Book Review: The Round House

Finally! I finally have time to read again! As soon as the quarter ended at DU, I picked up The Round House by Louise Erdrich. It's the next book club selection and I finished it just in time.

The book is good. Very good. However, I wish I had read the Afterword before I started the book. It would have created a good framework to better understand the story line.

Erdrich writes about Joe, a teenage Native American whose mother is raped in the first chapter. Essentially, the book is about justice, which is a challenge on reservations - particularly in the case of rape.

The build-up to the final chapters was superb and Erdrich created a realistic description of how a family deals with a scary and violent situation - from the mother's depression to the son's and father's helplessness. The final chapters could have been longer and included more description like the earlier chapters.

Overall, I'm just glad that I have the time to read again. I have visions of sitting with a cup of coffee on the porch and reading through summer. It's a happy thought. I've moved on to Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I took a longggg break and I'm happy to read more about Katniss et al.

So Much to Do, So Little Time

Spring break has come and gone. I had so many plans for spring break to explore Denver with the kids. And then the Volvo died on Monday, so we were stuck at home (because it was also too cold to ride our bikes). Benny and Lila seemed fine with it, but I was disappointed. We did end the day with an art activity that both of the kids really enjoyed - something as simple as coloring Easter eggs to send to grandparents.

On Wednesday we did make our way to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, but it was packed with other spring breakers, so we headed home to have lunch and nap in the afternoon. That left Friday. Again, lots of plans, but then Nate decided to leave work early so we could drive to my parents' house. We had time to run errands and stop at the library.

Although we weren't busy, busy throughout the week, I can't tell you how nice it was to relax and have some down time with the kids. We slept in and meandered through our days. It made me long for summer vacation when I'll have both kids for two days every week. Of course we'll take lots of bike rides, but I'm also excited to discover some of the museums in Denver. Like the Clyfford Still Museum and the Denver Art Museum. I recently stumbled on a great blog from Denver, A Denver Home Companion. This week, check out the blog for a giveaway for a membership to the Clyfford Still Museum. I can't believe how cool the blog makes Denver look. I mean, I know it's cool, but A Denver Home Companion reflects it accurately. Please check it out.

Hurray for April

I have a good feeling about April. The weather is obviously plays a big role in my mood, but so do blossoms and flowers and green grass. Overall, it's just pretty damn awesome. Plus, Lila starts at Benny's old pre-school three days a week. I love, love, love being at home with her, but I have enough work now that two days a week just isn't cutting it. I know that she'll love it. And, I can pick Benny up from school on Wednesdays now and have some one-on-one time with him before I pick Lila up later in the afternoon. We're having dinner with friends almost every weekend this month and the fundraising gala is in three weeks (yikes!). There's so much to look forward to.

I'm not offering a giveaway this month because I think the improved weather is enough incentive to get out and riding (at least, it is for me!). In the next few days, I'll profile a rider who has inspired me in my journey back to the bike, so stay tuned.

And, in case you missed it, #everydayonabike was featured in this month's Greater Park Hill News. Also, check out 30 Days of Biking for inspiration to ride this month. What a cool concept! I'll be participating, because, well, I'm riding anyway! Happy riding!

March #everydayonabike Review

Nothing against March, but damn, I had a hard time riding last month! The weather was the most challenging, but so was health and travel. Regardless, I still managed to ride 23/31 days - and on many days I made more than one trip by bike, so I suppose it all evens out somehow. This year, the in like a lion, out like a lamb saying certainly holds true for the month. I rode in 15 degree weather with snow on the ground earlier in the month and last night I rode in shorts and a T-shirt in 70 degree weather.

Thanks to everyone who contributed in March. I know it wasn't easy to ride anywhere (being too cold or two hot, depending on your hemisphere), so I appreciate all of the committed riders even more! Here are the stats:

53 photos tagged // 21 tagged by me // 22 tagged by others // 10 contributors

Thanks to all of the contributors this month!

@lifewithroozle // @cathope // @emfritz // @runbobbierun // @shaggybrownie

@jaynesykora // @simplybike // @ashleynicoleaddison // @familyride // @obc_benson

And congrats to @emfritz for winning The Soup Peddler! Emily lives down the street from me and is a frequent riding partner!

Also, check out #everdayonabike in the Greater Park Hill News this month! If you're in the Denver area, you can pick up a copy at any Park Hill business.

The Ham Bone's Connected to the ...

Have you ever tried to buy a ham with the bone still in? It's nearly impossible to buy a bone-in ham at most grocery stores today, which is too bad because the ham bone is the keeper of mystical flavors. Luckily butchers still exist today (although they are disappearing too) and they still carry hams with bones. And luckily, my parents frequent a great butcher in Sterling, Colorado. The best ham and bacon this side of - well just about anywhere. My parents also frequently stock us up on pork products. And I love them for it.

I've made enough chicken stock to know that a cook should never through away a bone or carcass before cooking it down into stock. And ham bone is no exception. Ham bone and bean soup is incredibly easy to make. You just need a solid afternoon (5-6 hours) to boil the bone.

Ham Bone and Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 ham bone

2-3 cups of ham, cubed
3-4 cups of white or pinto beans (or a combination)
1 onion, diced
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
4-5 carrots, chopped
4-5 celery ribs, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a large stock pot, cover the ham bone with water and simmer for at least 2-3 hours. I used dry beans, so I added some prep time (boil, then soak over night, rinse, boil again for 30 minutes). Add the beans, ham, onions, garlic, carrots and celery to the stock. Let simmer for at least an hour. Salt and pepper to taste.

Yes, it really is that easy. And so good. Benny now requests this soup regularly. If I could find more ham bones, I'd certainly make it more often.