Discussion
Lisa:
So, Sarah's Quilt. I realized about midway through the month I should have recommended These Is My Words, the first book in the series. My apologies. There is also a third book- the title of which escapes me. But, I loved the whole series. It was just full of quotable quotes. Sarah Agnes Prine is a woman to be admired. And I should really should have reread at least one of the books so I could get more specific, but, alas, I did not. But one day I will. You mark my words.:)
And I am remembering to include a recipe this month. 2 actually, made them both for my boys yesterday (Scot was in Prague yesterday, today he's in Germany, with any luck I'll be with him in the DR in April, but we shall see.)
Ann:
I haven't finished yet but am into it. (Elisabeth, if you haven't read this I think you would really like it.) I just love Sarah's character; she's a sturdy girl. I'm just at the part where her mother just sold her 60 acres to the railroad and I'm cringing inside with Sarah. I'd probably be prone to risking running out of water before selling off land...actually I can't imagine being without water. I'm spoiled.
Elisabeth:
I had the best of intentions to read the book this month and to share some insights, but alas, it didn't happen. We moved back into our newly remodeled wheelchair accessible house after being out of it for four months. I love it!(Ann, Karen and Lisa you must all visit us now again. The rest of you are of course always welcome too!) Now that I know it is about a sturdy girl, I'm going to look for it tomorrow after my carpool. I'll take Lisa's recommendation and look for the first of the series too.
Since I don't have a thought about the book, I thought I share this thought from Vladimir Nabokov's Lectures on Literature. "A wise reader reads....not with his heart, not so much with his brain, but with his spine. It is there that occurs the telltale tingle."
I actually found this in a catalog called Bas Bleu, Book Seller by Post. They have a website: www.basbleu.com . You probably already new about this catalog, but I was intrigued by it.
Karen:
Elisabeth, it was so good to hear from you. I always wonder if you're getting the emails when we send them.
I read all three of the Sarah books quite a while ago and loved them. I doubt that I would have been as strong a woman in those conditions as Sarah was. She was a trooper. It was a sweet love story, but kind of intense with the neighbor problems and threats from Mother Nature.
Recipes
Robyn's French Bread (or Scones)
1 c warm water with 2 tablespoons of yeast
Mix, set aside and let it grow.
8 c flour
2 Tbs shortening
2 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs salt
2 c hot water
Mix together in a big bowl. Mix in yeast water and let raise about 45 min, until double in size. (I can never seem to get mine to raise well unless I put it in the oven, preheated to the lowest setting then turned off.) For French bread divide into 3 loaves, form on cookie sheet, then let it raise again. Bake at 400, 25 min. For scones, only raise once, then form scones and fry in oil.
And
Excellent Syrup for Scones (aka Buttermilk Syrup)
1 1/2 c sugar
1 cube butter
Melt together in a pan in the stove over low heat.
Add 1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp light corn syrup
Heat slowly so it doesn't burn or turn to sugar.
Business
March book: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.
April chooser: Lisa