Teacakes
Nothing says lovin' like something from the oven.43 total reviews
Comment from dweigt
What a wonderful story! I can imagine you telling it. It seems very well suited to a storytelling performance, but it also is a joy to read.
This made me chuckle: Surely, Russian teacakes must be identical to the teacakes he ate on a sharecropper's farm eighty years ago.
I can't find anything to correct or improve, so I'm glad I have six stars left to give.
Keep writing!
reply by the author on 21-Feb-2017
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What a wonderful story! I can imagine you telling it. It seems very well suited to a storytelling performance, but it also is a joy to read.
This made me chuckle: Surely, Russian teacakes must be identical to the teacakes he ate on a sharecropper's farm eighty years ago.
I can't find anything to correct or improve, so I'm glad I have six stars left to give.
Keep writing!
Comment Written 21-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 21-Feb-2017
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Yes, Dweigt, I am contemplating telling this on stage, because whenever I tell people about my story, they laugh. I will have to prepare a version for performance. Thank you for your generous, six star review and encouragement. I appreciate them.
Comment from Dawn Munro
Wow, FABULOUS reading, Sis - I guess I should warn you, when I am reviewing something long, I note the edits along the way, so the review isn't a compliment sandwich as the site suggests...but in your case, from everything I've ever read of yours, you never have to worry!
Okay, here comes the first suggestion - you switch to present tense in this paragraph, and that's okay - it works well. But I would keep the next verb the same: The donors apologize--"I didn't have time, so I..." OR, perhaps even better, "I (have attended)..." (Don't switch tenses--just use 'have' with the 'ed'.)
Suggestion #2 - "I lacked (the) time."
#3 - "...clattered (on)to the kitchen counter." Note: wonderful verb, "clattered"!!!
Another note: tears welling at this marvelous paragraph - joy-filled ones...
"My floured hands danced..." - this whole paragraph is exceptional too - oh, I have found another favorite author!!!
"tchtchke"? I have to look that one up...LOL
Your description of teacakes being the 'cookies of poverty' makes me long to try them, not because I am poor (although I am sure not wealthy), but because they sound like something I'd love!
I'm going to cry, and this time not for joy...
Okay, I've finished reading, and the tears are bittersweet...
Have my last six, Andre (and this better win, or I'm going to want to know why)!
reply by the author on 23-Feb-2017
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Wow, FABULOUS reading, Sis - I guess I should warn you, when I am reviewing something long, I note the edits along the way, so the review isn't a compliment sandwich as the site suggests...but in your case, from everything I've ever read of yours, you never have to worry!
Okay, here comes the first suggestion - you switch to present tense in this paragraph, and that's okay - it works well. But I would keep the next verb the same: The donors apologize--"I didn't have time, so I..." OR, perhaps even better, "I (have attended)..." (Don't switch tenses--just use 'have' with the 'ed'.)
Suggestion #2 - "I lacked (the) time."
#3 - "...clattered (on)to the kitchen counter." Note: wonderful verb, "clattered"!!!
Another note: tears welling at this marvelous paragraph - joy-filled ones...
"My floured hands danced..." - this whole paragraph is exceptional too - oh, I have found another favorite author!!!
"tchtchke"? I have to look that one up...LOL
Your description of teacakes being the 'cookies of poverty' makes me long to try them, not because I am poor (although I am sure not wealthy), but because they sound like something I'd love!
I'm going to cry, and this time not for joy...
Okay, I've finished reading, and the tears are bittersweet...
Have my last six, Andre (and this better win, or I'm going to want to know why)!
Comment Written 21-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 23-Feb-2017
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Thank you very much, Dawn, for your generous, six star review (your last for the week), your suggestions which I applied, and for wishing me success in the contest. I appreciate all three of your supports. Thanks again.
Comment from ~Dovey
Hi SisCat,
Your story is told in a personable fashion, it is inviting and holds the reader's interest well. I love all the family history you've included and your meticulous attention to detail gives this an excellent flavor. There is no SPAG or corrections to be made.
Good luck in the contest.
Kim
reply by the author on 23-Feb-2017
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Hi SisCat,
Your story is told in a personable fashion, it is inviting and holds the reader's interest well. I love all the family history you've included and your meticulous attention to detail gives this an excellent flavor. There is no SPAG or corrections to be made.
Good luck in the contest.
Kim
Comment Written 21-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 23-Feb-2017
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Thank you, Kim, for your review of my personal family story "Teacakes" and for wishing me success in the contest.
Comment from Lu Saluna
This was a wonderful story. Very heartwarming and full of love. I was captivated and engaged from start to finish. Your Uncle Lee was blessed to have such a great nephew like you.
So beautifully written with great detail and family history. It really is amazing how many people pick something up for potlucks or dinner now. Gone are the days of home cooking. Not at my home. Everything is cooked from scratch, even sauces, nothing comes from a jar or can.
Good luck in the contest.
Only noted one small item,
tea cakes and fried chicken." - teacakes has been all one work except for here
reply by the author on 21-Feb-2017
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This was a wonderful story. Very heartwarming and full of love. I was captivated and engaged from start to finish. Your Uncle Lee was blessed to have such a great nephew like you.
So beautifully written with great detail and family history. It really is amazing how many people pick something up for potlucks or dinner now. Gone are the days of home cooking. Not at my home. Everything is cooked from scratch, even sauces, nothing comes from a jar or can.
Good luck in the contest.
Only noted one small item,
tea cakes and fried chicken." - teacakes has been all one work except for here
Comment Written 21-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 21-Feb-2017
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Thank you, Lu, for your review and correction. In my mother's memoir she wrote tea cakes as two words but in her screenplay she wrote it as one. For the sake of my story, I will write it as one.
It is sad that half of the people at today's potlucks cook, and baking is rarer.
Thank you for your support of my heartwarming story. Keep on cooking from scratch!
Comment from mermaids
This is wonderful. What a gift to your Uncle Lee, the teacakes are the most precious thing you can give. I admire your mother for writing a memoir, is it published? Memoirs are my favorite form of writing. I use to bake peantbutter cookies all the time years ago, your story makes me think about making time to get back to baking. This is an excellent story and I wish you well in the contest.
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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This is wonderful. What a gift to your Uncle Lee, the teacakes are the most precious thing you can give. I admire your mother for writing a memoir, is it published? Memoirs are my favorite form of writing. I use to bake peantbutter cookies all the time years ago, your story makes me think about making time to get back to baking. This is an excellent story and I wish you well in the contest.
Comment Written 20-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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Thank you, Mermaids, for your home-baked, six star review. I am so glad my mother wrote my family stories down. She self-published her memoir via the copier. I just sold a copy to my cousin for $20! I want to get it professionally edited and published for real. Thank you for your review. I loved my grandmother's peanut butter cookies. Thank you for also wishing me success in the contest.
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When you have your mother's memoir published, I will buy a copy. Elaine
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Thanks.
Comment from doggymad
Many thanks for sharing this one. It is true that women people back them were more resourceful than we are today.
Interesting to see how different the google version was poles apart from the reality.
Look forward to reading more of your work
hugs
Freda
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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Many thanks for sharing this one. It is true that women people back them were more resourceful than we are today.
Interesting to see how different the google version was poles apart from the reality.
Look forward to reading more of your work
hugs
Freda
Comment Written 20-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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Yes, Freda, women back then were more resourceful. Let's at least bring that resourcefulness back to our writing. Thank you fur your review.
Comment from winnona
A well-written contest entry. This is a very good entry. It is amazing that often memories of a certain food mean so much to us and bring our family memories flooding back to us. Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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A well-written contest entry. This is a very good entry. It is amazing that often memories of a certain food mean so much to us and bring our family memories flooding back to us. Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 20-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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Thank you, Winnona, for your review. Yes, certain foods mean so much to some families for the memories they bring. Thank you for also wishing me success in the contest.
Comment from patcelaw
Cat, I enjoyed this read. In almost all families I suppose there would be favorite recipes and dishes we remember from our childhood years. My daughter is a scrapbooker and has made recipe books of family recipes, for her children, myself and her sisters containing many of our family favorites. Patricia
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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Cat, I enjoyed this read. In almost all families I suppose there would be favorite recipes and dishes we remember from our childhood years. My daughter is a scrapbooker and has made recipe books of family recipes, for her children, myself and her sisters containing many of our family favorites. Patricia
Comment Written 20-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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Oh, Patricia, I am glad your daughter made that scrapbook of family recipes to be passed down to the next generation. Thank you for your review.
Comment from Mustang Patty
The story brought tears to my eyes and a sense of apprehension as I feared the teacakes would never be tested by Uncle Lee. This ode to the lost art of baking and home-made goods resounds in my heart. My daughter recently told me that she couldn't bake cupcakes for my granddaughter's class for her birthday - EVERYTHING must be 'store-bought.' I guess no one trusts anyone anymore - and there are so many allergies these days.
One suggestion if I may-- read your piece aloud and find where you have missing words or words in the wrong order. As I read, I was able to discern what you meant, but the words weren't really on the page.
Thank you for sharing a piece of nostalgia,
~patty~
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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The story brought tears to my eyes and a sense of apprehension as I feared the teacakes would never be tested by Uncle Lee. This ode to the lost art of baking and home-made goods resounds in my heart. My daughter recently told me that she couldn't bake cupcakes for my granddaughter's class for her birthday - EVERYTHING must be 'store-bought.' I guess no one trusts anyone anymore - and there are so many allergies these days.
One suggestion if I may-- read your piece aloud and find where you have missing words or words in the wrong order. As I read, I was able to discern what you meant, but the words weren't really on the page.
Thank you for sharing a piece of nostalgia,
~patty~
Comment Written 20-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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Thank you, patty, for your review. It is sad that parents are not allowed to bake for their children's classes anymore. What a waste and a loss. As a result, your daughter may never learn the art of baking.
Thank you also for suggesting I read my story aloud to find missing words or words in wrong order.
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
A wonderful story rich in emotion, imagery and good old-fashioned goodheartedness.
I am so glad you finally decided to make that man some teacakes!!
Now we have all been able to learn about and share in an age old tradition (more or less).
Thank you for sharing,
Rhonda
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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A wonderful story rich in emotion, imagery and good old-fashioned goodheartedness.
I am so glad you finally decided to make that man some teacakes!!
Now we have all been able to learn about and share in an age old tradition (more or less).
Thank you for sharing,
Rhonda
Comment Written 20-Feb-2017
reply by the author on 20-Feb-2017
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Thank you, Rhonda, for your tasty, home-baked, six-star review. I am so glad I baked my uncle those teacakes.
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Thank you, Rhonda, for your tasty, home-baked, six-star review. I am so glad I baked my uncle those teacakes.
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Thank you, Rhonda, for your tasty, home-baked, six-star review. I am so glad I baked my uncle those teacakes.