solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. any book will do, however, consider reading those books that have waited a while to be read. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project!

another borrowed book came my way this week.  a delightful book, a slice of southern life, being dead is no excuse: the official southern ladies guide to hosting the perfect funeral. written by gayden metcalfe and charlotte hays, this volume reveals to all exactly what is needed for the perfect southern funeral.  it details the most important foods and drinks for the reception after the funeral, what flowers are in and which are out, what hymns are appropriate (of course, that depends on which church in which the funeral is held) and what cemetery will put a body in elite company for eternity. one chapter is devoted solely to the discussion of which church does a funeral better; the methodists or the episcopals. scattered throughout the book are the very best of southern funeral recipes; notably the recipe of southern caviar, pimento cheese spread.

this book for a delight for me as i grew up in the south. every word rang true and then some. when i got to the chapter entitled, "i was so embarrassed i liketa died", i almost fell over laughing having heard that very phrase countless times during my upbringing.  i copied a few of the recipes (bing cherry salad with co-cola...coca-cola for the uninitiated, beef tenderloin and sad cake) that i plan to make whether or not there's a funeral!