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A LITTLE BIT OF FUN

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Hi there,

One of my friends, D. Wallace Peach, who blogs at https://mythsofthemirror.com, is not only the author of some very intriguing books but also a lot of fun. She has started off the new year with a writing challenge. The challenge involved writing about the accumulated books a person owns and hasn’t had time to read.

What follows is what I submitted. I think anyone can relate to my dilemma.

Ode To My Cookbooks

From the loneliness of your bookshelves, I hear your plea, please read me.

Julia, your chicken is superb,

But, alas, I only have time for a blurb.

Ina, you are my hero,

But my time to read is zero.

Marcella, your pasta has no peer,

But, no time to read I fear.

Dorie, your recipes are so sweet,

But, I only have time for a tweet.

But, do not despair my dear soul mates,

Your recipes again will grace my plates,

As soon as I find the time

To end this silly rhyme.

Thank you Diana for shaking things up a bit this January with this challenge, and thanks to my dear readers for putting up with this bit of whimsy.

❤️Bernadette

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66 responses to “A LITTLE BIT OF FUN”

  1. Darlene – British Columbia, Canada – Writer of children's stories, short stories and travel articles. https://twitter.com/#!/supermegawoman http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201634059868404&id=631897250&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/pages/Darlene-Foster-Writer/362236842733
    Darlene says:

    This is perfect and I can relate.

    Reply

  4. I downsized and moved cross country several years back. At that time, all of my books with the exception of maybe a half a dozen and the book cases they resided in were donated. I now use the library’s vast catalog. I’m at a point in life where I have no interest in accumulating books or anything else for that matter. I’m now comfortable being a minimalist. Thank goodness we can also always find great recipes online at the tip of our fingers. 🙂

    Reply

    • I downsized last year too Judy and gave away most of my books but I find myself accumulating cookbooks again. Regular books I give aways as soon as I am done. Enjoy your weekend.

      Reply
  5. Kristie – I am busy mom of 5 amazing children. I love cooking, reading books and traveling. I can't wait to share some of that with you.
    Kristie says:

    I own dozens of cookbooks. Problem is that I read 3 recipes, buy another one, get distracted and don’t open the original again for 10 years. 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

    Reply
      • Kristie – I am busy mom of 5 amazing children. I love cooking, reading books and traveling. I can't wait to share some of that with you.
        Kristie says:

        I may have an Excel spreadsheet for that. It has all of my cookbooks listed as a page, and each has columns of recipe categories from the book, with the recipes listed below the category in the assigned column. Then I can use the search 🔍 option to locate the recipe.
        OCD makes me weird but I embrace some of it

  6. Smiling, smiling, smiling. Thanks for your delightful rhyme of the intricacies of finding the time to cook AND read. Just keep on cooking, Bernadette. And blogging, of course! 🙂

    Reply
  9. D. Wallace Peach – 30 Miles beyond the edge of civilization, Oregon – I'm an adventurer in writing, peering under rocks in my garden for secret magic. I can't stop writing. My stories want to explode from my head. They demand my attention and surge from my fingertips faster than I can put them to paper. I love what I do.
    D. Wallace Peach says:

    LOL. I knew it! I just knew that you had a pile of cookbooks and probably more recipes than you could cook. I only have about 8 and even I’ll never make a tenth of the meals. Thanks so much for playing, Bernadette. I think I’m already out to Wednesday for reblogs, but look forward to giving everyone a laugh. <3

    Reply
  10. Jacqui Murray – Laguna Hills, CA. – Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Savage Land.
    Jacqui Murray says:

    That was clever. I have shelves filled with cookbooks I never use anymore! They too call to me.

    Reply

  11. I like to get books from the library and take a picture of the recipes I want to try. Loved your poem Bernadette!

    Reply
  12. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen – I'm a writer, cook, gardener, photographer, poet, quilter, and accomplished daydreamer. I'm also a wife, mother, grandmother, sister. cousin, aunt, and friend, no particular order on any given day. I've been a writer all my life, newspaper reporter and columnist, radio news writer, and magazine contributor, and poet and short-story writer as the spirit moves. Now, I turn my attention to my cookbook, the blog, and a cooking column "Memorable Meals," which runs in our county newspaper. Besides my family, I love dogs, cats, good coffee, chocolate, and my never-dwindling pile of books I intend to read. Our family ran a small Vermont Inn for 18 years, with our focus on local, organic ingredients. I cook from scratch, and try not to use anything that has ingredients I cannot pronounce! After many years of daily serving up local delicacies, cooking classes, and catering, we are now only open for special events, and the odd cooking class. We also host musicians and artists, having helped produce a musical festival and other musical events for nearly 20 years. Many incredible artists have found a place at our table. Wonderful experiences, we will treasure always. My family and friends are my practice subjects. With a family that includes nut, peanut, tree fruit, and vegetable allergies, gluten intolerance, dairy intolerance, vegetarians, vegans, heart conscious, and a couple of picky eaters, there has to be a few quick tricks in the book to keep everyone fed and happy! Personally, I do not eat red meat or most full-fat dairy (usually) for health reasons, making the occasional exception at Thanksgiving and Christmas or our anniversary if the duck is locally raised. I do eat fish and seafood, so I try to come up with alternatives and substitutions when available. I serve local organic eggs and cheeses to my family who can tolerate dairy (My husband recently had a heart attack, and I need to watch my own cholesterol so I am careful, but have been known to let a little piece of really good cheese accidentally fall on my plate!). I believe strongly that eating in a way that is good for our planet is also good for our bodies, and I try to educated myself about our food sources! I cook by the seasons and draw on inspiration from the strong and talented women in my family who came before me, as well as the youth in the family who look at the world with fresh eyes. Food links us all, whether sharing a meal, cooking it together, or writing about it for others to enjoy. I love taking an old recipe and giving it a modern spin, especially if I can make it a littler healthier and use foods that are kinder to the Earth and to our bodies. I believe strongly in sustainable, delicious eating of whole foods, and the wonderful flavors we have at our fingertips! And finally, I love conversing with all the talented cooks and chefs out there who dot the globe! It's a wonderful, world full of culinary pen pals, and I cherish them all! XXXOOO Dorothy
    Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen says:

    I’m totally embarrassed to look at my accumulation of books, cookbooks in particular. In addition to the books I’ve accumulated myself, I also inherited my chef mother-in-law’s collection of cookbooks that number in the hundreds. I’m still trying to deal with them, most of which I know I’ll never open.

    Reply
      • Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen – I'm a writer, cook, gardener, photographer, poet, quilter, and accomplished daydreamer. I'm also a wife, mother, grandmother, sister. cousin, aunt, and friend, no particular order on any given day. I've been a writer all my life, newspaper reporter and columnist, radio news writer, and magazine contributor, and poet and short-story writer as the spirit moves. Now, I turn my attention to my cookbook, the blog, and a cooking column "Memorable Meals," which runs in our county newspaper. Besides my family, I love dogs, cats, good coffee, chocolate, and my never-dwindling pile of books I intend to read. Our family ran a small Vermont Inn for 18 years, with our focus on local, organic ingredients. I cook from scratch, and try not to use anything that has ingredients I cannot pronounce! After many years of daily serving up local delicacies, cooking classes, and catering, we are now only open for special events, and the odd cooking class. We also host musicians and artists, having helped produce a musical festival and other musical events for nearly 20 years. Many incredible artists have found a place at our table. Wonderful experiences, we will treasure always. My family and friends are my practice subjects. With a family that includes nut, peanut, tree fruit, and vegetable allergies, gluten intolerance, dairy intolerance, vegetarians, vegans, heart conscious, and a couple of picky eaters, there has to be a few quick tricks in the book to keep everyone fed and happy! Personally, I do not eat red meat or most full-fat dairy (usually) for health reasons, making the occasional exception at Thanksgiving and Christmas or our anniversary if the duck is locally raised. I do eat fish and seafood, so I try to come up with alternatives and substitutions when available. I serve local organic eggs and cheeses to my family who can tolerate dairy (My husband recently had a heart attack, and I need to watch my own cholesterol so I am careful, but have been known to let a little piece of really good cheese accidentally fall on my plate!). I believe strongly that eating in a way that is good for our planet is also good for our bodies, and I try to educated myself about our food sources! I cook by the seasons and draw on inspiration from the strong and talented women in my family who came before me, as well as the youth in the family who look at the world with fresh eyes. Food links us all, whether sharing a meal, cooking it together, or writing about it for others to enjoy. I love taking an old recipe and giving it a modern spin, especially if I can make it a littler healthier and use foods that are kinder to the Earth and to our bodies. I believe strongly in sustainable, delicious eating of whole foods, and the wonderful flavors we have at our fingertips! And finally, I love conversing with all the talented cooks and chefs out there who dot the globe! It's a wonderful, world full of culinary pen pals, and I cherish them all! XXXOOO Dorothy
        Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen says:

        I made a first attempt and got all the books on shelves in a storage space, semi-organized by some assigned categories. But I kept finding little notes and things and you are so right, weeding has been difficult.

  14. sammee44 – Victoria, BC – I am a West Coast Reader and Writer who enjoys the big and little things in Life. My philosophy is–if you don't enjoy those precious moments and savour the joy, then how can you appreciate the little things that crosses your daily path?
    sammee44 says:

    I love reading cookbooks and of course, marking the recipes I want to try and those I have tried with good success. These are the ones I write on the cover of my cookbook which is the only way I can put my hands on the recipe I want.
    I have enjoyed Ina Garten’s “Make it Ahead” and Sophia Loren’s “Recipes and Memories”–both books having little stories behind the recipes. And of course, the food photography and countryside around are tummy appealing and extremely appealing! Thank you for your fun poem and I’m like everyone else, I have “weeded” out the books no longer used or looked at and made room for new ones. . . .My bookshelf still doesn’t look empty and I don’t think I want it to be!

    Reply
      • sammee44 – Victoria, BC – I am a West Coast Reader and Writer who enjoys the big and little things in Life. My philosophy is–if you don't enjoy those precious moments and savour the joy, then how can you appreciate the little things that crosses your daily path?
        sammee44 says:

        You have a great weekend too, Bernadette. I’m off to make a batch of Almond Macaroons and Banana Blueberry Muffins. . . .found my “lost” recipes!

  15. sue clancy – I create visual stories: fine art and artist books – in the genres of "animals in art" and "books in art". I tell my stories on walls, in books and even on "nontraditional" surfaces like coffee mugs. My fine art is represented by Caplan Art Designs www.caplanartdesigns.com and by Joseph Gierek Fine Art www.gierek.com – Thank you for letting me tell you a story!
    sue clancy says:

    That was lots of fun!! Thank you!! You are very creative!!!

    Reply
      • sue clancy – I create visual stories: fine art and artist books – in the genres of "animals in art" and "books in art". I tell my stories on walls, in books and even on "nontraditional" surfaces like coffee mugs. My fine art is represented by Caplan Art Designs www.caplanartdesigns.com and by Joseph Gierek Fine Art www.gierek.com – Thank you for letting me tell you a story!
        sue clancy says:

        You too!! ❤❤

  16. V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
    V.M.Sang says:

    Wonderful. I can relate to that. I have loads of cookery books, many unread.

    Reply
  17. the Painted Apron – Life is all about creativity for me, as long as I'm creating something I am happy! I hope I will inspire your daily life and give you ideas for your own wonderful creations!
    the Painted Apron says:

    ha ha, very clever!!!
    Jenna

    Reply
  18. Sandy – Reformed techie. Street photographer. Writer, reader and foodie. I blog about travel, culture and food. I write about people. Find me at TheSandyChronicles.com
    SandyL says:

    Very Good!

    Reply
  20. Retirement Reflections – Vancouver Island, BC – Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.
    Retirement Reflections says:

    Love it! Very clever…and very, very true!

    Reply

  21. Ah, this is great, Bernadette! And funny. 🙂
    I, too, have a mountain of cookbooks and I swear that I will get rid of them but I never do. They are like old friends and they inspire me way beyond what I find in their actual pages.

    Reply
  24. SD Gates – I work in the medical field, but really want to be a full-time gardener or writer or something that does not require me having to take a shower every morning. I have to work to buy my plants. My favorite thing to do is sit on the patio, with my puppies, writing, staring at the garden, daydreaming the day away.
    SD Gates says:

    I love this, I am one of those people with a slew of cookbooks. I love cookbooks. I went on a cooking spree not too long ago and used recipes online that sounded interesting. I baked 2 cakes and several entrees and none of them turned out right. It was then, I decided I will only trust the recipes in my cookbooks, some of them date back to British cookbooks published before WWII, but the recipes and the resultant dishes, always turn out perfectly. I am sticking with my cookbooks. Some things online, just cannot be trusted

    Reply

  26. Fun poem, Bernadette! I too read cookbooks like novels. My sauce-splattered collection is probably the most-read genre amongst the many books I possess.🥣

    Reply
  27. Jill Weatherholt – JillWeatherholt.com – My name is Jill Weatherholt and I’m a writer. I have a full-time job, but at night and on the weekend, I pursue my passion, writing. I write contemporary stories about love, friendship and forgiveness. I started this blog as a way to share my journey toward publication and to create a community for other new writers and artists. Raised in the Washington, DC area, I’ve lived in Charlotte, North Carolina since 2004. I hold a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and a Certification in Paralegal Studies from Duke University. I write stories filled with love, faith and happy endings for Harlequin Love Inspired. What can I say…I love happy endings. My sixth book Searching for Home will be in stores December 28, 2021, details can be found at JillWeatherholt.com. I've sold seven sweet romance stories to Woman's World Magazine. I was the first place winner in the Dream Quest One Short Story Contest in the Winter 2014-2015 competition. In 2014, I placed second in Southern Writers Magazine Short Story Contest. I was also a top ten finalist in Southern Writers Magazine Short Story Contest in 2012 and 2013. I’m a 2010, 2012 and 2016 winner of the National Novel Writing Month Contest. I love to connect with readers. Visit me at jillweatherholt.com and sign-up for my newsletter. Follow me on Amazon.com and Bookbub.com.
    Jill Weatherholt says:

    I love this!

    Reply
  28. Writing to Freedom – Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA – Peacemaker, writer, nature lover, and photographer. Learning to be more compassionate, loving, and accepting. I enjoy reading, simple living, travel, and time in nature. See you on the trails of life. Together we rise.
    Writing to Freedom says:

    So fun and clever. Please serve me another slice of delight!

    Reply
  29. Annika Perry – East Anglia, UK – I’m a versatile writer whose books span across various genres. My first venture into publishing is "The Storyteller Speaks" and this a collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry. Published in January 2018 "The Storyteller Speaks" has received over twenty-five glowing reviews on Amazon. "Oskar’s Quest", my second book, it is a beautifully illustrated children’s book for younger children (and all young at heart!). "Oskar’s Quest" is an engaging story of adventure and courage. I have also completed one more story for children which is as yet unpublished. "Island Girl", my first full-length novel, is in its final edits and I’m looking forward to publishing this in due course. Writing has been a passion since childhood although it is only in the past few years that I have seriously started to write fiction. Initially, a writing course gave me encouragement and direction with my writing. Furthermore, the tutor recommended blogging and in January 2015 I set up my blog, Annika Perry’s Writing Blog. I never imagined the friendships I would make and I’ve been overwhelmed with the warmth and incredible support from people around the world. In spring 2014 I won First Prize in a Writing Magazine’s Short Story Competition which was a fantastic surprise and joy. Furthermore, I was short-listed for an Ink Tears Short Story Competition the same year. The recognition of my writing ability outside of my family and friends was a huge boost to my self-confidence and as a result, I started the mammoth undertaking of writing my first novel. Meanwhile, in early 2017 I was greatly encouraged by my friends and writers to publish some of my numerous short stories in a book. It was with great excitement and sense of achievement to launch the publication of my first book, "The Storyteller Speaks", in December 2017 with the paperback released in January 2018. The latter part of 2018 and throughout 2019 was busy with the realisation of a dream project, to publish a children’s book. Like so many parents, my son when young would request a bedtime story. These I tended to make up and a couple became his and my personal favourites. I revisited one of these stories and after much rewriting, editing and finding a wonderful illustrator, "Oskar’s Quest" was ready! Overall my road to publication has been circuitous and aided by the support of my family and friends. After gaining my BA Honours Degree in German Language and Literature from the University of Leeds I started working as a journalist. Following a serious illness, I changed career and gained a position as Administration Manager for a busy timber import company. I worked here for many years before leaving to pursue my passion for writing. I am now a full-time writer, blogger and book reviewer. I was born in Gothenburg, Sweden and at the age of six, moved to the UK with my family where we settled near Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Since then I have moved many times but now live in a small village in North Essex, England with my husband and occasionally my son, when he returns during university holidays. I am on the following social media sites and look forward to seeing you there. If you have a specific enquiry please use the form below. Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnikaPerry68 Author Website: https://annika-perry-author.com/ Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Annika-Perry/e/B0789NNWFX/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/55576285-annika-perry Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annika-perry-5a9ab8a6/
    Annika Perry says:

    Bernadette, I love how you address your cookery books, their writers … it had never occured to me that these are also waiting to be read, the recipes created! 😀 I have a couple of favourite recipe books which are falling apart yet new pristine ones barely touched, I imagine they are rather green with envy! A great fun and whimsical poem in response to Diana’s unique challenge!

    Reply
  32. balroop2013 – California – A former teacher and an educationalist, a passionate reader, a published poet and writer, an ardent nature lover, I am also fond of good, soft music. Amazon link for my books: goo.gl/X1NEFf
    balroop2013 says:

    It’s nice to meet you through this challenge Bernadette. Diana is an awesome connector! Thanks for the smiles with your lovely poem.

    Reply
  33. Chel Owens – awifemyverse.wordpress.com – Chel is a person, much like you. She also writes occasionally, reads often, mothers daily, and sleeps and eats in her free time.
    Chel Owens says:

    Ahhhh. I have this lovely cookbook for vegetarian dishes. It’s beautiful. I page through the first few recipes every year or so … then put it back on the shelf. 😀

    Reply
  34. Layla Todd – Layla Todd is a micro-poetess and word witch from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, passionate about life where it intersects with writing and the dreamscapes lost in between. She studies creative writing at the University of Arizona and is passionate about helping writers and bloggers improve their skills.
    Jaya Avendel says:

    Such an amusing and hilarious poem that manages to be alive with flavor!

    Reply

  35. That was so much fun! Truthfully, I often look at cookbooks just for the scrumptious pictures (and to fantasize that someone will cook for me 🙂 ).

    Reply
  36. Ocean Bream – I am a tragedy waiting to happen, and a bottle of fireflies just before they are let loose. There is very little that fazes me, yet I am an emotional waterfall. I like people, watching people, talking to people, hearing people and generally avoiding them. I have left my teens behind me very recently and am embarking solemnly, determinedly on the uphill hike that is adulthood. So far I have discovered that life requires one's full attention at all times. My trials include getting rid of the podge that has surrounded my middle, my hair and the redemption of my soul. I will also attempt to tackle the intricate complexity that is writing, the neverending cascade of words in the literary world, and to make something of myself in the time that I am alive (and also hopefully after I am dead). My Muse is Twig Blackadder. You might see flashes of him darting through the pages of this blog. Welcome, and hello to you, dear visitor. Tell me about who you are. What are your dreams and aspirations? What is something significant that makes you stand out from the masses of other human beings on this earth?
    Ocean Bream says:

    This is great! Put a smile on my face 😀

    Reply
  37. Miriam Hurdle – California, USA – Miriam Hurdle grew up in Hong Kong where she went to college and worked for five years before coming to the United States. While in Hong Kong, she taught Chinese as a Second Language at Hong Kong Baptist University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong for three years. She was also the Director of the Children’s Department at the Asian Outreach where she published four Chinese Children’s books. Miriam Hurdle came to the United States for her graduate studies. She received her master’s degrees in Christian Ministry from Portland Seminary, Counseling from Seattle Pacific University, and Education Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. After teaching in a California public school for fifteen years, she was promoted to a school district administrative position. She went on to do the postgraduate studies and earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from La Verne University in California. Dr. Hurdle continued in her administrative position for ten years before her retirement. In her retired life, Dr. Hurdle enjoys doing volunteer counseling, reading, writing, blogging, singing, drawing, watercolor painting, gardening, photographing, and traveling. Dr. Hurdle is married to Lynton Hurdle and has one married daughter and one granddaughter.
    Miriam Hurdle says:

    I have piles of cookbooks, Bernadette! When we first got a microwave oven (ages ago), I collected cookbooks for that. My daughter and her hubby are vegetarian, so are my hubby’s siblings. I collected vegetarian cookbooks. Then downloaded recipes from internet. How many recipes have I used? I don’t know.

    What a fun poem! Thanks for the chuckle!

    Reply
  38. janetsm – North Carolina – I write North Carolina local history and Southern American colonial historical fiction. I enjoy doing extensive research as well as the writing that research supports. My stories and novels-in-progress are about the common people. I'm the author of Harrisburg, Did You Know? Cabarrus History, Books 1 and 2 and a vintage postcard book titled The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
    janetsm says:

    Very clever poem! I read cookbooks like they’re novels, and jot down the names of the recipes I want to try along with the page numbers. Then, I return them to the shelf and never get around to trying the recipes.

    Reply

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