I almost forgot! I picked up this book while on a work trip to Oakland, California a few weeks ago – it’s called Outwitting Our Nerves, written by Josephine A. Jackson and Helen M. Salisbury in 1921, and appears to have been a bestseller back in its day. The fabulous Project Gutenberg has the full […]
1897: The Selection of a Wife
As promised, I’ve been reading through Sylvanus Stall’s What a Young Man Ought to Know to find you a representative excerpt from this 1897 book. There’s a lot in there, but I thought I’d focus in on this passage from a chapter titled “The Selection of a Wife.” With wedding season upon us, I’m sure […]
1960: Gateway to Beauty: Your Mouth
OK, I admit it, I’m an America’s Next Top Model junkie. While watching the finale tonight, it dawned on me that it really all came down to the mouth this year. Winner Danielle’s voice and southern accent, Joanie’s bad-to-good teeth but still nervous smile, and Jade’s non-stop excuses for why the judges couldn’t see how […]
1937: How to Eat an Artichoke
Every year (for the last 8 or 9 years) I jointly host an artichoke party (yes, really) with friends Art and Lucille. We order the ‘chokes from Pezzini Farms in Castroville, California and gorge with friends and family for hours on end. The big event was yesterday. Loads of fun, as usual. The early years […]
Recent Acquisitions
I helped shelve books this afternoon for the 24th annual Library of Congress Professional Association (LCPA) Book Sale. Yup, in my real life I’m a Library of Congress “professional.” One of the perks of volunteering is getting a chance to scour the selections early and purchase prior to the big opening day crowds. I was […]
Syracuse Post-Standard mention
The latest mention of the Miss Abigail book appears in The Post-Standard up in Syracuse, New York. Laura T. Ryan wrote about it in her Shelf Life column on Sunday, April 30th. Hopefully that link will work for awhile. Wondering what the New York state connection is? Welp, I was born in Auburn, N.Y. and […]
1941: Garden Hints
“Flowers, shrubs and trees add much to the beauty of a home, and well landscaped grounds, with flower gardens, give an artistic setting to even a small cottage,” reads a section titled “Garden Hints” in Elaine Allen’s Watkins Household Hints (Newark: J. R. Watkins Company, 1941). With this in mind, I tackled my garden last […]
Miss Abigail discusses “First Impressions” on Open Grove
I recently had a fun conversation with Claudia from The Open Grove. The topic was making a good first impression, and our chat appears online in their Impression Audio Magazine. Wander on over to their homepage to hear me read a few excerpts from the site and book. And welcome Open Grove listeners! One of […]
Sears Catalog Blog
Click on over to the 1902 Sears, Roebuck Catalog blog to see fabulous advertising gems from the turn-of-the-(previous) century. Readers of Miss Abigail will enjoy Dr. Worden’s Female Pills and the entry for Regret Cards. I’m also getting a kick out of the Single Goat or Dog Harness. Could come in handy!
1953: Driver Safety
The other night it was raining pretty hard, and while I was sitting in my living room watching my beloved TIVO, I heard some sirens (not uncommon as I’ve got a firehouse and hospital within a few blocks) get closer and closer, and then suddenly a dramatic crunch. I ran out onto the front porch […]