Thank you notes

Writing a Thank you letter can be so important. Donna Esposito very generously sent a copy of Tastes & Treasures II to a friend who was interested in it after she saw the book on Facebook. Donna received this lovely Thank you letter. Looks like new recipes will be tried, a trip to Arizona will include visiting some of these historic venues and stories of Arizona will travel to the east coast.

Historical League June meeting via Zoom

Very involved, dedicated members attend the Historical League June meeting via Zoom, taking notes, getting involved. Over 30 attended our last meeting of the year but many will continue to volunteer over the summer working on events for fall.

Fountain Hills Great Fair Feb 21-23, 2020

Sunday set up again after Saturday's rain, thanks to these fabulous volunteers: Delores Tomasek, Carolyn Mendoza,
Gary, Barb Ziehler, Tom and Cathy Shumard

Fountain Hills Great Fair starts Friday, Feb 21 at 10 am. Visit Donna Esposito, Karen Overton, Karolee Hess, Katie Tovar and Sharron McKinney at our booth, sample granola, talk about Arizona history and food!!
Thanks to Linda Corderman and Karen Overton setting it up on Thursday.
Rain in Fountain Hills on Saturday! Much as we love the rain, it changes our plans for the Great Fair. Books don't do well with rain so we will be closed today but open tomorrow 10 am - 5 pm Sunday, Feb 23. Stop by and visit with Carolyn Mendoza, Delores Tomasek, Susan and Ennis.

Windy Friday kept blowing tablecloths, signs and papers!!

Willo Historic Home Tour Sunday, Feb 9

Donna Esposito

Karen Overton

Visit the Historical League booth and share your AZ history while you browse our books filled with history. Tastes & Treasures II: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona. 

Mariamne Moore, Linda Corderman

Sunday, Feb 9. 10 am - 4 pm. 
Historic Home tour plus a street fair featuring local vendors and an antique car show wind down Monte Vista and Holly Roads. Willo district. West of Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Thanks to Jolene Beard, Linda Corderman, Donna Esposito, Mariamne Moore, Karen Overton and Patt Walker for making this happen! Patt said, "We were having so much fun chatting with people we forgot to get more pics! "

Organized for ArtFest thanks to Donna Esposito

Organizer Donna Esposito provided new plastic tubs so we can find all our materials easier in the Historical League booth. Visit us at ArtFest of Scottsdale this weekend, Nov 23-24 from 10 am - 5 pm. Tastes & Treasures along with other merchandise make wonderful holiday gift ideas.

Tastes & Treasures II in Maine B&B

Reconnecting with a college friend she had not seen for 39 years, Donna Esposito stayed at The Trellis House in Ogunquit, Maine. Very quaint B&B with charming rooms, homemade breakfast and Happy Hours from Laurence Plotkin cookbook! Now this B&B has Tastes & Treasures II. Perhaps Laurence will re-create some of the Arizona recipes for his future guests.

Bandelier National Monument on Historical League New Mexico tour

Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico was a fascination stop on Historical League 3-day tour. Thanks to photos from Claire Nullmeyer and Donna Esposito.

Friends and good food

Besides making sure the recipes were accurate and enjoying the good food, the Tasting Parties are more . . . getting to know everyone on the cookbook committee and becoming friends is an added bonus!

Bonnie Newhoff and Jan Murray sample the delicious foods

Donna Esposito and Jan Murray sign up for more recipe testings

Margaret Baker and Ruth McLeod have their plates ready

Stroll through history at the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas

Donna Esposito and Clede Gorrell

Amazing stories of German relocation to this area in May 1846 are told at the Pioneer Museum. With photos, videos, refurbished homes, schools and farm equipment, we learned about the trials and tribulations of 120 German men, women and children who began the last segment of the long and dangerous journey to their new home in Texas. Hope of a freer, more prosperous future for themselves and children strengthened them to endure the miseries of the trip and the hardships yet to come.  It is a definite MUST SEE when you are in the Texas hill country.

 In Fredericksburg, traces of the past are all around you. A quick glance suggests the German heritage of the town - the limestone constructions of its buildings, the names of its commercial buildings, the celebrations and festivals.

Susan Dale at the Pioneer Museum entrance

Barb Ziehler, Susan Howard, Jan Murray

Donna Esposito, Jan Murray, Clede Gorrell

Susan Howard admires the limestone buildings

Flowers Everywhere at Wildseed Farms

Day 2 of the tour brought us to Wildseed Farms, located outside of Fredericksburg, Texas. The iconic Bluebonnets have bloomed and gone but the red Poppies are brilliant now. One of the largest producers of the Red Poppy Seed, Wildseed Farms brochure states, "We are honored to represent our wonderful veterans and we also realize that Freedom is not Free!"

In 1915 John McCrae, a Canadian doctor and teacher, wrote this verse which remains among the most memorable war poems ever written.  The poppy has stood as the official symbol of Canada's Remembrance Day since 1921. Many of us raised funds for veterans as children selling poppies in schools.

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row, 
That mark our place; and in the sky

Julie Moore, Donna Esposito

The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Artists come daily to paint, sketch, watercolor

Nancy Evans, Ruth McLeod, Julie Moore

Nancy Evans, Pam den Draak, Julie Moore

Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning at Baylor University

Donna Esposito, Mary McMahon, Zona Lorig, Julie Moore, Ruth McLeod, Cathy Shumard

We could have spent so much more time enjoying the architecture and poetry at the Armstrong Browning Library in Waco, TX. 

Love this quote from Robert Browning

"God's in his heaven - All's right in the world!"

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806-1861

Robert Browning 1812-1889

 In his first letter to Elizabeth, 1845, he stated, "I love your verses with all my heart." This letter initiated a romance, resulting in their secret marriage and departure to Italy in 1846.