We’ve just received four cookbooks dedicated only to Texas cuisine (really cooking for us Texans), and Shirley and I would enjoy having your input as to whether we should keep these books. They are currently on the top shelf behind the chairs of the computer stations. Please, if you have the interest and the time, glance through them and let us know what you think.
And speaking of cookbooks, we’ve just received an unbelievable book of Texan recipes. This book is somewhat unusual as it is divided into specific regions of Texas with the outstanding foods common to each area being featured. And, if you are somewhat like me, I read cookbooks as I would a book of either fiction or nonfiction, and I was certainly not disappointed in the descriptions of portions of Texas. It was really quite interesting to read about Janak’s Sausage in Hallettsville, where our home is, or Shiner Brewery in the nearby town. But, of course, the recipe that got my attention was the one for Poppy Seed Kolaches, using milk instead of water in the dough as I’ve seen many of the older Czech women do. That’s gonna be the first item of my list for playing as the weather gets a little cooler. The book is entitled TEXAS EATS by Robb Walsh, and I enjoyed it so very much that I’ve purchased a copy for myself.
Occasionally one finds oneself remembering a book that had made an impression on you many years ago. And this is what happened to me with Leon Uris’ book, ARMAGEDDON , the story of not just the fall of Germany during the 2nd World War but the far-seeing plans for rebuilding it and the following future of that country. Re-reading it after 30 or so years made the story come alive once again and brought to the memory so much that had been forgotten concerning the blockade of Berlin by the Russians. When one reads and then totally comprehends the amazing statistics for supplying that City by the American Air Force, it’s quite difficult to take a complacent attitude about our country. During the 11 months of flying cargo (food, coal and medical supplies), the planes averaged a load of 3 tons per flight with a turnaround of 3 minutes! If you’ve never read it, this book can be ordered through our Library.
James Lee Burke, a favorite author, has a new book out, CREOLE BELLE , with the underlying story being the oil spill by BP Petroleum. Mr. Burke speaks of this as not just a spill, but an absolute catastrophe, which it really was. He speaks of the odor of the oil carrying as far as New Iberia, his home, and he goes into quite a lot of specifics concerning the damage being caused.
His plots and characterizations and descriptions are always intriguing to read; he seems to be a past master at the descriptions of the city or town forefront in his books that make them so compelling. However, this time he seems to have cleaned up his language, which never hurts.
Just a quickie: we have an unbelievable array of books for purchase at our Library, both hard cover and soft cover, of all types of fiction and even nonfiction. Come see us before you take your trip! And we welcome all you visitors to our Library; we may be small but we have a lot of good books and dvds! Just takes a Library Card!
And remember: Our Library is open on Monday & Tuesday from 9-1 & 2-6; on Wednesday, we open at 1:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m.; Thursday from 12:00 Noon till 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.
“When an old person dies, a Library burns down.”
Karin Gillespie
