Today's Recommendations...

It's been  a while since I shared a recipe with you, and this one is certainly worth sharing. It's  a new one to me- I just found it a few weeks ago on a Blog I now follow regularly: Mennonite Girls Can Cook. If you aren't familiar with this wonderful blog- do yourself a favour and start having a look on a regular basis. There are lots of great recipes there and they are all catalogued on the left sidebar so it's easy to find anything, or browse a category. The one I will recommend today is the Oatmeal Toffee  Cookies with Hazelnuts. They are divine!!! I followed the recipe exactly, except I used dark chocolate chips instead of white chocolate. They were SOOO good.. and believe me they didn't last long. The hazelnuts were a pleasant change from the walnuts, almonds or pecans I usually use. Sorry- no pics- we ate them all before I even thought of taking a photo! But there is one on their blog with the recipe. Go ahead- give them a try next time you make cookies. You know you want to!!

I have finished Caleb's Crossing. It was a good read, but I cannot say I liked it quite as well as the other two books by Geraldine Brooks I have read. Although the story is fictional, "Caleb" Cheeshahteaumauk was a real person and was the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College. Set in the mid 1600's, this story follows his unlikely friendship with Bethia Mayfield, the daughter of a white English Puritan Calvinist Minister in the small settlement on Martha's Vineyard, and their ensuing difficulties as they each try to pursue an education. They both struggle with the cultural and intellectual differences that divide their two very different cultures.I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

Another recommendation: (I'm just full of ideas tonight, aren't I?) If you ever have a chance to see one of the Wingfield plays starring Rod Beattie, RUN to get a ticket. I attended Wingfield's Inferno on Sunday afternoon past, at our local theatre; it is the sixth in the Wingfield series, and continues the hilarious hijinks of Walt on his farm in Persephone Township in Southern Ontario. Laughter truly is good for the soul and you can be guaranteed a huge dose of laughter at any Wingfield play. Rod Beattie does an amazing job (each Wingfield play is a one man show) of changing his voice and expressions to bring to life all the unforgettable "characters" in the community. I LOVE his performances, he is so very talented. The continual laughter felt sooo good...

I was out doing a little photography this morning... come back tomorrow to see what wildflowers I was chasing today...  In fact I'll leave you with a little puzzle- can anyone tell me what this plant/flower is? I'll reveal the answer tomorrow. It is a spring wildflower with a woodland habitat, although this clump is in a friend's garden...

Peace,
Linda

He who laughs, lasts....