Old Cowbelle: Cookbook Wisdom

• Ina Murray

Ina Murray

Talk about it

I have a lot of cookbooks, but one stands out, especially at Christmas time, when I go through its pages for a special cookie recipe.

Both covers of this book are long gone, and many of its pages are batter spattered.

I bought the book many, many years ago while I took part in the old-time “Sidewalk Sale” days, where anyone could sign up and be assigned a spot in front of some business place. There, we could peddle our own wares, like crafts, sewing, baking, garden produce and much more. It was a fun thing.

My spot was provided by the late Lola Hines in front of her (then) dress shop on East End. She gave me a lovely round table and umbrella, where I displayed my decorated, homemade cakes. (I think the price for each cake was $5.)

Ladies from the Big River Catholic Church had a table next to me, selling their cookbooks. And I bought one.

At the bottom of some of the pages are little “snippets” of wisdom, and I would like to share some of them. I also wonder how many of these recipe ladies are still with us and I also wonder if that Big River Catholic Church is still in existence. Anyone out there know?

—One of the hardest things to teach our children about money matters is that it does.

—Do right and leave the rest with God.

—Work is love made visible.

—The only way to have a friend is to be one.

—Children are a great comfort to us in our old age—and they help you reach it faster.

—You can’t get anywhere today if you are still mired down in yesterday.

—A person who is always finding fault seldom finds anything else.

—Ideas are funny little things; they don’t work unless you do.

—A quiet tongue shows a wise head.

—It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.

—Instead of “waiting upon the Lord,” some want the Lord to “wait on them.”

—If anyone speaks evil of you, so live that none will believe it.

—Obesity is widespread. (From Cow, how well I know.)

—Keep smiling; it will make people wonder what you’ve been up to.

—We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

—All marriages are happy. It’s the living together after that causes all the trouble.

—A century ago, America was known as the melting pot. Today, it’s more like a pressure cooker.

And one of the best:

—It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow.

Thank you, baker ladies of Big River Catholic Church!

Tags: old cowbelle, lifestyle, books, food