bookworm

ahhh hugo. 

i began les misérables last night. i'm only about 150 pages in right now, but with the exception of making dinner and writing this post i cannot put it down. 

there is just something about the classics. 

hugo is quickly making his way to the top of my list in the good company of charlie dickens and ms. jane austen. 

i don't understand people who don't like to read. there are so many good books out there, so many stories to get wrapped up in - to snuggle down deep and absolutely fall in love with.

i'm also baffled by the sheer multitude of books which seem to multiply themselves on my bookcases. there's a part of me that wants to simplify life and live in this house until i die. but, there is also the part of me that wants a house with a library filled to the brim with classics that i yearn to read over and over again. said library would have to come fully furnished with floor to ceiling bookshelves, ladders that reach to the top, a fireplace, cozy reading chairs and lots of blankets. basically - picture the library in beauty and the beast and you'll pretty much understand what i'm talking about. only i would prefer a 3 dimensional, non-animated version.

i've been inspired by so much lately. 

saturday kelly and i went shopping, and then joined mum to see the movie julie & julia. it was a fabulous movie for the cook in each of us. after it ended we proceeded straight to the bookstore to check out "mastering the art of french cooking" - alluded to in the movie and written primarily by none other than mrs. julia child herself.  in the end kelly and i decided on a smaller version of that amazing cookbook which concentrates less on aspics and things we don't make too much of anymore, and more on the classics. 

to say the least the movie inspired me to start trying new things again. thus far this week has included: margherita pizza (although i didn't make the crust due to monday's time constraints), chicken with couscous, spinach and feta - which i thought was divine, but for my husband who, admittedly, does not enjoy sophisticated tastes, the delightful flavor of the couscous was not so delightful - he did enjoy the chicken though. tonight we had baked manicotti, which in my opinion didn't do enough to highlight the three cheeses baked into it, but i'll probably make some adjustments and try it again. i even had one fancy lunch which consisted of portobello mushroom & gorgonzola ravioli with a combination of alfredo and vodka sauces. mmm, mmm. delish. 

despite the craziness of the past couple weeks, i'm thankful that i've discovered and in some cases, rediscovered ways to find inspiration. i'm so very grateful for the grace i've been shown and the gifts i've been given. 

i'm off to shower and re-immerse myself in jean valjean's world.

"let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

since as members of one body you were called to peace.

and be thankful."

colossians 3:15