On Sunday I hosted a book club party for my friends Marla and Martina. I'd been planning this little get together for months now, and it wasn't anything like I expected, but still fun.
I also attempted to bake an apple pie and pumpkin bars with brown sugar icing. Both ended in failure. I got the spices in the pie wrong, and it was all but inedible. As for the pumpkin bars...I meant to double the recipe because of the large can of pumpkin puree I wanted to use up, but I failed to double the amount of baking soda and sugar and what I ended up with was a flat, bland mess. I threw it in the garbage along with the pie and went to the grocery store at the last minute and bought desserts to share instead. Oh, well.
When Marla showed up, she was not happy with her husband. He was out of town helping a friend with something, and he didn't make it back in time to watch their daughter, so Carsen had to come along. Fortunately, I'd had the idea to do a craft related to the book, and Carsen really had a good time participating. We made traditional corn husk dolls! Carsen put googly eyes on hers, and I thought it turned out really cute!
Martina's doll turned out really pretty, with rosebuds and marigold flowers hot-glued on.
Right after I took these photos, I accidently dropped my phone into the container pond on the back porch. Arrrgggh!!!!!!!!!!! I also dropped a massive F-bomb in front of Carsen when I did it.
I snatched the phone out of the water, and for a while everything seemed to work normally, which is how I got these photos saved, but by the next morning my phone was dead. No amount of rice is working, either. That's everyone's first suggestion, to cover it in rice to absorb the moisture, but it's been no good. I have to get a new phone. Luckily, I'm on fall break this week and I plan to take care of that tomorrow. It's really weird to be without a phone, though, even if it's just for a few days. On the bright side, my phone was really old and getting glitchy, so I guess this is a perfect excuse to upgrade.
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So that's how my fall break is going! 
34 comments:
"Thomas Tryon" ... that's a name I've not heard in eons. I'm familiar with that name because he used to be an actor, then wrote one of the scariest books I've ever read ... The Other. Those cornhusk dolls are the cutest and, if I weren't distancing myself from the crafts group, I'd suggest as a project. Too bad about the phone, but glad the pictures were saved.
Now that is a charcuterie board!!!!! I often eat stuff like that just for dinner. Damn that looks like a good one. And those corn husk dollies I haven't seen those in years. You guys did a great job. But the candle light they almost look like little ghost.
Pretty little corn dollies. It was a shame about your 'phone and I'm sure Carsen has never heard foul language before!!
Your charcuterie board looks most appetising. What a lovely event.
That's a very cute craft! My mom once doubled the recipe for pumpkin pie but forgot to double the sugar. It wasn't edible! I hate phone issues and the rice has never worked for me either. Not reliably anyway.
The cotn dollies are inspired! Love the googly eyes especially!
That charcuterie board! You do things so well! Too bad about the baking this time around, but you saved the day anyway. Are you SURE you didn’t purposely drop the old phone into the pond? I once damaged the SIM port on my phone when I was traveling. SG is convinced I did it because I wanted an iPhone with the new and improved camera. Speaking of which, that was years ago and now the zoom is hugely improved. Hmmm. I’ll be traveling in less than a month and will be switching out the SIM card again.
I agree - the charcuterie board is fabulous! It looks so professional and delicious. I'm sorry the desserts didn't cooperate. I am a better cook than baker too. Baking is just so exact, like science. I am more casual than a baker should be!
The corn dollies are fabulous! What a fun craft idea! I am glad it worked out to be a great time with friends and happy that your friend brought her daughter rather than cancelling. Some times things turn out better than planned.
And sometimes not, like the phone. I think you did what you could to save the phone. We all have those moment. Hopefully they can download something to save what they can to a new phone? Those things are a mystery to me.
Thank you for the kind words about my charcuterie board, but I promise you it's far from professional. I used my biggest wooden cutting board and kind of threw everything on there without too much thought. Garnishes make a big difference, as do various colors and shapes. :) They're a lot of fun.
I've always had Android phones, not iPhones, and I've been really happy with them. This will only be my third ever smart phone, which shows how well they last! I'm hoping the camera will be much better on my new phone.
Those googly eyes made us all laugh! Carsen did a great job! :)
I did the same thing (forgot to double the sugar) and it was horrid. And since I forgot to double the baking soda, it stayed flat, too. It went right from the oven to the garbage!
Gee these are great photos and I like those corn dolls--but arrgh about the phone! I recently lost my laptop of 15 years (well, I didn't lose it--it died) but I got a new one this week, and it's so far ahead of my 2011 Toshiba I'm much happier. I'm sure you will be too.
Oh, Marla and her husband are no angels...they try to keep it clean but we all have our moments! I felt bad when I saw Carsen's surprised face, though.
They look fabulous by candle light, much better than is captured in these photos! I also have mini gourds and stalks of dried corn and some fall leaf garlands which set the stage for the little pagan dolls. :)
I've read The Other, too. But Harvest Home was my first Tryon novel and it's stayed with me all these years.
Thanks! It's well past time when Gregg and I need to upgrade, we've just hesitated to spend the money when our old phones still work(ed) just fine. He's going to upgrade tomorrow, too.
I seriously doubt that Carsen had never heard the f-word before. She'll be okay.
Brilliant idea to have a craft project! I know you weren't thinking of Carsen when you planned it but it was perfect timing. I bet she liked some of that delicious charcuterie too.
Oh, she's heard the f-word. LOL! And yes, perfect timing although Marla had to spend most of her time helping her instead of enjoying herself. She said, "I'm going to have to fight Carsen from now on when I want to come over here without her...there's food and crafts!" Although the only food we could talk Carsen into eating was a few pear slices. She even declined cupcakes! How I wish I still had the ability to look on a big spread of party food and say, "Eh, I'm not really hungry..." and then ignore it. Sigh.
I remember reading Harvest Home when I was a kid; loved it.
And your food looks so good; great charcuterie board!
And I'd have dropped an f-bomb or a hundred if I'd dropped my phone in the pond!
Oh gosh, so sorry about your phone and your desserts, but from the photos, it looks like y'all had a good time. I just got a new phone myself and I am loving it and it sounds like it was time to get a new phone anyway. That charcuterie board looks so good!
The corn husk dolls are adorable. If children haven't yet learned to curse, bring them to my house. They'll leave knowing every naughty word there is. Your charcuterie board is beautiful. Too bad about the phone, but now you'll have a better one.
Love,
Janie
I bought that book when it came out, big best seller. He was quite the looker when he was in the movies.
Sorry to hear of your phone; woops! Corn dollies are very different over here, they are decorative objects made from woven ears of wheat. Made to celebrate the annual harvest.
Mmmh, that charcuterie board is mouth-watering!
Too bad about the pie and bars, and then your phone's death by drowning, but as you say it was time for an upgrade anyway.
And your corn dolls are wonderful! I wish I was as creative as you.
It all looks lovely!
Can I join your book club? Sounds like a lot of fun and great food! Shame about the phone , but enjoy your new one.
The thing I HATE about new phones is that they are always a bit different from the old phone. I am an old dog. I do not want to learn new tricks. I always do, but not without a lot of howling.
I remember "Harvest Home" mainly because it was made into a TV movie with Bette Davis, if I'm not mistaken. I think I watched it back in the day, but I don't remember the plot. Anyway, a good Halloweenish choice for your book club!
That's awful about your phone! I dropped mine in a stream one time while walking Olga and it glitched, but after letting it dry out it was fine. Maybe you'll get lucky with a little more rice time?!
Those corn husk dolls are really nice - they turned out great! Perfect idea for a Fall party. Your food looks yummy! Sorry to hear about your phone but it will be nice for you to have a new one!
splendid! I would join your club too if I was nearby
"Fall break"? Your phone "fell" into the pond and it "broke". I am pleased to learn that it was an old one that was due for replacement anyway. Could you attach a chain to your new one and wear it round your neck to avoid similar accidents?
Aster the F-bomb, did Marla get up and say, "Jennifer! I am horrified that you have said that forbidden word in front of my daughter! Come on Carsten, we are going home!"
Oops! For "Aster" read "After"! Sorry.
...and for "Carsten" read "Carsen" :-D
That was a cool idea for a get-together! I remember seeing Bette Davis in the miniseries they made out of this novel, too (so old.)
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