Collecting in Maryland

I've been away from the blog for quite a while, but I still have some things that never made it out of the vault in a prompt fashion. Last summer, my mother and I went camping up at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland, visiting Oakland and the surrounding areas. Braving cool nights and a wild thunderstorm, we still had a great time scouring antique shops and visiting a thriving art community in Grantsville. Of course, I came home with a few choice goodies to further feather the nest. It's safe to admit that I am a bower bird at heart.

1. The two British tea tins I unearthed in a church thrift sale in Oakland for a few cents each. I wouldn't want a lot of these, but I can think of numerous storage uses in a pantry. Considering I purchase my tea bags in bulk, these will work well to keep them dry and fresh.
2. This part of Maryland and West Virginia are chock full of Depression glass. A little research led me to find that many of the producers of this glass were located just a little north in Pennsylvania. With so many item and color options, it was exciting to compare the many different varieties. I settled on a sturdy salt and pepper pair in a pretty cornflower blue which will match other kitchen items I own. Should be useful when seasoning those Christmas roasts!
3. Another glass item from the same period, the green flower frog was a real steal. Many folks no longer would even know the use of such an item, but those that do tend to sell them at unreasonable prices. I got this one for a song, and the color is such a lovely delicate green. For those who don't know, you place one of these at the bottom of a vase or dish, and you can easily arrange flowers upright. Seems simple, but they do wonders.
4. We heard about Spruce Forest Artisan Village and decided to investigate. Boy, were we glad we did! Besides a gorgeous stone bridge across the river and several original Amish and Mennonite buildings, a group of talented artists keep shop in a collection of quaint cabins next to a lodge serving a fantastic lunch buffet. We were quite impressed with Gary Yoder's bird sculptures and Gene Gillespie's wood turnings. In the lodge shop, I instantly fell in love with the lively tiger maple in that rolling pin. Not having a rolling pin, but intending to bake a lot when I have my own kitchen, I took the opportunity. I am a total sucker for pretty wood. The shop happened to also have a miniature version of the rolling pin, so Mom got it for my little nephew to use. At Christmas, he loved the idea that his implements matched those of his aunt.
5. Also at the Artisan Village, we met a talented young lady who weaves baskets. It is rare to find high quality baskets in the age of plastic and metal. I picked out a large, oval piece with sturdy wooden feet in which to store my wool throws and reading material next to a couch.

Hankies and Switching to Cloth

I’ve gathered several hankies to combat my almost year round sniffles. I don’t always remember to use them, but when I do, I give myself a little pat on the back for saving yet another tissue. I must have killed tons of trees over the years. It’s actually got me thinking how much I could save (trees and money-wise) if I could use only cloth “paper towels.” I guess then I’d do tons of laundry instead… But maybe not. It’s an experiment I’d like to try someday. I’d have to categorize the towels: ones for yucky things like car oil, dust, and bugs, ones for bodily fluids, ones for food spills, etc. Maybe it all sounds crazy, but with the way trash is taking over the world, perhaps a little crazy is just what we need. 

Leatherheads

Looking for a lighthearted movie? Enjoy a vintage vibe? Want to warm up gently to football season? Try out George Clooney’s Leatherheads. This movie didn’t draw a lot of attention when it premiered which I think is a darn shame. The quality is classic and the acting enjoyable. It tells the story (fictional characters, of course, but loosely based on a few people from the time) of the beginning of pro-football. In the twenties, college football was king, but pro wasn’t even a blip on the radar. Funny when you think about the Superbowl mania and America’s obsession today. Littered with peppy characters, good ol’ fashion slapstick, and plenty of 1920s charm, this film is worth more than a few chuckles and a bowl of popcorn. Keeping with the time period, much of the movie is reminiscent of old Hollywood comedy. Clooney gets to do what he does best in comedy, layering the charm with moments of unflattering panic; Rene Zellweger stings and sizzles in all her saucy glory; John Krasinski is sweet and endearing while giving us those moments of perfect comedic timing so loved in The Office. A ragtime soundtrack and lots of rich set design top off this fun jaunt down yesteryear’s lane. Also, we have this film to thank for Jim’s dashing interview haircut at the end of Season Three of The Office. Thank you, George Clooney. 

Cherry and Vanilla Clafoutis

This recipe is a little out of season now, thanks to my writing procrastination, but it is a winner for the next cherry season. I’ve made this twice now and had resoundingly positive revues both times. It is adapted from a recipe I found in the British version of a Country Living magazine, so pardon the imprecise measurements. I spent a while translating them on Google.  

Ingredients:

Butter, for greasing

2 ⅔ cup cherries, pitted

1⅔ to 2 cups whole milk (or cream with skim milk)

2 tsp vanilla

4 eggs, beaten

⅓ to ½ cup flour

⅓ to ½ cup sugar

Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

Heat oven to 390° or 400° (convection—add 25° if without convection). Grease a shallow baking dish with butter. Arrange pitted cherries in one layer. Heat milk and vanilla in saucepan until milk is scalded. Leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Whisk eggs into the flour gradually in a bowl. Stir in sugar. Slowly whisk in milk mixture. Pour batter over the cherries. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden and just set—you may check by inserting a knife; clean, it is ready. Let cool for 10 minutes, then dust with sugar. 

Elizabeth Gaskell: On the Page and On Screen

Last night, my family watched the last part of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. My dad requested that we order it through Netflix, having gotten hooked on Cranford  and Return to Cranford a month before. I find it hilarious that he will suddenly watch these period pieces with me, after having turned up his nose at Jane Austen adaptations for years. I guess it is the raw quality of the characters, the entanglements that do not only involve those of love. I was reminded why I love those stories so much, their complexity in covering so many issues and revolving around such dynamic characters. I thoroughly enjoy the series mentioned and recently had the pleasure of viewing Wives and Daughters as well.

I read North and South first, several years ago while in Germany. I bring a book when travelling for long waits in the airport and quiet moments before bed. This was the first time that I had a hard time putting my reading down, even with a foreign country to entertain. The story is such a page-turner! Every chapter left you dying to read on. From Margaret and John’s misinformed judgments to the upheaval between mill masters and union workers, I found I was at the mercy of the page. Of course, I saw the mini-series then and sought out Gaskell’s other works. I read Wives and Daughters, only to be left railing at the pages when I discovered the author had died before completing the last chapter. Thankfully, the TV adaptation does not inflict the same fate. I saw Cranford before reading it and was surprised by how short the written work was. Knowing that the TV series was drawn from many of Gaskell’s other short writings, I cannot wait to find a complete, single-volume collection of her works so I may read the whole story. I found Mary Barton at one of the library book sales. Like North and South, it is another page-turner with many levels of plot and commentary. I haven’t found a screen version yet, but I have a lot of faith in the future of BBC drama! I’ve read that her other novels take on a darker tone, in a more depressing strain like Tess De’ubervilles; I am still curious to read them.

I don’t know why it took me so long to discover Gaskell, but I am glad I did. Her works are truly engaging, with romance, fair social commentary, and moral reflection blended together in a fascinating point of time. So if you ever need a good book to read, grab a Gaskell novel; just remember that the last chapter may be missing!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Ice Cream

Looking to make something a little different, Mom and I made up this little recipe from what we had in the fridge and garden. It has a nice strawberry flavor with a little tart-tang from the rhubarb.

1 pint of sliced strawberries

3 stalks of rhubarb with tough outer fiber removed and cut into ¼ inch slices

⅔ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup 1% milk

1 cup heavy cream

Place rhubarb, sugar, and enough water to boil in a small sauce pan. Boil until rhubarb is softened, and the sugar is dissolved. Cool, covered in fridge.

Place eggs, milk, and heavy cream in mixer. Mix with sugar and rhubarb mixture.

Pour into ice cream maker with half of the strawberries and process until it is a firm slush. Hand-mix the rest of the strawberries into the slush. Transfer to final container and freeze.