Tart-tober

The last month, I have been in tart heaven. Talking about tarts, reading about tarts, writing about tarts and even sampling a few tarts.

This tart-topia actually started a few months ago, when author Holly Herrick asked The Beehive to help promote her new book, Tart Love: Sassy, Savory and Sweet.

As a well-established author with two books and countless articles and reviews under her belt, I was honored.

Since then, we've had a bubbles n' biscuits book release party (I love alliteration!), heard every joke about "tarts," been on the "Tart Train" to Charlotte to promote the book, crowned Holly the "Queen of Tarts" for Charleston Magazine, and this morning, enjoyed a tart discussion on the front of the Food Section of The Post and Courier.

Photo by Grace Beahm/ The Post and Courier

It's been tart-terrific, and I've had the wonderful opportunity to spend work time reading and drooling over food, including from blogs such as Pioneer Woman and (for my vote) the best one of them all, Helene Dujardin's Tartelette. And I've had the chance to get to know Holly, who is not only a professional, but a friend.

My time in the kitchen has become more joyous, and I'm cooking more, from my first attempt at chicken and wild rice soup (made with my homemade stock from a bird I roasted) to a well-worn bean salad recipe interpreted in a new way with edamame and pork belly. It sounds fancy, but it's not -- it's just using good food, which is one of the lessons Holly has taught me.

The Tart Train rolls on to NYC in December, and then the events start afresh for Holly's next book,  Food Lovers Guide to Charleston and Savannah.

Speaking of which, I better go lace my running shoes. Looks like I'm going to need them.

Freaky doll follow-up

After my post "Lifelike" about my aversion to dolls, it seems they've wandered out of the back closets and attics to come and find me. I have received multiple streams of correspondence about them, from a text about Grampals to a tweet reminding me of the spider doll in Toy Story, so I decided to take it further.

With help from Holly Thorpe, we have created a Creepy Dolls Halloween tribute board on Pinterest. Since I am posting this early in the morning, I don't think you will lose your lunch if you stop on by and read the thoughts of the dolls included on the board:

http://pinterest.com/beehivesteph/creepy-dolls-a-halloween-tribute/

We'll be waiting ... ... ... 

A perfect Steve Jobs quote, found on Leaning Towards Love. Deserves reposting, rereading and realizing!

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

A New Meaning for Eye Candy

At Lambert Gray Gallery's Grand Opening this past Friday, Holly Herrick signed her new cookbook, we poured lots of wine, ate leaf-shaped sugar cookies and coveted some amazing art. The place was packed most of the evening, Kristen of Blue Bicycle Books was selling books, and "sold" red dots were popping up everywhere.

Co-owners and artists Hilarie Lambert and Michael Gray curated an amazing food-themed show, and Lambert got into the spirit herself with great kitchen scenes inspired by her time in France.

When the Dishes Are Done, Hilarie Lambert. SOLD

What was so fun about this show is how the artists brought their own sensibilities and ideas to the table. Lambert's only parameter was "food-related," and here are some great examples of what the artists delivered:

Watermelon. Mark Horton

Chips & Beer Dear. Sheryl Stalnaker

Catch of the Day. Elizabeth Middour

Recipe for Disaster. Shannon Runquist

There's more art just waiting to be "sampled," such as Tate Nation's special take on take-out and Robert Lange's "Banana Seat", and now that the excitement of Artwalk is past us, the gallery is quietly filled with light in its second story Broad Street locale. It's the perfect time for an appetizer of art, so stop in sometime soon before that downtown lunch and get inspired by the plate.

Lifelike

Sometimes things are just creepy. Like dusk in an old barn. Or blurry pictures of a dead relative.

Since it's October and I'm the author of two books of ghost stories (they are listed on the column to the right), I thought I'd jump on that bandwagon a bit and share some things that make my spine tingle a bit. Here is the first: lifelike dolls.

Exhibit A

Exhibit A is a perfect example, complete with those special effect "go to black" eyes in this photo. I took this photo at 11 p.m. at night in Hot Springs, Ark. Little Western Farmer was all lit up in his store window, shining like a creepy beacon on the dark, deserted street back to my hotel. His little feet dangle, his haircut is Damien in its perfection, and his little mouth is open in glee, revealing the hint of milk teeth.

I didn't get to sleep quickly that night, but that wouldn't have been the first time dolls haunted me. Dolls have been featured in many of my b&b rooms, so much so that during one visit to Newton, N.C., I had to sit them all outside my door, hoping I could wake up and return them to their set ups on the fireplace mantel before the owner awoke.

Antique dolls, with their too-heavy China heads attached to soft bodies in christening dresses have leaned brokenly against many a night stand, and even the Sunday advertising inserts often feature weird renditions of little girls that look ready for their closeup on Toddlers & Tiaras.

So watch out for dolls this Halloween season, especially if their eyes seem to follow you about a room ... and if they're riding tractors in Arkansas, it's a no brainer -- stay away from them!