In 1969, when I was in the ninth grade, Home Economics was a required class for girls. We spent a semester on cooking and a semester on sewing, with a smattering of instruction on childcare and household budgeting thrown into the mix. During the cooking semester, we made a banana cream pie. We worked together […]
Banana Cream Pie, or Why I Don’t Like to Cook Read More »
When my daughter was a toddler, she was afraid of many things. Santa Claus, Disney movies, and fireworks were just a few of the things she dreaded. She ran screaming down the hall when Santa Claus showed up one Christmas Eve. She would not take his candy cane, nor pull his beard, nor even let
Conquering Fear Through Grandpa’s Glasses Read More »
This Memorial Day weekend, I remember remember long summer days in my childhood—we swam and waterskied until we were exhausted, then played cutthroat card games in the afternoons and evenings. My family rented a cabin on Coeur d’Alene Lake in northern Idaho for several summers, beginning when I was thirteen or fourteen. We split the
Water Sports, Card Games & Airplane Letters Read More »
I have a love-hate relationship with the animals running, flying, zipping, munching around our yard. Sometimes I want to rid the place of them, but other times I enjoy watching them. I like most of the birds. Was hoping to attract an oriole this year, but didn’t happen. So far this spring, I’m enjoying baby
Backyard Critters: Naughty and Nice Read More »
I made a recipe the other day which called for four egg yellows. What to do with the egg whites. At today’s prices, there will be no throwing them away. After checking the internet, I found this recipe. It’s simple and quick–and yummy, too. Chocolate Brookies What’s a brookie? It’s a cross between a brownie
What To Do With Leftover Egg Whites Read More »
A few years ago I made blankets for each person in the family for their Christmas present. They look knitted, but it’s only a series of one loop stuffed into the next one. My daughter told me recently, “We love our magic blanket. Whoever gets under it falls asleep immediately.” I’ve had some trouble going
Even though the saying is “April showers bring May flowers,” we’ve found plenty of flowers to post about in April. Still, May Day baskets were a thing at one point. People left paper or straw baskets full of flowers on each other’s porches. Children in the 19th and early 20th centuries would put a basket
May Day Customs from Times Gone By Read More »
As I write about pioneers in the American West, I think a lot about women’s perspectives on leaving their homes and setting off on the journey along the Oregon Trail. On my blog, I’ve written about specific women—Narcissa Whitman, Jessie Benton Fremont, Elizabeth Dixon Smith, Keturah Belknap, and others—and quoted some of their words, but these posts don’t
Elizabeth Markham: One Woman’s Perspective on the Oregon Trail and on Matrimony Read More »
You Can Go On An Adventure, Or Have An Adventure Come To You Every Day! Meet Brooke Wiens, Teacher Of English To Speakers Of Other Languages. A TESOL career rewards its teachers with fulfillment and joy. It takes a special person to do this work: Someone who enjoys challenges. Someone who cares deeply for kids,
What if Your Job Meant Adventure Every Day? Read More »
For the past several years, Joyce Ann Brown was a member of Write Brain Trust, the indie author publishing group that is behind this Of Books and Nooks website. Joyce passed away last month after a few months’ illness. The other Of Books and Nooks authors have special memories of Joyce, her writing, and her contributions to
In Memoriam, Joyce Ann Brown Read More »