Mary B Knapp

Winsome Winters Mary B Knapp

What was it like to grow up part of a large family on a small farm in the Midwest prior to the Internet, prior to TV -- even prior to electricity being available in some rural areas? A place where 'most anything needed to sustain life was built, grown, gathered, or prepared by hand? As the family tried to rebuild their lives, after the Great Depression and World War 2 had taken their dreadful toll, they cooked on a wood-burning stove and washed clothes in a gasoline-powered washing machine. The baker's-dozen children created their own entertainment, and did their homework at a worn oak kitchen table by the light of a kerosene lamp. With no nearby fire, medical or rescue services (and no phones), life and death emergencies were just that. The author 's article series And Now... The Harvest provided glimpses into that time and place where, despite poverty, the family's faith, hard work and music kept dreams alive. The stories selected from that series for this book traverse happenings in winter, that cold and snowy time of year. Included with each vignette is an authentic recipe, complete with detailed instructions.