Monday, January 13, 2014

flowers and books in the winter house


White freesias from the supermarket mix with garden greens and reds,
for a nice winter bouquet.

(The scent of freesia is too strong for some, but I love it--it's
the top note of Antonia's Flowers, one of my favorite perfumes.)

How to survive the polar vortex.

And, I have some book recommendations for you.

 I'm always looking for literary detective/crime novels (no that's not an oxymoron). Norwegian by Night by Derek Miller is smart and suspenseful, with appealing characters and an interesting setting. An American widower (Korean war veteran, early stages of dementia) living with his granddaughter in Norway, protects his traumatized young neighbor (who witnessed his mother's murder). The two of them flee the killer, and their ensuing adventures are a poignant mix of humor and terror.

Submergence is breathtaking, and will stay with me for a long time. An English spy and an Australian oceanographer meet and fall in love at a British seaside hotel. The book goes back and forth between their points of views: he, captured by Somalian terrorists and she, on a ship off the coast of Greenland, preparing to dive to the ocean floor in a submersible. Love and science, deserts and oceans, wonder and terror. Read more about it here.

I'm late to the 66 Square Feet blog, but I'm catching up, and was moved to buy the book 66 Square Feet: A Delicious Life, One Woman, One Terrace, 92 Recipes. It's a lovely combination of beautifully written essays, recipes and photographs; each chapter encompassing one month. I've been savoring it--reading one month at a time.

Now jump on over to Jane's to see more Flowers in the House. You'll be glad you did.

Jen

40 comments:

  1. I too love the scent of freesias and your winter/spring combo is spot on.

    Have you read any of The Old Filth trilogy?

    Started with the 3rd, " The Last Friends", rushed to the library and got " Old Filth" and am now on the library hunt for " The Man In The Wooden Hat". They're written by Jane Gardam.Crazy about them.

    I want a hut for the polar vortex too.

    xo J

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    1. Oh, I loved Old Filth! And it set off a hunt for the other books in the trilogy.

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    2. I can't wait to read it. Love getting book recommendations!

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  2. A lovely winter bouquet. I like the scent of freesia too.

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  3. Love your arrangement - freesias! haven't seen them in shops yet, but love them. Glad you're on the 66 Square Feet bandwagon. I've learned so much from Marie.

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  4. Your flowers look lovely Jen! The books you mention are new to me.I will check them out on Amazon. Thank you for letting us know.

    Happy week!

    Madelief x

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  5. I love freesias too - and the white ones are very cool. I shall look up your book recommendations x

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  6. Such pretty flowers, Jen! And I recently started following 66 Square Feet as well - love that blog! I really need to pick up a copy of her book...

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  7. Beautiful winter bouquet and sweet kitty :)
    Greetings

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  8. I love the winter bouquet but what I really want is the igloo thingy. Will take a look at the books, my neighbors son lent me a book of short stories translated from Italian, from the 40's, so far so fun.

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  9. OOOOO Jen! You are my book muse! Nothing excites like nordic crime fiction! White freesia smell the best. Your cozy kitten pic is so sweet! Always keep reading and recommending. xoxo

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    1. Tell me some of your favorites (Nordic crime) please!

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  10. Beautiful winter bouquet...love the fragrance of freesia!!

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  11. Jen..the perfect winter bouquet! Thanks for the book recommendations. I have a B & N card I am itching to use and 66 Square Feet is on my wish list. We may all need a cozy place before winter ends. You and the lovely kitties stay warm!

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    1. 66 is a lovely book--I like her essays as much as the recipes and pictures.

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  12. Hi Jen,
    What a great idea to mix freesias with winter green and red. Great color combination and interesting texture combination. 66 Square Feet sounds interesting. I have to buy a copy. Thanks for the recommendation. And the photo of your cat... precious!

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  13. Brautiful bouquet - I too love freesias, especially the white ones which seem to be the most fragrant. Thank you for the book recommendations - I'll add them to my ever growing list.
    Love the kitty - my Max wants that little cozy hut!

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    1. My list is also ever growing too.
      Cats do seem to like enclosed spaces.

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  14. Have you ever read Tana French? Or Cornelia Read? They are both literary mystery writers, and wonderful.

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  15. oh, freesias can be overpowering. but they might work well with pine needles. that might make for an interesting mix of smells... I bookmarked Norwegian by Night. I'm still too obsessed with fantasy novels to move on to reading anything else...

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    1. You should check out Submergence if you can get it.
      Send me some fantasy book recommendations!

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  16. I love freesias Jen, they were the flowers my bridesmaids had at my first wedding! One whiff of perfume and they instantly remind me.
    P.S. dont let on to Tony, he's my second hubby!!

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  17. Can it be possible to NOT like the scent of freesia??? How very strange! (But I can understand not liking hyacinths or lilies, mind you....)

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  18. I had several beautiful stalks of white freesia in my huge Xmas gift floral bouquet from my brother. They were mixed in w. white lilies (most fragrant), Stargazer lilies, lots of greens w. red berries and red & white gazania daisies. The freesias lasted the longest, the daisies, the shortest. Yours are lovely, indeed. Do you read the Commissario Brunetti series, all set in Venice? Molto bene! Also on PBS stations via an international mystery series distribution group.
    Diane

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    1. What a great gift--sounds gorgeous! I have read most of the Brunettis and they are so appealing.

      For Christmas my son gave me a box set of Foyle's War DVD's (BBC)--they are wonderful--WWII Great Britain.

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  19. Oh just in time for me to add your books to my library list. Yea.

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    1. Books! I devour them, and I'm always happy to make recommendations.

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  20. I love to hear about your favorite essential time, Jen.
    And to see your flowers and beloved cat is pleasure.
    Have a good time of winter.

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    1. Thank you! Hope you are having a good winter.

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  21. I'm late to the party; I hope the freesia are still fresh. I love their scent too. But any scent of a flower in the wintertime is extra special.

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    1. I bought them a week ago, have picked off some dead blooms, but they are still going.

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  22. Norwegian by Night by Derek Miller is smart and suspenseful, with appealing characters and an interesting setting...................
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