Martha Hall Foose is coming to town today and I am very excited.

Book signing, cooking demonstration and dinner make for a “real” adult evening by anyone’s standards.

She sent along this email, story and poem as a sampling of what we have to look forward to:

Hey gal! Thrilled about my return to the shoals… Thought you might like this poem by my high school English teacher Mrs. Bee Donnalley:

PLUM JELLY

It’s tricky
The making
Rather like children
One batch is never quite the same
as the one before
Did we stir too much with one?
Too much sugar?
Maybe a little extra tart to balance?
Was the Sure-Jelly too old?
The secret is to skim
quickly the top layer
Knowing the sweetness lies
beneath the surface
The tang mixing with the balm
And with some, it takes a bit longer
to set up

Don’t miss Martha’s book… great stories, great drinks, great food, great kids, great people:

Screen Doors and Sweet Tea