Dear Reader Column 08-25-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Thanks for taking the time to write. I really appreciate your comments and ideas. Ann's email (below) reminded me of when I lived in a small town in Wisconsin. The library had a lovely flower garden out front and one day when I walked past I noticed the weeds were "winning." One weed led to another and an hour later the flower bed was looking gorgeous again. It became my secret weeding project. There was an abundant supply of weeds in my own flower gardens to keep me busy, but why is it, that it's always more fun to clean someone else's house, or pull somebody else's weeds. Almost doesn't feel like work.

From my Email Bag:

"Dear Suzanne, Thank you for sharing your experience and pictures at Reese's Service station. I live in Nashville, Tennessee and it's not a small town however, the city is made up of communities. There is a very popular service station in my community named Emmett's Automotive, much like Reese's station. I have been taking muffins and cookies to those guys for years and they are always attentive when I need service.

About two years ago I noticed the only planter at the station (the bottom half of a barrel) had flowers that were dead and to say the least, needed attention. I volunteered to add new dirt and flowers, with a little evergreen tree in the center. I now plant flowers each season, adding pansies in winter and spring, and petunias in the summer. The guys keep the flowers watered, so I enjoy my visits to the station and I know they appreciate the flowers and the cookies. Just had to share my experience, and enjoyed your story. You are a dandy and hope you will be sharing stories for many years to come. By the way I went on a vacation with my four sisters in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains after you wrote about your trip there."-- Ann S.

To read the column about Reese's Service and to see photos, go to: http://tinyurl.com/38qpchb

Next week I'll announce the winners of my annual Write a Dear Reader Contest. Get ready to cook. Each winning entry comes with a scrumptious recipe. This year's topic was "Share a Recipe and a Story."

If you purchase my book, Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life for yourself or as a birthday or Christmas gift, be sure to request an autographed bookplate. Go to: http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/content/special-offers I'm finally caught up on signing bookplates so if you requested one, but haven't received it yet, maybe I goofed. Give me a holler and I'll resend.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

 

Comments

[Alice]

I wish more service stations had a flower pot full of flowers. A little curb appeal goes a long way. Yay for Ann for doing a little something about that.