Librarian's Muse

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Finding Pétrus 1982 on a wine list is like discovering a diamond lying on the ground. The vineyard only covers 28 acres and produces about twenty-five thousand bottles annually. Bordeaux, a novel by Paul Torday

Paul Torday (1946–2013) was a British writer and the author of the comic novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The book was the winner of the 2007 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comic writing and was serialised on BBC Radio 4. It won the Waverton Good Read Award in 2008. It was made into a popular movie in 2011, starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. Born in 1946 in Croxdale, County Durham, and educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle and Pembroke College, Oxford, Torday turned to fiction writing only later in life, and his first novel was published at the age of 59. Prior to that he was a successful businessman living in Northumberland. The inspiration for the novel stemmed from Torday's interest in both fly fishing and the Middle East. From these two strands, he weaves a political satire that centres on the world of political spin management. His second novel is entitled The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce (titled Bordeaux in the United States) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Torday

Cinnamon is a tropical plant, so if you garden in a warm climate, USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12, you can grow cinnamon plants outdoors. Most gardeners start with young nursery plants rather than seeds. There are many species of cinnamon including these varieties:

Cinnamomum verum is often referred to as true cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon, and it's known for its superior flavor.

Cinnamomum cassia is commonly known as Chinese cassia, and it's the most common type of cinnamon sold in North America.

Cinnamomum loureirii is known as Saigon cinnamon or Vietnamese cinnamon. This species has a strong flavor and aroma and comes at a premium price. Jamie McIntosh https://www.thespruce.com/cinnamon-plant-care-and-growing-guide-4690725

The Ghibli Museum is a museum showcasing the work of the Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli. It is located in Inokashira Park in Mitaka, a western city of Tokyo, Japan. The museum combines features of a children's museum, technology museum, and a fine arts museum, and is dedicated to the art and technique of animation. Features include a replica of the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro (1988), a café, bookstore, rooftop garden, and a theater for exclusive short films by Studio Ghibli. Planning for the museum began in 1998. Construction started in March 2000. Upon completion, the museum opened on 1 October 2001. Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki designed the museum himself, using storyboards similar to the ones he creates for his films. The design was influenced by European architecture such as the hilltop village of Calcata in Italy. The museum features internal and external spiral staircases built from iron, interior bridges, and balconies stretching throughout the building's height. These stairways lead to exhibits, dead ends, and across bridges. These characteristics are meant to reflect Miyazaki's building designs displayed in his film work. Miyazaki's aim was to make the building itself part of the exhibit, and for the museum to be an uplifting and relaxing experience "that makes you feel more enriched when you leave than when you entered". Photography and video recording is prohibited inside the museum, because the museum is described as a "portal to a storybook world." Hayao Miyazaki's goal was also for people to experience the museum with their own eyes and ears. "Let's get lost together" is the museum's slogan, derived from Hayao Miyazaki's vision for visitors to immerse themselves in his imagination and film work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghibli_Museum