All the Pretty Horses, Cormac McCarthy.
McCarthy's minimalistic prose is brilliant and fitting to the western landscape and the down to earth cowboy characters. ?? The Outsider, Albert Camus.
I've read a lot about Camus as a great existential philosopher, and I think I was expecting too much from his writing. I liked the detachment of the protagonist and the absurdity of the world around him. It's likely better in French. Tales of Ordinary Madness, Charles Bukowski.
Buk's short stories of drinking, prison, gambling, women, illness, going to a zen wedding, getting his car fixed, and the LA streets. One of the most filthiest books I've read.
10.31.2010
People I admire
Jack Kerouac
Write in recollection and amazement for yourself.
Kurt Vonnegut
I've often thought there ought to be a manual to hand to little kids, telling them what kind of planet they're on, why they don't fall off it, how much time they've probably got here, how to avoid poison ivy, and so on.
George Orwell
As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me.
Ernest Hemingway
The first draft of anything is shit.
10.25.2010
10.20.2010
10.17.2010
10.14.2010
10.12.2010
First year Cascade
These are, be it on the small side, first year cascade hops from a plant I found on ebay. They are a little late, hence the size, so I picked a few of the bigger cones and they smell great. I'm hoping they grow a little before the first big frost. At least I know next year it will be a reliable producer.
10.05.2010
Cut down hops
On the weekend I cut my main hop plants down in the heavy rain. The garden looks sad and empty.
Marrows and over grown courgettes
I collected all the marrows and forgotten courgettes that were spared death by the slugs. They leave the skin and eat around the seeds of the inside flesh. Which leaves hollowed out rotten smelling shells filled with seeds and slugs. Gross huh?