Home Books

This is a wonderful story for children and parents. Perhaps even more significant for fathers when they assume authority over feelings.

Belle Yang's illustrations are so colorful and mesmerizing, I had to pore over them several times before I could read the story. A wonderful heartwarming tale with many good family values conveyed. And good lessons to be learned by parents about paying attention to your children's feelings.

Pictures and story are delightful and original. So refreshing to read a children's book where the characters and plot are sweetly unpredictable-- and where the parents make an authentic parenting mistake! So human!
Wonderful entry points for talking with your child about communication, trust, love, longing, and how parents and children can do better.

I purchased this book with "Hannah is My Name" and I'm so glad I did. When I read it to my young daughter the day we received it, she loved it! She and I had such a wonderful time. She giggled at the name of one of the doves and the children's uncle, and felt happy about the ending.

Perhaps she didn't catch them the first time but I know the profound lessons from the book will reverberate with her as she grows up (because we'll read this book regularly). Without spoiling the story for you, I will say it displays wonderful examples of bravery and empathy. If you want a unique experience (takes place in China) in story telling for your children, this book is it. And what can I say about the artwork but "Wow!"

You and your kids will simply enjoy it as we did -- something to treasure for years to come. Thomas

Belle Yang's latest book `Always Come Home to Me' is another delightful children's story skillfully told by this gifted artist. Her message, that parents will always be there with open arms to welcome you home into a warm, safe nest is an important one for children of all ages. Her wonderful drawings add vivid visual images which tell their own tales. This book will be under the tree of the children in our family and those of our friends this Holiday Season. We look forward to her next publication with anticipation!
Rosemarie Riebold

This book is a must have for caregivers or anyone who has a family member with Alzheimer's. You can read it through or just pick out chapters that will help you at the time, but the biggest help to me was Chapter 12 about Approaching Death. It gave me the comfort and help that I needed. I've read many books on the subject, but this has been the most helpful yet because it is based on love.

This is a tremendous resource for people who believe in the healing power of Love. Frena Gray Davidson has written a very spiritually centered book that will inevitably help any caregiver and their loved one.

She speaks about how we'll see the "divine child" untouched by darkness or sickness - our loved one - emerge in this process. And she states that we must listen to the feeling behind the words. That little statement has changed my life. When someone asks for their mother, who may have passed on decades earlier, they're really seeking comfort and security and reassurance. We need to hear their feelings that lie in back of their words.

She goes on to say that 30% of language is verbal, the rest is expressed in body language and behavior.

Further on she makes the observation that Alzheimer's patients are sensitive to the thoughts of those around them and to always give plenty of Love, both in word, action and thought.

She states that "unconditional Love is not a measure, it is a flow. You cannot give it or get it, you can only be part of it. When you love a person with Alzheimers, clarity and awareness come to that person." [p149]

The other wonderful point she makes is that so much of our disappointment in Alzheimers patients is tied to our notion of their "proper" mortal identity. Your mother doesn't know she's your mother anymore, but you can value and cherish who she is in the here and now. Don't live in the past but nurture the childlike qualities she is expressing in the present.

Tons of good advice. The other book I'd recommend for anyone dealing with Alzheimers is "Science and Health with key to the Scriptures" by M. B. Eddy. It is a terrific sourcebook on powerful prayers that heal and restore. It is the "how-to" book of prayer.

This is the book that changed everything for me. Its about approaching this disease with Love, Strength and Courage.
Frena shows you how to get thru a day at a time and most of all how to keep yourself intact. We get lost in this disease, it consumes whole families. She shows you how to listen, your loved one is still within this person afflicted by this disease,you just have to listen carefully and you will see the person you love is still inside and has alot to tell.She shows you how to cope. Frena is my strength, she gave me the tools from reading her book 3 years ago. This book is my foundation and Frena is an angel. No other book affected me as much as this one. If you want to truly understand this disease, this is it!

For anyone with a loved one suffering with Alzheimer's this is the book to get. It will help you understand the disease and how to cope. Written in everyday language it is packed with information on the stages these victims go through and how you can help them. One of the best I've read!

Frena Gray-Davidson is the ultimate "been there, done that" person in Alzheimer's care. Her book is a support group that can always be with you, ready to speak to the issues that concern you now and prepare you for what is likely to concern you in the future. All parts of this book will help you meet the challenges of dementia care, however several chapters are of special value. Chapter 2, Before Diagnosis and chapter 4, Family Crisis Alzheimer's Style guide families in the early stages of the disease. Chapter 11, Knowing When To Let Go, answers some of the tough questions about placement in a care facility. The final chapter, Moving On, gives guidance for that time when caregiving is no longer the top priority. In keeping with her theme not to lose the person in the process of coping with the disease, Ms. Gray-Davidson leads us away from using psychiatric terms to label behaviors and thought patterns which result from diminishing cognitive ability. She explains what may look like paranoia as "a reasonable fear response, given the limitations of the disease." She makes what is often labeled delusional thinking easier to understand as "memory which has drifted into some point in the past." She writes with compassion and humor, creating therapy for the caregiver and family members. The book is interesting to read and easy to understand. As a Geriatric Care Consultant, I have often loaned my copy of The Alzheimer's Sourcebook for Caregivers to my clients. Most of them return it with the comment that they have purchased copies for themselves and for family members. This started with the 1st edition and is continuing with the 3rd. I can make no higher recommendation.

I've had this book for some time-originally purchasing it for the cannelle recipe. I am moved to comment by my holiday success with Chef Rigo's
"Gateau Fondant Au Chocolat", a flourless bittersweet chocolate cake. I made two 5 inch cakes instead of one 10 inch to add to cookie baskets I gave as presents. The recipe is easy and marvelous, even if you flub it bit as I did. Having made more ganache than needed (the recipe calls for a 1/2 cup)I inadvertantly added much more than the recipe called for before catching myself. The cakes still rose and although slightly fudgier than intended still tasted wonderful. I highly recommend this book and this recipe.

I am a native of the Bay Area and have had the pleasure of seeing this bakery for myself. I found out about it through this cookbook as i have moved away from the beautiful city of San Fancisco. When I arrived and got out of the cab, I fell in love immediately. You could smell the bakery from a block away (they do in fact have another store just around the corner), but it really is like stepping into a boulangerie that you would find in Europe. I was greeted by some of the friendliest people I have ever encountered in any retail setting and so it was not a surprise that I bought or sampled almost everything in the store. This cookbook, though not as good as actually stepping into BAY BREAD for yourself, is excellent and will suit any cook. The ambiance of BAY BREAD is all confined in this wondeful cookbook. Anyone visiting the Bay Area or living there presently should check BAY BREAD out. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! THIS COOKBOOK IS ONE THAT WILL ENRICH ANYONE'S BAKING AND COOKING!

The book is wonderful, but why does it cost so much on Amazon out of all the places, when in reality the book costs only $34.95 (it's printed on the cover!!!).

There have been many wonderful and pinpoint reviews of Pascal's tome, so I will spare everyone the repetition of accolades. But it is necessary to make note that he has indeed surpassed my hope of what a truly good teaching tool a book needs to be in order to live up to it's promise. He has profoundly succeeded in his effort. Starting with the "levain" for the basic breads to the delicacies of pastries, he guides you with his wealth of knowledge based on years of experience and true love of this art. As he states, you do not become an expert overnight, but through trial and error; he tells you that this is a normal expectation as you perfect this amazing ability to bring life to food. I would caution that this is a book that caters a bit more to the experienced baker, or someone with a little more knowledge of baking, but do not let that keep you from appreciating the joy you will feel as you read and apply the education that this book gives you. Bon appetit!!

The book makes you dream. The pictures are phenomenal; you have the feeling that yes, you can do it. Palcal Rigo makes you feel that what he does is natural, that he is sharing with you recipes so simple, yet so good. The book is an extension of what he does in his retail shops and his restaurant: simple yet exceptionally good food, natural ingredients.
I loved the feeling of the book, the "family cooking" tone to it, the colors. You can almost feel the ambiance of the room where pastries are made by bakers.

Fascinating look into the past. I think some people might think this book has a few good ways to go green old fashioned if you're interested or off the grid or survival stuff or whatever (Just steer clear of the medical section. Fear Factor anyone?) but I think it is mostly useful as a historical reference. A great insight to logic back then. Still it was still fun to let your imagination run wild dreaming of doing some of these things. Also if you are going to do some reading about history why not go directly to the source on that particular subject? The chapter on raiseing girls was very modern in some suprising ways, I expected a sit down and be quite chapter but thats not what I got. For the price I think it was worth it.

I really love this book. It probably would be a stretch for the typical mid-class to high class family, but for those who love to be frugal it's wonderful! Much of the tips and instructions are a little outdated for our period, but something about reading it gives you a drive to live more frugally and less wastefully. It teaches you to appreciate a simple life.

I think it's very funny that she doesn't waste paper by diving right in with tips and doesn't bother to space out paragraphs. I actually like this more than Tightwad Gazette which tries not to be too preachy. Not Mrs. Childs, she's my kind of charismatic and she's preaching to the choir! I wish I lived as frugally as I should but this book is wonderfully bracing. Her analysis of consumerism still applies today.

I bought this book at a Revolutionar War event this past weekend and I've read it 3 times already (Purchased Sunday, and it's now Tuesday morning). My husband can't believe that I can't put this down. But I find it fascinating reading. Many of the little tips in here are still on many websites today for frugal living (olive oil and a little white vinegar for a wood furniture polish, for example).

Easy and fascinating reading for anyone interested in history, frugal living, and occassionaly a good laugh.

I got this book over 10 years ago, at the Sturbridge Village gift shop, and I swear, I've read it so much that I probably have whole sections memorized! It is, without doubt, THE best book of its kind.

The American Frugal Housewife is fascinating on a variety of levels, not the least in that Child wrote the book with the emphasis on "AMERICAN." Other such books existed at the time, but they were written in England and for English women. Child was one of the Transcendentalists who were huge advocates of personal self-discipline and restraint, but believed to their core the importance of fighting for what they knew to be right. It wasn't just a religious fervor -although Child's Christianity, like that of Catherine and Harriet Beecher Stowe, was extremely important - but a belief that the still relatively new United States had a unique destiny that set it apart from the rest of the world, specifically the old, decrepit world that was Europe.

Child was no blindfolded nationalist, however. She saw the flaws and contradictions that bound the new Republic. Child, like many other Transcendentalists, was a fervent abolitionist and a proponent of women's equality, and worked all her life toward achieving those ends. Even with its problems, Child was an ardent American. She saw Americans as a unique race of people with a unique and powerful destiny. Americans, she believed, were new and unique, and that the American destiny was far different from the degenerate, rotting hulk of Old World Europe.

So what does all this have to do with the American Frugal Housewife? Well, Child wrote the book specifically to address AMERICAN houswives and what she knew to be their unique problems and issues. It's much more than just a recipe book; it embodies Child's philosophy that the only way toward virtue was self-restraint and sobriety, and that the way to tutor the new nation in these values was by teaching the nation's housewives - the hand that rocks the cradle, Child believed, did indeed rule the world.

The new nation was becoming prosperous, and Child saw that then, like now, people had a difficult time learning how to restrain themselves financially. One part in particular has to do with how mothers should raise their daughters. Child believed they should teach their offspring the virtues of frugality, that it was better to put savings "out at interest" and earn wealth from it, then to indulge in the latest fad - one in this case being something called a Brussels carpet. As new brides went out to set up their household, Child lectures at how they drive their husbands to bankruptcy by embracing fads and trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Other, cheaper types of carpet "will answer just as well," Child wrote. She also recommends using cheap illustrations, nicely framed, as wall art, rather than going overboard to buy the latest European style.

Some of the best sections are on frugality. Child was the "Hints from Heloise" queen of her day, and she's got a solution for everything that could possibly beset the early 19th century housewife. The interesting thing, as others have noted, is how so many of her tips still work so well.

I don't know that I'm ever going to need her instructions on how to brew my own soap in a backyard kettle or how to keep my homemade pickles in a barrel from turning soft, but I did get a burn mark out of an antique chest by using rottenstone and oil, just as she prescribed.

What's rottenstone, you ask? Well, you can buy it at a hardware store, but if you want the recipe, buy the book! It's a fantastic window on early American life, but the sound advice inside, about not getting into debt and how to "do up" your brass so it doesn't tarnish, is still amazingly useful.

I guarantee you'll become a Child fan, just like me! :)

I want to thank Cafi for the wealth of information contained in 'And What About College?' We used it for all aspects of the process- from early planning when Shauna was 13 to the final stamping of the five college applications... We are happy to report that Shauna is accepted at Brown University under early action, and awaits word from the other four. Cafi's guidance, humor, clarity and ideas were invaluable... and the sample cover letters were a helpful prompt for this homeschool principal! I look forward to her new book and wish her the best!

I'm a new home schooling dad in CA who read this book just after making the decision to start home schooling. The book's terrific. It's well written, concise, and delivers what it promises. In our case, it erased all lingering doubts about college for home schooled children. I appreciate all those who contributed to its completion.

With a college-bound son who just turned 15, I find myself returning to this book again and again for advice, solace, detailed information, guidance. Cafi Cohen has been through it all. Her son attended the Air Force Academy and is now a test pilot. Her daughter attended an excellent college. AND she did a non-traditional, loose hs program with her kids. I wrote up a transcript for my son this week, using her book, and was truly heartened to see how beautifully it all came together. This is one of the best homeschool advice books I have ever read. A real gem.

Authors Cafi Cohen and Patrick Farenga have addressed the "getting into college" questions raised by parents schooling their older children at home, like, "How do we work up a set of transcripts?" "How do we get them into college without a recognized degree?" and "What choices in education do we have?"

The sub-title of the book might be misleading. Although a portion of the book talks about getting a child into the "best" universities and colleges, this book will be helpful to homeschoolers concerned about getting their children into any (or not necessarily the best) college.

We purchased the book several years ago and have followed its procedure. We had no trouble getting our daughter enrolled in college. The book provides clearcut and specific direction that alleviates the fears many of us home-schooling parents experience as we begin the high school years. It is helpful even if your children are not the frequent "home schooled genius types."

Since working up a transcript is best done on a year by year basis, the best time for parents to read this book is probably just before they homeschool their (first) child in the 9th grade.
The information on transcripts is worth the purchase price of the book itself.

I especially appreciated the authors' description of getting into local colleges through the "side door" approach by home-schooled teens taking a college course or two during the high school years.

Mentioned but not detailed in the book, there are colleges that are especially predisposed to homeschooled students. Many evangelical Christian colleges would be included in that number.

The book will not only create confidence in parents, it will also provide answers to all those nagging questions that friends or family might ask, as demonstrated by the title, "And What About College."

Dear Ms Cohen,

I am emailing to thank you for the wonderful book you wrote, And What About College? With the help of your book and The Dummies Book on Financial Aid, my homeschooled daughter has been accepted into the Honor's Program at a small university in Austin, Texas and has been awarded a full scholarship for four years. We couldn't be happier! And I could never have presented her so fully without your advice, your experience, and the wonderful model letters, transcripts, and resumes presented in your book. I learned so much in the process; hundreds of hours went into all this. And we were successful!

We live in India and are volunteers in a unique school that was developed in Kerala. We are not missionaries, yet without the generous scholarships we would not have been able to afford college. Not only did I need to get her into the college of her choice, but I needed to present her as a student they couldn't live without.

Of course she is a good student, worthy of the awards she has received. However, you gave me the format, the language, and the confidence to present her in the best possible light so that the college could recognize her unique experiences and qualities.

We both have attended orientation, classes have started, and my daughter is happy. SEU and the college experience it is offering her has been a wonderful choice. I thank you for your book; you are one of the people who is responsible for my daughter's success.

With deepest gratitude, Homeschooling Overseas

This book is great.And best of all, all proceeds go to the human society! I love it!

If you're looking for a fun, uplifting read that will touch your heart even as it keeps you on the edge of your seat, look no further than [[ASIN:1604610506 Angel Come Home]. Retired schoolteacher Brad Kennedy is traveling through Europe with his dog Angel. While in Paris, Angel is kidnapped and Brad must race against time to find her. Written from both Brad and Angel's point of view, author Stuart Wisong has crafted an elegant story about love, loss, faith and what it means to come home. Not only is this book eminently readable, 100% of the proceeds from sales go toward benefiting domestic animal wellness organizations. A great book for a great cause!

This is a great book for any dog lovers. Reading about Brad and Angel's adventurous escapades in Paris was a delight. Mr. Wisong does a remarkable job of giving a voice to what a Maltese dog named Angel is thinking and feeling. This charming and amusing story is definitely a book to read and a great gift to buy for anyone you know who owns a dog.

Thank you. This book about the spirituality of animals and their human counter part. This came at a very good time for me. This book is the first of its' kind to delve into the behavior of animals that Caesar (the dog whisperer) tries to explain. Angel was able to be reached on a attached, committed emotional level.
I live very close to the San Francisco Zoo. I cried when I found out about the alcohol and slingshots the the kids brought in to taunt that beautiful tiger that contributed more to life that these beings did. It has been found that there is a factual link between animal torture and serial killing.
We truly need more of these trend setting books that want to educate the human being and that want to donate its' proceeds to the Humane Society. thank you. Wilhelmina

I could not stop reading this heartwarming book, a real page turner. Great story, well told. Everyone should read this book and especially dog lovers and those thinking about getting a dog. It took 5 tissues to finish this one. This book has it all romance, adventure, suspense and a little dog that will capture your heart.

An incredibily moving and well-written story of a man and his dog and their adventures in France Angel is a Maltese with a gift of intuitive communication. I encourage all to read it. Stuart Wisong has a gift for writing. This story is a perfect example of how pets brighten our world.
Please write more books!

Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

This has become one of my favorite cookbooks, what I like about it is that most of the recipes are very easy to make and can be prepared quickly. I love to cook, but most nights I don't get home till after 7:30 which means I'm rushing to get dinner on the table, so recipes must have as few steps as possible. I also like the fact that I can get pictures of the recipes on her web site, that way I can see what the final product will be before mine is done.

This cookbook has a wealth of tips, hints and most of all well tested recipes. The recipe choices have great variety and because of all the tips I think I'm more inclined to try something new. Wonderful all around cookbook!!

With At Home In The Kitchen, home chef and cooking instructor Jorj Morgan shows even the most novice cook how to successfully plan and prepare complex, exotic dishes, and to think of cooking as a form of personal growth and giving. Included are timely instructions on kitchen organization, 230 fun and delicious recipes set out in an easy-to-read, step-by-step format (no more than ten steps per recipe); as well as a wealth of tips, tricks & techniques. From Spinach, Apple and Pecan Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette; Rum Soaked Sweet Potatoes; and Pan Chicken with White Wine "Gravy"; to Black Bean and Toasted Corn Salsa; Pumpkin Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting; and Sauteed Green Beans with Caramelized Pearl Onions, At Home In The Kitchen is an elegant, practical, and much appreciated addition to any culinary reference shelf!

Jorj Morgan's "At Home in the Kitchen" is a refreshing change from the typical "how to" cook or entertain books on the market today. If you're like me and you know how to boil water to make pasta, grill chicken on your Foreman grill, or spoon out pre-made cookie dough from a tube, but don't have too many other cooking skills, THIS IS YOUR BOOK! You learn to take time out of your work week, skip the fastfoord, and make great, tasty meals for you and your friends. She takes time to explain the basics in a non-uppity way, but the recipes aren't ordinary by any stretch. Two personal favorites of mine are the Roasted Salmon in the Grass with Cucumber Sauce and My Favorite Cheescake. If you read her forward closely, you see a personal commentary on the literal importance of "breaking bread" with family...it carries through the book and adds to her written charm!

We ordered 5 extra to send to friends & family who like to cook. The book was easy to read, but the website support is just the best! I like to cook and watch cooking shows on cable, but I don't understand alot of the terms. The best part of the book for me was the sections on how to set-up a kitchen (the items that are needed) and explaining what the cooking terms really meant!!! The recipes are easy to understand and follow. Watch out, I'm on my way to better meals!

Mr. Rogers neighborhood has NOTHING on Lola's neighborhood. Real characters and real community. Take time to smell the roses, and enjoy the moment (no matter how glorious or bleak it may seem). Lola is a wonderful story teller and you can see and hear the people she writes about. Love of old houses, love of community and love of those around her can be felt throughout the book.

At Home in the Park and a hammock would be the perfect way to spend a warm summer day.

I look forward to other books from this author.

At Home in the Park is a delightful read! Learning the neighborhood, taking part in the celebrations, feeling the cool morning breezes, loving the people and pets who wander in and out of the stories creates a wonderful sense of home and security. Reading this selection of stories is a wonderful way to spend a hot, steamy summer afternoon or curled up by the fire on a crisp autumn day. A definite "feel good" read!

Lola Lucas' book, At Home in the Park, reminds us of what it means to live in a neighborhood, not a subdivision. As I read the essays they reminded me of of the joy and security of growing up in a neighborhood where everyone knew everyone else. Somehow it never felt claustrophic. It felt right. Lola's essays take us through the excitement and challenges of renovating a historic house and reaching out to others to build a neighborhood. After reading some of the essays in the section "Building Community" and taking Lola's quiz "How Well Do You Know Your Neighbor" I was inspired! The very next day I greeted my new neighbor in her front yard, welcoming her to the neighborhood and promising to be of help in any way I could. She listened patiently, smiling and nodding. Finally, when I paused for breath, she smiled and said, "sorry, no English". Ah, well. I'm sure that a warm welcome transcends language - at least it certainly should and does in Lola's community. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is one of the rare books that leave you feeling that you know the author, her husband, their friends and their dogs -- and that each of us can make a difference.

What can you say about a neighborhood that you don't live in? After reading Lola Lucas' book "At Home in the Park" I would say A LOT! If I ever move I would wish to live in a community just like this one. Ms. Lucas really touched my heart, mind and soul with her witty sense of humor coupled with her poetic writting skills. She articulates herself beautifully throughout the entire book. You can tell she is writing from somewhere deep within. You will feel like you know her. Rarely there is an author that comes along and allows you to feel like you are right there with her. It was a true pleasure to read. One of my favorite shares was the day in the park, "Click" a mental picture is forever yours. There should be many more people on this planet just like this author, the world would be a better place for it.

The title of my review explains exactly how I felt from the moment I started reading. It was as if I had crawled inside her book, her neighborhood, her life. Her words came alive
when she talked about the crisp autumn mornings, the aroma of food, the feeling was so strong, it was if I could smell, feel, and be a part of every page of her book.
A wonderful writer, I hope to be seeing more books from her soon.
Glenda K Schlueter

I really enjoyed this cookbook - it had a wide variety of recipes that were both time consuming and quick. I also liked the commentary about the Riggin along the sidebars.

Born and raised in the Ozarks between the Missouri and Arkansas rivers; we didn't think we would find anything in this ocean cookbook that would excite us. Just goes to prove that hillbillys are sometimes (but not often) wrong.

For instance last week the cookbook was used to prepare some great "tailgate" dishes; our guests were impressed. But we had to tell the truth, its Annie's book. Two guests used our computer to log on and order the book.

Along with barbque the book's dishes appear in a hillbilly's dreams.

I was really glad to receive this cookbook as a gift as I have found it great fun to use. I think the layout of the cookbook was very well done as well as the color of the pages. . not something you see very often in a cookbook. The pictures are really beautiful and catch the feeling of the sea. I enjoy the margin notes in each section as well as, for example, in the Meat Section, Anne's description of the dinner menus she serves on board or under Yeast Breads her suggestions on proofing, flour vs water, etc. I found these very helpful. My one suggestion would be that if you weren't familiar with yeast breads, you wouldn't know how hot the "warm water" should be. Possibly if a temp. was added indicating that the "warm water" should be 105/110 it might be helpful. Also, after you make muffins some indication on whether they should be left in the pan or taken out. I loved the Blueberry Lemon Bread and so did some of my friends and especially Dana's Maple-Dill Dressing . .yum-o! I like to be able to make quick and good meals and this tops my list.

This was a happy surprise in my Christmas stocking this year, after my mother ran into the author at Barnes and Noble. I'm so glad she snagged me a copy, since I'm not quite sure what I'd do without this cookbook in my home.

This is one of those cookbooks that you don't know if you should put in your kitchen with the rest of the cookbooks, or out on the coffee table so that everybody can enjoy it. This book features wonderfully sophisticated home-cooking style recipes, breathtaking photos from the J&E Riggin, the Maine Windjammer that's currently cared for by the author and her husband, and oodles of stories about the Windjammer, their voyages, their history, and the ideas behind these recipes. This cookbook has the feel of a family journal or photo album, which is really a great feeling that is lost with a lot of cookbooks. So often these days when you buy a cookbook, it feels like the recipes featured in it are made once or twice in a test kitchen before getting a rubber-stamped approval to be shown in their mass-produced cookbook. But you don't feel that with this book. You know that these recipes were made dozens, maybe hundreds of times to hundreds of hungry people before being collected and featured in a cookbook that feels like should be a personal family cookbook, not something you can just pick up at a bookstore. I love that feel.

There are a ton of recipes in this book, not different versions of the same ol' meals that you can find in any cookbook. Unique recipes, ones that I've never seen on paper other than from my mother's handwritten recipe cards. Recipes like German Apple Pancakes, Roasted Mushrooms and Artichoke Sauce, Nectarine-Blueberry Bread, Ginger Shortbread, Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pork Pot Pie, Lemon Lobster with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Wassail Bowl Punch... I could go on and on. Amazing. And this recipe book is a "from scratch" book, which I think is such a blessing, because there is nothing more frustrating than buying a cookbook with 100 different ways to prepare a can of "cream of chicken" soup and a can of refrigerator biscuits. This is a cookbook for cooks, and those of us who wish we were. We need more cookbooks out there like this.

There is next to nothing wrong with this cookbook. The only observations I have made is that sometimes I need a little more description on the making of a recipe (for example, a notation the dough will be runny, lumpy, etc) as there have been a recipes that I made where the consistency or appearance wasn't quite what I expected. Also, it is obvious that some of these recipes were reduced from a recipe that made more servings for more people, so some of the seasonings and ingredients have to be tweaked for a more intimate setting. No big deal, just something to keep in mind.

I love this cookbook. My favorite recipes thus far include the German Apple Pancakes, Pork Pot Pie, Rita's Double Toffee Delight, and the Wassail Punch. Even as we speak I have a batch of Double Toffee Delights filling my house with its delicious aroma. Every time I use this book, I remember Maine vacations, fine meals, happy memories... It's the best investment in a book I think anybody could make.

This cookbook is a must-have for anybody. I can't say enough wonderful things about it.

This is one of the prettiest and most colorful cookbooks I have ever seen. On top of this, the recipes are wonderful, easy to prepare and different. The personal observations of the author add interest to the book. I recently had the pleasure of sailing with Captain Anne and the crew of the J.&E. Riggin and can attest to the fact that her cooking skills are outstanding. This book is well worth the money.