Sometimes advertisements get on our nerves; but once in a while we find something as a result of an ad that we would be so sorry to have missed. This is true for me with Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life, the award-winning non-fiction book by Philip Simmons. It was an advertisement in a national newspaper that first made me aware of this beautiful, inspiring, intelligent book. Philip Simmons was a professor of English and a fiction writer (his stories had appeared in Playboy, Massachusetts Review, and Ploughshares, for example) who became disabled with Lou Gehrig’s disease as a young man. In the 12 chapters of Learning to Fall, Philip “with humor, hard-earned wisdom and a keen eye for life’s lessons—whether drawn from great poetry or visits to the town dump…shares his discovery that even at times of great sorrow we may find profound freedom. And by sharing the wonder of his daily life, he offers us the gift of connecting more deeply and joyously with our own.” You will be uplifted by the beauty of the writing and the wisdom from the heart on every page of this book. (ISBN 0-553-80266-6)

Verena Kast’s work includes 18 books, published in German, Japanese, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Italian, and English. She is a professor of psychology at the University of Zurich and for nine years was president of the Swiss Association for Analytical Psychology. In this book Joy, Inspiration, and Hope, Verena Kast writes about how joy “answers the human need for elated feeling and meaning in our lives” and offers simple techniques for recapturing our joy through development of an autobiography of joy. She also writes inspiration and hope. One thing I have never forgotten about hope after reading her book is that it is possible to “borrow” hope when one can feel no hope oneself and one can “loan” hope to those who at the moment have no hope. This book was given first as talks at Texas A&M University at the Fay Jung lectures. Texas A&M press publish a softback version of Joy, Inspiration, and Hope (ISBN 1-58544-309-3)

You may be surprised that my final recommendation for this month is for a line of greeting cards. But I have fallen in love with the exurberance of this line of cards and could hardly wait to share the information with you. A friend sent me the card pictured here which is published by StoryPeople (1-800-476-7178) If you like these colorful, inspiring, wise-message cards, check out www.storypeople.com under “Things to buy.” There is a set of All Occasion cards and a set of Friendship cards. StoryPeople can also be reached at PO Box 7, Decorah, IA 52101

I have no personal connection in any way with the books or cards I’ve recommended this month. They uplifted my spirits, however, and I wanted to share them with you.

A Family Recipe

Last month I recommended a Southern cornbread recipe and displayed a picture of a black skillet of cornbread made by my brother. Even the picture looked about good enough to eat.

This month I am featuring two recipes that are staples in the kitchen of my lovely sister, Barbara Walker. Barb is a consummate host and an excellent cook. Her presentations are creative and colorful and warm. For probably two decades or more there are two dishes we have asked her to make for family breakfast at holiday visits. One is her Brunch for a Bunch and the other Curried Fruit. I’m including a picture of her with a dish of pungent Curried Fruit and the recipes for both dishes. Read (and/or make) and enjoy!

Brunch for a Bunch

1 lb hot pork sausage
3 c. frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1/2 c. chopped green pepper (optional)
1/2 ts. Salt
3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
12 eggs, beaten
2 c. milk

Cook sausage until browned; crumble; drain. Place hashbrowns in lightly greased 13×9x2 inch baking dish; sprinkle with salt. Layer sausage, cheese, and green pepper.

Combine eggs and milk, stirring well; pour over layered dish. Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes. Yield: 8-10 servings

Barbara has this note: This is a wonderful do-ahead dish. I refrigerate overnight and bake in the morning. I have also made only half a recipe and it works.

Curried Fruit

3/4 stick butter
2 tsp. Curry powder
1 c. light brown sugar
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
1 small can cherries, drained
1 can peach halves, drained
1 can pear halves, drained

Arrange fruit in bottom of casserole. Mix butter, sugar, and curry powder and add to fruit. Bake in 350 oven for half hour. Serve either in a casserole or from a compote.

Barb notes: I have prepared this with other fruit, as well. It may be refrigerated and reheated. It seems that the more times it is heated, the better it gets!

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Dr. Elizabeth Harper Neeld offers wisdom and practical insights to anyone whose life is in a time of transition, change, grief and loss of any kind. As an internationally recognized and accomplished consultant, and author of more than twenty books - including Tough Transitions and Seven Choices: Finding Daylight After Loss Shatters Your World - she is committed to work that helps lift the human spirit.