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Book Report
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It's Official....
The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood is on the shelf at your local bookstore! Publishers Weekly says, "Rich descriptions of the countryside and the imaginative rendering of the animal characters make this gentle tale a delight from start to finish." Read the first chapter here: mysterypartners.com/Beatrix/CuckooBrow.html. Order your signed first edition here: (personalized, if you like): mysterypartners.com/order.html.
Happy Birthday, Miss Potter!
Beatrix Potter was born on July 28, 1866, 140 years ago this month. To celebrate, China and Ruby are hosting a tea party. If you'd like to recreate your own tea party, with party favors and favorite goodies, go to mysterypartners.com/Beatrix, then click on "Miss Potter's Tea Party."
Bookplates
If you'd like a signed bookplate for your copy of The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood, Susan will be glad to send you one. Send a stamped self-addressed envelope to Cottage Tales Bookplate, PO Box 1616, Bertram TX 78605. If you'd like your bookplate personalized, tell Susan what you'd like her to say. (These Cuckoo Brow Wood-specific bookplates are about 2"x3", so there's only room for a few words.) Wonderful for gift books!
Contest Winners
It's all over but the shouting. Congratulations (and a signed copy of The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood) go to Melissa of Orefield, PA [week #1], Lynette of Melbourne, Victoria Australia [week #2], and Amy of Kent City, MI [week #3].
China's Book of Days
China's herbal Book of Days now has a cover! For a peek preview, and to read a July entry, go here: mysterypartners.com/BookOfDays. Herb societies, garden groups, and book clubs, please note that we will have special prices for group orders of signed/personalized books. These will make wonderful holiday gifts, so start collecting your orders now.
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Out and About
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Susan will be signing books in Austin TX on July 8 and in Georgetown TX on July 22. Stop in and say hi! For details, go here: mysterypartners.com/Events.html.
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Herb Snips: Pretty Pickin's
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But don't wait for the flowers! For tip-top flavor and fragrance, harvest culinary herbs when the oils are most intense, before the flower buds appear. Herbs are at their most flavorful when picked in early morning, as the dew dries. Some techniques for drying:
- Air dry. Gather sprigs in a bunch secured by a rubber band and hang in a warm, dark place to dry. To keep dust off, or when you're drying seed heads such as dill, fennel, coriander, hang in a paper bag. Alternatively, place on a screen in the shade, cover with a dish towel. (Good for small-leaf herbs, such as thyme.)
- Oven dry. Place herbs on brown paper in a 120-degree oven with the door slightly ajar for three to six hours.
- Freeze. Place chives, parsley, dill, oregano, mint, or tarragon into labeled plastic bags and pop them into the freezer. (Don't defrost before using.) Another trick: spoon chopped herbs into an ice cube tray, fill with water, and freeze. The frozen cubes are great in soups, stews, casseroles.
Want more herb snips? Go to mysterypartners.com/HerbSnips.html.
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Killer Plants
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Killerplants.com, which is devoted to the mystery and excitement of the botanical connections that enrich our lives and our cultures, is one of China's favorite websites. Herbal lore, plant news and views, and fascinating botanical research. Visit soon, visit often!
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