Chapter Twelve continued “Your mother is inviting me to tea this afternoon,” Elaina said as her eyes re-read the words for the third time. “My mother is what?” “Tea,” Elaina said, looking up at him. “Rose wants me to have tea with her. Just her and me. Should I be worried?” Robert scratched at his ear, an uncomfortable look on his face. “I don’t know, Elaina. I really don’t.” Elaina carefully laid the invitation alongside her plate. She pressed her fingers down firmly over it to stop them from shaking even a little. Rose hadn’t been particularly unpleasant, but neither had she been anything more than a frigid ice sculpture,…
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Novel Excerpt: Blood and Silver by Vali Benson
The Lily Cafe is thrilled to present author Vali Benson and her historical novel Blood and Silver! Title: Blood and Silver Author: Vali Benson Publisher: Tellwell Talent Publication date: April 2, 2020 Genre: Historical Fiction What is a twelve year old girl to do when she finds herself in the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1880, and her only home is a brothel and her only parent is a drug-addicted mother? If she is Carissa Beaumont, she outsmarts the evil madam and figures a way out. After tricking the madam, Miss Lucille, into summoning a doctor for her mother, Lisette, she discovers that Miss Lucille has been drugging her. She and the…
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Italy is a Lovely Place to Read About
This thought came to me as I was reading a book that’s partially set in Firenze, Italy and partially in a fantasy setting based on Firenze. Whenever I picked it up, I couldn’t help but think back on the, apparently, many books I’ve read that have taken place in Italy. I guess I really like Italy? I’ve been once, a long time ago. My family took a tour through part of Europe and traveled through Venice, Milan, and Verona. I enjoyed most of it, but became mildly sea sick on the canals of Venice and almost drenched in Verona after baking in Venice and Milan. Since then, I’ve found myself…
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Berry Yogurt Tart (revisited)
Wow, this one was from about 2 years ago, when my mom and I used to take my baby and toddler to the local farmer’s market and buy up some French-style yogurt. Now I’m too paranoid to go to farmer’s markets, but am really suddenly missing this yogurt, and the too good berry tarts I used to make with them. First published July 20, 2018 When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had to go in every week for a progesterone shot (thanks to my son who decided to be born early). Most days were fairly routine: get my son into the car, drive over, get (progesterone) shot. But,…
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Adventures in Ratio Baking: Let’s Talk About Meringue
Did you know meringue also has a ratio to it? I didn’t, either, until almost a year ago. I had always strictly followed a recipe because the first time I tried to make it had been a complete disaster. That was also almost 9 years ago, so I’ve come a long way since! The ratio for meringue is so simple. It’s 2:1 sugar to egg whites. All you need to do is weigh the egg whites and then double that amount to get the amount of sugar you’ll need. The sugar is usually granulated sugar, but I’ve also used powdered sugar to no disastrous results. Now let’s go over the…
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Book Review: What You Wish For by Katherine Center
Title: What You Wish For Author: Katherine Center Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Publication date: July 14, 2020 Genre: General Fiction, Women’s Fiction Summary: Samantha Casey is the librarian at the Kempner School where the founder and principal Max Kempner believes in making school joyful. It’s an incredible, warm, colorful school that’s really focused on the students’ needs. Until Max dies and the board installs a new principal, someone from Sam’s past. She remembers Duncan Carpenter as being fun, silly, and colorful, but the man she comes face to face with is anything but. War between him and the teachers ensue, but Max’s widow has a card up her sleeve and, maybe, Duncan isn’t quite the stick…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 34
Chapter Twelve Isabelle didn’t know who I was. It was refreshing. She’d been dragged to Mother’s latest garden party by her roommate. She’d just moved to the area and hadn’t heard about the recluse in Roderick Hall. She was able to get to know me with fresh eyes and heart, but she had moved here after having her heart crushed. Her heart was not ready to let go of the man who had shattered her. She was a wonderful friend, but couldn’t see us being anything more. I planted the __ in her honor. And I mean that. It was an honor to have been her friend. Lunch was nearly…
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Book Review: Or What You Will by Jo Walton
Title: Or What You Will Author: Jo Walton Publisher: Macmillian-Tor/Forge Publication date: July 7, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Sylvia Harrison is a bestselling author nearing the end of her life. After her husband’s death, she travels to Firenze, Italy to write her final novel. Traveling with her is our unnamed narrator, a being who has been Sylvia’s companion for countless years. He fears her death, but knows of a way for them to live forever. He just has to convince her to do it. As a writer who has had countless discussions with the people in her head, I was immediately drawn to this book. I was also intrigued because it involved possibly entering one’s own…
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How I’m Coping With the Pandemic
About 4 months ago, our school district shutdown and we started school from home. About a week after that, our mayor, and then our governor, shut down the county and state, respectively. About a month and a half ago, reopening in our county began. It wasn’t looking good, but it wasn’t horrendous, either. I was actually getting quite excited about all the things I might be able to do in July. Like go to the beach or take my kids to the zoo. Basically anything to get them out and about, at least a little. I had been cautiously optimistic that the numbers would stay low, that it would be kind…
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Safer at Home Order Journal #8.5
My sweet little boy, Earlier this week you turned 6. It hurt my heart that it wasn’t much more than letting you have pizza for lunch and cereal for dinner, and not having to do all of your summer educational activities. Usually, we celebrate by going to Disneyland, but, well, that’s closed, and the reopening delayed. There’s been a bad spike in cases. Last Friday, right before the Fourth of July, there were over 3000 cases. Before then, the governor had started rolling back reopenings in several counties, including our own. Even taking you to a park to run around wasn’t in the cards because, frankly, without access to the…
