I woke up sad this morning with all the horrible news we’ve been getting this past week (…months, year…) and couldn’t pick up either of the books I sat down to read. After posting this so late on Sunday, I’m going to read for a bit.
Weekend Cooking
With a huge snowstorm bearing down on us, and the insane stupidity of our situation here being such that TV meteorologists have been told by the “Department of Homeland Security” not to use the term “ice storm” in their forecasts because it might be used in memes against the rogue federal agency ICE, I felt the need for comfort baking.
This recipe for Maple Morning Glory Muffins came from the cookbook Maple, by Katie Webster, that I’ve written about before.
The recipe in the cookbook is identical to this one for Whole-Wheat Morning Glory Muffins that the author shares on her blog, Healthy Seasonal Recipes, except that, in the cookbook, it’s a gluten-free recipe (substituting gluten-free all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour).
#JoyIsResistance
I want to give a shout-out to Care (Carrie) of Care’s Books & Pie (although this post has nothing to do with pie). We exchanged Christmas cards this year, IRL, and on hers she included as one of her signature hashtags: #JoyIsResistance. I loved that saying, and I’ve been using that as one of my unofficial mantras ever since receiving her card!
(My other so-called mantra comes from a stress relief webinar I attended before Christmas: “I’m doing the best I can in this moment.” Sounds silly, but it does help sometimes, along with a few deep breaths.)
Libraries
On Friday, I attended our library network’s annual Library Legislative Breakfast, which is always inspirational!
If you live in Massachusetts and want to support libraries, please check out the 2027 Legislative Agenda from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and contact your representatives to ask them to support libraries when the budget gets voted on and to sign onto library-related bills. (If not sure how to contact your reps, go here!)
More people than ever are turning to public libraries. Last year they checked out more than 65 million items, a record high. State Aid to Public Libraries (7000-9501) helps libraries keep pace with increasing demand for services.
- The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is prioritizing a 5% increase to local aid to libraries through the State Aid to Public Libraries Program, line 7000-9501, raising funding from $20 million in FY26 to $21 million.
- State Aid to Public Libraries is critical, local aid for libraries that they use to maintain core services. It has a massive impact across the Commonwealth with 347 out of 351 municipalities certified in the program and receiving state aid funding.
Sunday Salon is to encourage conversations about books and book-ish things. The weekly link-up and Facebook group are hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz.