The Girls' Guide to Homemaking

Just finished this book by Amy Bratley. I was attracted to the title - anything to do with homemaking has to be worth a look usually! Read it within 24 hours; it's a pretty lightweight read, but very entertaining, making me laugh out loud in a few places - I think it would make a very good film if someone took up the idea. Based loosely around the advice the main character Juliet finds in an old housekeeping advice book inherited from her aunt, it centres around Juliet's broken family and their attempts to make amends for the past. I liked the cahracterisation, finding them fairly plausible, and there are even a couple of recipes included - one for chocoalte truffles and one for Margeurita cocktails - my sort of book!
Well worth a read for something fairly lightweight.

'I opened the first page of the book to black and white photographs of perfectly groomed smiling women doing their domestic chores. I coudn't decide whether their smiles were through gritted teeth, amphetamine inspired, or genuinely terrifically happy. I flicked through the pages and thought of Violet. She had loved this book, with its advice on candle wax removal and how to look after your husband's shoes. She had grown up in an era when dusting your toaster and making pounds of jam were of utmost importance. A time before women's libbers took a match to their lingerie drawer and made it acceptable for us girls to lie in bed all day doing nothing. There was something comforting about the book - it fitted perfectly with y desire to have a homely home, though I felt mildly guilty for reading it. I'd been educated to think homemaking was a betrayal of feminism, but I didn't understand how sneering at women who chose to work at home, whether at childrearing or homemaking, was in keeping with the cocnept of sisterhood. Shouldn't women support each other's choices, whatever they may be?'

There's also a nice idea for a cocktail of champagne with rose syrup - sounds lovely, will have to try that one!
Let me know if you do read it and what you think.:)) (It's on Amazon)

Wet

Raining here today, but although I got damp on the way to the library it's very welcome for the garden now; we've planted a lot of plants and sown seed, so a good thorough soak is what they need, indeed it's been the dryest March for a while according to one forecast I watched. Gives me the chance to get on with some indoor jobs, though, without feeling I 'should' be outside making the most of the dry and the sunshine.
Knitting madly to get ready to stock up on my Etsy/folksy shops, hoping to get them up and running next week. My craftrom/studio is almost ready, couple more shelves to get put up, then move the last of the stuff around and I can really get stuck in.
Applying for jobs too, have 3 CVs to deliver tomorrow, all cooking/catering, but it's my choice of work now I have to go back, but part-time or full-time would both suit at the moment. I may find my age against me, though, and the fact I've been away from full-time employment for some 19 odd years! I've also approached a local wool company to ask if they need any knitters, and am awaiting a response from them - would help keep the wolf from the door a bit if I could get into that.
However, staying optimistic and hopeful, something will turn up and I've plenty to keep me busy in the meantime.
OH was amazed to hear I've never actually been bored in my life, and it's true, I can honestly say I never have. I can sit still and do nothing, but I'm never actually bored. How about you?

Creative Living forum

We had a bit of a glitch last week, when the forum was 'off air' for quite a while - about a day and a half I reckon. However, the Froum provider I use for it is excellent, and they are very quick to pick up on anything going awry and sorting it out as fast as they can, so all credit to them. This , coupled with a not wonderful signal at home has meant that I appear not to have been onlne as much as usual, but I hope that is sorting itself out. My studio/workroom usptairs is almost sorted out and ready for use, and I will be using my trusty laptop up there, where it can be permanently left out ready for use; thus, you should see a bit more of me, so to speak.
The other thing that I picked up on last week whilst the forumw as down is that some people seem to think I'm giving up the forum, or had closed it down or similar. I can assure you that nothing is further from the truth. It's been going 6 years now, and is as healthy as always, although a few bits and peices need updating, which I will get to as soon as I can. So, it's not closing down, I'm still head honcho, I'm not moving it, selling it, or handing the reins over to anyone else - it's still my baby! lol Everyone is welcome - come on over for a look, join in if you like, and have your say :))

Link in the sidebar on the right :)