Jan Johnston is the Collection Development Coordinator for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.
Today as I write this column the weather is, in one word, glorious. Blue skies and golden sun combined with the constantly changing array of fall colors make this a particularly brilliant autumn day. However, this brief interlude will pass. And that’s OK. Really. Think of it this way: If Mother Nature took a crazy pill and decided that the Northwest didn’t need its typical wet, gray fall and winter (which we all know and love, right?), something would be very, very wrong. In fact, I’m pretty sure gravity would be the next thing to go. So, we luv ya, sun, but seriously, don’t hang around too long.
Time to get ready for the autumn weather we know is heading our way. If this isn’t your favorite time of year, perhaps a visit to warmer climes is in order. Or, save some money and dive into a fall-friendly book or two. For this particular reading list I am focusing on food, nature, keeping warm, and did I already mention food? As Maria Von Trapp might say/sing, “These are a few of my favorite things.”
• “Fireplace Design & Decorating Ideas,” by Lacey Howard: Cuddling up with someone and/or something — another person, a soft blanket, a fuzzy kitty — is one way to take the chill out of autumn and winter. Even better? Cuddling in front of a warm fire. Get some ideas on how to pretty up that classic cuddle spot by checking out this guide to fireplace design and decor.
• “The Songs of Trees: Stories from Nature’s Great Connectors,” by David George Haskell: Trees are amazing. I like to think of them as citizens of nature; and I am pretty certain that trees, not humans, are the true keepers of knowledge. A tree’s trunk, roots, branches and leaves give us clues about past and present events. What are they telling us right now? One look at the leaves and their blaze of color and we know that autumn has returned. Learn how to listen to these incredible living things by reading David George Haskell’s moving tribute to “nature’s great connectors.”
• “Soup & Comfort: A Cookbook of Homemade Recipes to Warm the Soul,” by Pamela Ellgen: Chilly nights = tasty soups. Belly/soul-warming soup recipes abound in this tastebud-friendly cookbook.
• “Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide,” by Richard W. Thorington and Katie Ferrell: I know that squirrels are year-round visitors to our yards, but fall and winter, in my opinion, wouldn’t be the same without these nut-loving rodents. If you feel like you have a low squirrel IQ, smarten up by reading this authoritative guide to all things squirrelly.
• “Winter Gardening in the Maritime Northwest: Cool-Season Crops for the Year-Round Gardener,” by Binda Colebrook: Another winter gardening guide, but this one focuses on the Pacific Northwest. Bravo. By the way, I’ve heard through the bear grapevine that our Northwest ursines really enjoy a bowl of curried beet soup accompanied by an endive and chicory salad. A bear’s wine of choice? Bearjolais, er, Beaujolais, of course.
• “The Winter Harvest Handbook: Year-Round Vegetable Production Using Deep-Organic Techniques and Unheated Greenhouses,” by Eliot Coleman: Spring and summer are a garden’s glory days, no doubt about it. But the approach of cool weather doesn’t mean that the garden has to “bear up” (i.e., hibernate) for several months. Take the advice of farming expert Eliot Coleman and cultivate a winter-friendly home garden. If bears could stay awake during the winter, I’ll bet their stomachs would growl for a tasty dinner of winter greens and parsnip soup.
• “Winter Stews & One-Pot Dinners: Tasty Recipes That Fill Your Belly and Warm Your Heart,” by Daniella Malfitano: I’ve mentioned before how much my husband loves to cook (lucky me!), and we both cheer when soup and stew season returns. There is just something so comforting about having a big pot of soup simmering on the stove especially when it’s gray and rainy outside. For help in creating delicious one-pot meals, spend some time with Daniella Malfitano’s cookbook, full of recipes for simple yet hearty suppers.
http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/oct/29/check-it-out-welcome-autumns-arrival-with-some-cozy-reads/