Hey, it's Ampire's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbaugh. Written about correctly,

the work of putting together a home, the cooking, the cleaning, the administrative stuff

can be romantic. It's hard work, but it's beautiful work. And today, we've got two books

honoring that work. In a bit, we'll hear from writer Crystal Wilkinson,

who dug back into her deep family history, to write a cookbook that doubles as a memoir and describes

the kitchen as a place of both toil and joy. But first, Helen Rebanks lives on a farm,

and she has to do all the stuff that goes along with that.

And her book, The Farmer's Wife, does contain recipes, but it's more of an ode to the work

that goes into getting food on the table.

And she tells Emperor Scott Simon that being on the farm has made her acutely aware of

how much food should cost.

We get that and a surprise guest appearance from one of their

part-time farm hands after the break. In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from

daily life. Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors on our new show,

Sources and Methods.

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people, helping you understand

why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Helen Reebok's memoir, The Farmer's Wife, begins with a young rooster's crow at 5.30 in the morning.

Then follows Helen's day as she cooks, cleans, and cares for family of six and six sheepdogs, two ponies, 25 chickens, 50 head of cattle, and 500 sheep.

But follows is no less than life in full.

Births, family, mortality, zoning laws, paperwork, and recipes for food and for life.

...