What's making me happy

What’s Making Me Happy: Twigs in My Hair, Pita Bread, and a Finch on the Bird Bath

44 Comments

Once upon a time, I used to write real book reviews where I read with great care, marked passages of note, and labored on the actual review. Alas, those days are gone. With a book coming out every other year, all my energy is going into my own work. I feel bad about this as I really enjoy bringing attention to other people’s books.

So for the past few years, it’s been all or nothing for me: Because I didn’t have the time to write a proper review, I didn’t write anything. Then I had a belatedly brilliant flash—it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. When I come across books of interest, especially if they’re written by friends, blogging or otherwise, I can simply feature the book on my blog and write a few lines about it.

Therefore, here is a book I’d like to bring to your attention—Twigs in My Hair by Cynthia Reyes. Twigs in my Hair is for gardeners and would-be gardeners or for people who simply like looking at gardens. Also, for those who are interested in a memoir told through gardening stories past and present. And surely Twigs in my Hair must be one of the best titles ever. (Full disclosure: My husband did the page layout.)

Cynthia, a blogging friend, has a warm, vivid writing style that pulls a reader in. The book features gorgeous pictures taken by Cynthia’s husband, Hamlin. I am not ashamed to admit that I had an acute case of gardener’s envy as I read Twigs in My Hair.  Readers, put this book on your TBR list, and with the holidays just around the corner, it would make a lovely gift for friends or family.

From books we go to food, a subject that is ever on my mind. As I’ve written in previous posts, my husband, Clif, is on extremely low-carb diet. We are a carb-loving family, and cutting back on carbs has proven to be a great challenge. Fortunately, we have found ways to eat a low-carb diet and even enjoy it. Joseph’s flax, oat bran, and whole wheat pita bread is one reason why. This pita is a soft and tasty bread substitute. It can be folded in half, toasted, and used as a taco shell. Untoasted and folded, it makes a dandy roll for a burger. Or sausage. Or whatever.

How low carb is this pita bread? Take a look, and keep in mind that a whole wheat roll has about 20 grams of carbs. (Clif aims to keep his carb intake to around 70 grams a day.)

I do want to emphasize I’m not getting any kickbacks when I endorse a product. I am to Joseph’s as a flea is to an elephant.

Finally, what’s not to like about a finch taking a drink from a birdbath at dusk as you sit on the patio? Nothing at all. Pure happiness to watch that little beauty.

To read what small pleasures are making Thistles and Kiwis happy, click here.

 

 

44 thoughts on “What’s Making Me Happy: Twigs in My Hair, Pita Bread, and a Finch on the Bird Bath”

  6. Thanks for the book review – sounds like a good read.
    I love the yellow daisies and goldfinch offset by the blue birdbath. Definitely a happy moment!

  7. I hear you on the “all or nothing” dilemma – glad you have been inspired to review again on your blog!

    Special needs diets are challenging, especially when it is a major change. We are a small family of 4, but we have always been quirky when it comes to food and thus, have had a mix & match kitchen since the beginning of time. It is always exciting when we find a food that all 4 of us enjoy!

  9. I love memoirs …your recommended book “Twigs in my hair” looks just right for me…( lovely cover.. Clif) I’ll check about orders & deliveries to
    Canberra.Have a happy week ..😊😊

  10. I too love the way you find happiness in little things (as well as the big ones). You and Cliff have embraced this new diet with such good humour! I hope if I ever have to make such a big change I do it with such positivity.

  12. The finch on your bird bath is pure delight. I have a pair of doves who’ve taken to sitting in a platform feeder as night falls. They’ll stay there for as long as a half-hour, until it’s so dark I’m not sure they’ll find their way home, but they’re a vision of peacefulness that certainly makes me happy.

  13. I’ll have to add that book to my list! It DOES have a great title! Love your little finch too, I haven’t seen my goldfinches all summer, but today two of them were on my feeder. Silly little birds, wonder where they were the last couple of months!

  14. Hi, Laurie – Thank you for the book review. I agree that a review does not need to be all or nothing. Your few lines are very inticing!
    I totally agree with your closing. Who doesn’t love seeing a finch taking a drink from a birdbath? (Answer – only an absolute crankypants, that’s for sure!) 😀

  15. A good happy three. I have been trying to read about commas after a comment from Derrick about Virginia Woolf’s perfect use of them and now find myself unable to commit to a comma. Why is it that grammar books are so unsatisfying? I am sure it will pass. 🙂

  18. Thank you for the book recommendation. I love gardening memoirs. (My favourites in the last few years are a whole series of memoirs by Marion Cran, and a modern memoir, Cutting Back, by Leslie Buck.) I’m putting your friend’s well-titled book on my list.

  21. We love watching the goldfinches on the birdbath and feeding on Cup Plant and other seeds. There is a wonderful Arab bakery about 1 mile from our house – if you ever visit Chicago we will have to take you there!

  22. Cynthia is such a good writer, I’ll have to check on the new book. When we had the apple orchard in New Hampshire, I always ended up with twigs in my hair. 😁

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