Wednesday, May 6, 2020

My kitchen table today


What it's like to be a bird, a book I ordered some time ago, arrived today. It's beautiful. When I've finished, I will donate it to the little Peninsula Library and Historical Society.  From flying to nesting, eating to singing, what birds are doing and why. My kind of book.

But first I actually will finish Maphead. It has become fascinating. The first chapter seemed to cover everything about geography that puts me to sleep. And it wasn't even "What is the capital of Argentina?", but those dreadful "Is New York east or west of Sydney?" sort of "knowledge".

Once Jennings dispensed with the origin of those exercises, he looks into the dimensional aspects of geography. How did Pittsburgh come to be? I'll pass this book along to my sister, who really does see the world spatially.

I've moved the orchid to the table. This plant has bloomed for ten or more years, but no little orchids last year or this. Perhaps it was missing a window, so I've obliged.

Also in the window, a cutting from a Christmas Cactus. It's been years since I started anything from a cutting. This is in a little jelly jar, and the best part so far is little white roots snaking along the jelly jar. I picked a jar that will yield easy removal when it's time for a real pot. And, I neglected to mention, several small leaves have begun.

Finally, there are five peaches in my fruit bowl. I put them in the window, too, to get a tad more ripe. But I won't be able to stand it past tomorrow, so that's the day for crostata. I'll give the real recipe, but since I saw the peaches at Kreiger's today, all I can think of is peach praline. That will fit in a crostata, too.

41 comments:

  1. Oooh... I thought you were going to share your recipe!! :< I'm not good at making pie crust, but I'm thinking a Crostata would be less calories than an outright pie would be! Congratulations on getting your Christmas cactus to show roots. I've thought of buying one for my office window but haven't seen any small ones just yet. I was never any good with orchids, so won't go there at all! LOL

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  2. Five peaches? Peaches and nectarines are not available here right now. Enjoy your reading.

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    1. I have no idea where they came from, except if they're domestic, Florida.

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  3. The book sounds like one I’d enjoy too. I’ll look for it.

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  4. My cousin just gave each of my daughter's families the gift of the Sibley book. They love it! She is a real birder. I have maphead, somewhere. I do enjoy geography. The orchids need lots of north light. Crostata is such a great idea!

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    1. The orchid has lived in south east windows up until this move. I took it to the east window. There is a south window, but my sewing machine is there.

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    2. East is better than south, but north is best. It shouldn't have direct light.

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  5. Is there anything more exciting than watching a plant root?
    Or maybe that's just my current state of mind.
    I can't wait to see a picture of your peach crostata.

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  6. Gee... your peaches look like they’re ready to eat already. I guess I must just be craving fruit.

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  7. The bird book does sound interesting!

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  8. My guess is that the orchid has been getting too much water. Try letting it get really dry for a bit round the roots and misting the leaves occasionally.

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    1. OK, I'll do that. I miss its annual branch of flowers.

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  9. Your orchid is a phalaenopsis and they are great re-bloomers but after ten years of pushing out flowers it probably needs a little boost. I give mine a sprinkle of packaged bat guano or one of the balanced orchid fertilizers. Since you have had it for over ten years I'm not going to tell you how to take care of your orchid, just sharing what I do. They are very rewarding plants

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  10. You got me at peach praline! Oh my, that does sound good. I enjoy visiting your table. Our tables can tell a lot about us. I haven't had a Christmas Catus in years, it just may be time for another one.

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  11. A wonderful table. I am most interested in the Maphead book. It sounds like something that would interest all of us in the Shifley household. Good luck with the peaches.

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  12. The bird book sounds like something I would enjoy too. I'm not a geography person so perhaps Maphead is not for me. Neither are orchids. The one time I had one it died. Pretty much all my indoor plants die. I have no windowsills and two cats. You can figure out that math, I'm sure. Good luck with that peach confection. Sounds delicious!

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  13. I like what is on your table, especially the peaches. However you use them I am sure it will be delicious. I think you mentioned the book The Salt Path. After 6 months of waiting for it I finally got it as an ebook from my library. Enjoying reading it so far.

    Betty

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  14. Now that is my ideal table! I would feel right at home there with all those books. Enjoy your peach pudding.

    I read lots of books at the same time, dipping in and out, as the mood takes me, so my heaps of books are littered with bookmarks. Drives my husband mad, he doesn't believe I can keep track of what I am reading (except that after all these years he should know better! Each book goes into a separate folder in my brain, so what is the problem?!)

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  15. The bird book sounds right up my alley. Maphead perhaps not so much.
    I hope your orchid responds positively to window light - and am drooling at the thought of the peach confection.

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  16. I see you have a book on Ben Fogle and his exploits, I often wonder what his wife feels about all his travelling. Then there is 'Sapiens' and a book on England, just being nosy....The bird book is similar to Jackie Morris and McFarlane's book on 'Lost Words'

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    1. If it's in print, I read it. Especially English.

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  17. Peach Praline? I do a similar thing to your crostata when I've been making pie and there is pastry left over, but it's short crust not puff pastry and if I don't have pie filling left over I will spread a thin layer of jam or some other fruit preserve.
    Maphead sounds interesting.

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  18. Yours is a kitchen table that meets my approval. Books, a plant nursery and food. Especially the book Maphead which caters to both my geography and map fixations.
    I've checked my library catalogue and Maphead is available. I'll order it as soon as the library opens which is still a way off down here.
    Alphie

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  19. The book about birds is appealing to me. I must check it out.

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  20. I expect the peaches smell heavenly and by tomorrow will be irresistible!

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  21. Hari OM
    A snippet of life for Joanne - and what a joyful snippet it is!!! I love the sound of both books so will be looking them up. Am back in the Hutch for at least three and possibly four weeks. Whether I will get round to catch-up reading is debatable as there are a few other 'catch-ups' with priority. Like sleep... YAM xx

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  22. Enjoy the bird book. Sibley has done some fine work, and his field guide to the birds of North America is a fixture in my car. I also have his guide to the trees. Met him a few years ago and he seemed painfully shy. He signed my books though.

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    1. I'm quite fond of trees, too. I know they send their roots all over the territory, to talk to each other. You tempt me.

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  23. A nice busy table!
    Our weather is turning back to cold and hopefully rain (could do without the cold!) soon..I must follow your examples and get reading!

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  24. how is it you already have peaches! we don't even have peaches yet. soon but not yet. our library opened this week. I haven't been yet but Marc has.

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    1. I must find out where they came from. I assumed somewhere in the south, but I hope not too far south of the border. They were $2.50ish a pound, which is awful, but there they were under my nose!

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  25. Ha ha, my table is so much busier, I need to do something with it today. Though, as always, I can find everything on it. LOL.

    XO
    WWW

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  26. I need a little square to eat from.

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  27. Peaches and nectarines have not arrived here yet - I adore both.

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  28. The bird book looks interesting.
    Peaches = Peach Ice Cream.

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  29. The whole arrangement is charming.

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  30. I really liked the way you have decorated your kitchen table. Books on kitchen table looks really good ����

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