This Perfectly Imperfect Life

(***Giveaway Closed***) Happy 7th Anniversary Diggin' Around! Seven years ago today, I started this blog.  I can't believe this ended up sneaking up on me again! I remembered last week (or was it the week before) and then promptly forgot about the anniversary again due to distraction. On one hand, I can't believe it's been seven years already and on the other, it seems like so very long ago.  This blog has evolved over the years, much like I have.  I can't tell you all how much Diggin' Around has meant to me over the years and continues to mean to me.  And what you all mean to me! There are no words! Usually, my blog-aversary comes and goes without much fanfare. Not this year! This year some exciting things have been happening which coincidentally coincide with my anniversary.  (Say that ten times fast!)  This year, I am prepared to celebrate and spread my love of reading at the same time! A couple of weeks ago, I was approached by Tw...

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I promise! Super busy one week, under the weather another week, a best friends wedding all make for time getting away from me. I have lots of exciting things to share with you! Stay tuned! Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

So far, 2013 has been a diverse and fulfilling reading year! I've since finished four books after The Language of Flowers (which I finished back in January, click here for my reaction) and now it's time to catch up on them with y'all! (Spoilers are likely, so proceed at your own risk!) Let's start with The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot: 5 of 5 stars. From the BroadwayPaperbacks/Publisher paperback edition : "Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells - taken without her knowledge in 1951 - became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. Henrietta's cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can't afford health insurance. This phenomenal New York Times bestseller tells a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and med...

La Peppermint Ancient Camellia japonica Happy Valentines one and all! Have you ever been bowled over by something and couldn't get it out of your mind? I hope you'll join me over at Connect*Share*Grow for a special Valentines Day edition of my gardening memoir column, Adventures In Gardening, where I share how my love affair with Camellias began in South Carolina last year. Click here !

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

I know, I take a lot of sunset photos. I can't seem to help myself! Maybe it's because I'm not usually up for sunrise (or awake enough to remember to go out in the back yard to take photos if I am), but I am smitten with the beauty of sunsets and I never tire of them! I took these from our front porch earlier this evening, where you can miss the sunset if you blink because we're down low in a valley of sorts here on the coast. Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

La Peppermint Ancient Camellia Japonica 1800's

As I wrote this last night, the world outside was turning royal blue as the sun set behind gray, snow filled clouds that were ready to burst any moment. The candle lamps brightened the windows with their warm, flickering glow the darker it become. I've been missing my father-in-law a lot recently and this week I decided to make what I call his tomato garbanzo bean stew. He made it for us the first time during his visit in 2006 and left me his recipe. That tiny, handwritten slip of paper hasn't left the bulletin board just outside the kitchen since. I've changed the recipe up some over the years, adding two cups of low sodium/low fat chicken broth and a palm full of parsley. I use whatever pasta I have on hand. I tend to buy pre-shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese because it's difficult & often painful for me to shred my own because of my arthritis. And this week, I added a few healthy dashes of curry powder. It's not for everyone and I must admit I h...