21 Comments

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ruth. Your cousin sounds like quite a guy. Did he throw the pie in the video?!

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Ha ha!

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Whoops. I thought I was leaving that comment for Ruth. That's what happens when I accidentally hit the back arrow. Loved your piece, too.

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Been there! I was wondering about that. I thought I missed something!

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What a charming story! So happy that a friend shared the article, and gave me a gift subscription.

Sandy Kupfer

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How wonderful! I'm so glad you are here! I'd be delighted to send you the AE! bonus gift of a little booklet on southern cooking that Eudora Welty wrote in the 1930s for WPA and was never published. If you would like it, send me your home address at my email address: 1patwillard@gmail.com

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Pat- is there any way that you can place the article in the NYT as a gift article? Otherwise, there’s a paywall.

Love your newsletter- what did you make with the feta cheese?

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From a woeful incompetent: A NYT gift article? What's that? How do I manage that?!

I'm always al;ways grateful for your support! This kind feta is amazing--it starts out sweet then melts into a sharpness and goes back to a sweet flavor. I tossed it in a argula and watercress salad. Last night I got it into my head to throw cubes into a beef stew at the last minute so they got soft and creamy. That was pretty good. Mainly I've been slicing off chunks and eating it all day.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/well/eat/healthy-eating-tips.html?unlocked_article_code=1.yE4.HeDF.9Xcnu3tYI4fY&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

This is a gift article. Before you copy the article, you look for the little icon in the lower corner that looks like a 🎁 gift. When you copy and paste the article as a gift ( you get 10 free “gift” articles a month to send to others who do not subscribe to NYT), then they receive the article and can read in full- no paywall- otherwise- the link to the article will not allow readers who don’t subscribe to actually read the article.

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Your depiction of the store and the woman behind the counter is stunning. I honestly felt I was there with you. I saw my self at the store! U have a wonderful capacity to bring it all to life.

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Thank you but it sure helps when it writes itself.

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What a great little story. I can picture it all. Thank you, Pat. I'm going to check out the china story now.

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China thing really got me. My sister and I are having the same problem--my sons don't want it. Her daughters don't want it...

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I have the same situation!

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I so admire your life-as-it-happens-in-front-of-me style, Pat. I wish wish WISH I could do that!

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I wish I had your down-in-the-grass-up -in-the-sky relationship with your land. It's such a blessing to read. Perhaps we can exchange places for a few days!

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Love this, Pat, I felt like I was back in New York!

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You're writing about it so you are!

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I want that lamb. Seriously. In fact, i want your whole neighborhood, pat. It all sounds perfectly delicious though I’m sorry about the 🐑 lambs head. I get great food where I am but every now and then a girl gets a craving for greek lamb and feta and maybe a slice of spanakopita too. Thank you!

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I just called to see if there was any lamb left over to buy. THERE'S NONE!!!! Totally heartbroken. I'm digging into your book for what to do with the grains I bought.

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This is such an enjoyable slice of life, Pat and really great writing that puts you in the picture.

I read the NYT piece and identified with it immediately—in our case, whole roomfuls of inherited things that no one wants that have been passed down for three generations but may not see a fourth.

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