The applique designs are lovely, realistic, and disarmingly simple. Watch out for small applique pieces. The individual flower designs seem to me to work better than the larger composition pieces shown, but all in all a refreshing new look.

The author and designer of this book has a great sense of humor. Her designs are realistic and her technique is simple and easy to understand. Gone is the pressure to be perfect because nature is not perfect. The color plates give excellent ideas on use of the various line drawings. Designs are presented so they may be mixed to create a realistic flower garden appearance.

With no time to cook for friends or you have forgotten all your own creative ideas.This is a great jump start for newly married or it is about time we had people over instead of going out all the time. It gives great pantry stocking lists, times for prep, cooking etc are listed so you can pick what you have time to cook. Also it has GREAT directions to make food ahead of time so you can be at your own dinner party instead of being locked in the kitchen. I think this book might be all the tips and things I could have learned from my mom would have lived in the same town. Great wedding gift.

My favorite cookbooks, and this is one of them, are all marked by a certain similarity. The similarity is that the recipes they contain have been meticulously tested. This is the primary strength of "Cooking for My Friends". Every recipe you try will invariably yeild a great dish. It also has a wide variety of tastes and recipes to choose from. It is one of those rare cookbooks which allows you to choose any recipe between the covers and come up with something spectacular. You'll want to tell your friends that some of the recipes are your own.

Now more than twenty years old, this book still contains a lot of solid information on the subject of bicycle touring and camping. Given the overall no-nonsense approach to the topic, what stands out is how the book inspires confidence for hitting the open road on a solo journey of discovery. It is organized simply with a couple hundred words dedicated to numerous sub-topics under the headings of preparation, the touring bicycle, clothing, riding technique, life on the road, eating, camping, and repairs. The challenges and potential problems are described and dealt with in straightforward fashion. Some of the technical information is dated, omitting modern triple cranks, cleated pedals, and indexed shifting, but I wasn't bothered so much as impressed by the overall tone of common sense and enjoyment. Worthy of special praise are the numerous black and white photos depicting the simple joys of cycling along quiet country roads, camping, and exploring small town America. A quality book.