Give someone (or yourself) a great Christmas present, and help DU as well!

Here's the deal: go to http://balchlibrary.home.att.net where you can download an order form for this small-town library's 100th anniversary fund-raising cookbook.

It's a beautiful and interesting book, and perfect as a Christmas present; unlike many community cookbooks of this type, it's professionally designed and printed, with the kind of quality you'd see in a bookstore. The recipes are pretty interesting as well.

And here's the best part: If you type "DU member" at the bottom of the order form (no need to mention your screen name; in fact I'd rather you didn't), I'll send DU a dollar for each copy purchased.

Background: This library is in the small Vermont town where I grew up. It's a poor but close-knit town; in fact the head librarian is the mother of the guy who was my best friend when I lived there, and the assistant librarian is his wife. So when I heard they were planning this cookbook, I insisted that they let me volunteer to do the typography, layout, and photography, since designing books is pretty much what I do for a living. And I prevailed on a friend of mine who owns a printing company (and is as much a fanatical perfectionist as I am) to print it on a state-of-the-art DTP press capable of reproducing the photographs at an astonishingly sharp 300-line screen, at his cost so the library could afford it.

Disclaimer: I did not make one cent putting this book together, nor will I make one cent on any sales.

But think of this: If 200 of you wonderful DUers buy a copy of this cookbook, the library will have about $1500.00 to buy new books and cover other expenses (which would about double their annual new-book budget), and DU will be better off by $200.00 as well.

Furthermore, you have my pledge that if you don't think the book is well worth the fifteen dollars, I'll refund your money.

Please order a copy (or several) now. You won't be sorry you did.

And feel free to keep this thread kicked over the weekend. Testimonials from those who have seen this book (yes, that's you, Peggy and mwdem) are invited to contribute a testimonial or two and help keep the thread going.

Thanks in advance,

Redstone

(Mods: I asked Skinner some months back if it would be OK to flog this cookbook on DU, and he said I could do so. PM me for confirmation if you'd like.)

Not only do I love fine books, I love cooking.

You'll probably not go for the recipes for castor-oil cookies, but I bet you'll like my two sandwich recipes, and Mrs R's contribution as well.

I'll get back to you on Tuesday about that project, as I'll shooting pool tomorrow and out of town on Monday.

Redstone

And from your raves about your wife's cooking, I know I'll love those.

Have a good time at the pool hall. I'm going to be at a pub trying to win a trip to Ireland. Talk to you Tuesday.

I ordered a few, one for myself. They're beautiful, and will make a unique gift.

If I think of anyone who comes to mind Ill definetly order from you first.

:hi:

Inn just like the Waltons...I've downloaded an order btw! I collect cookbooks and now I'll have a special one put together by a friend! :hi:

Although I know that the road to Bankruptcy court is paved with people who "want to start a charming B & B in Vermont," we're seriously considering it.

We're just waiting to see if they're really going to bring in broadband Internet access to the area; my business is pretty portable but does need high-speed Internet.

I'm over 50 now, and have had a strong feeling lately that it may be time to go home.

I thank you, the library thanks you, and DU will thank you when I get the total of the orders and send them the money.

Redstone

a highly successful B+B! It's a lovely home.

No need to thank me...thank you for adding to my collection dear friend.

Even though the people in that town have gotten to know her well over the last 15 years that she's been going there with me, they're still kind of stunned; they've never seen anyone as exotic as her before.

So imagine the draw for vacationers, to find a B & B in some blink-and-you'll-miss-it town in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, with a proprietress who is from (literally) the other side of the world, and whose cooking can raise the dead, it's so good.

A formula for success if you've ever heard one, yes?

Redstone

Hope things are working out. Glad to see you tonite.

Every once in a while, listening to the damn doctors is the right way to go.

redstone

as you probably realize, most cookbooks are lost on me. HOWEVER, this is a great idea, and I'm forwarding to my less-veggie pals.

I think that this should be pinned at the top of the forum, too.

I also think that it kicks major ass that you're helping out your locals, not that I expect anything less or different.

Cheers.

I'll gladly add the buck for DU based on the fact that the order was from a referral by a DUer, even if it's not actually FROM a DUer.

And I appreciate the compliment. There's something about Vermont; even if you move away from there when you're young, you remain homesick for the place forever. Ask anyone who has ever lived there, and they'll tell you the same thing.

If you see a copy of the cookbook, read the text on the back cover. It will explain all; of the hundreds of thousands of words I've written, those few paragraphs are probably my best writing.

Redstone

I love Vermont. I've spent a great deal of time there (though as a snowboarding tourist).

those tourist bucks go a long way up there.

Besides sending the info to your friends, I'd be in your debt if you'd remember to kick this thread up tomorrow (and even Monday), because I'll probably not be near a computer.

(PS: Let me know before you go up there next, and I'll give you directions to a place where you can see mountain views that will absolutely leave you breathless. Just promise you won't tell the New York Yuppies where it is, or they'll buy up the land and build condos there.)

Redstone

born in Plymouth, raised in the Cape Cod area, I'll always spend my tourism dollars in that area.

I'm going to hold you to that...

Thanks, and will do.

There's something about Vermont; even if you move away from there when you're young, you remain homesick for the place forever.

That's exactly how I feel about Minnesota, though I wasn't exactly young when I moved away.

I'm going to order two cookbooks; one for me, and one for my aunt and uncle.

I've only been in Minnesota once, and then not for long, but from what I've read, it's the kind of place you can easily call "home." I'd like very much to spend more time there someday.

Maybe there's a commonality of cold weather?

(And from what I understand about Minnesota cooking, you and your relatives will probably feel right at home with the recipes, given that they're kind of heavy on cream-of-something-soup-based stuff, though with plenty of fresh garden vegetables thrown in as well.)

Thanks for pitching in.

Redstone

I have a question though. In the next couple of months I am going to be going through my books and getting rid of some of them (space is becoming an issue). Would the library be interested in my donating them? I would of course send them at my own expense, probably the cheapest way I could find. It would be nice to know they were going to someplace that would really use them.

They had to make the decision about 15 years ago, as to whether they were going to be a "historical library" (in other words, a forgotten place full of dusty old books nobody wanted to read), or a real circulating library.

They made the decision to be a "real library" and sold all of their old holdings to raise the money to buy new books, and have become a genuine asset to the town, much more so than they were when I was a kid.

If your books are good ones, please do send them.

And thank you for your support...there's another dollar for DU in addition to the benefit to the library from your cookbook order.

Just don't tell them about the book I have in my basement titled "Birds in Your Back Yard," which was due in November of 1963 and never returned...

Redstone

I can, however, continue to plug DU.

:kick:

And flog all you want... we all do it it, but nice too see someone doing it for more than themselves.

Khash.

I plan to purchase a few for gifts.


BTW, not to nitpick, but the order form spelled cookbook incorrectly.

I'm mortified at making a mistake like that. Seriously.

Thanks for letting me know, and thanks for buying some of the cookbooks. You're one of the ones I knew I could count on.

Redstone

I can certainly recommend this wonderful cookbook.....

I love the layout, the printing, and the recipes......wonderful, ALL!

BUT my favorite parts are the photos, and the writing, esp. since they were done by Redstone himself!

Highly recommended, and KICKED, by gawd.......




:kick:

:kick:

:kick:

to order some books!

Geez, I'd have thought that Peggy's endorsement would have gotten more action than that...who at DU, after all doesn't like and trust the Pegster?

I called the folks at the library today, and they were thrilled at the prospect of getting lots of orders for the book...they didn't get much of a budget from the town this year, because the town has to spend a lot of money upgrading its public water system.

I gotta run out at the crack o'dawn on a business trip tomorrow morning, but I'll check in a little later to see how things are going.

I really, really appreciate the response so far. You guys are great.

Redstone

:kick:

to buy people stars? I think this would be a nice way to provide a benefit to yet more people with this excercise.

I'm sure there are instructions somewhere; can anyone tell me where?

Redstone

Probably those who don't already have them.
And consider this another kick.

the specifics of how to do so.

Though I guess I could just stop being so goddamned lazy and look it up.

Damn, I gotta cut this out and get to bed. 5 AM is getting ever closer.

Redstone

Maybe Skinner could help you with the choice.

I will definitely purchase at least one copy, maybe more depending on the Christmas list I've been putting off making.

Thanks for your generous offer to give $1 to DU for every copy ordered - it is definitely incentive for me to order more!

:hug:

Do you ever sleep?

Thanks for pitching in. Knew I'd be able to count on you.

You'll love the cookbook itself, even if you don't like all the recipes (they're Northern, after all), I guarantee it.

Redstone

Have family connections to North Pomfert (near White River Junction and Woodstock). Many fond memories including learning to ski (sorta) at "Suicide Six".

Follow the link in my original post, and you'll be able to see some pictures of some sights around the town. It's a real small place.

Redstone

I'll have to do a mail-in.

This is a little library in a little town, so they're not geared up to do stuff like credit cards, or even PayPal.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I don't think you'll be disappointed in the typography, layout, or photography. And the printing is superb as well, thanks to a printer who (as I mentioned in the OP) is as relentless a perfectionist as I am. (Until recently, I had a sign on the wall of my office that said: "Yes, it does have to be perfect.")

In this business, if you start letting things slip because "the customer won't notice," you're doomed. It's the start of the slippery slope down which you slide to mediocrity and worse...

Thanks again.

Redstone

Four beneficaries, remember:

1) You, or whoever you give the book to.

2) The library.

3) DU in general, because they get the buck per book.

4) Individual DUers, because I'll be buying people stars.

Redstone

One more gratuitous bump tomorrow, and we'll close this one out.

Redstone

I'll nag y'all just the one more night, in case anyone missed this before.

Redstone

I'm thinking about how many I can put to good use. Count me for one, Redstone

You'll like the book.

Redstone