Midwestern humorist Gary Anderson's third book takes aim at the wide-ranging emotions of the Christmas season in this collection of short stories. From the insanity of the Christmas that brought a troop of clowns to the farm, to the poignancy of an old couple, recalling the most touching moment of their 60 Christmases together, this collection offers Anderson's unique reflections on both the hilarious and the touching sides of the holiday season. "Oh, that everyone would see what Christmas is really about! I long to have a simple Christmas, full of memories of family times and remembering why we celebrate Christmas. The commercialism has gotten to be too much. Thank you for a beautiful article. Run it again next year and maybe you can rid the world of some insanity!" -Traci Vujicich, syndicated columnist "I'm so excited about your articles! They just sparkle!" -Gloria Peck, Editor, Waterlines magazine "I'm always on the lookout for pieces that reflect solid values as well as a thoughtful writer-which you obviously are." -Linda Meehan, Editor, Country Heart magazine "You have a wonderful way with words." -Linda Radke, Managing Editor, Five Star Publications

Nowhere are the holidays celebrated with more spirit than in America's Heartland. Award-winning author Marcia Adams captures all the nostalgia and festivity of the Heartland's yuletide season with heirloom recipes and easy-to-make craft ideas that are sure to become treasured family traditions. From an intimate breakfast around the tree to a lavish open house party for friends, she highlights the rituals, foods, and special observances that make Christmas the most memorable time of the year for families everywhere.

Ohio can be a land of weather extremes. Bringing together data from government records, scientific studies, memoirs, diaries and newspapers, this study highlights 200 weather events from 1790 to the present which demonstrate extremes of rain, snow, storms and temperature.

A New Edition of Peter Guttman's Dazzling Photographic Treasury of Holiday Lights and Celebrations Nothing reminds us of the good things in life—family, friendship, food, and good cheer—more than Christmas. With stunning images and illuminating text, award-winning photographer Peter Guttman offers a dazzling overview of the wintry landscapes, traditions, ceremonies, spectacles, and pastimes of the holiday season throughout the United States. Delve into the landscapes and streetscapes of Christmas in America and you can almost smell the frosted scent of snow-covered pines, of chestnuts roasting, and of family meals being shared. In the East, we find the spirit of the season in a cozy Vermont country inn, or an “army of elves” in a Philadelphia parade, or the sweeping grace of the sugar plum fairies in the Nutcracker Suite. In the heartland, we dogsled through a crystal wilderness in Minnesota and discover blazing bonfires in Louisiana. The snowy cliffs of the Grand Canyon, steam trains weaving high amongst the Rockies, the textured pueblos of New Mexico, the almost heavenly night sky of Utah’s Monument Valley, and the indescribable glazed beauty of Yosemite reflect the West. Like the holiday season itself, Christmas in America is a treasure.

“Miner’s story of Milwaukee is filled with memorable characters . . . explores with consummate skill the dynamics of race, politics, and schools in our time.” —Mike Rose, author of The Mind at Work Weaving together the racially fraught history of public education in Milwaukee and the broader story of hypersegregation in the rust belt, Lessons from the Heartland tells of a city’s fall from grace—and its chance for redemption in the twenty-first century. A symbol of middle American working-class values, Wisconsin—and in particular urban Milwaukee—has been at the forefront of a half century of public education experiments, from desegregation and “school choice” to vouchers and charter schools. This book offers a sweeping narrative portrait of an all-American city at the epicenter of public education reform, and an exploration of larger issues of race and class in our democracy. The author, a former Milwaukee Journal reporter whose daughters went through the public school system, explores the intricate ways that jobs, housing, and schools intersect, underscoring the intrinsic link between the future of public schools and the dreams and hopes of democracy in a multicultural society. “A social history with the pulse and pace of a carefully crafted novel and a Dickensian cast of unforgettable characters. With the eye of an ethnographer, the instincts of a beat reporter, and the heart of a devoted mother and citizen activist, Miner has created a compelling portrait of a city, a time, and a people on the edge. This is essential reading.” —Bill Ayers, author of Teaching Toward Freedom “Eloquently captures the narratives of schoolchildren, parents, and teachers.” —Library Journal

Only a family emergency could drag Abby Vernayhome to Key West for Christmas. And there's certainlynothing holly berry and mistletoe about this visit.She's got to bail out her eccentric father, and thatmeans taking on the local law. None other than policecaptain Reese Burkett, Abby's high-school crush—andthe man she's been avoiding for thirteen years.She doesn't know about Reese, but she's neverforgotten the night of her graduation, a night thatleft Abby with bittersweet memories and a secret thatchanged her life. Yet even Abby can't deny thatReese's behavior has been very good and he doesn'tdeserve a lump of coal this year. In fact, he has aright to finally know the truth. Besides, seeing himagain makes her want to let go of the past and moveon to a future…together. Except he'll probably neverforgive her.… Merry Christmas? Bah, humbug.

Bestselling classic with historical accounts, full-color vintage images, and a selection of recipes from Pennsylvania's Christmas past Originally published in 1959 and written by one of the seminal figures in American folklife studies, this classic work examines the folk origins of Christmas in the Keystone State. Composed of interviews and contemporary newspaper reports, it records holiday traditions from the eighteenth century through the early twentieth century, including mummers, Christ-Kindel and Kriss Kringle, Christmas trees and trimming, Belsnickels, the Philadelphia carnival of horns, Moravian pyramids and putzes, Pittsburgh firecracker celebrations, and holiday treats. Now with full-color images, this edition includes Don Yoder's new expanded afterword on recent research of Christmas customs and a selection of traditional recipes.

Snyder focuses exclusively on Midwestern garden problems and prescribes simple, effective remedies. She explains different gardening techniques and offers advice: hints for growing annuals and perennials, tricks for cultivating beautiful roses and keeping the beautiful year after year, up-to-the minute tips on the kinds of vegetables ready-made for the region, and a list of fruits that will grow in the Midwest without a fight.

Originally published in 1959 and written by a pioneer in American folk-life studies, this classic work examines the folk origins of Christmas in Pennsylvania. Composed of interviews and newspaper reports, it records holiday traditions from the eighteenth century through to the early twentieth century. In this edition, Don Yoder has contributed a new foreword, providing insight into Alfred L. Shoemaker's influential career and the significance of this still vital work, and an afterword, offering a look at recent research on Christmas customs.