Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 11-02-11

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

"Just laugh at 'em!"

"Live with them, freeze 'em, smoke 'em out, but don't bother nuking 'em."

"Nail them, toss out whatever they touch."

Or if all else fails, "Live with them and eat them anyway!"

In the twelve years I've been writing this daily column, the most popular column I've ever written--the one that continues to get responses every month--was about my Dolly Madison Muffins recipe and the flour weevils that were swimming for their lives in my batter. Get ready to laugh (you'll find the original column at: http://tinyurl.com/weevilbatter

Learn (from other readers) how to outsmart the weevils, go to: http://dearreader.typepad.com/dear/2004/11/how_to_get_rid_.html

Mix up a batch of weevil-free Dolly Madison Muffins, (the batter keeps in your refrigerator for four weeks), you'll find the recipe at: http://tinyurl.com/2aorhu

*Congratulations to the book shaped cake pan winners: Donnell Sutherland and Linda Van Erem.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/

 

Dear Reader Column 11-01-11

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

I have a bad habit of wanting to do things myself. Asking for help is difficult. Doing the actual asking, saying the words, 'Would you help me?' I'm okay with that part. The hard part is deciding to ask.

Weighing the pros and cons, my mind is real good at convincing me to go it alone. 'Shame on you Suzanne, you should be able to figure this out yourself,' and truth be told, if I hung in there long enough and suffered more than I needed to, I probably would.

When I finally do get around to asking, my friends are extremely happy to help, but a little miffed that it took me so long to ask. 'Of course, I'd love to help you. Why have you been suffering trying to figure this out? Don't you realize it's an honor when you call and ask for my help?' I can't argue with that logic, because it's true. I feel the same way when a friend calls and asks for my advice.

Sometimes simply knowing a friend is ready and waiting in the wings, is all the help I need. 'I might need your help. Can I call you if I do?' It's like having a First Aid Kit handy. It's comforting to know it's there, but it seems like when I have one all stocked and ready for an emergency, then I never need to use it, which is a shame. Because figuring out life alone, certainly isn't as joyful as when you figure things out with the help of people who love you.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/