Monday, July 27

Monday Mishmash: Summer Reads

Saturday's "Christmas in July" blog parties were quite the bash!
After all that, we definitely need a mini-vacation!

How about the castle-ish resort on the man-made "Lake in the Sky" in the Shawangunk Mountains near New Paltz, New York?

Read about the Blushing Hostess's childhood summers at "Hogwarts on the Hudson" when it was owned by family acquaintances, as well as her visits after it became a lovely resort called Mohonk Mountain House.

Go ahead, close your eyes and imagine yourself being pampered in the spa, playing golf in the fresh mountain air, or just rocking your cares away in one of the high-backed rockers on the veranda.


On the other side of the Pond...

If you happen to be a fan of Wilkie Collins who wrote The Woman in White, read about his life while taking a stroll through the London neighborhoods where he lived for most of his life.

If Collins isn't your cup of tea, it's still a delightful ramble around my favorite city in the whole world.


My, but all that walking has worked up quite an appetite!

That scrumptious concoction at left is...are you ready?...Rhubarb Bread and Butter Pudding from Marie of The English Kitchen.

I'll definitely be looking for rhubarb at the market this week!

Americans snicker at a pudding called "Spotted Dick", but before giving the recipe for this British favorite, Marie explains quite nicely why we shouldn't snicker.


And where does a Londoner go on vacation?

To the geographically lowest place on earth, of course!

In the first of her Dead Sea hubs, London Girl takes us along on her family's vacation to Israel's side of the Dead Sea, where the high salt and mineral content make the water so dense that it's nearly impossible to drown.

In the second, she tells about the benefits of Dead Sea salt cosmetics and why the area has been the go-to place for beauty treatments as far back as Cleopatra.

She mentions Ein Gedi as one of places her family frequents, so here it is in The Secrets of the Dead Sea.

If that seemed like merely an appetizer, here's a longer (3 minutes 40 seconds) mini-holiday. The music, appropriately enough, is MIKA's "Relax, Take It Easy".



Don't you feel much better now?

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5 comments:

Lola said...

I haven't yet visited the Dead Sea (though do like Dead Sea salts!) but when I do, I'll take along with me Wilkie Collins for company - a great read!

Hope you're having a great Monday too,

xxxLOL LOLA:)

debra@dustjacket said...

The clip was funny, love the song too.
xxx

Anonymous said...

Two favorite things about this post...the beautiful art print up top...wish I could paint like that...annnd...the nice trip to the Dead Sea with that nice looking young man....happy smiles!

Duchess of Tea said...

Darling Jama this is my favorite post by far. I have been reading, viewing the clip and going over everything twice. Thank you darling for posting and sharing all this interesting info and delicious recipe. Rhubarb pie or anything with rhubarb is a favorite of mine and I love The English Kitchen thanks for introducing her blog to us. You are such a good friend.

Hugs!! Lots of Hugs!!

Duchess xx

Meg Brookman, Philip Jenck said...

Damn - you're right! Not only do I feel better, when do we leave for the Dead Sea? And I agree with Tammy - what an adorable boy. (Well, I can dream, can't I?)

That music had me dancing, bad leg and all, you wizard, you!