Sunday Selections #165

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.

Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week my theme is greed.

Each day at least five or six bird species visit us, and many of them eat from our feeders.  The pigeons are particularly insistent about their need for sustenance - and cram a quite astonishing number onto the feed trays.

The corellas, who are also greedy but not nearly so numerous are unimpressed.  They watch for a while...

and then take quite exceptional measures to get all the food to themselves.  They squeeze onto whichever of the feeders they can - and then throw the pigeons off.  Violently.  Dragging them  by the tail feathers and dropping them over the side is not uncommon.  And any pigeon who has the audacity to turn round and challenge the corellas is soundly rapped.  When I can watch without laughing, I will take a video of the scene.

The other greed I am featuring this week is mine.  Two sorts.

When the plumbers destroyed two garden beds and after some plant death in our long hot summer I felt justified in ordering a few spring bulbs.  As did my smaller portion.

And now we have four boxes of Spring bulbs to squeeze into the ground.  I am not going to admit just how many - but three figures is insufficient.  Oops.  Much weeding is underway.  Much work is required.  And, come spring when the blood, sweat and tears are a dim memory I will rejoice.

Yesterday afternoon, after I had weeded the back garden into a semblance of submission, the skinny one planted 50 liliums (twice flowering Matisse lilies and twice flowering Oriental liliums) since they were already shooting when they arrived.  The rest of the lilies will be squeezed somewhere into the front gardens.  

Some of you will remember I did a book cull recently.  The Lifeline book fair took place this weekend.  I wasn't going (really I wasn't).  Then my youngest brother rang and asked me to do a favour for him and pick up a dictionary when I went to the book fair.  So I went.  And picked up his dictionary.  And one or six other books too.  Oops again.

No more willpower than a soggy paper bag.

I have failed (again) and this time I am laying the blame at the feet of my friends in the blogosphere.  I don't like shopping.  I have almost total sales resistance except where books or plants are concerned. 

I can only resist if I don't go near anywhere which sells either of them.  Drat you, my resolve on the book front is frequently tested here in the blogosphere.  Many of you are talented writers and others of you tell me about books which I lust after.  My unread pile is substantial and I have been resisting (mostly) temptation as I work through it.  And, during the medical mayhem, rereading comfort books was about my limit. 

And on the weekend just gone I fell from grace.  Dramatically.  I love the library, and cannot imagine not being a member.  But NONE of the books I weakened over are held in our library.  And are not likely to be purchased in the foreseeable future.

A review here started the rot.  El is herself a talented author, and the review she posted about' The Sexual Adventures of Time and Space' by Brian Sfinas whetted my appetite.  Big time.  I had not heard of either the author or the book, and was intrigued.  Drat you El.  So I rationalised (dangerous) that I had been very busy and very stressed and very good and deserved a reward.  Oh dear.

And dived in the deep end.  Yes, I have bought it.  But did I stop there?  Did I hell.

Some time ago Geo. told me that Laurie King had another book out in her series about Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes.  Which I resisted at the time.  No longer.  And while browsing I found another one I didn't have.  Oops.

But wait, there's more....

librarygirl introduced me to Ben Aaronovitch  a couple of years ago.  And recently reminded me that there is another one in the series...  So I succumbed again.  And worse she has also added 'The Children of the King' by Sonya Hartnett to my wish list.  I didn't get it on this binge, but I will...

And more.

lynners told me recently that she had purchased and loved 'Station Life in New Zealand' by Lady Barker.  I love biographies, autobiographies and memoirs.  I bought it too.

And one more.

Susan Flett Swiderski has written  'Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade'.  Resistance was obviously useless so I added that to my hoard.

Oh dear.  And I don't even feel (very) guilty.  Reviews will follow in the fullness of time - they are not expected to reach me before the end of next month.

What can I say, but thank you - and drat you.

And, while still obsessed with books, I found 'Who will I be when I die?' by Christine Boden at a Lifeline bookfair in June.  A book which terrified me and inspired me.

Christine Boden had just escaped an abusive relationship and become a single parent who also filled a  high profile and stressful job.  And, at 46 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.  I am terrified that MS will eat my brain, so my heart lurched in sympathy for her.  And she lived and worked in my city.

This book is the story of her emotional, physical and spiritual journey in the three years after her diagnosis.   Mike Munro summed it up superbly 'Who will she be when she dies?  A mother remembered and revered by her family and a woman who gave a great deal of herself to strangers.'

A moving and inspirational book - and she has also written two more books and is working on a third.  I hope I could face life with a fraction of her grace and determination.

Garden Greed.

I have almost total sales resistance with two big exceptions; nurseries and bookshops.  The other day I decided to buy an orchid plant for a friend who has a birthday next week.

I was pleased with the orchid we found for her, and hope she will be too. 

I had no intention of buying anything else, but I weakened.  Of course.  Two more roses, and a Brazilian Edelweiss which I had never heard of, fell in love with and couldn't resist.

The edelweiss needs to stay indoors, but this weekend I will have to squeeeeze the roses into the garden somewhere.  Both of them are fragrant and have, I think, a gorgeous shape.

And while I am being positive, the bulbs we put in a little while ago are bursting through the ground everywhere.  Excitement.  Only the paper white daffodils are in bloom yet, but there is promise of much joy and beauty to come.

Pumpkin Curry - based on one by Charmaine Solomon

As you requested River.  I love this recipe and make it often.  It freezes well too.  It  is mild and slightly sweet and goes well with rice.  Leftovers when the pumpkin has largely disintegrated are good too.

500 g of pumpkin (I use butternut)
1 onion chopped
Garlic to taste (finely chopped)
Ginger (ditto)
3 fresh chillies, seeded and chopped (or again, to taste - I often use chilli paste as I am less likely to rub it into my eyes)
8-10 curry leaves
Heaped teaspoon of fenugreek seeds
1 teaspoon ground tumeric
A generous teaspoon of fish sauce (the original recipe says pounded maldive fish or dried prawns)
11/2 cups thin coconut milk
1/2 cup thick coconut milk
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds

Peel the pumkin and cut into large chunks.  Put into a big saucepan with all the ingredients except the thick coconut milk and the mustard seeds.  Bring slowly to simmering point and cook gently, uncovered, until pumpkin is almost done.

Grind the mustard seeds in mortar and pestle and mix with the thick coconut milk.  Add to the simmering pot and cook for five to ten minutes longer.

If, as is often the case, I am being super slack I just use a whole buttenut pumpkin and get a bit more generous with the spices.