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Winter baking season is here in Bev’s Kitchen

Hello from the kitchen! Winter is here whether we like it or hate it. This too shall pass and before you know it, spring will be here with new smells, new growth and mud. And food. I’ve been enjoying the snow days since I can stay home and create meals and bake. Last week, I made fresh warm pretzel rolls and a few pies. The pretzel rolls make amazing sandwiches. I’ll share the pretzel roll recipe and my shoofly pie recipe. It’s an old recipe that’s been tweaked a time or two. I did some research on the name “Shoo fly pie” and found that it is a Pennsylvania-made pie but ...

Sometimes enough is enough

I do not make a habit of engaging with negative people on social media, even though I often want to, especially when they are saying derogatory things about our community. It is not because I believe they are right, nor is it because I am afraid of the negative comments I might receive if I voice my opinion. It is because a very insightful mentor once told me, “It is not wise to engage with a bully, they will beat you with experience!” Sage words that I attempt to live by. Isn’t that what they really are, bullies? According to Merriam-Webster, a bully is one who is habitually ...

A look back at Mifflin County Library’s 2023

Can you believe it is actually 2024 already? Where has 2023 gone? It seems to have flown by! I thought it would be great to reflect back on the year 2023 in library land. How do we do that? Well our Integrated Library System has a big brain, not only does it check books in and out, it also allows me to run reports containing all sorts of stats. I’m putting on my statistical hat and sharing with you the most checked out books of 2023 for the Mifflin County Library. Read along with me and see what your neighbors were reading last year. Top 5 fiction books • Before We Were ...

Judging a book by its cover

Each book comes with a cover, also called cover art or a book jacket. Through the writer and or their publisher they can enlist an artist to design its cover. If a book has new editions released, the cover may change. I have recently seen new editions of books released to coincide with their TV adaptation on Netflix or Hulu. Cover art can run the gamut, ranging from simple text to a half-naked man for a romance book to pictures of food. I believe that a book’s cover matters, even if we shouldn’t fully judge a book by it. Statistically, books are purchased or borrowed more often if ...

‘Wait’ training requires spiritual strength

James 1:2-4 James 1:2-4, my brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Today, we are in the midst of a time where everybody is trying to get in shape...trying this diet and this exercise program. There seems to be a fixation with making our outer appearance more attractive (to whomever). Don’t get me wrong. I, too, believe that exercising is good and good for you. However, I also realize that “bodily ...

When life hurts, you turn to God

Good morning...a windy morning, friends. It’s good to be inside and feel safe...ah, safe...Yes, it’s good to be inside the fold and feel safe. We all, like sheep, have gone astray...each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 This morning, I’m so very thankful that the Lord gave all of our sins to Jesus to deal with, so that we can know we are safe inside the fold. Just where would we all be without the Grace of God working in our lives? I’ve been thinking much lately about the grace of God...His undeserved favor, ...