Sorry, Henry — Sorry, Clare

I tried – I really did – but The Time Traveler’s Wife just jumped around too much for me to follow at this juncture in time, when I am reading so sporadically. This book has such a unique and interesting premise, but I found, that with very little reading time available at the moment, (and often at the end of the day), that The Time Traveler’s Wife was not getting the true attention it deserved. And by all reports of friends who have read it, it’s tricky to follow anyway. So, back on the shelf it goes, to be picked up when I have the luxury of reading for hours on end and truly appreciating Henry and Clare and their time-spanning relationship.

What, then, should I choose? The finds from the Hunterdon County’s Annual Book Sale beckon! There awaiting me are best-sellers, favorite authors, new-to-me authors, and children’s books – lots of them. Among these are fairly current offerings and some classics. Of the latter are some I have not yet read, like Old Yeller, and some I have, including my current choice – The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

I can remember the copy I borrowed as a child from the Dixon-Homestead Library in the town where I grew up – it was a hardcover, and a medium dark green. I also remember loving it, and am curious to see how it stands up today. Written in 1911, The Secret Garden intermixed some of the history of Burnett’s own life with her imagination, and became instantly popular, and then in time, a classic.

Do you remember reading this as a child?

John Lennon – In Memory

Everyone had a favorite Beatle.  I came to Google yesterday and found it would have been John’s 70th birthday. Fittingly, there was a great graphic and a short play of Imagine. It was actually that song that inspired my blog name. Nice job, Google.

But the song that’s been running through my mind  has been Across the Universe.  “guglielmoniki” did a lovely tribute to him, and I brought it in here for all of his fans. John was my favorite.

My Own Personal Ice Cream Challenge

It’s not that I don’t have more serious things to write about, (Ooooh, like a great movie I just saw!), but sometimes, who wants to be serious!?

Not long ago, a friend had sent me a link where the staff had conducted a taste challenge for chocolate ice cream – a delicious subject for both my friend and me. It didn’t take long to see that these folks had also reviewed and rated vanilla ice cream! In vanilla they only rated 4, not 5.  Though one brand of ice cream is not sold in my area at all – no prob, I have a substitution in mind – and another can only be found an hour away, I decided to do my own rating. Ahhhh, what a dreary task – consuming and rating ice cream!

Below are the rankings for the ice cream as slashfood.com rated them. So far, I have consumed and ranked 2 of them, with my next food shopping bringing home  a third selection.

Chocolate Ice Cream:
1. Friendly’s Classic Chocolate
2. Trader Joe’s Ultra Chocolate (Nearest Trader Joe’s is an hour away in Princeton – I’ll get there!)
3. Turkey Hill Dutch Chocolate
4. Haagen Dazs  Chocolate
5. Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate (not in this area, planning to substitute Blue Bunny)

Vanilla Ice Cream:
1. Trader Joe’s French Vanilla
2. Stonyfield Farm’s Gotta Have Vanilla
3. Blue Bunny Homemade Vanilla
4. Haagen Dazs Vanilla

Perhaps you’d enjoy this little taste test at your home – enjoy! I’ll be back with results when I’m done.

French Bulldog Holiday Cards

It may be early, but for some of you holiday shoppers, I may be right on time! Looking for Christmas/holiday cards that you won’t see just everywhere?

Come visit my Etsy shop — French Bulldog lovers, if you’ve not stopped in before, you’ll find a card that you will love sending, and your recipients will love to get!

Not involved with Frenchies? No matter – these adorable munchkins will charm just about anyone, (unless you’re a curmudgeon of some sort), plus you may find another type card to please you. These are my early season offerings. Will there be more? You’ll have to check and see!

Note: All illustrations, drawings and photographs are © Jeanne Balsam and may not be reproduced in any format without written permission. Thank you!

Are They Here Yet?

“Are they here yet?”

“No, but they will be real soon.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Jeanne puts them up on her web site every year around this time.”

“But how will we know when?”

“Just check Jeanne’s web site a little later … maybe Wednesday morning.”

“Okay. Am I on one of the cards?”

“You’ll have to wait and see, little one. It won’t be long though!”