Re-reading A Favorite Christmas Book

 

This is one I re-read almost ever year

Laura Lippman Writes a Cozy

 

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

Laura Lippman writes a cozy?  Heck yeah, and knocks it outta the park!

 

I am a huge Laura Lippman fan, first discovering her through her Tess Monagan novels, and have followed her somewhat religiously since.  She has yet to disappoint.

I also adore France. The cruise Mrs. Blossom is on somewhat follows the itinerary of the cruise my husband and I took took last December and I felt like this was my book to love.  I was not let down.

Spending time with Muriel Blossom, sharing her adventures (and misadventures) has me  hoping maybe we'll travel with her again in the future.  It wasn’t love from page one, but it grew, as Mrs. Blossom herself grew, to become another Lippman novel to love and recommend.  Muriel attracts some interesting folks, learns to open herself to new experiences and to trust her own instincts.  

During our time traveling together, we watch Mrs. Blossom grow from being an insecure woman of a certain age who depends on others to help her make it through situations outside her comfort zone to becoming one strong fierce woman. Sure of herself and the choices she's making.  And learning to accept those choices already made with grace.

And it was huge fun to see what Tess and Crow have been up to!

I was lucky enough to get Murder Takes a Vacation through NetGalley with no promise of a review.  Publication isn't until June, but it's available to be pre-ordered.

The Price of Eggs

 Today

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

This is what I paid for eggs.

Honestly, I haven't paid as much attention to the price of eggs as some folks.

I am aware of the high cost of groceries.

I try to shop sales.

Today I needed eggs.

This is what I bought.

https://shop.lowesfoods.com/products/lowes-foods-extra-large-grade-a-dozen-white-eggs/67226

Lowes Foods Extra Large Grade A Dozen White Eggs

$4.19

12ct($0.35/ct)

There was no big decision making behind this purchase.

I needed eggs.

And then . . .

This evening I read something at Facebook that came very close to making my head explode (which is happening more and more and is WHY I am trying to limit my time there except to check on friends, follow my favorite pages about art, books, food, and travel that do bring me joy).

This is that post posted by NBC

Elon Musk leads charge to kill spending bill meant to avert government shutdown

The tech billionaire posted about the funding bill more than 100 times Wednesday, helping lead a charge that appears to have increased the likelihood of a shutdown.

The whole article can be read here

  * * *

Here' a response from the always plain spoken Jim Wright. 

"The Republican House had a consensus and the votes needed to keep the government from shutting down at midnight this coming Friday. 

Then Elon Musk went on his social media platform and in a series of unhinged insane rants opposed the legislation. 

So, of course, Trump now opposes it too. 

Which means the House has now fallen into screaming and shouting and utter failure. They don't have any back up plan. They were betrayed by their own leaders and an embarrassed red faced Speaker Johnson has been left holding his ... Johnson. 

He should probably get used to that feeling. 

Why the hell would Republicans shoot down their own plan? Why would they support it? Why would they do anything? 

Republicans cannot govern. 

Can not. Will not. Are simply incapable of governing and have no interesting in learning how. 

Republicans cannot govern.

They are no longer capable of effective, or even ineffective, government. 

Republicans cannot govern. This is true no matter how many times we are dumb enough to run this experiment. Republicans, or MAGAs since that's what they are nowadays, destroy, they burn, they rape and pillage, they liquidate divisions to momentarily maximize shareholder value and then they cash out. They have no interest beyond profit. They no longer build. They do not create. They cannot govern because good government is utterly at odds with their miserable ideology of greed, fear, and destruction. It's just that simple. 

Trump wants the government to shut down. 

He wants economic chaos right before Christmas. 

What he REALLY wants is for Joe Biden to end in failure, or at least the public perception of such, so he can claim he inherited a democratic disaster and "fixed" it.

This is the entire concept of his plan. "

And that's all he's got."

And THIS is the sort of complete and total ignorance and incompetence we'll be living with for the next several years.  And still "they" will squawk and holler about the price of eggs.  Just wait, kiddos, just you wait.  You ain't seen nothing yet. In the meantime, Imma gonna be watching the price of eggs . . .  

You may remember we were told by this incoming felon person that he was going to lower gocery prices.  But then he said well, maybe not 'cause it would be hard to do.

Sweet Jesus . . . . . . . .

Merry Christmas from Annabelle

 

Feeling Pissy

 

So.

Yes.

I am feeling pissy.

About a lot of things - my social security and if I'm going to lose it, for one (that tops the list today).

But the thing I cannot shake but hope writing about it helps, is something that happened on Facebook several years ago.  

Years ago.

But it has stayed with me. 

The argument about saying "Merry Christmas" OR "Happy Holidays" had raised its tired old head.  

I (a non-church going person) am NOT going to apologize for thinking this is a tired argument.

I stated my perspective which was, and still is, that when people (including myself) say Merry Christmas it isn't said with malice and should not (in my mind and heart) be taken as such.

I (as I believe most people do) honestly simply say it during this celebrated of seasons as a greeting of good wishes without any deeper thought.

But - a person who I do not know personally, but only virtually through my group of reading/writing friends brought me soundly to task, called me a racist and blocked me.

No one, before or since, has called me a racist and it still hurts and I am still pissed about it.

And now I interchangeably say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" but neither comes with much joy, truth be told, but with trepidation.

And, right now especially, I feel the need for joy and damn it, I guess I have allowed someone I've never even met permanently steal a little of it away from me.

If he was still my Facebook "friend" I would say what I should have said back then - Fuck you and the reindeer you rode in on.

To the rest of you -

Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays!

 (choose one and know I sincerely wish you well).

Chocolate Bundt Cake

 

One more reason I love being a retired person.

I had a hankering for chocolate cake, and was in the mood for baking.

Result -

yum

Chocolate Cake for Breakfast ❤

4.92 from 298 votes

Chocolate Bundt Cake

This easy homemade Chocolate Bundt Cake recipe is heavenly, topped with chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips. 

Prep Time15minutes mins

Cook Time45minutes mins

Total Time1hour hr

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

 

Servings: 14

 

Calories: 580kcal

 

Author: Lauren Allen

Equipment

• Bundt pan

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup oil (vegetable or canola oil)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips , plus more for sprinkling on top of cake (optional)

For the ganache:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

For the Chocolate Bundt Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.


• Grease and flour a standard size bundt pan (make sure to grease it really well so the cake doesn't stick! I spread a thin layer of shortening all over the inside of the pan, then sprinkle a little flour all around and pat and shake the pan until it is evenly coated.)  
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, set aside.
• Add butter to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once butter has melted, stir in oil, cocoa powder and water and bring mixture just to a boil, whisking constantly. Pour hot butter mixture into flour mixture and stir. 
• Stir in buttermilk, eggs and vanilla and whisk mixture until well combined. Fold in mini chocolate chips, if using.
• Pour mixture into prepared bundt pan and bake 45-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. 
• Cool cake in the pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely. 
Once cake has cooled, make ganache.

For the ganache:  (edit - i did not do this ganache. I melted some white chocolate and put on top).

• 
Place cream in a large microwave safe bowl and heat for about 2 minutes, or until the cream is simmering.

• Carefully pour chocolate morsels into cream and allow mixture to sit for 5 minutes. Whisk the chocolate and cream until shiny and smooth, about 1 minute. 

• Use a large spoon to drizzle the ganache over the cooled cake. Sprinkle with remaining mini chocolate chips, if desired.

Notes

Make ahead and Freezing Instructions: ?

The cake can be made and frosted up to 2 days before serving. The cake can be frozen frosted, or unfrosted. To freeze lightly cover it with plastic wrap and freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 316mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 53g | Vitamin A: 597IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 2mg

https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/chocolate-bundt-cake/

Delish!!

Learning New Stuff

I love that there is always something new to be learned.

It doesn't have to be something big, just new.

Like a little gift.

Today's little surprise gift found me, as it often does truth be told, via David Lebovitz.

I adore David Lebovitz.

His substack column is one I rely on for simple pleasure.

Today's column is about measuring cups. 

And more.

And I learned a little French phrase that I wish I thought I might remember because, to me, it sums up so much so perfectly.

I 'm sharing this snippet from Mr. Lebovitz for a bit of context:

" . . . considering there are words in French for everything from flâneur, describing someone who likes to go for a stroll, to having a bouffée delirante, a psychotic disorder that Wikipedia describes as “uniquely French,” . . .

So.

That's it then.

I now know that I have been suffering, since election day, une bouffée delirante

Thank you, David.  Nice to be able to put a name to it.

Sad to know I, along with so many, will be suffering this disorder for at least four years, but in all honesty probably much, much longer.

God help us.

Edvard Munch

This Little Angel

 Turns 40 this year

❤ 🎅 ❤ 🎄 ❤ 🤶 ❤

Holiday Novels

 

I have completely immersed myself in Christmas over the past few weeks, including my reading.  It's a bit of self-care I'm in need of right now.

Not all holiday novels are my cup of tea, but here's a few I have enjoyed.

Highlands Christmas Wishes Come True by Amy Quick Parrish

• Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin

• 
  
  

The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley

• Christmas with the Knights by Hannah Langdon

• Tis The Season For Secrets by Kate Callaghan

• Holiday Hideaway A Short Story by Mary Kay Andrews

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson

• A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn

• Christmas at a Highland Castle by Rachel Barnett

• 'Tis the Damn Season by Fiona Gibson

• Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

• 
  

And now I'm off to search for another . . .

'Tis the Season!!!