World Pistachio Day is today, February 26. For World Pistachio Day, I have two books mentioning Pistachios. I have been collecting “nut” books for a long time. Dad would take us black walnut hunting at Van Patten woods, and Newport Grade school every year growing up. After picking them, Dad would have us line our gutter with the walnuts until they dried. The black stain from walnuts would be tough to remove. Same with the red and green dyed shells from Pistachios we would eat at Christmas.
‘The Nut Culturist’ by Andrew Fuller 1912, recommended growing Pistachios in California due to the climate; also mentioning that Pistachios are one of only two nuts named in the Bible. In Genesis, Jacob sends his sons with money and pistachios to the Governor of Egypt, who in reality is their older brother Joseph.
‘The Nut Cookery Book’ by William Kaufman, 1966. In it, we find some pretty cool pistachio recipes, including Cream of Potato and Pistachio Soup, Pistachio Pineapple Spareribs, and Pistachio Pie. The first two seem to just add some new taste flavors; and the pie is like a pecan pie but with pistachios. All three, I have to make.
Pistachios have been called the happy nut, guaranteeing joy and plenty to those who met under its branches. I think also, a tasty nut.
Today is also Tell a Fable Day. I have two books to show:
This was a treasured addition, ‘Fables Respecting the Popes of the Middle Ages’ by John Dillinger, translated Alfred Plummer 1871. Just one of the well researched fables, to show facts and de-bunking info stories, is that of Pope Joan 855-857.. Yes, a female Pope (!?) Great old ‘history’ read. Says that she may have been Pope for two years, and gave birth during a procession. Some say she died on the spot, and that every Pope since, now takes a different route during that procession; and that new Popes now have to sit in a chair with hole in bottom so can be inspected that are indeed male. While a crazy story, there is lot of detailed debunking of when and whom could have perpetuated the fable; and even some ‘whys’. It was an entertaining chapter in the book.
Also ‘Febold Feboldson-Tall Tales from the Great Plains’ compiled by Paul Beath, 1948. Febold Feboldson was a cross between Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill; and was Swedish. In a few of his latter stories, Febold Feboldson met Paul Bunyon. We had a few of these stories read to us in second grade by Mrs. Schenk at Spring Bluff school. When she retired, some of her class books went to teacher Mrs. Moline. A few less then went to teacher Mrs Will. A few less then made their way to me. Torn up or not, I have read these hand-me-down books to my kids, and now to grandkids.
To help with Fables, if one is not just reading verbatim, is the book “How to Tell Stories to Children” by Sara Cone Bryant, 1905. This is a great book on how to talk to kids, make short stories longer, shorten up longer stories, and basically how to keep an entertaining story alive. There is great advice for public speaking to children.
Lastly, because today is also Tongue Twister Day, is the book “The Biggest Tongue Twister Book in All the World” by Gyles Brandreth, 1978. This is a great book to have kids read with you. In fact, there is one Tongue Twister that I would like to put on my tombstone. People may not remember me in 50 years after I’m gone, but hopefully, they will remember my tombstone. You will have to visit to see what it is.
So bake a Pistachio cake today, or read to a child. Then try five times fast:
“I can’t stand rotten writing when it’s written rotten.”
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