Why handwrite?

In my previous post I talked about handwriting letters and places/people where you can send them. Perhaps you thought, "Perch Librarian, we have email, text, and social media, so why bother with pen and paper, things that are going the way of the dinosaurs?" 

Believe it or not, handwriting does have advantages over typing. Allow me to elucidate:

• Personal  A handwritten letter is more personal than something typed in a printout or on a screen. My most cherished gifts from my husband are his birthday/anniversary/Valentine's Day cards to me in which he handwrites a note.
• Relaxing  No electronic device is involved. No distractions or interruptions. It's just you, the paper, the pen, and your thoughts.
• Self-Reflection  It's so easy to bang out something on a keyboard, and often on social media we see people giving knee-jerk reactions (I'm sure you know what I mean). Since handwriting takes longer, we need to think before we write.
• Exercising Your Brain  Of course, brainwork is involved in typing, but scientists have proven that your brain works differently and makes more connections when you form each alphabetical character by hand versus tapping a key, which requires the same movement regardless of the letter. Additionally, handwriting aids in learning, spelling correctly, and memory recall.
• Mental Health  Handwriting has a more positive effect on a person's mental health. It improves your mood when you take the time to handwrite to someone, thinking about that person while also getting thoughts out of your mind and down on paper.
• Tangible  A handwritten letter is a small part of someone's personality, something that person touched and created that will last through the ages. Imagine not having all those letters written by ordinary people during the Civil War or other historical periods; imagine not having cards handwritten by your grandparents or your parents.

When I look at my mother's handwriting in the birthday cards she's given me over the years, I can see changes in her reflected in the pen strokes--the smooth, smaller, and steady lines when she was younger, the larger characters that have lost their steadiness with arthritis as she ages. Even when I look at things I've handwritten myself twenty (!) years ago, I can decipher a person who's not quite the same as the person I am today. These are things that typing can't replicate. What will people in the future make of all the digital notes we type today?

Wishing you cherished moments of reading and letter writing from the perch.

The Power of the Pen

When was the last time you've handwritten a letter? You know, the "old-fashioned" way with pen and paper? Years? Since you were a kid? Never? Similarly, it may have been ages since you received a handwritten letter through "snail mail" as well.

I've just finished reading Kate Thompson's The Wartime Book Club (available on Libby), which I had the most difficult time to put down. In a nutshell, it's a historical fiction book about the Nazi Occupation of Jersey, part of the Channel Islands belonging to the UK. One of the characters is a postal worker who, in an act of defiance, steals letters sent to German soldiers stationed on the island. She opens the letters to find they're from family and sweethearts, very human and rather personal. In the additional material after the end of the book, the author addresses the lost art of letter writing and different outlets in the UK that allow people to write and receive handwritten letters.

That got me thinking: What are some writing or pen pal clubs out there? Venues that give an opportunity to practice handwriting or (something that is rarely taught these days) handwriting in cursive? Lo and behold, there are a number of such clubs that you can join:

• Global Penfriends  Based in Australia, this free website claims it's safe, secure, and family friendly. All profiles are reviewed by a human and it's set up so children can't be contacted by adults. Write in your own language or in another language to practice your foreign language skills.
• Kids for Peace  A website that connects kids with other kids as pen pals either inside or outside the US, allowing them to practice their handwriting skills. Furthermore, they will have the chance to share and learn about other parts of the country or the world.
• Love for Our Elders  So many of the elderly living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities feel lonely or isolated. Why not cheer one or a few of them up by writing something to them? You can read their profiles and write about something you have in common.
• A Million Thanks  There are plenty of military men and women--active, reserve, and veterans. Pick up the spirits of one by handwriting a letter of thanks and gratitude that will be delivered either abroad or on the homefront.
• Up Cancer  Encourage someone with cancer by handwriting a note to that person. Inspire another person and yourself at the same time. Send your letters to Up Cancer's address in Georgia, and Up Cancer will distribute your letter to a cancer patient.

There are other websites that can get you started with your letter writing besides the ones mentioned above. Not sure about writing to someone you don't know? How about handwriting a letter to a relative or friend you care about? Imagine that person's surprise and joy of receiving a letter in the mail from you!

Wishing you happy letter writing/reading from the perch.

Cooking for Mom

Mother's Day is on the horizon! With restaurants becoming more expensive, you might be thinking of treating mom at home with a special meal made with love. How about a Mother's Day breakfast? Or lunch? Brunch? Maybe even dinner?

I've been looking around for different recipes, either in print or online, to help you prepare a meal for mom that she'll always remember:

Cookbooks 

• Fix-It and Forget-It Slow Cooker Dump Dinners and Desserts by Hope Comerford (641.5884 COM)  If you're all thumbs in the kitchen, this is the perfect book. Find a recipe, dump all the ingredients in the crockpot, and switch it on. It can't get any easier. Still unsure? Then try the recipe for 6-Can Soup.
• Fast From-Scratch Meals by Betty Crocker (641.555 CRO)  Food made from scratch that can be made quickly? I'd say that's a winner! All the recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less, many with just a handful of ingredients.
• Amish Community Cookbook by Carole Roth Giagnocavo (641.566 GIA)  I probably don't have to sell you on Amish recipes--tasty, stick to your ribs, home cooking. There are all kinds of easy recipes, including one for Tuna Noodle Casserole my husband says is the best he's ever had.
• Afternoon Tea is the New Happy Hour by Gail Greco (BT 641.5 GRE)  Around the library I'm known as a tea snob, so if you're looking for tea drink variations and traditional/non-traditional munchies to go with them, this book is for you. I'm not sure about Pizza Cupcakes, though.

Websites

• Grits and Pinecones  The blogger of this website has been cooking for over 50 years and offers mouth-watering, Southern-style recipes. There are a number of make-ahead recipes for those who don't want to cook on the big day, including ones for grits, quiches, and salads.
• Laughing Spatula  This mother-daughter team have a section for Mother's Day recipes on their blog to tempt any tummy. I'm all set to try their Easy Crustless Quiche recipe, great for gluten-free, diabetic, or simply carb-conscious eaters. Their Blueberry Pie Bars also look scrumptious.
• The Pioneer Woman  Ree Drummond has 60 recipes for mom's big day. There are recipes for pasta, pizza, piccata, pesto, parmesan, pork, and potato dishes. And if you don't like foods that start with "P," there are plenty of those as well.
• Taste of Home  There are so many good recipes here, and some are even easy enough for kids to help make. The Ham and Swiss Sliders recipe is simple and sounds delicious. There are others for sandwiches, brunch items, and desserts that will surely please. Just take your pick!

Of course, there are many more websites and food blogs than the ones listed above. Furthermore, the library has plenty of cookbooks for all types of cuisines and digital cookbooks through our online collections. 

Do you have a favorite recipe for mom? Share with us!

Happy Mother's Day wishes from the perch.  

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Are you a plant parent or want to become one? I've recently become a plant parent again...after about 20 years! Not many people know that quite some time ago, plants were a part of my (almost) everyday life. As a kid, I would help my grandfathers take care of their vegetable gardens in the summer. I planted seeds, watered, and picked fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, peas, and corn. When I went to college and later to work, I didn't have the time or the desire to putter around with potting soil.

Fast forward to the present--I guess you can say the gardening bug has finally bitten me once more. This time around, however, I'm focusing more on indoor plants to bring a bit of nature and calm into my home (or at least my living room). I have a variety of plants--spider, pothos, rubber fig, aloe, snake, and Christmas cactus--to add interest and for their easy, low-maintenance care. I planted them in terra cotta pots, because as much as I like the ceramic pots, they're not as porous as terra cotta (I want proper drainage without root rot). Furthermore, terra cotta is a warm, inviting color in the home.

With April being National Gardening Month, I thought I'd share some resources on plants that I've found particularly useful:

• Indoor Edible Garden by Zia Allaway (635 ALL)  Maybe your idea of indoor plants is to produce something edible? If so, see see how you can grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits in your home.
• Gardening in the Pacific Northwest by Paul Bonine and Amy Campion (535 BON)  Offers useful tips on outdoor gardening specific to Washington, Oregon, and southern British Columbia.
• Epic Gardening  Has everything, and I mean everything, for gardeners of all types and skills.
• OurHouseplants.com  For those who want to concentrate on caring for indoor plants. Offers plant profiles, guides, tips, and other useful information for both novice and expert gardeners.
• Washington State University  Provides free and useful information pertaining to gardening in Washington State, including soil, fruits, flowers, lawns, and more.
• Forcing, Etc. by Katherine Whiteside (635.9 WHI)  A good resource for those who prefer gardening houseplants and other plants indoors.

Of course, the library has more books and electronic resources than the ones I listed above. Which plants are your favorites? Have any good gardening tips? Share with us!

Good naturedly yours from the perch.

Libraries--They Are A-Changin'

Have you stepped into the library lately? If you haven't for a while, you may be in for a surprise. People are talking, kids are building with Legos, and teens are playing games on their smartphones. It's not your grandmother's library in which silence was golden and bespectacled librarians with tight hair buns shushed anyone who spoke above a whisper (thinking about it, I don't think I've ever "shushed" a library patron).

Once upon a time, libraries were primarily storehouses of books, places from which you could borrow materials or study them in quiet. As years went by, other materials--audio/visual, magazines, newspapers, board games, museum passes, and more--were acquired by libraries and lent out. Naturally, storytimes for children along with various programs for people of all ages were added.

Nowadays, in our "plugged-in" world where the town square is dead and malls are dying, libraries have become the last places where people can gather without having to pay anything to stay as long as they like. They have transformed over time to serve as community centers, where children can play and adults can learn different skills in informal classes. Sometimes, movies are shown or musical recitals are held. Libraries are definitely not the same quiet places of yore.

That is not to say, however, that there aren't places within the library where you can find peace away from the noise and bustle. There are study rooms (walk-in or by reservation) for those who would like to have a refuge dedicated to concentration. And between storytimes or other programs, the library still does have its quiet moments when you can work in a carrel or snooze in a comfy armchair. Libraries are for everyone.

Wishing you good library visits from the perch.

Recipes of the Irish

(Full disclosure: I posted this just before I went to lunch, when my stomach was getting grumbly and my head was feeling light. It's a re-post, but a handy one with St. Patrick's Day coming up.)

When most of us think of Irish food, corned beef and cabbage along with a pint of Guinness probably come to mind. Irish cuisine, however, goes beyond those two St. Patrick's Day staples. Take a look at these recipes which are bound to make your mouth water:

• Colcannon (Spend With Pennies)  It's hard to get any better than creamy, Irish-style potatoes with bacon, cabbage, and butter--oh, my!
• Corned Beef and Cabbage (Dinner at the Zoo)  Easy, traditional, slow cooker recipe with melt-in-your-mouth meat.
• Irish Beef and Guinness Stew (Recipe Tin Eats)  A hearty beef stew full of flavor, perfect when served over mashed potatoes.
• Irish Potato Leek Soup (My Recipes)  Great for St. Patrick's Day or any chilly day.
• Irish Tea Cake (Will Cook for Smiles)  A no-fuss, buttery cake that's great with a cup of tea.
• Scones (Bigger Bolder Baking)  The best recipe ever for Irish scones. Period.
• Soda Bread (Sally's Baking Addiction)  Classic, flavorful, simple-to-make quick bread.

So, are you getting hungry yet? Why not try one of these tasty recipes? And don't forget to check out other delectable delicacies offered by the websites.

Wishing you good eats and a Happy St. Patrick's Day from the perch.

Leapin' Leap Day!

Get ready for February 29--Leap Day! In case you weren't aware, every four years is a Leap Year, which makes the year 366 days long rather than the usual 365. That extra day gets added to February, giving us 29 days that month instead of 28. Why the extra day? Since it takes the Earth 365.24 days to rotate around the sun, that extra day every four years keeps the calendar on track. This is how winter stays in January and doesn't shift to July (in the Northern Hemisphere, at least).

Of course, an offbeat day like Leap Day has been the inspiration for different traditions, one of which is Bachelor's Day, a.k.a. Ladies' Privilege in Ireland. Saint Bridget supposedly asked Saint Patrick to allow women to propose to men on one day every four years because some men took their darn sweet time to propose.

This tradition of women proposing on Leap Day has lasted through the present (not that women nowadays can't take the lead and do the proposing any time of the year they want). The movie, Leap Year, which can be borrowed from our library on DVD (shameless plug here), shows this tradition at work rather humorously.

Amy Adams' character in the movie decides to surprise her feet-dragging boyfriend on Leap Day by proposing to him in Ireland, where he's attending a conference. She runs into one comic obstacle after another trying to reach him on time, and if I say any more I'll be giving the rest of the movie away. Just take my word that it's a cute movie full of laughs. Be sure to check it out sometime this Leap Year.

Wishing you a happy Leap Day (and year) from the perch.