In a vase on Monday: flowers, food and books

Mark's book club, aka The Community of Reason, meets once a month on a Sunday morning. I am a bit of a fair weather member and only attend when I'm not otherwise engaged or I am particularly interested in the book. This month the book was "Janesville: An American Story" by Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post, which I'd read earlier this year and had recommended to the group. Since I knew we'd be sitting in the living room, I put together this quick arrangement for the coffee table that we would all be gathered around. These lilies (L. lancifolium flore pleno) have been a real joy, they've been blooming for weeks and still have a few more buds left to open. We ate the delicious Michigan peaches later that afternoon. 

One of the members of the book group who has a beautiful garden brought me this bouquet. A bit difficult to see but I love how the colors picked up the same  tones in the ceramic platter behind them. 

I put this little quickie together to enjoy while I worked in the kitchen Sunday afternoon after everyone had gone home. I roasted and froze another batch of Roma tomatoes and onions all pre-weighed for winter soup, made the green beans with olives and marinated beet salad from the NYTimes and this fabulous curried chick pea salad which I have been making once a week for the last few weeks. It's prime produce season and I am really trying to take advantage of all the delicious things available at our farmers' markets. 

I'm joining Cathy from Rambling in the Garden who hosts this Monday meme. I often make bouquets but I try not to miss this great floral outpouring each week. You can see what other gardeners have created here.

. . . 

 

If you are looking for a great book on contemporary politics, community and economic issues, I'd suggest "Janesville." Here's the review of it that I posted on Good Reads:

Like "Evicted," this is another important book coming out of Wisconsin. Ostensibly this is the story of the General Motors (GM) plant closing in Janesville from the announcement in 2008 right up till now. Author Amy Goldstein, as a Washington Post reporter and a member of a Pulitzer team, proves eminently suited to see this event from the aspect of personal stories as well as following the ever-widening ripple of repercussions that fateful decision has on the larger community.

In one sense this is another depressing story and yet the former GM workers and the town are determined to somehow overcome this dramatic change in their fortunes. The auto workers and their families, the educators, social workers and community activists we meet are hard working, sacrificing and inspiring on every level. The politicians and business leaders are folks who we already know like Paul Ryan and Diane Hendricks of ABC Supply Co. Golstein gives all sides in this story, often right from the horses’ mouths as it were. We can damn the participants or praise them based on their own words and actions. 

The hardest part of “Janesville” is not watching folks struggle to stay afloat and find new jobs. It’s the analysis and statistics that Goldstein amasses in half a dozen years covering this story that point to a critical misconception about how to retrain factory workers for new careers, whether they can be retrained and what the new work and pay will be. The government essentially has one plan and this book says it’s not working. Whether anyone is listening is the big question. 

I found this to be a great read and so much more worthy of my time than “Hillbilly Elegy.” It's been days since I finished it and I can't get these folks out of my mind.

Comments

[[email protected] Eye View]

What a wonderful arrangement with the peaches and how sweet to receive a vase too!

[Kris P]

Much as I love that orange lily, the last vase was my favorite. Is the floral centerpiece another lily?

[Linda Brazill]

Yes, the last one is L. 'Black Beauty'.

[Susie]

Lovely flowers. Thanks for the book recommendation as well.

[AlisonC]

Your vases are interesting and all so different. I'm hungry now reading this and will have to go and look up the recipes.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

How nice that you still have lilies blooming. They look great in their vases. That orange lily looks good enough to eat. Happy IAVOM.

[Eliza Waters]

The lily in the polka dot vase is splendid, Linda. I love local peaches and this year has been fabulous! Yum! Thanks for the book review. I read 'H. Elegy' a while back and it does help to understand what the reality is.

[Noelle]

I love that your entry covers so much...the flowers yes lovely, the book very interesting, and the recipe for Chickpea salad interesting...if you are thinking of preserves do try my recipe for courgette chutney: http://mrsmacepreserves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/courgette-chutney-recipe.html
I use it to mix with chickpeas for an instant tasty salad.

[Linda Brazill]

Thanks, sounds great.