on something new. Having done that several times, I can relate!

-- Have you seen the news about horse meat creeping into the ground beef supply in England? It's been all over the news here. Beef or beef products purchased from suppliers in Ireland and on the continent have been proven to contain some degree of horse meat. In one case, it was nearly all horse meat. Personally, I haven't been too upset about this, even though we buy ground beef. I don't particularly want to eat horse, but is it really all that different from eating a cow? Frankly, I'd rather make lentils.


-- Here's our little avocado plant, complete with some fresh growth for spring. It came through the winter just fine. When the weather warms up I hope to put it out on the balcony so it can get some outdoor time.


-- And finally, here's the shopfront whose evolution I tracked in a post a couple of weeks ago. Looks like they're finished with it now. I think it came out pretty well, and I'm glad to see they kept their potted bamboo, though they have pushed it off to the side.

(Top photo: Notting Hill, last night.)

7 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

I was torn about that book. I did like it but there was something about it that put me off.
Your avocado is beautiful! It looks beloved and loved!

ellen abbott said...

How the hell do you pronounce the store's name? And since there isn't second floor, where does the far right door go?

Steve Reed said...

Ms Moon: For me, it's the author. I think she treats people badly and seems a bit hungry for male approval. But to her credit, she describes her actions candidly and allows the reader to emerge feeling that way -- she doesn't try to make herself a saint.

Ellen: I think it's Soler, pronounced like solar power? There actually IS an upstairs -- the deck on the roof of the shop connects to an upstairs apartment in back.

Nancy said...

That pink with the Old Glory curtain, yep.

Wild is on my list, but I'm not in a hurry to get to it. Probably got 15 reads in front of it.

Wayne said...

That book sounds interesting. Have you ever read 'Into the wild' by John Krakaeur? I loved the film.

Anonymous said...

Excellent transformation on the store and love the colorful pink...unique for sure. Horse meat...first I hear of this. Love cows but will eat beef, love Bambi but will eat venison, love horses...can't do it! Yikes!

37paddington said...

That little pink house is adorable, especially photographed in that light. I have been fantasizing about hiking a trail solo, so maybe i should read that book.