Light in August (1932) by William Faulkner is my latest reading material. I thought I had better read some of the classics. No wonder it is called a classic! Faulkner wrote most of his works while in his 30's. This one has racial issues, bootlegging, the poor, life in the South-definitely a portrait of the times.

I don't recall reading other works by Faulkner. Perhaps I read something in high school or during my college career, but I can't remember.

At any rate, this book has definitely developed characters and a plot that twists and turns with some real surprises. I had trouble putting it down. The hardest part is the long repeating sentences and the southern voice. It is a very troubling book with characters that would fit right in with today's bizarre world. As one blip said, the book explores the nature of evil. This will be considered my "heavyduty" reading for the month.

"All Songs Considered" from NPR has been a great gift. AS gave BF two CDs this last year and two the year before. I love the variety of music and never tire of it.

Because of these CDs, I found Moby. So, Moby has become my new favorite to listen to. I especially like "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" from Moby Play. Don't really know what to say about Moby except that he is one exceptional guy. More about his life-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby

If you get a chance, have a listen to this music.

The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean is an interesting combination of dealing with memory. The main character, Marina, a tour guide, has created a "memory palace" to contain the Hermitage Museum's priceless masterpieces as the German army sets siege to Leningrad in 1941. Young Marina uses her mind and memory to endure terror, horror, hunger, and death as she deals with the war.

In contemporary America, Marina, an elderly grandmother, is dealing with Alzhimer's. Her daughter has little inkling of her mother's past, as is so often the case. How many of us really understand our mother's youth and past?

This was an absorbing reading subject. I found the descriptions of the artwork delightful. Dean has a gift for this. She also gives the State Hermitage Museum website which I couldn't wait to view. How beautiful! The website:http://hermitagemuseum.org/ gives history, digital reproductions of the collections, and a walk through various rooms of the museum.

Yes, the subject of war is always difficult, but it is a reminder that war creates the tragic loss of culture, art, and history.

Handmade cards are my newest old thing. I got a big box of fabulous cards from Lady J and I think I'm inspired. They're the kind of card with little three-dimensional cutouts, glitz, and remarkable designs.

What I mean is that I want to get back into making my own cards. I have made invitations to my teas and maybe a once-in-a-while birthday card. I don't have much equipment-stamps, paper, ink, etc. I guess I will have to be creative, because I'm really not up for a big investment hobby.

So, this may be my new/old thing besides eating, drinking, and reading, of course working ,which I try not to mention. One may be coming your way.

Aunt B Drinks. Yes, another wine post. I am just finishing up a bottle of Schnink Haus Auslese- 2004 . Product of Germany.

I like sweet wines, and this is sweet and fruity. This is in a blue bottle and is about $14.00 at our local Paradise Meats. The blue bottle is a 200 year old tradition representing dependable quality and great value. It is suppose to be a "fun" wine.

A little info about the winery: the Schlink Haus winery is a small family-owned and operated enterprise in Germany's spa town of Bad Kreuznach on the Nahe river. In 2004, they joined a pink ribbon campaign to donate a minimum of $75,000 to the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.

I like the sweet taste, but haven't had just the right food to go with it. Looks like they(the winery) have good and right intentions, so I think it is a good choice. You be the judge.

I'm wild about orchids. I recently went to a lecture about wild orchids of Michigan. In my search for orchids on our property, I know I can identify three: purple fringe, , yellow lady slipper, and pink lady slippers. I don't know a great deal about each orchid, but they were a surprise to find since I never knew, as a child on this farm, that they existed. They seem so rare and exotic in the wild.

At the moment, I have only two house orchid plants: a miniature dendrobrium and a pink orchid ( I lost the tag) the kind one would wear for a corsage. They are thriving considering the dryness and sporatic neglect.


I got my first orchids at a yard sale. Yes, my neighbors grew wonderful orchids. Since the first ones, I have done a good job of killing them off especially when I try to transplant them. Now, I just sink the whole pot into orchid potting chips. That way, I don't disturb the roots. I have beautiful fragrant flowers when, at last, they bloom. I can appreciate the lure of the orchid in Victorian times. And, I can't wait until spring so I can begin my own search of the orchids on Wyndehill Farm.

Of course, I should start out the new year with a book review. Lessons in Becoming Myself by Ellen Burstyn has been a refreshing pleasure to read. It was a Christmas present form BF.

Now, I know very little about Hollywood or movie stars or movies or Broadway plays, but Ellen has received my deepest respect for what she has done for the acting profession and for women. This book is about her life with its many successes and failures. It is her great search to find out why she was placed on this earth. Certainly, a question most of us ask.

I found her quest to put women in heroic roles much to be applauded. She has been nominated six times for an Academy Award, and won the Best Actress Oscar in 1974 for "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" co-staring with Kris Kristofferson. She also starred in "The Exorcist" which has become a classic and many other plays and movies.

However, her personal life was mostly in shambles and her story leads to Sufism and a spiritual quest. This was the part that really interested me since it would seem so hard for a movie star to get beyond the glitz and glamour. I applaud her tenacity and faith.

Anyway, the book gave me many new ideas to ponder and sources to delve into. I mentioned that the book was refreshing because Ellen Burstyn seems truly interested in the world and its people. With all of the ugly news from Hollywood, it gives me another thread of hope.

You people who keep up with Hollywood and movie stars should definitely read it.

Happy New Year! 2007, it's great to be here. My 100th post and a new year, must be a record. I have accomplished one of my retirement to- dos. I am really enjoying blogging. Thanks to everyone who reads my posts and to those who respond. Sometimes I think my life is very humdrum, but as I look back over the year,well, it ain't been too shabby. Tune in for the next round.

Did I mention that Aunt B eats? Our good and gracious friends the J's came to visit us after church today.

We had a brunch consisting of BLT dip served with sesame and flax seed chips, Montgomery's cheddar cheese and assorted crackers, and water chestnuts wrapped in bacon drowning in a bath of sweet BBQ sauce.

We exchanged gifts and talked and talked and talked. We don't see each other much and so had a lot to catch up on. They were spending the evening with their son, his wife, and young daughter. We can't wait until they both are retired so they can spend more time with us Up North.

And again, a special Christmas gift- their friendship.

Aunt B Eats and Drinks. What a marvelous end of the year dinner. We ate Japanese cuisine cooked by RT and his wife HT.

Let's see, we had avocado and shrimp salad served in the avocado shell, pork and green onion shish kabobs, sushi with omelet and mushroom and sushi with tuna, fried asparagus wrapped in bacon, all kinds of interesting crackers and chips served with tofu dip, cheese ( not Japanese), fresh persimmon wedges, and for dessert a coconut custard with fresh mango topping. I also had two margaritas.

It was a wonderful get together with longtime friends, their children, and grandchildren. Lots of stories, lots of laughter, the dog offering everyone his hedgehog toy, a cozy fire, and the best of companionship. What more could one ask for on the last day of this year? It was another special Christmas gift.

Three more posts and I'll reach 100 before the new year. We've been invited to CT's for Japanese dinner prepared by her son RT. I'll report more later.

If you like a sweet wine, I found a good one. Now, I know this is a little late for your New Year's Eve celebration, but I think this is a really tasty, go-with-anything, table wine. It is definitely a step up from the usual Riesling wines you find at the grocery store.

It's called Lingenfelder and it's a 2004 Riesling, a product of Germany with the bird label. At our local Paradise Meats it cost $13.99. We had it with our Christmas dinner, chicken and ham, and it was a very pleasant accompaniment, not too sweet with a full body, no aftertaste.

Here's some info about the wine from the Vancouver Magazine , April 2001,
"Lingenfelder is a small family property in the Pfalz region. Winemaker Karl-Rainer Lingenfelder shows his confident, experimental side in this fresh, barely off-dry style. The light-bodied, aromatic mix of peach, ripe apple and honeyed citrus is kept simple, reflecting a philosophy of making wines with the least manipulation possible to retain natural character and complexity. Bird Label is Lingenfelder's only bottled wine using non-estate grapes, but an effective testimony to the 100-percent riesling recipe."

So, here is my new blog title- Aunt B drinks. Cheers!

Aunt B eats at Minerva's (restaurant in the yellow structure with rounded roof at the front of the building) in the Park Place Hotel. And I had my favorite- stuffed ravioli with mushroom sauce. I love it and I haven't found it any other place. So, I order it everytime I go there. I enjoy the rich mushroom sauce, ravioli stuffed with ricotta ( I think), and the garnish of grated cheese and freshly minced tomatoes. It is about $9.00 which is a little pricey for lunch. It doesn't come with salad or bread like you get on the dinner menu. We used our Two on the Town cards, so the bill was about $15.00 including Big Fred's perch lunch and my glass of chardonnay.

Since I like this ravioli so much, I'm hunting for a similar recipe. I think I have found it in an article about Traverse City in Midwest Living magazine, but haven't tried it yet. That will be for another posting.

Luckily, I brought a little of the mushroom sauce and ravioli home and I can savor the flavor one more time. Yum!

Big Fred got some amaaaazing cheese for Christmas. AS(soon to be AB) gave this gift. Mongomery's Cheddar cheese. Now let me tell you my tastebud review: it is creamy with occasional crystal chunks, it has an distinctly aged flavor and at first I thought it might be Stilton, only a sliver is needed with a mild cracker for a cheesy taste. It definitely can stand alone. I haven't tried it on eggs, so won't report on that combination.

Now, saying all of this from an unknowing viewpoint, here is the partial word on Mongomery's Cheddar from : www.teddingtoncheese.co.uk
"The making of real farmhouse cheddar is now restricted to a hand full of farms, and the traditional unpasteurised cheese is only made on three farms. Ours is made by the Montgomerys' who have been making the cheese at Manor farm for generations. Their cheese-maker Harold was making the cheese at the farm for forty years, and in the later years with his son Michael. Harold has recently retired, but fortunately his son Michael has continued with the help of a new cheese-maker called Stephen.

Montomerys' cheddar can be matured for 18 months to produce a full nutty flavour and a dry texture. However, at the Teddington Cheese we prefer to mature the cheese for 12 to 14 months where the full nutty flavour is accompanied by a slightly moister texture. On stripping away the cheese-cloth and cutting open the cheese the most amazing aroma fills the room and the first taste of each and every cheese is one of the highlights of being a cheese-monger. Cheddar is a very versatile cheese, which can be cooked, grated or eaten on its own. However the quality of Montgomery's cheddar ensures that it makes a statement when added to the cheeseboard, and is sure to impress those who have eaten nothing but block cheddar before."

What I do know (though I forgot) is that I tasted this cheese at my Epicurean Classic class this past fall. It was paired with Burton Bridge Brewery Empire India Pale Ale. I really liked both.

So, there you go. Another great gift. Thank you, AS.

With Christmas over, it's time for the Snowbirds (relatives and friends from the North who go to the warm climes) to head to Florida. They are looking forward to sunshine, warm temps., and golf everyday. I can't blame them, since it has rained here all day with gloomy gray clouds overhead.

I was talking to BF about going south for the winter, but we both decided that we would only leave home if it was to go visiting our family for a short while. I guess we are just home bodies. When we are retired and have the time we might change our minds, but for right now, we have no desire to go to Florida or Alabama or Texas. Give us a few years and we'll probably be wishing and praying to get out of here.

Bring on the snow. We have the new plow. We're ready! Bye, bye everyone, see you when the robins come home.

CT made me her world famous honey caramel corn. NB gave me a grand bottle of olive oil. I got a beautiful jewelry box, gilded vanity set, a gold dressup watch and matching bracelet, earmuffs and a scarf, a gorgeous necklace from AS, money, gift cards, candy, and gosh, I can't think of it all. We had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Mom came from the nursing home and really enjoyed the company. Even the weather was warm and sunny.

So, what could be the problem. Well, it is kind of a let down. I feel like I should take down the tree and put away the ornaments, but I just put them up. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE VALENTINES JUNK IN THE STORES. Time is just moving too fast.

I'll have to think on a solution. I wonder what my relatives did to slow down the time? Maybe I'll eat some more of that yummy caramel corn.

Christmas Eve was a busy, fun time. I made potato soup for supper. We all enjoyed Meggie's visit cause she's sooo sweet. Later, we watched the 1951 version of Scrooge with NB and AS, and FB and I made a cheesecake from scratch for tomorrow's dinner.

Usually, Big Fred and I sit here alone on this evening. It is usually very quiet for us, but tonight was different and I loved the company. It is so nice to share the excitement. So many gifts under the tree. So many laughs and good natured teasing. I say, like Tiny Tim, God bless us everyone.
Merry Christmas !

I just put the first batch of Springerle cookies in the oven. If you don't like anise you won't like these cookies. They are a traditional German cookies and since Big F is German, I try to make this goodie each Christmas. And, I've had some urging from CT who wants some to dunk in her coffee.

Making springerles is quite a production because you have to hand press the wooden mold into the cookies dough and cut out each individual cookie. Then you dry them overnight to set the design. I guess you could say these cookies are a labor of love. At one time, I collected molds. I'm sure it would be a lot easier using a mold rolling pin, but I just have a 4 picture wooden mold.

Here's some info about this yummy cookie from www.heiderberghaus.com:

"The history of the Springerle cookie goes back to the early middle ages. It seems that the Schwabian region of southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Elsass in France are the birthplace of this unusual treat. In the early years of the cookie's history each bakery had to carve their own wooden molds and so a 'one of a kind' variety of beautiful carved Springerle molds exists today. Traditionally these molds could be carved in any subject matter that the carver was thinking of or needed reaching from flower motives to animals to an endless variety of designs and occasions. The most elaborate and detailed carvings are highly sought collector items that now are exhibited in museums around the world. Even today families treasure their Springerle molds and pass them on from generation to generation. The themes underwent changes. In the 1400s religious scenes were preferred. In the 1700s the molds became smaller and corners were rounded off. The details were carved with delicate details. During the early 1800s molds presented a more dreamy style of happiness, friendship and romantic scenes. In the 1900s the designs of many of the family Springerle molds became fairly simple. Even today you can purchase new Springerle molds historically carved in wood. The usual mold is flat and square and has one, two, four, or eight hand carved pictures. The name Springerle may come from the way the cookie is baked and during the bakery process the dough will rise (spring) to almost double the heights. The Springerle is a charm for happiness. In the past it was custom to give Springerle cookies as gifts at Christmas and New Year. "

So, get the coffee ready, here comes the Springerles.

I don't know a thing about holly. Even though my Master Gardener certificate came today, we didn't learn about holly(llex). And so, I'm wondering why my holly has dried up. I took it out of the vase of water and put it outside in my pine wreath.

But, let me back up. I decided that I wouldn't buy ropes of Christmas greens and such, but thought I would buy some holly since I had never had it before. I went to a flower shop and bought a nice bunch, variegated with lots of bright red berries. I put it in a vase of water with a branch of spruce.

After a few days, I noticed that the holly was turning brown and the leaves were falling off. I don't know what I did wrong unless it was that I put it in water. Maybe I just bought an inferior bunch of holly. At any rate, I probably won't buy it again.

I found a nice fake pine garland at Goodwill for $1.99. It looks great and it won't dry up. I solved the greens problem.

HEY YOU GUYS!!, as Rita Moreno would yell on Electric Company. I know you are out there.

Respond to my postings. Just a word or two would satisfy me.

A BIG THANKS!