A novel of friendship, food, and books

Kate & Frida: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Books (Love & Saffron Series) ~ by Kim Fay, 2025, epistolary fiction, 288 pages (316 pages in LP)

Sometimes a book can change your life . . .  Frida Rodriguez arrives in Paris in 1991, relishing the city’s butter-soaked cuisine and seeking her future as a war correspondent.  But when she writes to a bookshop in Seattle, she receives more than just the book she requests.  A friendship begins that will redefine the person she thought she wanted to become.

Seattle bookseller Kate Fair is transformed by Frida’s free spirit, spurred to believe in herself as a writer, to kiss her handsome coworker, and to find beauty even in loss.  Through the most tumultuous years of their lives — personally and globally — Kate and Frida’s friendship sustains and nourishes them as they show each other how to overcome self-doubt and the necessity of embracing joy, especially through our darkest hours.

This novel is a love letter to bookshops and booksellers, to the way stories shape how we perceive ourselves, to the passion we bring to life in our twenties, and to the last precious years before the internet changed everything.

I like an online comment yhat says this is "a book about trying to find joy despite the heaviness of life."

Women and Girls in Science

February 11th is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Learn more about it HERE.

The unicorn is Scotland's national animal

I just learned the unicorn is the official national animal of Scotland, symbolizing purity, innocence, masculinity, and power in Celtic* mythology.  Featured on the Scottish royal coat of arms since the 12th century, it represents strength and independence.

Celtic* mythology believed unicorns represent innocence and purity while also being associated with chivalry, pride, and boldness.  The first recorded use of a unicorn symbol was in the twelfth century when it was adopted by William I on the Scottish Royal Coat of Arms.  The unicorn is depicted chained (see below) to symbolize the Scottish monarchy's power to tame such a wild beast.

I am surprised I have never run across this information.  I am part Scottish and was called "a bonnie wee lassie" as a child.  I am descended from the Campbells of Argyll clan, whose tartan is shown HERE.

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* The word "Celtic" used in two sentences above mainly refer to "speakers of Celtic languages" rather than to one ethnic group.

Church and State? or Church and Hate?

Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds ~ by John Fugelsang, 2025, history of religion and politics, 304 pages

John Fugelsang delivers a deeply irreverent and biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred — a book for believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who will ever have to deal with a Christian nationalist.  I think it's amazing that 85% of those commenting on Amazon gave this New York Times bestselling book a rating of 5/5.

For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist independently.  But Christianity has been hijacked by far-right groups and politicians who seek to impose their narrow views on government, often to justify oppressive and unequal policies.  The extremists who weaponize the Bible for earthly power aren’t actually on the side of Jesus, and historically they never have been.  How do we fight back against those acting — literally — in bad faith?

Comedian and broadcaster John Fugelsang offers some answers by taking us through common fundamentalist arguments on abor­tion, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and more — exposing their hypocrisy and inaccuracy through scripture, common sense, and humor. It offers practical tips on how to debate your loved one, coworker, or neighbor on the issues that divide us using that Bible they claim to follow.

But Fugelsang’s message is about more than just taking down hypocrites.  It’s about fighting for the love, mercy, and service that are supposed to make up the heart of Christianity.  Told with a blend of honesty, comedy, and political and religious knowledge, Separation of Church and Hate is the book we need.  It’s a rallying cry for compassion and clarity for anyone who is sick of people using religion as a way to hide their hate.

Week in Review

• On Monday, I mused about the accuracy of Punxsutawney Phil's Groundhog Day predictions, HERE.
• On TWOsday, my subject was a couple of surveys, HERE.
• Thursday's post was a request to WEAR RED on Friday, HERE.
• On Saturday, my "Caturday" post featured a couple of cute cats, HERE.

is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

This cat has a "thank you" sign

Look what I found online:

a cat holding a thank you note.

Clawdia thanked me by rubbing her head against my chin.

I'm sharing this picture on Caturday

(the day after Friday) because I think it's cute.

(Okay, you're cute, too.)

You've got to have heart, as the tin man said

National Wear Red Day is on the first Friday of February (so on February 6th in 2026).  The day is to raise awareness that cardio-vascular disease is the #1 killer of women.  Wearing red encourages women to know their risks and prioritize heart health.  I had open-heart surgery on February 19, 2009, with four bypasses.  I blogged about it HERE, if you want to know details and what my blogging friends said.  So wear red tomorrow.

Thinking about two things today

1.  Three surveys to fill out for the social workers in the office:

1. Program Survey (Yes, I'd possibly enjoy a discussion of literature.)
2. Daily Life Survey  (Yes, I prepare my own meals.)
3. Quality of Life Survey (No, I don't get bored.)

2.  Café meals:

• I pay for five meals a week delivered, so I don't have to cook all the time.
• I eat in the Café with friends as a way to socialize.