Gladys Taber's Full Snow Moon

The Full Snow Moon is one of the loveliest; perhaps the crystalline air itself affects her. My friends Helen, Vicky and Olive grow restless after supper and decide to walk in the moonlit woods, even if the temperature is zero. The shadows on the snow are like etchings, and the only sound is the occasional cracking of an icy branch. On such a night in the woods, they feel a strange link with the universe and a renewal of their own identity. When they come in, they bring the smell of snow and pine and damp wood, and it takes a little time before they are ready to get out the popcorn and melt the butter and poke the fire.
In this age of tenseness, we all need such times to renew our souls.

-From Country Chronicle by Gladys Taber

On Demand O'Henry Bars

Last night, out of the blue, my 8 year old son asked me to make what we call O'Henry Bars (not sure why). Because the ingredients are simple and always on hand, I was able to oblige in minutes. "These will be his home from college request," said my husband.

O'Henry Bars
4 cups quick cooking oatmeal
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter

Mix together oatmeal, butter, and both sugars. Pat into 10X15 inch cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12 mintues. Cool.
For frosting, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together over low heat. Spread evenly over bars. Because the frosting stays quite soft, it's best to keep these bars in the fridge. You probably don't need to cover them - they'll be gone by tomorrow.

Back, Finally!

Hello to anyone who is reading this - who hasn't given up on me! I won't bore you with the details, but my blogging absence involved a variety of elderly people, sick (nothing serious, but seemingly pertpetual) children, and a number of other little things adding up to be big time suckers. I'm really hoping I can back to this little blog, back to writing about the things that I love and hoping someone out there reads a little tidbit that leads them to a book, recipe, or something that makes them happy, too.

I'll jump right in with my old "reading, watching, listening to" list. Just like having no time to blog, I've had little time to read or get into anything new for the last few months - my latest trip to the library is going to change this!

Currently Reading:

The Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
I must say I'm thoroughly enjoying this book - here is the blurb from Amazon - I particulary agree with the last sentence about introducing her to friends -

Rosenthal has collected a lifetime of thoughts, observations, and decisions, and created an alphabetized personal encyclopedia, complete with cross-referenced entries and illustrations. Rosenthal reveals the minutiae of her life, from pumping gas ("Every. Single. Solitary. Time I go to get gas I have to lean out the window to see which side the tank is on"), to witnessing her son's accident ("I saw with front-row-seat clarity, just how quickly, randomly, and mercilessly your child can be taken away"), and in turns both playful and poignant, engages the reader in effortless and stimulating conversation.
Whether you are laughing aloud or nodding along, reading Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life is like being introduced to a new friend--one that you automatically connect with and feel compelled to share. Fans of shows like Arrested Development will appreciate Rosenthal's quirky, conversational humor and dead-on observations. Writers will see the book as a contemporary portrait of the fledgling artist, and should enjoy her aptly named, "Evolution of this Moment"--a timeline tracking her growth as a writer from her first word ("more") to publication of her fourth book.
Modesty prevents Rosenthal from acknowledging herself as anything other than ordinary--that, and the fact that she has not "survived against all odds"--but that certainly does not mean she has nothing to say, or to share. Her delightful memoir is a reminder that life is not always an adventure, but it can be full of sad, silly, and important moments that make it worth living. Witness the generosity of an author who is willing to reveal so much of herself, not just as a writer, but also as a person--share this delightfully quirky, utterly enjoyable book with family and friends with a note, "Here is someone I think you should meet." --

To Be Read Next:

The Autobiography of Mark Twain

Food Rules by Michael Pollan

Dirt - The Quirks, Habits and Passions of Keeping House by Mindy Lewis

Enchanted April (still have never read this, but would like to read it in April, dork that I am)

I'd love to hear any opinions about the above books from you!


Watching:

Lost, Lost, and more Lost!


Currently Listening To:

Iron and Wine

CD I'm Really Hoping to Get:

En Concert by Jack Johnson - this has a live version of "Constellations" sung with Eddie Vetter - ooh yah!

That's all for now - I'll be back again soon!