Beginnings

On Sunday we do beginnings, taking a look at the start of a Peter Abrahams novel, including those written under the Spencer Quinn moniker™. There are many ways to start a novel, but I prefer in medias res. No throat clearing! For example, the start of Up On The Woof Top, 1 of 2 Chet and Bernie #christmas #mysteries with a touch of #hanukkah. It starts like this:

Uh-oh.

9 Comments on “Beginnings”

  2. I love the beginnings. No puttering around. No warm ups. Right into it.

    I participated in a group at my local theater once studying each Shakespeare play prior to the theater performing it. We all took parts and read it aloud with stops by the leader to explain words, context, historical events. etc. It really helps to understand the play much better. The one thing that stuck was me was that Shakespeare always started his plays in the middle of something. The middle of a conversation usually. Right into it.

    Today is Christmas Jumper day, which I will not be wearing. I’m still working on the fence repair.

    It is National Brownie day. I can make brownies any time of year so December is Christmas baking month; goodies I only do once a year.

    It is also National Lard day. Now this is something I can get behind. Lard has gotten a bad rap through negative advertising when Crisco was invented. It isn’t as unhealthy as people think. Plus for those using traditional family recipes it is essential. We have a cookie recipe that is delicious. We tried it with Crisco just once and ended up with hockey pucks. Even the dog wouldn’t eat them.

    Butterzueg – Cinnamon-Butter Cookies

    Bake: 350 degrees for 12 min.

    1 lb. Lard*
    1/8 lb. Butter
    2 cups Sugar
    2 Eggs
    6 cups Flour
    2 tsp. Cinnamon
    Rind of one lemon, grated

    Sift together dry ingredients. Cream fat and sugar, add eggs, then flour mixture a little at a time. If dough won’t hold together, use a few drops of whiskey. Chill briefly. Roll out and cut out shapes. Place cookies on an ungreased sheet and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Bake 12 min. at 350 degrees.

    *Warning: DO NOT SUBSTITUTE CRISCO FOR LARD. You’ll end up with hockey pucks. Trust me. I speak from experience.

  3. I will reread the C&B Christmas stories over the holidays. I will go to Christmas events, make Christmas food, and listen to Christmas music. But I have decided not to decorate. Just not gunna do it. Bah humbug.

    1. I’m not decorating either. I don’t have the time now and I would be the only one seeing it all. I’d have to get it down out of the attic, decorate everything and then put it all away again in a month. I’ve got baking that has to be done and a fence and gate that have to be repaired. Decorating isn’t must do, it’s a nice to do and a luxury I don’t have the time for this year.

      I don’t feel guilty about it at all.

  4. Reba! Mom is a huge decorator for holidays, especially Christmas. She worries that when she decides she won’t decorate, it won’t feel like Christmas. But I don’t think she will give it up soon. Same with Christmas cards.

  5. Yes, please Big Tiny! Your Mom is a holiday decorator extraordinaire! I am bah humbug too but love to see others decorations.

    I wonder if this is OFA’s shortest beginning to date.

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