Author: michardillo
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Book Review-Polska: New Polish Cooking by Zuza Zak
As I’ve noted in other book reviews and essays you may have read, I am very active in my church community. We have a new pastor, a priest from Poland, and I wanted to prepare a few dishes from his homeland. I checked out this cookbook, Polska: New Polish Cooking by Zuza Zak, from my…
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Book Review: Fancy Dogs by Tini Malina (author) and Tammi Reichel (translator)
WHAT A CHARMING BOOK! I am a relatively newish dog lover, acquiring my very first dog in late 2011, but as with many things in my life, when I fall, I FALL HARD. I now know all the dogs in our neighborhood, dog-sit for friends (hi to my favorite Golden, Chubbs), pet random dogs whenever…
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In the Eye of the Storm
On the days when I don’t attend daily Mass in my parish, the Shrine of St. Jude in Rockville, Maryland, I watch Mass online via YouTube. Daily Mass is a wonderful way to start the day, and I feel like the rest of the day goes so much better when I begin it that way.…
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Bien sûr, que je sais jouer du piano (not)!
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why? All in all, I’m pretty content with who I am and how I got here. Of course, I wish I could eat whatever I want and never gain a pound, but I didn’t win the genetics lottery for that one. I am…
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Book Review: Go Gentle by Maria Semple
First of all, thank you to Goodreads and the publisher, G. P. Putnam & Sons, for the hardback copy of this book, complete with the beautiful dust-jacket color photo of what appears to be the Venus de Milo, a stunning piece of art on display in the Louvre in Paris. Be careful, though, in this…
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My latest published piece for the Catholic Standard
https://www.cathstan.org/local/st-john-the-evangelist-school-honors-sisters-servants-of-the-immaculate-heart-of-mary-at-75th-anniversary-mass
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Book Review: Let’s Not Go Overboard Here by Erica Hendry
First of all, many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing Hardcover, and Erica Hendry for the ARC of this book just recently published (June 2, 2026). While I loved receiving this ARC of a debut novel, I don’t think I am the target audience for Let’s No Go Overboard Here by Erica Hendry. This book…
Michelle Blanchard Ardillo 