No words — just love

 

Photo by Connie Stover

My Uncle Bob

My dear Uncle Bob is dying.

(this is Bob, on the right, with my husband in Muir Woods several years ago.)

Those are tough words to write…but having suffered the ravages of Alzheimer’s, the doctors tell us Bob is in his last days.

Connie — his lover, partner, best friend and wife has been with him every step of this horrible journey and she is steadfast with him even now — holding his hand, caressing his brow and giving him the little snippets of love he can still understand.

His son has been at his side, his sister (my mother) has reminisced with him almost daily about their childhood memories, friends and neighbors call in to discuss sports or his beloved dogs, but now there is nothing more to be done.  It’s just a matter of time — so they say. Bob stopped eating and taking liquids days ago.  Many have weighed in and pray he will go quickly rather than suffer any more — but I wonder.

Why is he still here?

I think Uncle Bob is hanging on – because he feels the enormous love surrounding him.  Why not struggle to stay here in this world just a little bit longer? Why not, despite all odds, stay with his most beloved — just to feel those moments of connection -and perhaps even happiness?

None of us know what the dying feel in their last days, but I hope they know the love of all their cherished ones, both present and past, who surround them at the end.

Maybe Uncle Bob isn’t actually suffering as much as he is clinging to the world he just can’t say goodby to – at least not yet – no not quite yet OK?.

I love you Uncle Bob.

 

The Great British Baking Show

I first learned about this British show from one of my favorite book blogs: Stuck in a Book. Between book blogging, Simon has done recaps of every show airing in the U.K.  The recaps were fun, but not having seen the show I couldn’t really understand the UK obsession –

until now…

Produced in the UK under the name The Great British Bake Off, The Great British Baking Show is now airing on PBS.  After watching the opening episode (the show airs just before Downton Abby) I must confess — I’m hooked.

I’m not a fan of competitive cooking shows — here in America they tend to be glaringly star-studded, overly wrought and focused on the competition versus the actual food.  They contrive to whip the contestants into hysteria and seem to encourage unnecessarily ruthless competition.  Ugh, count me out.

So I was surprised to find myself both enthralled and charmed by this program.   The Great British Baking Show takes place in a huge white tent oddly planted in the park at Downton Abbey.  (The Earl and Countess of Highclere – the real Downton Abby – are certainty cashing in.)

The judges are the two pictured here, Paul and Mary, and there are two sidekicks, Mel and Sue who give instructions to the contestants with cringe-worthy puns.  The competitors range in age (the youngest is 17), occupation (there’s a builder/contractor) and appearance (a few clearly lack a good dental plan) and yet, they are all very endearing.

The judges don’t overwhelm in these programs, they let the contestants and their baking shine as the stars of the show.  Mary is especially kind while Paul can border on pedantic.  The show is reserved, not frantic, and the drama is low-key but addictive.  Even during the Baked Alaska challenge when their ice cream centers were melting in the heat of the tent, the contestants (with the exception of one poor guy) remained calm and collected.

There is a delightful British wit and charm throughout. Each challenge is given with a cheery “on your marks, get set, bake” and the judges advise the contestants with typical British understatement  –“bakers need to be vigilant…”

This is a kinder, gentler cooking competition.  There is a naturalness between contestants and judges.  All the contestants smile genuinely when the others get accolades and each departing contestant gets hugs from both fellow contenders and the judges.  This program actually cares about the baking process and respects the contestants as craftspeople.

Happily the recipes have been converted to American cooking measurements and temperatures (no need to convert “gas mark 6”) and can be found HERE.

See if you can view the shows from the beginning – via on-demand or on-line HERE – so you can watch the progress of each contestant, and if you’re like me you’ll find yourself rooting for all of them equally.

N.B.:  Each contestant has their own cooking station equipped with stoves that have a clever slide away door that drops down and then slots out of the way underneath the oven — preventing those nasty shin bruisings  –I want one!

 

(and we even know where some of them are)

Throwback Thursday

From 2012 — celebrating bookstores with the best signage and sense(s) of humor. HERE

Only He Knew My Page Number…

An oldie but goodie

All those perfume ads interrupting my Hallmark holiday movies…(don’t judge), reminded me of this gem from the Library of Congress. 

Share with your book friends.

Now “let me read”.

 

How to delight this reader

When it comes to gifts, I am transparent and quite easy to please.   Those who love me are so generous with my favorite things, all of which make me extraordinarily happy.  Gaze upon my lovely Christmas gifts. Click on photos to view larger.  

 

A few books that I don’t own and haven’t read.  Many have given up attempting to find me books — but a steadfast few continue to surprise me with these unknown and exciting gems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A very cool vintage potpourri book.  I make potpourri from my rose petals which I thrust upon unsuspecting friends and family.  This is full of great new concoctions to try.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anything with roses, especially for serving and enjoy tea and biscuits.  The plate is a gift from my Mom and is from her lovely china collection.  The new cup is comfortably BIG — unlike my other dainty tea cups that are so pretty but are empty in minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some new music for the season and some to read by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gift subscription to my favorite cooking magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful soft-as-a-cloud throw for my reading nook – it’s snuggly and warm.  Now I can retire the light weight blanket I swiped off a Swiss Air flight.  (I despise heavy, itchy afghans).

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally in honor of this special night – Season 5 of Downton Abbey begins @ 9PM, in case you’ve forgotten. Luckily I’m here to remind you.  I continually strive to provide a valuable service here at Book Barmy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So best wishes for a lovely beginning to 2015.  I’ll be parked in front of the television, sipping my Downton tea in my new rose cup underneath my new throw.   Ahhh-hhh life is good.