Cottage Curio

Cottage Curio at 622 Colorado Street in Salem, VA
The sign is a wok in progress.

This morning I dropped off some of my books at Cottage Curio in Salem and partook of some delicious apple dumplings while I was there.

The owner, Peggy Shifflett, is a retired sociology professor from Radford University. She’s self-published two books, The Red Flannel Rag: Memories of an Appalachian Childhood and Mom’s Apple Pie: Memories of Food Traditions and Family in Appalachia. I own both her books but have only had time to read The Red Flannel Rag, which is wonderful. It’s sold more than 7,000 copies and is used in the Appalachian studies classes at Virginia Tech and Radford University.

Peggy hopes that Cottage Curio will be an outlet for artists and writers. Already, she has several books and crafts on consignment from local writers and artisans. Almost every Saturday an artist or writer is scheduled to appear at the Cottage Curio. Today, for instance, Peggy’s sister-in-law, Hilda Shifflett, demonstrated how to make the best apple dumplings I've ever eaten. They were superb. The recipe is in Mom’s Apple Pie: Memories of Food Traditions and Family in Appalachia, which is, of course, for sale at the Cottage Curio.

Hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 10 until 5 and Saturdays from 9 until 2.

My books on the shelf in the green room at Cottage Curio.

On July 21, I’ll be there reading from—and signing—my latest collection of humor columns, More Peevish Advice. Rumor has it that Hilda might be baking light bread that day. Or maybe blackberry dumplings.

Something good, anyway.