The Brain That Changes Itself

Finally! I chose a book and have copies available at the library.
It is a non-fiction book titled The Brain That Changes Itself, by Norman Doidge, M.D.
Here is a link to the book's website:

http://www.normandoidge.com/normandoidge/MAIN.html

I hope you enjoy reading it. I am fascinated with our amazing brains - and it is an encouraging message to learn how well equipped they are to face and accomodate change, injury, and other life challenges.

Claudia has picked up her copy and I just sent a copy to Chris. I would like to have our next meeting on Wednesday the 19th at my house - if that works out for everyone. Gerry is out of town until sometime in January, so I hope that he checks in with me when he returns.

I think I will call each of you as well as post this message.

IS ANYONE INTERESTED?

I was wondering if anyone would like to go the the musical "Grease" at the Town Toyota Center on January 16th. I thought it would be a fun group activity.

Let me know!

Planning

Thanks everyone who could make it. I hope I can go see the Basketry in Twisp, Claudia. Next gathering will probably be in late January depending on when we get Esther's selection. Looks like the "location rotation" has been Feb '10 (where? I forgot)) March '10 (Claudia) April '10 (Nancy) May '10 (Chris) July '10 (Gerry) August '10 (I missed it...Nancy's?) Sept '10 (Barbara) Nov '10 (Debbie) Dec '10 (Chris), so Esther, I think you're up!

Basketry Shows

I want to let you know about two basketry shows/sales my work is currently being shown in.

The first is the Northwest Basket Weavers show "Exploring Baskets" which is being held at the Depot Arts Center, 611 "R" St, Anacortes. This show and sale opens Dec 3 and runs through the end of January. The Depot's hours are Tues and Thurs 12:30-5pm and Sat 1-4pm.

The second is the Holiday Gift Sale at Confluence Galley, 104 Glover St in Twisp. This sale runs through the end of December. Confluence Gallery's hours are Wed - Sat 10-3pm.

I was planning to bring flyers along to our gathering last night, but forgot them at home. Please be sure to stop by either gallery if you find yourself in the neighborhood!

Thank you Chris!

We certainly enjoyed our holiday gathering at Chris' home last night. The road was cleared so we were able to arrive without too many challenges. The meal was delicious, as always, and the atmosphere festive with holiday music. We even snuck in a belated birthday for Nancy. Everyone had good comments on "Church of the Dog" and liked this book which was selected by Debbie. Along with our book discussion, we wrapped our children's books which Chris will take to the Entiat Service Club, and we had our gift swap, so we all have new books to enjoy in the year to come. We missed Esther and Debbie, but realize that they both would have joined us if their schedules could have been worked out. Esther's book selection will be next, so she will notify us when it is available, and we will select a meeting date at that time.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Holiday Get-Together!

Hi everyone,

Just a quick reminder that we will be meeting at Chris' home this Wednesday, December 1st, at 6pm. Chris says that her road will be plowed Tuesday, so we should be able to get there.

Chris will be making roast beef, and has suggested bringing either a beverage, a salad, or a vegetable if you want to. Remember to bring a child's book to wrap and a wrapped book to exchange.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Thanks Debbie

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and evening at Debbie's home. Thank you so much, Debbie. And thanks to Aunt Marian for the delicious apple pie! As always, we had a stimulating discussion and several different views. We have selected the date and location for our next meeting. It will be Wednesday, Dec 1st at Chris Mallon's home. This will be our Christmas exchange, so be sure to bring an exchange book and also bring books for children, to be wrapped and donated. Notice: if there is deep snow by this date, we may have to change the location for our get-together. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Water for Elephants

As I hope all have heard by now, our next meeting to discuss Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen has been scheduled for Nov. 1 at Debbie's home. Again, I am slow to get the message on this blog, but hopefully all have been called or emailed. I thought that since I had already read the book, I would skip it this time, but I decided to read it after all. I am surprised at how much I am enjoying it a 2nd time around. Circus life is fascinating to me. Debbie has chosen our next book and I hope to have it available by the time we get together.

By the way, for anyone who would like a ride to Debbie's, Gerry has offered to drive and can carry a total of 4 passengers.

Thank you!

Hi Everyone,

So glad the rain and temperature cooperated and allowed us to have book club. I just wanted to thank everyone for bringing things: wine, beautiful flowers, pluots -- found some new recipes for those :) -- and butter! I appreciate it.

I always look forward to our next gathering and discussion.

Setting next book club date!

Hi Everybody,

Last evening was so nice discussing "Adrift." Esther made it very pleasurable. Thanks for all you did. I'm just glad she didn't plan the food "around the book" like we often do. ROFLOL :) I did not want to eat fish eyeballs for dinner. :)

So is September 15, Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. good for everyone for our next book "Strength In What Remains?

Just let me know if it's a conflict for anyone.

Barbara

Date for the Next Meeting

Hi Everyone,

I would like to plan our next meeting to discuss Adrift, by Steven Callahan, on Tuesday, August 17th at 7:00 in the Meeting Room of the Library. I would like to make it an open to the public meeting, and order pizzas from the Log Cabin. I tried to plan it for the 12th, but the Council meets that night in the room. I hope that this works out for as many of us as possible.

Thanks!
Esther

Next Meeting Set

Hi Everyone,

We will be meeting at Gerry's home on Wednesday, July 21st at 6pm. Gerry will be preparing a main entree and salad. I will bring scalloped potatoes and Nancy will bring dessert. Chris will be driving in from Spokane, so she might be a bit late (hope she doesn't have any traffic issues). I'm sure Esther will think of something delicious. All are invited. Any questions please call Gerry. Looking forward to seeing everyone next week!

Frank Lloyd Wright

After we read "The Women" by TC Boyle, I decided to also read "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan. It was interesting to compare the two books as they gave a slightly different view of FLW. Horan's book was about Maymah and FLW. Horan made FLW appear less unscrupulous than Boyle's portait. She seemed to feel that Frank and Maymah would have stayed together if Maymah hadn't been murdered. This might have happened, but I really don't think they would have based on Boyle's story. I'm sure Frank would have dumped Maymah for someone else at some point. As was commented on during our book discussion, it would have been interesting to know which parts of the story were based on fact and which were fictitious.

Nancy Horan grew up in the neighborhood that Frank and his first wife and family lived in, so she knew the homes he designed and the history of the former occupants. She now lives in the Puget Sound area. I believe this was her first book. It was an okay read, but I preferred TC Boyle's book over Horan's.

I'm plodding through my selection, "When Everything Changed", and am looking forward to our discussion of this book. Looking forward to seeing you all sometime in July!

Need to Change the Date

Hi Everyone,

Is it okay if we change the date for July's book club meeting? I will be up in Stehekin working and will not be back on the ferry in time to prepare dinner.

Let me know what will work.

Since I'm not sure how often people check this, I will call everyone as well. :)

Thanks, Barbara

Walnut Torte with Mocha Icing

Here's the recipe for the dessert we enjoyed at Chris':

Walnut Torte
1 c. ground walnuts (you can substitute almonds or pecans. According to "Joy of Cooking", pecans will yield a richer, moister cake.)
2 T. flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
4 eggs
3/4 c. sugar

Preheat oven to 350*. Prepare an 8" springform pan or two 8" layer pans. (Note: do not grease the sides of the pans. I lined my springform pan with parchment paper for easier removal.) Seperate the eggs. Beat the egg yolks until they are a light, creamy color (approx. 3 minutes). Add the flour and the baking powder. Gradually add the sugar and beat until creamy. In a seperate bowl, beat the egg whites until peaks are stiff but not dry. (Note: as per "Joy", you may add one more egg white for a lighter cake.) Fold the ground nuts and the egg whites into the batter. (You may add the nuts to the batter, but I find this make the batter stiff and harder to fold the egg whites into it.) Pour into prepared pans and bake springform approx. 30 minutes and layer pans approx. 20 minutes. Let cool in pan(s). (The cake will sink while cooling.) Remove and top with Mocha Icing or your favorite.

Mocha Icing
1 c. whipping cream
1 t. instant coffee
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1/3 c. sugar

Beat cream until you have stiff peaks. Add remaining ingredients and beat to combine.

Reading some other good books: The Girls from Ames (audio tape); Feminine Mystique; The Woman's Room...with the current selection and Claudia's coming up, plenty of gender reading!!

Thank you Nancy!

I loved our dinner at Nancy's. The chicken curry, lentils, chapatis were delicious, as are all our meals together. But even more, I enjoy our conversations. I still have a few pages in Three Cups of Tea to finish, but I am so impressed with Greg Mortenson, and his work - humbling and inspiring to realize that one motivated person can make so much of a difference.

We are now reading The Women, by T.C. Boyle. I would be interested in hearing reactions to the book as we go along, if anyone would like to comment here. Sometimes, a thought can be expressed in writing even more easily than in spoken words.

We decided to meet at Chris's house on Monday, May 24 at 6:00 PM..

(If anyone has the ratings for the recently read books that don't have ratings attached, let me know and I can add them. Thanks! )

I'll See You at Nancy's

I have finished reading Chris's book "Tender at the Bone" by Ruth Reichl. This is a fun memoire - interesting stories and recipes too. I enjoyed reading this book and am sure some of you might enjoy it also. I will bring it along with me to Nancy's on Wednesday. If you are interested in reading this book, I'm sure Chris will be glad to loan it to you.

I'm looking forward to our discussion of "Three Cups of Tea". It's quite a story about an amazing individual. I also finished "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein, which I really enjoyed. It was insightful, very funny and at times sad - a sweet story full of the best lessons of life. Who knew one could learn so much from a dog!

Soooo Sorry!

I am so behind on writing this post...!! (and I am behind in my reading). Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 21 at Nancy's , at 6:00 PM. I just checked out a copy of Three Cups of Tea to Geri, who is back from his long respite from our winter. I hope that all of you are doing well, and that you have a wonderful weekend. It is supposed to be in the 70's . Not too conducive to reading, unless you have a hammock! I will try to settle down and make good progress.

For those of you who might like to attend the book discussion of The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein, we are having an open meeting at the Entiat Library on Thursday, April 15 at 7:00 with Pizza and Pop. He will be speaking at an event the following Thursday, the 22nd at 7:00 at the NCRL Distribution Center in Wenatchee.

NEXT MEETING WILL BE MARCH 10TH

Thank you, Debbie, for a wonderful evening and a delicious dinner! It was good to get together and see everyone. We enjoyed having Debbie's father, Wayne, join us for our meal. It was especially good to see Chris, who is now back on her schedule after her knee surgery. She looks good and is getting around very well, which is great to see.

We enjoyed a lively and favorable discussion about Barbara's selection - "Peace Like a River". Esther has communicated with the author on his blogsite and will be sending him some comments and questions that came up during our discussion. Overall, we rated the book a vary favorable 4.85.

A few of us also brought our Christmas exchange books to share, now that we have finished reading them. Feel free to bring any books you may want to share to our next gathering.

Our next book was selected by Debbie and is "Beyond the Sky and Earth" by Jamie Zeppa. This is a book she originally found at the Peshastin book sale. Our get together and discussion for this book will be on March 10th at Claudia's home. Plan on arriving around 5:30 or whenever you can make it.

Enjoy reading and looking forward to seeing you in March!

NEW MEETING DATE

HiHer Everyone,

Got a call from Debbie and find we need to change our meeting date. Her father had a delay for his up-coming move, and Debbie found she would be busy helping him move on Feb 3rd. We decided to change the meeting date to the following Wednesday, February 10th. Still at 6pm and still at Debbie's place on McKittrick. If you would like to carpool, give me or Esther a call as we plan to drive down together.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

NEXT GATHERING

Hello Everyone,

Happy new year to all! We will be having our next get-together at Debbie's home on Wednesday, Feb 3rd at 6pm. We will be reviewing "Peace Like a River". If you are unable to attend, please let Debbie know. I'm looking forward to seeing you all there!