The Disappearing Spoon, another Book Review

Every one likes to read a good story. However when you combine a well written book, filled with historical anecdotes, biology, astronomy, geography, well known names and scientific facts you never knew (at least I did not) or you simply have forgotten, you get a “cannot put it down” book!

I guarantee this one can be understood by anyone and I only studied the merest of chemistry. The periodic table is still a mystery to me but I also know I would have responded better to the subject if someone such as Sam Kean had given the matter such an interesting approach. The periodic table is the most important chemistry reference there is. It arranges all the elements.

From tracing the origin of chemical warfare to Greece to Gandhi 240-mile march from Ahmedabad to the coastal town of Dandi to protest the salt tax charged the Indian people by the British Empire. Did you know the largest elephant weighted approximately 24,000 pounds, thirteen feet at the shoulders? How about cold fusion produced at room temperature?

As for radon, a colorless and odorless heavy element, "it displaces air, sinks into the lungs and discharges lethal radioactive particles leading inevitably to lung cancer"... You will find out how he believes a supernova sowed our solar system and how elements deceive and baffle us when they encounter the chaos of biology!

Informative and definitively interesting, "The Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of madness, love and the history of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements" by Sam Kean is an amazing book you will not want to put down. This book has fascinating tales and all the elements of an historical novel filled with passion, adventure, betrayal and obsession of the scientists!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Hachette Book Group as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Lavender fields, lavender sachets and more

Lavender fields are beautiful at this time of the year and I love lavender. It reminds me a lot of my childhood as growing up it seems wherever Granny was, we could smell lavender . To date it remains part of my souvenirs of her and all the years she spent raising us. Bless her!

When I was little of course I did not know how soothing this little blue flower was.
Having learned something of aromatherapy, I now like to tuck lavender sachets everywhere and each year I replaced my supply jar (yes, I buy it by the pound!)

I just found out there is in fact a lavender farm on our Peninsula:
http://www.bluewillowlavenderfarm.com

It is the perfect time to visit as lavender blooms everywhere in July. I have never seen the Blue Willow but something tells me I am going to feel just at home there!
The owners advertise even an alternative to dryer sheets: lavender dryer bags which can be used 5 to 7 times. I just know I would like some!


If like me you love linen and accessories, check out the site below. This store offers a variety of items (guaranteed to have you dreaming...) but I just typed lavender sachets in the search box and found enough to satisfy even the most discriminating buyer.
The above set of sachets would be perfect in any bedroom (mine of course...)

http://www.touchofeurope.net

Note: I share my opinion but I was not remunerated for any of it! Just dreaming...

Daisies, Roses and Friends

One of the best things in life is surely Friends! Today was a good day after all!
An island friend surprised me with enough fresh flowers to fill every room in the house. I needed a boast and surely, God works in mysterious ways!
Thank you!!!!

The little daisies I just found out are called Marguerites, a very special name to me...
Always remembered, never forgotten...

Friendship

by Trudy Starling

When you feel sad and betrayed
Who can you count on every single day?
When you feel lost and alone
Who will be there for you in every way?

When you've made mistakes and bad decisions
Who can you count on to tell you you're wrong?
When you feel you can't go on
Who will be there with a feel-better song?

Look into your heart and you will find
That person you can trust is not far away.
Look deep into yourself, don't give up,
For if you do, it's yourself you'll betray.

When you're looking for answers
To all your questions and dreams,
There is one person you can count on,
It's impossible, I know, it seems.

But take a few moments to look deeper inside.
Look into your heart and there you will see.
You'll be surprised when you find out
That you've been looking at ME.

Trust, butterflies and feelings

My titles usually holds key words, an inkling of what the reader can expect to find.
So here are today's thoughts:

Number 1 Trust:
"Trust is defined as "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence."
You can emotionally love someone, but not trust them. You can trust them, but not emotionally love them. When you trust a person, you believe that they have your best interest at heart. They wouldn't do something to hurt you for the fun of it, or for selfish gain. You rely on them.
You earn a person's trust by consistently proving yourself to them. You show them that you will not use them or take advantage of them. You will not abuse their love or their generosity. You will think of them before acting."

Well, I could not have put in better words. I always seem to feel what I cannot always express.

Number 2 Butterflies:
Perhaps due to the cold weather we have experienced on our little island, I noticed we do not have so many butterflies this year. The largest one I saw actually fluttered around MacIntosh's head during our walk. I just wished I had a camera at the time. Our Corgi seemed to be a tad bewildered!

Number 3 Blue colour for feelings:
Today is Sunday, a blessed day but also a blue day and I am in need of a good cuppa (tea)! Sigh...
Time to knit!
I found a very nice pattern for a tiny person and decided I would try knitting it. Another knitter called it the Bluebell cardigan... perfect for such a dreamer like me...

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/eyelet-yoke-baby-cardigan

Art, Bears and butterflies

"The Bathers"

If you find yourself checking out the latest galleries for some new and unique object of art, be it a painting, a vase or perhaps a new piece of jewelry you might even ask yourself at times "what is it?"

There is some wonderful talented artists in the world but this does not mean we all see with the same eyes! I am especially drawn to the whimsical and since I can hardly afford to own unique, one of a kind items, I simply browse and enjoy what I see.

Lahaina Galleries are located in Lahaina, Hawai and I am told they have 2 more galleries located in Kohala Coast and Wailea, both in Hawai -not around the corner for me to check them out- one in California and another in Bend, Oregon, a tad closer at least, but since they all featured Robert Bissell's art, I just had to check out their website: http://www.lahainagalleries.com

Somerset born artist Robert Bissell's featured paintings at first glance seem to come straight out of a children’s book. And I love children books!
At closer examination however his paintings reflects upon the environment and using animals that like to stand on two feet, a common ground is established.

Whimsical yet powerful, Bissell’s pieces illustrate a consciousness of the world around us.
"Bissell’s artistic aspiration is that his paintings appeal to the intellectual child in all of us and create a narrative that represents qualities such as compassion, fear, vitality or curiosity."

This one titled "Embrace IT" just won my heart. All those purple butterflies and this whimsical bear...

And this one called "Ursa Minor" just appeals to my dreamy side...

Note: The above statements reflects only my opinion. I was not remunerated in any way but just love the paintings.

Comtesse de Segur, Victor Hugo and other memorable books

"Ermitage Rock in an imaginary landscape"

Books and more books. I have always liked children books for their wonderful sketches. Perhaps this is why I love ink and charcoal drawings the most.

Remembering all the wonderful books I was allowed to read (yes, there was such a thing as parental guidance then too...whoever thought this was something new?...) I thought I checked to see if there were copies available. Sadly I confess I do not remember what happened to my books!

When I was a little girl, my favourites were written by the Comtesse de Segur such as "Les malheurs de Sophie", "General Dourakine", "Les memoires d'un Ane", "Le mauvais Genie" and of course "Le petit Diable" etc...
These were good stories, full of mischief and adventures I could immerse myself into and I loved reading these. I imagine myself a character in such or such story and I loved to dream of course about what "if".

Later on as a teenager, the works of Jules Verne fascinated me. "Around the World in Eighty Days", "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea"...
Anyone who read "Paris in the 20th Century" or "From the Earth to the Moon" will remember the mention of similar devices to today's air conditioning, electricity, automobiles, helicopters, submarines, movie projectors, jukeboxes, even rockets!
Oh the dreams!

Victor Hugo however appealed to me not only with "Les Miserables" (last I remember I was right there with the students on the barricades...), "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Hans of Iceland" but with his wonderful drawings (he is said to have done about 4000 of them, using pen and ink wash mostly - each an adventure in itself).

"Gavroche" from Les Miserables

This was the stuff my dreams were made of!

Maira, MacIntosh and summer heat

I truly looked forward to Summer but did we really wanted the heat to come all in once? Being perfectly human I feel I should say I like it better when it is not so hot... Anything below 70 degrees Fahrenheit is just fine with me! Sigh....

Maira is adjusting well and we love having her. She has a perky personality and as long as we do not see a tail hanging out of MacIntosh's mouth, everything should be smooth going from here. No joke, it must be her plume (tail) as our daughter calls it, that just seems to draw him out and into lots of mischief's!

One thing for sure, what matters the most to our Corgi about this new setup: until Maira masters the art of throwing a ball, MacIntosh won't be completely happy.


One Corgi, one kitty, 2 humans... A family!