| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Melissa |
Posted - Feb 18 2005 : 07:36:06 AM
Hi everyone. I'm new to the site. I am a "chain-reader", meaning I read tons of everything I can get my hands on. I sew, quilt, cook, crochet, while I raise my two kids, husband and my Brittany Spaniel (a great dog breed for the country!). Lately, I have started looking for Gladys Taber books. Does anyone remember her? I remember reading her magazine articles and books growing up in the 60's...all about living on the author's Connecticut farm where she raised Spaniels. These are the coziest books...beautiful pieces on the seasons, gardening, baking, all written during a simpler time. I'd like to hear from anyone who is familiar with Gladys Taber's writings. Also, by the way, someone mentioned The Mermaids Singing by Lisa Carey. Her other book is In The Country of the Young...absolutely sensational read.
"Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light." Roethke |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| shelley ginger |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 09:06:58 AM
I've been to Stillmeadow. I'm really blessed in that it's just over an hour from my home. The house remains very much as it was when Gladys was there. Her grandaughter Anne divides her time between Stillmeadow and NY, so Stillmeadow is never "empty". It's is now protected area and won't change. It's very much in the country.
This spring I visited and got a number of photos. Feel free to visit our website http://www.erikandshelley.com. Click on "All Photo Albums", then click on "Stillmeadow Album".
I hope you get to visit Stillmeadow someday. It's full of magic.
Shelley
quote:
Originally posted by naglehaus
Re Taber books, I have a few books written by authors who have influenced my life in subtle ways. Tasha Tudor and Gladys Taber are both there when I walk around my barn, gardens and go about caring for my horses and dogs. In fact, one of my first houses ended up looking quite a bit like Glady's home in Conn. I have often wondered however, if I now visited these places, if I would find them an island surrounded by strip malls, cookie cutter vinyl houses, with the eye candy in my mind's eye only. Have any of you been to these places and would you describe the areas around these author's farms or settings?
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| naglehaus |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 05:48:49 AM
Re Taber books, I have a few books written by authors who have influenced my life in subtle ways. Tasha Tudor and Gladys Taber are both there when I walk around my barn, gardens and go about caring for my horses and dogs. In fact, one of my first houses ended up looking quite a bit like Glady's home in Conn. I have often wondered however, if I now visited these places, if I would find them an island surrounded by strip malls, cookie cutter vinyl houses, with the eye candy in my mind's eye only. Have any of you been to these places and would you describe the areas around these author's farms or settings? |
| showmemom |
Posted - Aug 09 2005 : 04:19:11 AM
does anyone else have any Gladys Taber books for sale/trade? i have a new love and reading the 2 i've found makes me want to read more!
talk to you soon.
karen
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
Victor Hugo |
| Clare |
Posted - Aug 07 2005 : 1:55:55 PM
Book is now taken! Thanks Karen! Enjoy!
FOUND TODAY AND OFFERED TO PURCHASE:
Gladys Taber's book My Own Cape Cod, copyright 1971. This is a library withdrawn book and is stamped as such inside the front cover. Otherwise it is in very good condition.
I will gladly send it to a new home for $3 plus media mail postage.
Email me directly if you are interested.
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
|
| shelley ginger |
Posted - Jul 31 2005 : 07:22:22 AM
Oh Lucinda...you're going to love those books!! She was such a wonderful writer...such insight into the human heart. Enjoy!!
Shelley
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| thehouseminder |
Posted - Jul 31 2005 : 06:53:53 AM
Hi all,
I am not familiar with Glady's Taber's work at all but I spied two of her books at a thrift store yesterday: "Stillmeadow Seasons" and "Spring Harvest".
I've read such wonderful things about her on this forum that I bought them both and plan to settle into a chair in my garden and devour the first one today.
 Lucinda
Who loves a garden still his Eden keeps, Perennial pleasures plants, and wholesome harvest reaps. ---Bronson Alcott
|
| shelley ginger |
Posted - Jul 29 2005 : 03:35:44 AM
I mentioned before that I would pass along the addresses of the people to contact concerning the move to help save Still Cove (Gladys Taber's home in Orleans, Massachusetts).
If you feel that you'd like to help out (and we're only asking for letters!!) please read the letter that my friend Susan and I have sent out!!
_____________________
URGENT!!!!
HELP SAVE GLADYS TABER'S STILL COVE!!!!
Our beloved Gladys Taber's Still Cove home, in Orleans on Cape Cod, is on the open market for sale to any buyer who can afford the asking price.
Unfortunately, the most valuable part of the property according to the sellers and the real estate company, is the location, waterfront and view. They are therefore marketing it as a "tear-down", suggesting that anyone with the $1.65 million dollars asking price may wish to bulldoze Glady's house into a landfill and in its place, put up a "McMansion" trophy house, the kind that says, "I want you to see how much money I have." We believe the buyer of this property should be required to restore and maintain Gladys' home, intact, and in the basic form in which she and Eleanor (Jill in the books) built it.
If you love Gladys Taber's writing and believe as many do, that she left a legacy to the world's philosophy that should not be so easily forgotten, please join the fight to save her cozy home, Still Cove. We understand the inside needs major updating, but the exterior is a lovely cape-style home, very much in keeping with its environs.
With over 50 published books, thousands of published short stories and magazine columns spanning six decades, Gladys Taber is one of America's best-loved authors and has a devoted following today, 25 years after her death. Her house needs to receive legal protection from being torn down, to be preserved.
If we act now, all of us can help make this happen! We each need to write two letters IMMEDIATELY. One to each of the people whose names follow.
In our letters,we each need to explain why we believe Gladys Taber is still an important influence in this world and why her house should be saved. Gladys often wrote that she believed if each person could have their own plot of land to be their home and a place to grow vegetables, there would be no need for war in this world. Her ideas are as timely today as when she wrote them, and her beautiful way of expressing them is needed by future generations.
Preserving the heritage of a community steeped in history like Orleans is the sort of cause that Gladys championed. She treasured her years in Orleans and wrote more than four books about her many seasons there, and her personal philosophy of life. As the next generation, we are given a responsibility to preserve and maintain that which has gone before. One of the larger issues is the change on Cape Cod and other parts of the USA, where houses can be torn down without regard to their historical value. Gladys, herself, would be deeply touched to know that those she influenced would endeavor to speak in her place, to ask for an end to this tragic practice.
In your letter, you may wish to include your thoughts such as:
What impact has Gladys Taber's writing had on your life?
Do you believe her writing is still relevant in today's world?
Why do you believe Still Cove needs to be preserved?
Still Cove inspired the books:
Still Cove Journal,
My Own Cape Cod,
My Own Cook Book, From Stillmeadow and Cape Cod,
Conversations With Amber.
The first letter goes to the President of the Orleans Historical Society who has given public notice for a meeting on August 11, 2005, for the official purpose of discussing and deciding if Still Cove should be listed as a "preferably-preserved significant building" in Town. This designation allows them to prevent demolition for 6 months initially, and gives them time to plan the next step. He needs letters from all of us who believe in the preservation effort. These letters will be documents that become your opportunity to be heard at this very important meeting, almost as if you were there in person, which most of us cannot arrange. Please mail those letters to:
James Hadley, Acting Chair.
Orleans Historical Commission
Box 1917
Orleans, MA 02653
The second letter we need you to write is to a local reporter. She PREFERS EMAILS if you are online. You may address those letters to "Letters To The Editor" as long as you have no objection to possibly having your letter printed. Most letters will not be printed but may be used for background research, or may be excerpted into a series of articles. Please mail those letters to:
dleggett@capecodvoice.com
or
Doreen Leggett
The Cape Cod Voice
P. O. Box 156
Orleans, MA 02653
Anne Colby, Gladys' granddaughter, and we, have great hopes that if we can flood these two resources with letters, other newspapers and news organizations may pick up the story as newsworthy. The importance of getting your letters out IMMEDIATELY cannot be over-emphasized. The property has been on the market for over two months now, and we don't know how close they are to finding a buyer, so every day is critical.
Also, please send this email to every Gladys Taber Fan you know. If you get more than one copy, will you be upset? No? That's why you should send it to everyone and not worry if you are duplicating; it is better not to miss a fan who will write two more letters!
Lastly, here is a link to the real estate listing of the sale of Still Cove. It has some nice photos which you may want to download to your computer to use as your desktop, but write your letters first!
http://ccimls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Capecod&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=ket5XECNrVxGcifMlEpaCA%3D%3D
Thanks for all your help,
Susan Turnley and Shelley Wilkinson
for the ad hoc Committee to Fight for the Preservation of Still Cove
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| susanpapillon |
Posted - Jul 26 2005 : 12:12:40 PM
I hope this is going to the Gladys Taber group. I am a new member. I have some older and harder-to-get Gladys Taber books - I would be willing to send them for not too much. I have "Harvest at Stillmeadow" which is very rare. Thanks,
Sue, susanpapillon@lycos.com
Gladys Taber Book Lover |
| shelley ginger |
Posted - Jul 24 2005 : 1:06:40 PM
Hi Everyone...I've heard a little more about the sale of Still Cove (Gladys Taber's home in Orleans, MA). The Historical Society in Orleans is URGING people to write a letter stating what Gladys means to you and why you feel that Still Cove should not be torn down.
It's important to know that no one is opposed to the sale of the house and property, it is just the TEARING DOWN that is opposed.
I will post addresses here later, and I would ask that if you're interested, please send a letter.
Shelley
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| shelley ginger |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 04:19:57 AM
Hi Everyone...
Sorry I've been so quiet lately. Our days have been a little hectic lately. We've managed to fit in a wedding and a visit from Erik's parents and some day trips with "The Sweet Potatoes" (for those of you that don't know, that's what I call Erik's two red-headed girls, Cassandra-11 and Rebecca-7).
The days are a little slower now as the girls have gone on a summer holiday with their Mom to France!! The house feels empty and we're watching for that first postcard!!
On a sad note...
I've heard recently that Gladys Taber's other home "Still Cove" located in Orleans, Massachusetts is up for sale. The worst part is that it is for sale as a TEAR DOWN!! The house has not belonged to the family for a number of years, but it has remained there and intact in Orleans. T
he property that it is on is an extremely coveted piece of property at the end of a quiet lane overlooking the Mill Pond. This would make an ideal spot for a "McMansion" super-sized Trophy House. I would hate to see this happen.
The historical society in Orleans is aware of this, and we've been in contact with the family to alert them. WHEN I have an address to send letters to, would any of you be interested in writing a letter to help save Still Cove from the wrecking crew??
A photo of Still Cove:
[URL=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/shelleyginger/stillcove01.jpg] [/URL]
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| Melissa |
Posted - Jul 12 2005 : 05:12:24 AM
Hi everyone. I'm so glad you all enjoy Gladys Taber's works. My sister just sent me four of her books for my birthday! I display them in my living room and whenever I have a free moment, I just pick them up and read a few pages to bring myself back to what's really important in my life. Here is something interesting: I found another writer I'd like to share with you. His name is Louis Bromfield and he wrote many books about farming and nature...he was way ahead of his time regarding his views on natural farming and saving farms for the future. The book I am reading now is The Farm. Some of you who are into films might know his book Malobar Farm...it was a favorite "hiding/resort" place for Bogie and other movie stars. Malobar Farm was one of the first farms we could call organic and Bromfield was considered obsessive on this topic. I love his writing. His books may be hard to find, but as usual, you can get them from Powells.com in Oregon. Let me know if anyone out there enjoys his work.
"Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light." Roethke |
| Robinwolf |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 2:29:08 PM
It is so wonderful to find other women who have fallen in love with Gladys Taber. I own The Stillmeadow Road - I found it at a used book store. I keep it with my Jan Karon novels - the whole Mitford series. The other book I'd like to "turn you on to" is another out of print book, but worth searching for - It is titled "Greenwillow" by B.J.Chute. It is a charming, sweet, delightful book and you will love every single minute you spend in Greenwillow. I have read it over 100 times, and plan to read it at least that many more times. Any time I feel stressed or anxious, I pull it out and read it and I am better almost instantly.
Robin
Let the beauty we love be what we do. -- Rumi-- |
| sqrl |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 12:50:47 PM
Hey Welcome Melissa we share our name. What did you think about the second book of the Outlander series? I loved the first book I couldn't stop reading it, but when I started up the second one I was so disappointed, I even glanced at the third just to see. Finally I just gave them back to the person I borrowed from. I was just wondering what you thought.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 12:08:31 PM
Susan, I would be interested in your books. I sent you an email.
Kay - Living in Beautiful Washington State
North Clark County Farmgirls and
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
| susanpapillon |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 11:49:58 AM
Hi, folks! I'm new to the site and the daughter of a down-Maine farmer! When we were cleaning out the barn, I found some Gladys Taber books which are in excellent condition. Would anyone be interested in purchasing them for a small amount?
Gladys Taber Book Lover |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - May 29 2005 : 09:12:02 AM
Hi Molly, Yes I feel like I am right there with her, like she is a good friend. I love chatting about her with other members on this forum, I am so grateful to Mellisa for mentioning her here a few months ago!
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| mollymae |
Posted - May 29 2005 : 09:02:07 AM
Thanks for the links, Shelley, the pictures are wonderful! How special you got to go visit and see what it is really like there. I'm only on chapter 4 right now of the book, and I'm hooked for life with Gladys Taber! I love her wonderful witty way of writing, and how she sees everything in life as special and wonderful.
Meadowlark, how I want to just melt into her world, the way she writes it makes me feel like I'm right there with her! Do you feel that way too?
Molly
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." --Henry David Thoreau
|
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 28 2005 : 6:29:36 PM
Thanks for the websites. You don't know how happy I am to know other's love Gladys as much as I do..YEAH!!!! |
| shelley ginger |
Posted - May 28 2005 : 4:41:50 PM
Hello Mollymae!!
If you want to see Stillmeadow as it is today (very little changed from Gladys' day by the way) please stop by our website. Erik and I visited there this spring and it was wonderful. I live in New York state, and I'm about an hour from where Stillmeadow is.
Here's our site...
http://www.erikandshelley.com
Just go to the Photo Albums and then you'll see "May, 2005 Pictures". Click on that and you'll see Stillmeadow. I got some wonderful photos and everything was just as Gladys describes in her books. Delightful.
Also...make sure you visit Susan Stanley's "Gladys Taber's Stillmeadow". The address for that is...
http://stillmeadow.ecwhost.com/
There are links to follow. Come into the forum and you'll see some topics to read about. Gladys is "alive and well" there!!
Susan and I do a blog together. Letters between friends. It's called Stillmeadow Friends. If you'd like to stop by for a visit there...
http://stillmeadowfriends.blogspirit.com/
Lol...that should keep you busy.
By the way, I love "The Best of Stillmeadow". Her books are such a welcome getaway from the speed of life today.
It's so good to meet some other Gladys people.
Shelley
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - May 28 2005 : 3:54:19 PM
Hi Molly! I read that one a few months ago! Isn't it wonderful! I love to sit down late in the evening when it is peaceful with Gladys Taber books. I have a few of her titles I found at a used bookstore. I also check them out at the library. There is just something so special about her...Maybe the fact she found such joy in the everyday living and peace of her home in the country! I fix a cup of Sleepytime Tea and drift into her world at Stillmeadow.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| mollymae |
Posted - May 28 2005 : 3:26:17 PM
HI all, how ironic I came across this thread, since I just checked out one of her books the other day at the library "The Best of Stillmeadow, A Treasury of Country Living", edited by her daughter Constance Taber Colby. I am just devouring it, I can't get enough!!!
Molly
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." --Henry David Thoreau
|
| shelley ginger |
Posted - May 25 2005 : 07:13:07 AM
Exactly!!
She always seemed to invite us in for tea...and sit us right down at the kitchen table. I love that.
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 25 2005 : 07:02:15 AM
That is so true!! I you read between the lines, here was a single woman with a child in the 1930's through the crazy times of the war and the 50's and 60's who lived a farm/country life which I even today a woman doing that herself is still unfortunately not common (thanks to websites like this that will change!!) She makes me feel like I can maintain my home and family, but makes it fun and always find the adventure in it, especially when something goes wrong. Everytime I read one of her books, I can "see" exactly what she is doing at that particular moment, what the weather is like, what the animals are doing. Put the reader in the story I guess!! |
| shelley ginger |
Posted - May 25 2005 : 03:41:25 AM
(((catscharm74)))
Lol...yes...we tend to get some of those head shakes once in a while...but if you're like me I'm not discouraged in the least!! You know, Gladys was an amazing woman...and ahead of her time really. She was speaking to the American homemaker when no one else was. For an age without the multimedia that we have now, Gladys Taber was a household name among women. She was able to speak to women in a way that was not demeaning or patronizing.
Not only was she a country homemaker, but she was a writer and a teacher and she raised (and showed) Cocker Spaniels. All of this...AND she was a single mother raising a child.
Gladys was not faint-hearted by any means.
That's worth a head shake of two, lol!!
Shelley
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 24 2005 : 8:19:53 PM
I am glad to see there are other Gladys fans around. I did a search for her and found very little on the internet. Glad to see someone is posting so wonderful stuff on her. Ok- I am so devoted to her I named my Jeep after her. Fun and always an adventure. My hubby just shakes his head!!! |
|
|
