These pickles taste like love

More pickles please!

As a child, one of my favorite treats was the pickles my grandparents made.  We would usually visit my grandparents at least once a week.  Before we left our house, my mother would make sure to feed us so that her parents weren't burdened with feeding a bunch of hungry kids.  (We were also admonished not to ask for anything to eat.)  However, when we arrived, it didn't matter whether she told them we had just eaten or even if we had brought food with us, they didn't feel the visit was complete unless they fed us.  Sometimes they shared a big meal with us, more often it was a buffet of snacks. What we all looked forward to most was their homemade pickles.

Save it now to savor it later

Grandma and Grandpa's pickles were so delicious, they would give each of their grandchildren a $5 bill and a jar of pickles for Christmas and we all would jump for joy.  Their pickles were super-sour, extra-dilly, and very spicy.  (They would "sizzle" when the jar was first opened.)  We loved them.  Since I was known for eating my jar in one sitting, my extremely thoughtful grandparents would sneak an extra jar or two to my mom on the side.  I never got a stomach ache from those pickles (despite numerous warnings from the adults around me) nor have I found any that are as delicious.  Even though we have Grandma's recipe, no one in my family has been able to replicate those pickles.  I suppose the missing ingredient is my grandparent's love.  I don't recall Grandma or Grandpa ever eating very many of their own pickles.  I'm pretty sure they made them mostly for us.

Jams, jellies, pie filling and much much more

Pickles weren't the only things they made.  Grandpa used us as laborers when we visited them. He would send us out to pick raspberries with the admonishment to put more in the bucket than we put into ourselves. I'm positive we tried to obey, but I can't vouch for how much success we had in restraining ourselves. According to my mother, they made the best raspberry jam on the face of the earth.  They also put up jars of pickled watermelon and sweet pickles, both of which were an abomination to me as a child.  Watermelon was supposed to be sweet and pickles were supposed to be sour.  Occasionally they would find the time to make dilly beans which were a very close second in my eyes to their pickles.
I cherish those memories of sitting at my grandparent's table playing cards and snacking on their homemade treats.  They didn't have much, but what they did have they wanted to share with us.  Every time I taste a pickle or bite into a dilly bean, I think of them and their kindness, love and generosity. Taking the time to preserve the best of the harvest and share it with others is how sweet memories are made.  It is an art that has not been lost.  It continues to grow and expand as more people recognize its value.  The delicious tradition continues.       

Enjoy the goodness all year round

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice....I turn off the TV

Who can forget PeeWee's infamous line in Eight Men Out?  "Say it ain't so Joe.  Say it ain't so." Wisconsin baseball fans are undergoing a similar disappointment with a fan favorite.  To add insult to injury, the Milwaukee Brewers as a whole have had a less than stellar season.  How to combat this empty ache inside that used to be enjoyment of the game of baseball?  Maybe it's time to focus on the lighter side of the sport.
in the movie
In 1976, the original Bad News Bears film featuring Walter Matthau and Tatum O'Neal was a surprise hit.  This is a comedy about the "dark side" of Little League baseball.  It featured characters that would probably be toned down or rewritten for the moviegoers of today.  Walter Matthau is a drunken, beer swilling coach of a team full of hapless baseball misfits.  (Matthau's character keeps his full beer cooler full and on hand throughout the movie.)  The team is so bad, they forfeit their first game because they can't get an out in the first inning.  In an attempt to make his team competitive, Matthau recruits a smart-mouthed girl who becomes their ace pitcher and a Harley riding troublemaker who happens to be the best athlete in the area.  The influence of the better players and their desire to win stimulates their teammates' growth.  The best part about this movie is that it doesn't end with trophies for the team and that's a good thing.  This absurd kid comedy masks a movie which is about the joy of baseball, teamwork, and learning about sportsmanship.  (If you've forgotten how funny and shocking this movie can be, click on the link to watch the trailer.)
The Sandlot appeals to the outsider kid in everyone.  Here again, baseball is more than just a game.  It is a way of life, or for some characters, a way to deal with the challenges of their lives.  Full of funny and poignant moments, the movie has a similar tone of adventure and camaraderie as Stand By Me.  The baseball game is a way to make friends, prove your worth, and test your mettle.  The game is a testing ground for the real game-life.
There are many uplifting and serious films about "America's game".  The list includes many well-known titles like The Rookie, Moneyball, 61*, A League of Their Own, Bang the Drum Slowly, Field of Dreams, The Natural, Bull Durham, The Babe, Mr. Baseball, Mr. 3000, and most recently 42.  Some of these films are based on true stories like The Pride of the Yankees.  This is a story that shows baseball and its players in a positive and noble light.  Other films, like Rookie of the Year are about baseball dreams and possibilities. For those fans who just can't bear to watch anymore baseball this season, there's always golf.

Guys get Cussler, Girls get Chick Lit

What is Chick Lit?  A quick definition would be that is a novel with a lead female character who is dealing with the issues of modern life. These issues are usually specific to women. People may sometimes refer to Chick Lit as Mommy Lit.

Popular authors of this genre include Sophie Kinsella, Lauren Weisberger, Jennifer Weiner, Meg Cabot, Jane Green, Katie Fforde, Mary Kay Andrews, Emily Giffin, and Claire Cook. One of the key distinctions that determines whether or not a book would be considered Chick Lit is that the main character is generally between the ages of 20-40.  Thus the appeal to "Chicks" (younger female readers).

One could take a book such as Catherine McKenzie's Arranged and label it a romance.  The story is exactly what the title and cover art would lead you to assume about the book.  Two people pay for an arranged marriage.  They are advised to start out as friends.  They quickly fall in love.  This is followed by a betrayal of trust but naturally love conquers all.  Kudos to the author for finding a believable way to use the arranged marriage device in a modern setting and incorporating elements of Anne of Green Gables into the story.  Anyone who enjoys contemporary romance would like this book.

Novels such as Kinsella's Shopaholic series address an issue that has affected women since the Stone Age.  (People of a certain age will remember the batty cry of "Charge it!" whenever Betty and Wilma from The Flintstones went shopping.)  Titles like Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada or Katie Fforde's The Perfect Proposal are the stuff of women's fantasies.  Who would not want to get a complete makeover free of charge and be allowed to borrow high end clothing as needed?  Not to mention finding the spine to stand up to your boss and strike out on your own successfully.  In Fforde's title, her quirky character is eventually swept off her feet by a modern Mr. Darcy type leading man.  (Cue the mental image of Colin Firth cooling off in the lake at Pemberley.)  Katie Fforde uses humor and sticky situations that cause her characters to grow.  Lauren Weisberger takes a more serious approach as she allows her character to be overcome by her situation until she finds the courage to break free.  The similarity between the two is that both female leads must decide what they want and how to get it.
Another author who has tapped into what women want is Mary Kay Andrews.  In Spring Fever, she managed to mend a marriage that was never meant to be broken.  In Ladies' Night, she allows her heroine to hit rock bottom after being betrayed by her spouse.  From the ashes of despair, she builds a new life with supportive friends and an interesting romantic prospect after her divorce.  She also throws in a little revenge on the unfaithful ex.  These are serious life events that the author approaches with humor. Books like Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green take a more serious approach.  Regardless of whether or not the author uses humor or other devices to move the plot along, the heart of the story remains the same. "Ladies, life is often not going to go your way.  Find a way to deal with it."

Chick Lit, in simple terms, is a blending of several appeal factors that are specific to women. There is often an element of romance.  Sometimes there are family troubles that must be overcome.  Maybe secrets from the past must be addressed.  Whatever the issue, setting, or diversity of characters, these stories are about things that universally affect women of all ages.  Don't think of them as "books for Chicks"; think of them as books that you might like to share with your best friend, or maybe even your mom.

A story that warms from the inside out....perfect for summer

What was wrong with Auggie?
Only a rude person would stare.
Nobody wanted to be his friend.
Don't believe everything you hear.
Eventually, weird can become "normal".
Remarkably meaningful read for anyone.

Publishers are excited by the number of adults to have embraced what are considered teen reads.  This is not a new phenomenon.  Many adults read the Harry Potter series voraciously.  Older teens who were hooked on Harry became adults as they waited for his next adventure to be published and unashamedly waited in line for a chance to own a copy.
Don't overlook some of the outstanding books that are waiting on the children's bookshelves.  Recently, my daughter shared Wonder with me.  She loved the main character, August.  She loved the characters that became his true friends at school.  She was disgusted by the petty (typical) middle school meanness.  
The main character is August who has gone through multiple surgeries since birth and has been home schooled by his mother through fourth grade.  The author hints at Auggie's deformities and limitations but leaves the majority of his actual appearance up to the imagination of the reader.  Although the main theme of the book is about August leaving the warmth and security of his home to attend middle school and learning to interact with the world outside, the author takes the time to delve into how sheltering him has affected his family and friends.
We follow Auggie as he is faced with the challenges of attending fifth grade.  How to open his locker.  How to find his classrooms.  Where to sit in the cafeteria.  What to do if no one sits with you.  He finds that false friends and bullies are bad, but ignoring one's existence is even worse.  We remember how as children we may have initially shied away from those who were different.  The author reminds us that children also have the gift of accepting those who are different and learning to see "weird" as "normal".
My daughter was correct in her assessment.  She had promised me that I would love the book and that it would make me cry.  I loved the book so much, I have passed it along to as many people as possible.  This book will make you glow from the inside.  It is an uplifting story about a courageous child and his family as they confront tremendous obstacles together.  The bonus factor of this read for the adults is that we're likely the only ones who will understand the interaction between August and his dear old dad when they mimic the interplay between the two lovable characters below.

Information Vacation

Is reading something you don't have to think about "lazy reading"?  Is it a sign that you are losing your ability to concentrate?  Are you afraid that you've reached a point where you can no longer absorb new information or learn something new?  In today's media immediacy,  we are under a constant barrage of information.  Somehow we are supposed to juggle this with the ever-changing technology that has been billed as easier to use and more efficient.  Our brains are overloaded.  Sometimes we need an information vacation.
Some readers describe these books as "beach reads".  Others (reading snobs) refer to them as "mindless drivel".  Many people will say that they don't care what you're reading as long as you're reading something.  No matter what you may think about books that do not require too much thought, they are obviously a necessary commodity in today's world.  If they weren't, authors like Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel would no longer be in business.
Nora Roberts has written over 200 books.  She veers back and forth between  romance and romantic suspense.  Her romances are often set up as trilogies (or quartets) which focus on a family or a group of friends.  Many readers of romance enjoy meeting a core group of characters in the first book and then following each of them through their own happy ending.  Naturally, the happy ending is what keeps the romance readers coming back.
Jude Deveraux has written several engaging series of historical romances.  Recently she has been writing contemporary romances that tie in with a few of her older romance series.  This has sent more than one romance reader back the book archives so that they can experience the complete back story.  Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn and Johanna Lindsey have also started series with a core family group and then branched out and created additional series through friends and distant relatives who make brief appearances in the original series.  Lynsay Sands writes historical romances with humorous language and situations.  She also has the long running Aregneau vampire series which are paranormal romances that don't take themselves too seriously (no teen angst here folks).
There is nothing wrong or embarrassing about taking a break from "serious" reading and cracking open something light and refreshing.  Try a contemporary romance that's not too spicy like Kristan Higgins, Robyn Carr or Susan Wiggs.  Not all romances are just about physical relationships.  There are many authors in this genre who take the time to build an appealing setting, create characters that readers can relate to, and develop a believable relationship.  The list of authors is endless but there are many resources like all romance writers that can help you find your next relaxing read.  These stories can provide the brain relief from the constant pressure of today's "infomania" and allow the reader to relax anywhere.  Or as Phil of Duck Dynasty fame would say, they'll make you "happy, happy, happy".

Thanks for the Memories, Carol

The quality of the Carol Burnett show was such that it routinely brought families together for a shared belly-laugh.  One of the things viewers eagerly anticipated was the almost inevitable crack up of Harvey Korman (usually due to the antics of Tim Conway) during a skit.  On rare occasions, Carol herself would be unable to contain her reaction to their antics.  The PBS show, Pioneers of Television, gives insight into the show and the many talents of its cast.  Of all of the Funny Ladies listed, Carol continues to be an all-time favorite.
As was often seen on the show, Carol is an incredibly generous person.  She never demanded nor received all of the funniest lines.  She often played the "straight man" to the other talents on the show.  She built a lasting rapport with her audience due to the unique format of her show.  She could be funny, she could be dramatic, and she could sing with the best of them.
Carol has never been secretive about her childhood or family background.  In her memoir One More Time, she simply tells the facts as she remembers them.  It is important to her that people understand that despite the poverty and lengthy absences of her parents, she always felt loved.  This is a tribute to her grandmother "Nanny" (the person for whom her end of show ear tug was meant) and her great-grandmother "Goggy".  Eventually, Carol and her beloved "Nanny" moved from San Antonio, TX out to Hollywood, CA to be with Carol's mother.  Carol lived with her grandmother in a one bedroom apartment while her mother lived in another one in the same building.  This living situation caused Carol's bond with "Nanny" to become even stronger.  Her memoir goes on to chronicle her adolescence, college years, and breaking into show business.  The purpose of her writing about her life was not to boast about her rags to riches story.  It was a gift to her daughters.  This gift became a joint mother-daughter project when Carol and her daughter Carrie collaborated on the play Hollywood Arms which is based on the memoir.
Carol's generosity continues to shines brightly in This Time Together.  Here Carol reflects on her life in show business, the variety show and the multitude of talented people that she worked with through the years.  Carol remembers the years of breaking into the business and the people who helped her with fondness.  Her self-deprecating humor shines through as she describes the many talented people who worked with her on her variety show.  She even manages to make her firing (and rehiring) of Harvey Korman into a humorous vignette.
In Carol's latest book she highlights the relationship that she enjoyed with her oldest daughter, Carrie.  She fondly recalls Carrie's childhood then moves on to the terrible years when her daughter was entangled in drugs.  Here again, her focus is not on the tragedy but on Carrie's triumph as she struggles with her addiction and then moves on to attend college and forge a life for herself.  This life included success on the stage, television, and movies.  Carrie and Carol's relationship developed into a strong, loving, collaborative bond which is clearly seen in the joint emails and reflections that Carol shares with the reader.
Carrie requested that her mother finish the story that she was working on at the time of her cancer diagnosis.  Here again, Carol's generous spirit pulls through.  Though it took her several years to finish the project, she did indeed fulfill Carrie's wishes.  The story at the end of Carrie and Me becomes the epilogue of a full, rich life that ended too quickly.  Reading this book, the reader reflects that the precious relationship of Carol and Carrie is the very relationship that every parent and child would wish to have.
Don't remember the show?  Visit WENT WITH THE WIND PART 2 for a refresher of Carol's comedic genius.  It's not just the dress, everyone gets in on the fun.

You're my new "Book Bestie" 8-)

One of the wonderful things about working in a library is that the majority of people who work there are avid readers.  This means that at any time you may find yourself animatedly discussing books with a coworker.  Library workers are encouraged to try books from different genres and sample non-fiction from a variety of topics.  That means that when you have a new favorite author or book to share, they tend to be good listeners.
One of the regular duties librarians have is picking out the book of their choice to for the library's book discussion group.  Sadly, we don't have time to read every single book that our co-workers pick out, but we try to be familiar with them because they will eventually be made into book discussion kits that are loaned out to the public.  Picking out a book for your book discussion group can be intimidating.  As with all questions about readers' advisory, the people at the desk are eager to help with this decision.

In April, our local library group discussed Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr. This is a riveting read set in northern Wisconsin during the 1970's.  Parts of this story are loving and poignant.  They make the reader recall fond childhood memories of visits with their favorite grandparent.  The author details the difficulties that the main character faces as a child of an American man and Japanese woman who has been left in a small town to live with her grandparents.  The loving relationship with her grandparents is sharply contrasted by the racism and prejudice that the young girl is dealt every day by the children and adults in Deerhorn, WI.  Racial tensions increase when a young black couple move to into town.    What follows changes the town and the loving relationship between grandparent and grandchild.

The great thing about having a variety of people pick out discussion books is that the library now owns a very diverse selection of book discussion kits.  There are kits with books on history like Founding Brothers or Assassination Vacation.  Memoirs range from A Girl Named Zippy:  growing up small in Mooreland, Indiana to Dewey:  the small-town library cat who touched the world and all manner of joyful and sad stories in between.  Fiction selections run the gamut from classics like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice to A Thread of Grace and lighter fare like The Hindi-Bindi Club.  We've discussed our Fast Food Nation,  The Greatest Generation, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Why join a book discussion group?  Books can connect us with complete strangers as we're waiting for the elevator or sitting in the doctor's office.  An inviting book cover can lead to the discovery of a new "book friend" with whom you can share your guilty pleasure-books.