Tag Archives: Charles P. Rogers
Bedtime Stories: Grown-Up Martian Dystopia
Post by Mark T. Locker.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Mars has always held a certain fascination for me. Clearly, its proximity to our own planet (Earth) makes it some low-hanging fruit for the imagination. All the fun (if at times make-believe) hints at life: faces; ice caps; weird lights and shadows just add to its allure. Remember when bunch of Martian movies came out? Red Planet and Ghosts of Mars and, several years prior, good ol’ Total Recall.
Well you can add another work to the pile of Red Planet-themed pieces. Red Rising is the first novel by American novelist Pierce Brown. Like every other book being written, it is part of a trilogy. This one tells the story of Darrow, helldiver of Lykos. He is part of a huge colony living beneath the planet Mars toiling to terraform the planet and make it livable for future generations. Violently oppressed but lauded as heroes for the future of humanity, Darrow’s world is blown open when it is revealed to him that Mars has been habitable for ages and the Reds (the class of people laboring beneath the planet) have been lied to and used for the resources they mine. Darrow is enlisted to help lead the fight against the Golds, the elite who rule over them.
The second volume comes out next week so now is a good time to pick up the first book if you are into exciting, dystopian sci-fi. So far it’s interesting and I hope that the series doesn’t turn out to be predictable. I’ll soon find out!
See the Light: 8 Tips to Brighten a Dark Bedroom
Post by Tracy Kaler.
See the Light: 8 Tips to Brighten a Dark Bedroom
You’re short on light because of that single small window in your bedroom. Get clever with your design and you can give the illusion of a lighter, brighter room. Here are 10 tips to illuminate even the darkest sleeping quarters.
1. Paint.
Paint the room yellow or another light shade on the warm spectrum. Lighter walls will influence the overall aesthetic and feel of a dark room.
2. Add a skylight.
If your bedroom is on the top floor and you have access to the roof, cutting in a skylight is a fantastic way to allow light in.
3. Install lighter flooring.
Tear up dark carpeting and replace with light-stained hardwood floors and an ivory, beige, or other light neutral area rug.
4. Hang a mirror.
Mirrors reflect light, so consider leaning a large mirror against a wall, or hanging several on the walls. Bonus: you’ll be able to check your appearance every time you enter and exit your bedroom.
5. Remove light-blocking window treatments and install sheers.
Use sheers to allow the maximum amount of light inside. If you need more privacy, hang shades underneath and keep them raised until nighttime.
6. Use metallics.
Gold and silver reflect light, so select metallic accoutrements that can aid in lightening your space while adding bling at the same time.
7. Think white.
White is light, so don’t be afraid to use it –– on your trim, walls, ceilings, bedding, or wherever you like. An all-white bedroom can be stunning and sophisticated, as well as relaxing and calm.
8. Place accent lamps.
Lamps are probably the most economical and practical solution to brightening a space. Try plug-in sconces, table lamps, and floor lamps. If possible, consider a multi-light overhead fixture like a chandelier, which will create overall light.
Bedroom Design: 5 Converted Attic Spaces
Post by Tracy Kaler.
Attics might not be the first choice when it comes to carving out an extra bedroom, but believe it or not, attic spaces are some of the coziest and coveted sleeping quarters you’ll find. Low and sloped ceilings, dormer windows, eaves, and bays are just a few of the quirky yet charming architectural elements often seen in attics.
Have an attic that’s used for nothing but boxes of photographs and keepsakes? Put your creative thinking cap on because the design possibilities are endless in an attic. Here are five converted bedrooms that are bound to inspire.
This cottage-style bedroom keeps things simple with a platform bed, painted bedside table, and a slipper chair. The whitewash walls and pine floors make the room all the more casual.
A homeowner turned this attic into two kids’ bedrooms on her own. A bold polka dot pattern in two different colors works well in each of the sky-lit spaces. Even an adult would be content to sleep in this bright, happy attic.
The staircase that leads to this attic bedroom is clean and modern. Plaid carpet and a whimsical pendant lamp add color to an otherwise neutral room. What a lovely spot for houseguests.
A sleeping cove is the perfect fit in this ladylike bedroom. Botanical wall covering, a powder blue and white quilt, and sweet, delicate pillows lend a youthful feel to the room. Since there’s no spot for a nightstand, the recessed wall nooks are practical substitutes.
A bedroom in the eaves like this is all I would need. Wall sconces and an original bay window offer ample light. This uncluttered attic space invites and calms.
Breakfast in Bed: Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
Post by Alison Hein.
Remember those Lemon Ricotta Pancakes I was talking about recently? A friendly stranger told me about the most divine lemon ricotta pancakes she had enjoyed at the Stoneacre Pantry in Newport, Rhode Island, and I used that info as inspiration to make Lemon Ricotta Egg Cups . This past week, I decided to give the pancakes a shot. At issue? I hadn’t exactly seen or tasted these illustrious flapjacks. No matter. I just made something up. 🙂
There is something about the combination of tart and tangy citrus with fresh, creamy ricotta that is almost impossible to get wrong (that was my hope at any rate). I decided to make my batter a little sweeter than usual, to offset the sharp lemon flavor. And, because the ricotta tends to make the batter a little thinner than regular pancakes, so that it spreads, crêpe-like, in the pan, I cooked them a bit longer at a slightly lower flame height. Since these were special hotcakes, I made a simple syrup, substituting lemon juice for water. Just a touch goes a long way due to the intense, concentrated citrus flavor of the syrup. (Use any extra to sweeten and lemonize hot or iced tea in one fell swoop!)
The result? Aerated, fluffy hotcakes infused with a little zing for a zesty breakfast in bed. Someday I’ll have to go to Stoneacre Pantry for a tasting and to see if I’ve come anywhere close to the original. 😉
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
1 lemon
2 cups flour
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1½ cups milk
2 eggs
1 cup ricotta cheese
4 tablespoons (one half stick) butter, melted and slightly cooled, plus additional for cooking
Preparation
Zest and juice the lemon. Set aside.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Gradually whisk in milk, then the eggs one at a time, then the lemon juice and zest, mixing well after each addition. Gently stir in ricotta cheese. Slowly add melted butter to batter. The batter should be thick, smooth and creamy.
Place a pan or griddle on the stove over medium heat. Melt a small amount of butter in the pan for the first pancake and reduce heat to medium low. Ladle batter into pan and cook until small bubbles appear throughout pancake, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip once with spatula and continue cooking until golden brown, another minute or two. Adjust heat and add butter as needed while cooking. Serve hot with lemon syrup.
Makes 8 to 10 4-inch pancakes.
Lemon Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup lemon juice
Preparation
Pour sugar into a small heavy saucepan. Add lemon juice and mix well. Place over medium-high to high heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until syrup is thickened. Set aside to cool.
Bedtime Stories: Snarked!
Post by Mark T. Locker.
Snarked! Volume One: Forks and Hope by Roger Langridge.
This week I am delving into the world of graphic novels. Or maybe it’s a comic book. Honestly, it’s difficult to tell the difference. Either way, graphic novels are a great way to get reluctant readers into reading. My kid has been one of those. Those pages of text, only occasionally rewarded with a black-and-white drawing, can be intimidating, especially after years of big colorful pages with words at the bottom. We picked up “Snarked!” at the used book store for a quarter. It was a quarter well-spent! Set in a world that is firmly set around the imagination of Lewis Carroll, it features characters from Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and “The Hunting of the Snark”. In the story, a young headstrong princess named Scarlett is trying to find her missing father, the Red King. Assisted by the unlikely helpers, the Walrus and the Carpenter, she is pretty sure he has been dumped on Snark Island so that a puppet government can be installed.
Although the Walrus talks in an excessively florid prose that may be confusing to younger kids, the story is otherwise totally approachable for kids. It’s exciting without being scary or violent. There are several volumes available, so I look forward to reading the rest of the series with my son.
