Through the years, I bought many cookbooks, most of them purchased at J.R.s in Smithfield, NC. But, after many years, J.R.s went out of business and the only section that remained from the original business was the tobacco shop. I don’t recall if it is still called J.R.s, but the tobacco shop is still there, and I buy RamRod cigars every so often.

Cookbooks at J.R.s were relatively cheap, from as low as $3 for a small pamphlet, to $10 – $25 each (I don’t actually recall the high end of the price range.) Many of the books I bought were in the $10 and $15 range. I bought cookbooks for myself, for Mary Ann, and eventually for Jacqueline (Ray’s wife). I would buy duplicate copies often as presents.

I might have already given Jacqueline about 100 cookbooks. I carried 45 down a few months ago, and left them at Mary Ann’s. But, Mary Ann is supposed to read through them, and then let Jacqueline have them.

I drove to Hamlet, NC today for lunch at the Seaboard Station Restaurant.

After lunch, I drove a short distance to the Hamlet Public Library. I went in and asked if they accepted donations of movie DVDs and/or books. The clerk said they only were accepting DVDs at this time. I went back to the car and got a couple of DVDs. *I had six DVDs and planned to give two to each of the 3 libraries I was planning to visit today.

So now I head down to Society Hill, SC. I’ve been through Society Hill a few times in my life. I’ve even stopped into the Library at least once several years ago. I go inside and ask if they are accepting movie DVDs and/or books. The clerk went to check and came back saying that they were only accepting DVDs at this time. I went back to the car, got another 2 DVDs and brought them in. DVDs: “Casino Royal”… But, I also asked if I could speak with the Librarian. I went back to her office (she is retiring after 18 years in early September). I asked the reasoning for not accepting books at this time. Basically, it was lack of room… I think.

Now I head back up to North Carolina and end up going through Bennettsville, SC and detoured down the main part of town and then out of town, and eventually ended up going through Gibson, NC (just across the NC/SC border). I didn’t see a library there, although I thought I had once.

This is familiar territory and I soon was back up in Laurinburg, NC and ended up on Church Street, on which the Scotland County Memorial Library is located. I parked near the main entrance and went in to ask about the donations they were currently taking. There was a quiet young woman at the desk who asked me if she could help. She went back to the Librarian and came back saying that he said he had moved some stuff around and would accept the books & DVDs.

I went back out to my car, pulled my portable red wagon out and started putting the books & DVDs into it. I rolled the wagon inside and the quiet young woman was just rolling out an empty book cart by her counter. She quickly placed the DVDs and books onto her cart. *DVDs: “Prometheus” and “Avatar.” I thanked her and left. *I may think it a little weird that none of the 3 libraries asked my name. But, I was happy to have gotten rid of all those books & the few DVDs. *I have kept a couple of original Outer Limits anthologies on DVD. *The books included a couple of large volumes, one “Culinaria Italy” and another “Culinaria France”. **Interesting. I just looked for images for these two volumes. Both were probably almost 600 pp., and they are selling on eBay for about $7 each. I am surprised! I would have thought they would be at least $15 each.

I drove onto the St. Andrews College Campus and made it to the lake where I turned around… but, I looked across the lake expecting to see the white bell tower, and it wasn’t there! I asked myself if I had imagined the tower. Fortunately, I googled for this later and saw where the Belk Bell Tower had been severely damaged in 2019 due to a hurricane and was demolished because it was dangerous. They do plan to rebuild the tower. If they are still having money issues as they did some time ago, it may be a while.

NOTE [ 05/18/25]: Many years ago I hired someone that had worked at St. Andrews College. Even back then they were having money issues. Earlier this month I saw something on TV that said the college was closing that day, and I ended up driving down there and doing a quick tour of the campus. They never rebuilt the bell tower, but they have a pretty lake setting on campus. And seems that a few years ago I was looking around campus and saw what I thought to be Equine (horse) students. Not sure if they had an equestrian degree or if it was just a summer program.

I see their last day was on May 5, 2025. [end NOTE]

As I drove back off St. Andrews Campus, I had to turn right and then loop back around through the shopping area. There is a TSC Tractor Supply store on the corner and I saw a small lawn tractor out front and it was under $10K. I took a few pictures to remind me and something to send to Mary Ann because she has been looking for a golf cart for Jim to get around the yard and to the mailbox.

NOTE [ 11/18/23 ]: I had taken a couple of pictures that I sent to Mary Ann, but she didn’t like the quality of the carts. I have since deleted them from this posting. Jim died in March 2023.

I still have several books that focus on Paddlewheel Steamboats from various locations, but all trying to tie back to those vessels on the Cape Fear River in NC. I also have about 15 cookbooks that I chose that seemed to be the best, well illustrated with color photos and interesting recipes.

ADDENDUM [05/18/25]: I love collecting cookbooks, but I still wish I had a cooking school or somewhere to donate them after I’ve looked through them. If I see a good looking cookbook, lots of colorful pictures and easy to read recipes, then I just might buy it for a dollar or two. The family I have has gotten older and the gift of a cookbook is no longer a rewarding gift, for me or them. And some friends have little interest in cooking. That’s sort of a minor “curse.” [end]