The blessings of the year: food, books, travel
December 5, 2013
Dear Readers,Well, the Bella Books blog got "hits" on my pumpkin pie recipe the night before Thanksgiving (U.S.) I hope this means a return of what Josh Billings lamented in 1876 as the "blessed old original" pumpkin pie (with nutmeg), even then a "lost art."
In addition to the works of Billings (Henry W. Shaw), I've been reading Taking My Life, Jane Rule's memoir of her youth, which was unpublished in her lifetime, and enjoying it hugely. Rule's early years were spent in the States, except for memorable visits to England at the age of 19. She went on to make her life and career in British Columbia, becoming not only "arguably the most significant lesbian writer of the twentieth century" (Katherine V. Forrest), but one of the most respected writers in Canada. On being inducted into the Order of Canada, Rule said, "I chose Canada over 50 years ago. So it is very nice to have Canada choose me."
You can see why this is resonating (although Rule was 19 in 1950)! I hope you are all reading something good. If you get a chance, please check out THE DISCREET TRAVELER, with reports from the Mediterranean and beyond: http://jeknowles.blogspot.com
With good cheer,
J. E. Knowles