Grace's Mosaic Moments


Saturday, March 16, 2024

The "Beluga" & Gallery of Beauty

Grace note:  I have been astounded by the number of people from all parts of the globe who were interested in my 2-part "Editing Examples." It was a lot of work, so thank you all for taking the time to look. (Although I'm afraid that means I may have to do it again in the not-too-distant future.) If you missed the posts, they are available in Archives - March 2 & 9, 2024.

~ * ~

On Monday evening, March 11, I saw my first Beluga cargo plane on the TV news. Evidently, it brought a European satellite to Sanford International Airport, only a few miles from my house. (Presumably, its cargo is intended for launch at the Space Center c. 30 miles east of here.)

It was an astonishing sight. The Beluga is aptly named. To take on or unload cargo, the top front half of the plane lifts up, making it look like a whale with jaws open wide enough to swallow a dozen or more Great Whites. I immediately texted Cassidy, our 17-yr-old pilot, to ask if she knew the plane was sitting on a runway almost directly behind her house. Her reply - a photo of the Beluga as it flew over Seminole High School. Evidently, she recognized its uniqueness and managed a photo while walking between classes.

A web search tells me the Beluga is manufactured by Airbus. The company did not show a photo of the plane in "open" position, but I've added their photo of the remarkable raised front of this super-sized cargo plane.

Below, Cassidy's photo of the "Beluga" that came to Sanford.

Cassidy's photo

From Airbus's Beluga website


GALLERY OF EXCEPTIONAL BEAUTY

On the very same day the Beluga came to town, a remarkable array of beautiful photos were posted to Facebook. (Most days, I'm lucky if I find one I can use.) This past Monday, it was a case of one gorgeous pic right after another, an odd coincidence that is unlikely to happen again. I am posting them in the order I found them.

Patio - Cordoba, Spain

An English narrowboat? - no attribution given


Dancing Tree

Waterfront Idyll

Dream Cottage

Two that perhaps don't fit the "Beautiful" category but were also posted on Monday - and well worth viewing:

Capturing the Sun

From National Geographic - way back when, as I recall

 ~ * ~

This week's featured book has a special place in my heart  - for some reason this rather poignant Traditional Regency Romance keeps selling month after month, year after year. The only explanation I've come up with - readers are intrigued by the thought of a silent female! (And yes, the heroine manages it for years on end.)


A snowy night; a waif on the doorstep, who doesn't talk. After agreeing to grant her shelter, Damon Farr goes off to six years of war, returning determined to be a recluse, only to discover the girl is still there. And still not talking. Is "the girl the cat dragged in" destined to be Damon Farr's Sinful Temptation or his Salvation? The odd pair walk a rocky road before the answer becomes clear.

Reviews:

"Blair Bancroft can always be counted on to deliver exceptional characters and/or settings, historical accuracy, unusual plots, and flawless writing. LADY SILENCE is one more sterling example." Jane Bowers, Romance Reviews Today

"LADY SILENCE by Blair Bancroft is a splendid Regency romance! The creative intrigue and alluring characters make this novel a must have." Nadine St. Denis, Romance Junkies

~ * ~

 
For a link to Blair's website, click here. 
 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)







Saturday, March 9, 2024

EDITING EXAMPLES, Part 2

 

From Facebook - the UK, I think


Another great deer pic from Susan Coventry


Below, the perfect illustration for a post about Editing:

 



EDITING EXAMPLES, Part 2

As an addendum to last week's Simple Fixes:  this morning, as I wrote, a quote jumped into my mind—one I had no intention of using, but there it was . . . well, almost. BUT one cannot quote Shakespeare without getting it right. So I had to stop mid-sentence and google: "Henry V speech at Agincourt." And, of course, Wikipedia had it in full. Moral of this story:  no matter how sure you are, check to make sure you've got a quote right. 

Attribution of quotes? Sometimes you need to let readers know the source of a quote; others, as with Agincourt speech, are so famous I felt I only needed to mention Henry V, not Shakespeare.(I later changed my mind and mentioned Shakespeare. That's why Editing is not a one-time task.)

Another Quick Fix:

After registering with the gate-keeper, the three young women eagerly entered the narrow path between thick eight-foot walls of greenery, each determined to find her way to the center of the labyrinth without having to be rescued.

After registering with the gate-keeper, the three young women entered the narrow path between thick eight-foot walls of greenery. Despite the sun shining overhead, Isabelle felt an odd unease as the leafy walls closed around her.  [changed to add a bit more atmosphere]                     

 Continuing with Insertions rather than simple Substitutions . . .

1.  Snapping back to the moment, the viscount paced across the hall to stand in front of Miss Bainbridge. "I beg your pardon, Miss Bainbridge, for intruding on your life with no warning . . ."

Snapping back to the moment, the viscount paced across the hall to stand in front of the slight young beauty who seemed to have wilted to the size of a child. "I beg your pardon, Miss Bainbridge, for intruding on your life with no warning . . ."

2.  Clearly, she was spoiling for a fight. Isabelle hung her head. The fault was Papa's, the fault was Papa's. He, not Lord Ashton, had done this. But still . . .

Isabelle hung her head. The fault was Papa's, the fault was Papa's. He, not Lord Ashton, had done this. And yet . . .

Isabelle's satisfaction with the house's transformation turned grim. No matter how illogical, she doubted she could ever forgive Lord Ashton for gifting his brother with her house.  [Juxtaposition & more depth]

3.  Nothing could be settled until he gave his nod of acceptance. Hopefully, along with a word or two of praise before he deigned to reveal her fate. But should she accept his plans for her. . . . ?

And how horridly unfair that nothing could be settled until he gave his nod of acceptance. Yet in some convoluted twist of thought, she hoped for a word or two of praise before he deigned to reveal her fate. And when he did, should she accept his plans for her. . . . ? [Improved clarity]

4.  A wounded warrior. A wealthy wounded warrior. Though for some mysterious reason, she felt not so much as as quiver of interest.

A wounded warrior. A wealthy wounded warrior. Though for some mysterious reason, Isabelle felt not so much as a quiver of interest. Had she lived such an isolated life that she could not experience the emotions of other young women? Or . . .

Not that! Isabelle exclaimed to herself as a vision of an arrogant but handsome face rose up before her. Ashton. The man who had destroyed her life. Never! [Will likely be revised again to something a bit less melodramatic, but a definite improvement over the bare bones of the original]

5.  As Isabelle made her way toward the fountain, her attention was caught by the sight of Mrs. Chillworth—a somewhat plump woman of uncertain years who was seldom without a harried look upon her face, accompanied by the son whose oddity plagued her days. She never loosed her firm grip on her son's arm as she steered him, inexorably, toward the same goal as Isabelle's. Where, it was said, she insisted he drink not one, but two glasses each day in the belief that they might effect a magical cure for whatever ailed him. Not what a young man in his twenties could like, Isabelle acknowledged, as she noted the martyred expression upon his face. She could not help but feel sorry for him, even though she suspected it was he who had spied upon them in the maze.

As Isabelle made her way toward the fountain, her attention was caught by the sight of Mrs. Chillworth—a somewhat plump woman of uncertain years who was seldom without a harried look upon her face, accompanied by the son whose oddity plagued her days. A daily occurrence, according to Laetitia, for it was general knowledge, though spoken of only in whispers, that Hermione Chillworth had convinced herself that drinking not one, but two glasses each day might effect a magical cure for what ailed him. Not what a young man in his twenties could like, Isabelle acknowledged, as she noted the martyred expression upon his face. His mother never loosed her grip on her son's arm as she steered him, inexorably, toward the same goal as Isabelle's. She could not help but feel sorry for him, even though she still suspected it was he who had spied upon them in the maze. [better clarity, better phrasing]

6.  Bath. She was going to live in Bath. Isabelle could scarce believe it. 

Bath. She was going to live in Bath. Isabelle could scarce believe it. 

He has found a way to keep you close, her inner voice warned.

Evil intent under the noses of his mama and grandmama? I think not! [use of inner voice to add emphasis] 

7.  Isabelle rushed to her side, helping her up from the sofa while Lady Ashton continued to glower. Together, they made their slow ascent of the stairs, while the rumors at the Pump Room, the arrival of Gordon, Lord Rutherford, and his nephew, and thoughts of He Who Should Be Scorned all too frequently thrust their way through Isabelle's compassion for her employer.

Isabelle rushed to her side, helping her up from the sofa while Lady Ashton glowered. Together, they made the slow ascent of the stairs, while the rumors at the Pump Room, the arrival of Lord Rutherford and his nephew, and inevitable thoughts of He Who Should Be Scorned thrust their way through Isabelle's compassion for her employer. How was it possible that one vague sighting—albeit by a young lady of the first stare—could set off such a spate of gossip? A pebble initiating ripples that threatened to become a tidal wave. And now, a disturbance in the serenity of Laura Place.

What next? [an addition to add color & emphasize the drama]

8.  Extensive Revision. In one section of my fifteen chapters of revision, I basically tore apart two pages, hand-writing an insert that took up both sides of a legal page, and heavily revising the paragraphs that remained. Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence, but sometimes there is no easy fix; a change of word, a revised sentence or paragraph simply will not do. And tough as it is, you have to knuckle down and find a way to fix it.

~ * ~

This week's featured book:


Two young people marry for reasons less than love, only to discover their false expectations plunge them into a steeplechase of misadventures, one coming close to ending their marriage before it's really begun.

Reviews:


"I had a great time reading this very engrossing and funny Regency Romance. . . . The author is very well versed with the era and its environs from London to Brighton, and the people and customs as well. This is the kind of Regency that I love to read." Maura, Coffee Time Romance

"This novel is filled with witty dialogue and plenty of amusing moments. I found myself laughing out loud several times. I especially loved the interactions between Sarah and Harlan and the interactions between them and their family and friends. This story left me feeling good." Christi
na, Romance Junkie Reviews

"I really loved this book. . . . [It] reminded me of why I started to read romance to begin with. Boy has to get married. Boy then ignores girl. Girl gets back at boy by being as outrageous as possible and leads him for a 'Steeplechase' with all kinds of obstacles in his way to get his attention. Boy realizes that, yes, he does love the girl! And a happy ending. Enjoy!" Karen, Ecatromance

~ * ~

 
For a link to Blair's website, click here. 
 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)

Saturday, March 2, 2024

EDITING EXAMPLES, Part 1

My son sent me this photo a few days ago, wondering how my name was on a tackle box that looked like it should belong to my father, an avid fisherman. Big Moment of Nostalgia. That is my make-up box from a thousand years ago when I was touring with the National Company of The Sound of Music. Wow!

 



No caption needed

 

Porcupine Car


Oops!

 

This past week the Citrus Singers received their biggest cheer ever from Hockey fans in Orlando. (Love the Boy Scout who somehow snuck into the photo.)


 

 EDITING EXAMPLES

When I finished Making Magic With Words, a compilation of ten years of posts on Writing and Editing, I swore that was it. I might do an occasional post on those topics, but no more "itty-bitty nitty-gritty." BUT . . .

The problem is, as I read over my recent post, "Why I Love Editing," it occurred to me that there are still beginners out there, so new to the art of writing that they need a bit more detail to nudge them along. I could almost hear a wail of, "What does she mean by 'add color'?" So . . . this post is strictly for newbies - or for those who are only thinking about writing something for publication. (Unless authors who have fought a round or two want to read along, nodding their heads as they go.)

FYI, "adding color" simply means making what you wrote more vivid, making your words catch a reader's attention, instead of being same-old, same-old.

 

"Editing Examples" will be in two parts. 

Part I: the Simple Fixes.

1.  warm bread became melt-in-your-mouth bread

2. Miss Coleraine, eager for her new friend to enjoy became Miss Coleraine, beset by a mischievous desire for her new friend to enjoy . . .

3.  Well . . . perhaps with a male escort by her side became Well, perhaps with a male escort by her side, she would not be so squeamish.

Tightening while adding Clarification & a Plot Hint:

4.  The stone wall, invisible from the Crescent, allowed an unobstructed view of Bath, while preventing any cows or sheep that might have been allowed to graze upon the grass from wandering into the path of Bath's most illustrious citizens.

The stone wall, four or five feet high and invisible from the Crescent, allowed an unobstructed view of Bath, while preventing cows or sheep from wandering into the path of Bath's most illustrious citizens. A remarkable invention, the ha-ha. Unless one did not closely watch where the walkway abruptly ended, resulting in a plunge to the close-scythed grass below.

Juxtaposition:

5.  Isabelle peeked out as they crossed Pulteney Bridge . . . became As they crossed Pulteney Bridge, Isabelle peeked out . . .

Transition Problem:

6.  Thus saving her from any lingering thoughts of Jared, Lord Ashton. [too abrupt end of scene]

Thus distracting her from all-too-frequent thoughts of Jared, Lord Ashton. Thoughts she banished the moment they popped into her mind. Ashton might have the face and figure of a prince straight out of a fairytale but, in truth, he was the Beast, not the Hero.

You are forgetting how the fairytale ends.

Isabelle grimaced. Ashton was in London—where he could stay forever and ever. Beast, indeed!

Grace note:  The above addition to "smoothe out" the transition from one scene to the next will undoubtedly be edited several times again, but hopefully this version will serve as a warning not to end a scene so abruptly that your readers are saying, "Huh?" instead of eagerly moving on to see what happens in the next scene.

Other Simple Fixes:

7.  A simple "Yes?" became "Yes?" Isabelle urged when Ashton paused. [Adding a tag added to the clarity of the dialogue.]

8.  Yet another death white-washed of any hint of violence remained the same but only after I checked the Oxford English Dictionary to see if the expression was used in the Regency. And yes, it is far older than Regency England.]

9.  . . . directly beside the hot springs that had made Bath famous became directly beside the hot springs that spawned a city on the banks of the Avon. [a change made simply because I liked it better) 

Entire paragraph rewrite (more next week):

10.  And how do we know that is not exactly what they are doing? Isabelle demanded of the whisper inside her head that seemed determined to point out that initial impressions might well be flawed. But before she could be caught in a backwash of guilt for her stubborn determination to think the worst of Lord Ashton, she was enveloped in the chatter of the crowd in the Pump Room, settling Lady Blessington at table, while Lady Ashton swept off to begin her customary round of greeting friends and acquaintances, a select group that inevitably included Colonel Everard Sherbrooke.

And how do we know that is not exactly what they are doing? Isabelle demanded of the whisper inside her head that seemed determined to point out that initial impressions might well be flawed. But any twinges of guilt she might have felt over her stubborn determination to think the worst of Lord Ashton were obliterated by the chatter of the crowd in the Pump Room, plunging Isabelle back to their customary routine. She settled Lady Blessington at a table, while Lady Ashton swept off to begin her near-daily round of greeting friends and acquaintances—a select group that inevitably included Colonel Everard Sherbrooke. [original paragraph too run-on, lacking clarity]

~ * ~

This week's featured book:

 


Although it seems likely she is being married for the magnificence of her dowry, Jocelyn Hawley accepts an offer of marriage from a Welshman. And quickly discovers she is as unprepared for marriage as she is for her new family—a mother-in-law who insists on living in Wales' Medieval past and a sister-in-law who seems to be trying to get rid of her. Jocelyn is also plagued by the problem of her husband's mistress and a series of disastrous incidents—some potentially lethal—that dog her footsteps. As she grows more alienated from her husband, who barks at her to "grow up," she finds herself the classic stranger in a strange land. Where it appears someone is trying to kill her.

~ * ~

 
For a link to Blair's website, click here. 
 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)





Saturday, February 17, 2024

Why I Love Editing - Installment 1001

[Next Post - March 2 - Editing Examples]

 

 Why Editing is essential! (see pic below)

 


 

A slight interruption for some kitty pics . . .



Purr-fect Valentine


Last oil change - tuna oil?



~ * ~

 

WHY I LOVE EDITING

No, this is not a repeat of previous posts - just ideas that surfaced as I started an edit of Chapters 1-15 of my latest book, The Abandoned Daughter. My father—an educator who taught math and science and even coached football in a tiny Nebraska high school, before deciding to get a Masters degree in Education from Harvard, and moving his family all the way to Boston to do so—always said that it took at least three repetitions for any topic to be remembered by students. So . . . here are a few more words on one of my all-time favorite subjects.

A Caveat right up front . . .

There are likely as many ways to write as there are writers. I just want to be sure every author, particularly newbies, understand that. Too often, "rules" are laid down with such authority by one faction that newbies think they MUST follow that way of doing things, missing out on other methods that might work better for them. So, as much as I am "sold" on my way of editing, keep in mind that it might not be what works best for you. As an example of what I mean:

There is a school of thought that says, "Get through the draft as fast as you can. Do not pause, forge straight through to "The End."  I would go stark, raving mad if I did this. I do a LOT of editing as I go. If faced with edits for an entire manuscript all at once, I'd probably throw up my hands and toss the whole thing. In addition, I build every scene on what has gone before, and in the course of editing after each chapter and again after each section, I add a great deal of "meat" that affects what comes after. If I did not edit-as-I-go, I would have nothing but bare bones with many great ideas left by the wayside, never to be resurrected.

So why do I love editing?

1.  The sheer joy of discovering that what I wrote works. 

[And then there's the shock of discovering a chapter is an "Aargh!" instead of a Wow! (See # 2.)]

2.  The satisfaction of finding the parts that are wrong and having the opportunity to fix them before they compound into something too complex to change—a problem that can result in a mediocre book or the necessity of throwing the baby out with the bathwater; i.e., chucking the whole thing.

3. And, yes, I enjoy the challenge of #2. Sometimes the fix is easy, no more than adding or deleting a few words. And sometimes the fix requires revising an entire sentence or paragraph. But again, the satisfaction of finding a way to improve the original is well worth the time and effort.

A few of the thousand things included in Editing: 

1. Adding words, phrases, whole sentences or paragraphs to make my work more clear, more colorful, more original. To better describe characters and settings, to drop plot hints here and there, etc., etc.

2. Deleting words, phrases, whole sentences, and occasional paragraphs to tighten the manuscript, make it easier to read.

3. Finding places where I thought I was being perfectly clear, only to discover I left the point in my head, rather than putting it on the page where it belonged.

4. Looking for facts I forgot to check. For example, in my Work-in-Progress, The Abandoned Daughter, I frequently refer to the weir on the River Avon below Pulteney Bridge, and it finally occurred to me I had no idea if this weir existed in the Regency. Oops! I had grave doubts that Google could provide an answer to such an obscure question, but when I asked, there it was, right in the headline—I didn't even have to click on the article. The weir below Pulteney Bridge was built in the 1770s. Wow!

5.  Checking the Oxford English Dictionary to make sure the words I use are correct for the period. (This is particularly important for American authors writing Regency—it's so very easy to let an Americanism creep in.)

6. Fixing the itty-bitties—typos and missed punctuation 

Summary.

When Editing is complete (each round of it to the point of ad nauseum!), I experience the immense satisfaction of knowing my characters and settings are more vivid, my plot more complex and intriguing. That I've climbed another rung in the ladder on the way to presenting a book people will enjoy reading.

I cannot emphasize too strongly:  Unless you are one of the very few who get it right the first time—and they do exist (maybe 1 % of us)—Editing is what raises a book from ordinary to good, possibly to brilliant. That has been my mantra since I began this blog in 2011:  EDIT, EDIT, EDIT! Then do it all again.               

 GOOD LUCK & BEST WISHES

FOR A POLISHED, PROFESSIONAL MANUSCRIPT! 

  

This week's featured book is aimed primarily at new authors - a compilation of ten years of posts on Writing and Editing (2011-2021), all neatly organized by category for easy reading.

 


 Grace note:  Although a few of the topics are now outdated by upgrades, most of the articles are as valid as the day they were written, and hopefully will be helpful to any author struggling through the throes of learning the how-to's of putting satisfying words on the page.

 

MAKING MAGIC WITH WORDS offers easy-to-understand advice on Writing, Editing, and a wide variety of Publishing topics—206,000+ words designed to get you started on your writing project, support you every step along the way, and advise you on what comes after "The End." Topics range from choosing a genre to the difference between an editor and a copyeditor. From how to develop your characters to the nitty-gritty of punctuation. From Point of View, Hooks, and Show vs. Tell to helpful aids like ASCII codes, Microsoft codes, and how to work with Track Changes. From "Edit the Blasted Book" to Where and How to submit. MAKING MAGIC WITH WORDS also includes step-by-step instructions on many of those tricky little technical problems we have to cope with in the Age of Computers, such as how to change manual tabs to automatic.

MAKING MAGIC WITH WORDS is a compilation of ten years of blog posts on Writing and Editing, which first appeared on Grace's Mosaic Moments and are now organized by topic under three major headings: Writing, Editing, and Random Thoughts. The author was trained as a teacher, spent more than thirty-five years as an editor, and a quarter century as an award-winning author. Blair Bancroft has published more than fifty novels, including Regency (Traditional, Historical, and Gothic), Suspense, Mystery, and SciFi. Additional information can be found at www.blairbancroft.com.

~ * ~

 
For a link to Blair's website, click here. 
 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Easy Recipes to Impress

Next post - Saturday, February 17. 

Topic - a new look at Why I Love Editing

 

 This week's gallery . . .

From Facebook - titled "Catillac"  

Remarkable aurora from Tromso, Norway


Another great deer pic from Susan Coventry


Photo by Jim Ahlenslager

 

EASY RECIPES TO IMPRESS

More than twenty years ago, I created a cookbook for my daughter, daughter-in-law, and my oldest son's significant other of the time. A huge job of type, cut, paste onto the pages of three blank cookbooks. But, lo these many years later, when I wanted to create a cookbook for the grandgirls, I simply didn't have the patience for all that cut & paste, so the girls got a cumbersome ringbinder with 8½x 11 pages, each encased in plastic. (At least it's not likely to get lost!) Today, I am sharing a few of the easiest recipes from this book—again, a lazy maneuver as all I have to do is Copy in "Cookbook2021" and paste to Blog!

Apologies. There are no pictures. Many of the recipes date back to well before Smart Phones made it easy to reproduce pictures. But I can guarantee the recipes are tried and true. The best I've discovered over the years. Enjoy!

 

ASPARAGUS AND GRAPE SALAD


A simple but delicious accompaniment to any dinner.

1 lb. asparagus, trimmed & cut into 1-2" pieces
2 cups seedless green grapes, cut in half lengthwise
½ cup chopped red onion
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon
2 tablespoons basamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil

Blanch asparagus in a large skillet of boiling water, 1 minute. Drain; rinse in cold water; drain again.

Arrange asparagus on a serving plate. Mix remaining ingredients and spoon over asparagus.

****


BACON & MOZZARELLA CRESCENT ROLLS

6 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
Mozzarella sticks*
1 can Crescent rolls
Chives, fresh or dried (optional)

1.  Cook bacon until crisp, then chop or crumble it.

2.  Preheat oven to 375°,

3.  Cut 4 mozzarella sticks in half, crosswise.

4.  Unroll dough. Separate triangles along perforations.

5.  Place about a tablespoon of bacon on the wide end of each triangle, then top with cheese stick. Roll up and seal the edges so cheese doesn’t ooze out.

6.  Place seam down on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with dried chives, if desired.

7.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.


*Pepper-Jack cheese can also be used for this recipe.


Special note: Unlike Pepperidge Farm biscuits, crescent rolls do not reheat well in the microwave. They go limp and gooey, so to keep leftovers crisp, reheat in the oven.

****

ROAST  HAM  &  VEGIES

A flavorful dinner that is an absolute “must” in every cook’s repertoire. (For some reason it seems harder to find a ham shank  than a regular ham, but make an effort to locate a shank as I truly believe it tastes better.)

6-lb. fully cooked ham shank
½ lb. small white onions, peeled*
Whole cloves
1 lb. carrots, scraped & cut in 2" lengths
2 lb. potatoes, pared**
4 sprigs parsley
1 tspn salt
¼ tspn pepper
¼ tspn dried thyme
1 can (13-3/4 oz) chicken broth
2-lb head of cabbage, cut in 6 wedges
Mustard sauce (recipe below)

*yellow onions, quartered, may be substituted
**or bag of mini potatoes, skins left on

1.  Preheat oven to 350°. Trim fat & rind from ham.

2.  Coarsely chop 2 onions and place in large roasting pan with carrots, potatoes, and ham. Add parsley, salt, pepper, thyme, and bay leaf. Pour chicken broth over all.

3.  Bake, covered, 1 hour. Arrange cabbage wedges in pan; bake, covered, 30 minutes longer.

4.  To serve: Arrange ham on large platter; surround with onions, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage. Spoon some of pan juices over, if desired. Serve with Mustard sauce.   


Mustard sauce

½ cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
1 tspn chopped onion (dry minced will do)
½ cup prepared mustard
Poppy seeds, to taste*

Combine & mix; refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.

~ * ~

 
For a link to Blair's website, click here. 
 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)