You’re talking about embroidering with needle and floss, right? I checked first at http://www.dmc-usa.com and they indeed have how-tos at that site. Then, I did a search on “how to embroider by hand,” and if you need it, that will give you plenty of help. I don’t think you need a book, but if you do, any book on embroidery you’d find at the library would do.

Do you embroider, Dr. J.?

Kathy, your collection sounds very interesting. And when you say ‘hand work’ do you mean embroidery? I just got some books at the library because I am a beginner and I would like to finish a fancy needlepoint my mom gave me years ago and i would also like to learn a few simple techniques to embroider initials on my daughter’s clothes and home itmes. It is very frusterating not having a teacher, and I don’t want to destroy these projects. If you are in fact an embroiderer, could you recomend a good book for beginners?

Boy! is my house dusty! And the handwork is piled on the guest bed. I’ve got to get to work!

I was occasionally getting pimples, too, and I attributed them to the Ponds because it is mostly mineral oil. So now I wipe it off with a tissue before using the hot cloth. That seems to leave just the right amount to moisturize without being greasy. I don’t use a moisturizer after using the cold cream. Ponds gives you a two-fer–cleaning and moisturizing.

Your draping class sounds very interesting. That is what I miss about being in school or work, I really love to learn. Not that I am not learning as a homemaker, I just really love ‘programs’ too, and teachers!

Also, I wanted you to know I tried the candy cane cookie recipe before Christmas, and they came out great. Yes, a very subtle pepermint flavor, and so light and crispy. And many compliments! I will say the assembly into candy canes was difficult, and I probably only made candy canes out of 1/2 of the dough, then I started making round cookies, and putting a red dot on top and calling them “rudolph’s nose” cookies. If I make these again I might cut the recipe in 1/2. I thought they were a great addition, thank you!

And, I bought ponds cold cream after I lost my mary kay cleanser last month. And, it IS a treat to massage the cream into the face and use a steaming wash cloth. Like a little spa treatment, can you imagine? “Pond’s Cold Cream treatment: $75.00″. I have very dry skin, so I really liked it, but my only question is if some pimples that have surfaced are from the ponds. So I spice it up and use it a couple of times a week, a real treat.

One thing I have observed is that my own children are not raising their children according to the food guidelines. My grandchildren are allowed to say no to milk, for instance, and busy families eat out and build meals around prepared foods.

When I requested recipes for my childhood favorites from my mother, they all came from the Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book. No snarky remarks can take from me the fact that my favorite foods come from that book. I admit that it has a less-an-adequate index and a strange recipe format. Nevertheless, some good nutritious foods come from its pages. And I love to just read it.

I think that we have become rather sophisticated in our recipe development and food expectations. Eating has become a form of entertainment. Recipes abound and some of them are “over the top.” I like to cook and to cook from scratch, but I think the simpler we keep our food on a regular basis the better.