What a fabulous party the Brandywine River Museum volunteers threw on Friday evening to kick off the annual antique show! But we reporters are supposed to supply readers with telling details rather than just giving our opinions, so here goes:
1. The food: Mini-Reuben sandwiches and crab cakes. Bacon-wrapped scallops. Turkey, roast beef and sushi stations. Fingerling potatoes and green beans. Meatballs. Grapes with gorgonzola and walnuts. Spinach triangles. Mini-quiches. Honey cake. Peanut butter and chocolate brownies. Cherry cheesecake.
2. The people: I think it's safe to say that I have a wide variety of social acquaintances, and my date for the evening pretty much makes a living by knowing lots of people. We found ourselves in conversations about everything from the perils of historical research to the joys of mid-life romance. I didn't realize that so many of my friends were River Museum volunteers; it was so nice to chat with some ladies I hadn't seen in ages!
3. The antiques: They were, of course, exquisite. There seemed to be a lot of Rose Medallion pieces for sales, including a couple of stunning punch bowls. There were two foxhunting prints that I really liked. In one of them a woman in a green habit, riding side-saddle, was looking back with disdain at a fellow who had just come off his steed. The other was a post-hunt scene, and an exhausted-looking male rider was mopping his brow; the woman still looked perfectly fresh and mud-free. Perhaps the most unusual piece was an Italian cross-bow with beautiful inlay work; I can't say I've ever seen a cross-bow at an antiques show before.
Add in a warm evening, cold beverages, amazing flowers (done by the volunteers!) and an exquisite setting -- What do you think? Have I made my case?
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Bring out the Hellman's
Planning a summer BBQ? Apparently you do NOT need to worry that your guests will come down with food poisoning from spoiled mayonnaise if you serve potato salad or egg salad on a hot day.
This morning a few of us met to decide on the menu for a July picnic for our nonprofit group. Someone suggested potato salad, and predictably someone else raised a concern about food safety. The certified food handler in the group then surprised us all by saying that, yes, back in the old days when people whipped up their own mayo with raw eggs, safety was a concern. But modern commercial mayonnaise, because it contains vinegar, won't spoil in the sun in a few hours.
I did an Internet search and found an excellent interview on NPR's website about this topic with Michael Doyle, a professor of microbiology and direction of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia.
This morning a few of us met to decide on the menu for a July picnic for our nonprofit group. Someone suggested potato salad, and predictably someone else raised a concern about food safety. The certified food handler in the group then surprised us all by saying that, yes, back in the old days when people whipped up their own mayo with raw eggs, safety was a concern. But modern commercial mayonnaise, because it contains vinegar, won't spoil in the sun in a few hours.
I did an Internet search and found an excellent interview on NPR's website about this topic with Michael Doyle, a professor of microbiology and direction of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Fleece
I have a blue Polarfleece pullover from L.L. Bean that I wear pretty much every day from fall until summer. It's cozy. It's soft. It's warm. It has a spacious zippered pocket for my phone. I can get dirt or pet hair on it or spill things on it and the stains wash out perfectly.
Halfway through the winter a friend who I see often noticed my fondness for the jacket.
"How many of those do you own?" she asked curiously. (Only two.)
Alas, familiarity breeds contempt: she now gets close to apoplectic when she sees me wearing it for the umpteenth time. She is threatening to burn it, or to bury it, or to use it in some arcane ritual.
I think I'd better stash it in the closet til September.
Halfway through the winter a friend who I see often noticed my fondness for the jacket.
"How many of those do you own?" she asked curiously. (Only two.)
Alas, familiarity breeds contempt: she now gets close to apoplectic when she sees me wearing it for the umpteenth time. She is threatening to burn it, or to bury it, or to use it in some arcane ritual.
I think I'd better stash it in the closet til September.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Entertainment
Via a historical charity I'm involved in, I received a promotional postcard from "Levram the Great, Colonial Conjurer." Levram, who lives in Exton, dresses up in old-fashioned garb and puts on an "authentically appointed" 18th-century magic show: "Levram is a simple-minded conjurer who has performed for heads of state (as well as their feet)."
I have to say, it looks like it might be fun -- and from a business point of view, I have to commend him for having a mailing list extensive enough to reach me. Those of you who are in charge of organizing events might want to take a look at his website: www.timand.com.
Speaking of entertainment, I was at a Cinco de Mayo business-association party a few weeks back where they had a psychic reader. Three of the women at my table bolted their food and then got in line to consult this woman. Me? Not so much: all I needed to know was that my future included some excellent Mexican food and Corona.
I have to say, it looks like it might be fun -- and from a business point of view, I have to commend him for having a mailing list extensive enough to reach me. Those of you who are in charge of organizing events might want to take a look at his website: www.timand.com.
Smoothies
For months a pal has been raving about the kale smoothies at the Produce Place, which is in the Country Butcher shopping center. So when we were out running errands this morning and she suggested I try one, I agreed. I'm glad I did. Wow, was it tasty! The guy behind the counter mixed it up fresh in a blender: kale (which gives it its green hue), apple cider, agave, ice, whey powder and a few other healthful ingredients. They have several other fruity varieties that I am eager to try as well.
Squished
This will not be news to those of you who work in the Great Valley Corporate Center or frequent the malls at King of Prussia, but the latest phase of the Route 202 construction involves channeling the two eastbound lanes between concrete barriers with no shoulders, starting at about the Route 29 interchange. It's a tad claustrophobic, and the guy in front of me this afternoon seemed to be testing how close he could get to the barrier. The speed limit through the construction zone is supposed to be 45.
(If you're up that way, I recommend the Kabab Cafe in the Gateway Shopping Center. I had their falafel platter, with rice, pita bread, a grilled tomato and fruit salad. Tasty and inexpensive, and excellent service.)
(If you're up that way, I recommend the Kabab Cafe in the Gateway Shopping Center. I had their falafel platter, with rice, pita bread, a grilled tomato and fruit salad. Tasty and inexpensive, and excellent service.)
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Band
Yesterday I went to the young relative's elementary-school spring band concert. I really enjoyed the Stomp-style number, where the percussionists pounded away on trash cans and buckets, and the cute baseball piece performed by the whole ensemble.
But what also struck me was the obvious rapport and warmth between even the smallest children and the school principal. He knelt down and chatted with some of the kindergarteners; he joined in the laughter and applause; he congratulated the musicians for their hard work. In contrast, I remember my elementary-school principal being a formidable presence who NEVER interacted with us and only rarely left his office. I think this is a welcome change!
But what also struck me was the obvious rapport and warmth between even the smallest children and the school principal. He knelt down and chatted with some of the kindergarteners; he joined in the laughter and applause; he congratulated the musicians for their hard work. In contrast, I remember my elementary-school principal being a formidable presence who NEVER interacted with us and only rarely left his office. I think this is a welcome change!
Monday, May 21, 2012
An important meeting
Tuesday, June 5. If you are a West Marlborough resident, please put it on your calendar. It's the monthly township supervisors' meeting, and if you read my column regularly you know they are thinking about imposing an 0.5 percent earned-income tax on township residents to help get the township out of its financial hole. Come to the meeting and let the board know what you think.
The township planning commission meets first, at 7 p.m., and the supervisors meet afterward, usually around 7:45 p.m. Hope to see you at the township building in Doe Run.
The township planning commission meets first, at 7 p.m., and the supervisors meet afterward, usually around 7:45 p.m. Hope to see you at the township building in Doe Run.
Feel the burn
The college kids are home for the summer, and three of them stood behind me in my gym class today.
After a half-hour abdominal workout, we started the cardio and strength training portion by doing lunges, squats and frog jumps across the room, followed by squat-thrusts, plank pushups and jumping jacks.
The young ladies, all college athletes judging from their team T-shirts, were clearly getting more than they bargained for and exchanged looks of disbelief, much to the delight of our instructor.
"Horrible pain!" one exclaimed.
Afterwards I asked them what they thought of the class.
"That was so ... intense," one said in amazement. "And we were the youngest ones there!"
Gotta say, that boosted my spirits.
After a half-hour abdominal workout, we started the cardio and strength training portion by doing lunges, squats and frog jumps across the room, followed by squat-thrusts, plank pushups and jumping jacks.
The young ladies, all college athletes judging from their team T-shirts, were clearly getting more than they bargained for and exchanged looks of disbelief, much to the delight of our instructor.
"Horrible pain!" one exclaimed.
Afterwards I asked them what they thought of the class.
"That was so ... intense," one said in amazement. "And we were the youngest ones there!"
Gotta say, that boosted my spirits.
Prom night
A young friend of mine is more than ready to put UHS behind him and head off to college in the big city. He originally had no intention of going to the senior prom on Saturday night, but then a friend asked him to be her date, and his mother told him he'd regret it if he didn't go, so he reluctantly agreed.
On Sunday I saw Facebook photos of him grinning broadly and posing with a series of stunningly beautiful Unionville girls. I asked his mother how things went.
"He came home and said, `It was one of the best nights of my life,'" she reported. "This from the kid who didn't want to go!"
On Sunday I saw Facebook photos of him grinning broadly and posing with a series of stunningly beautiful Unionville girls. I asked his mother how things went.
"He came home and said, `It was one of the best nights of my life,'" she reported. "This from the kid who didn't want to go!"
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Fast times
I was heading north on Route 82 at Blow Horn earlier this evening and a vehicle was starting to pull out from Route 841, also headed north. I observed this with mild irritation, as I tend to get stuck behind vehicles that go rather slowly up those hills. But as the car pulled out into the intersection, I realized I needn't have worried. It was a black Mustang. A black convertible Mustang. A black convertible Mustang driven by a young guy without a shirt on. I think he was already blowing through Coatesville by the time I hit Rokeby.
Get this boy an agent!
Growing up in a family of avid sports fans (mostly Steelers supporters, alas), the young Tally-ho has perfected the art of the post-game interview with the press even though he is still in elementary school. He and his father ran in the Kennett Run on Saturday.
"I did really well," he said. His time for the 5K course was ten seconds off his all-time best -- BUT, he was quick to add, the course was a hilly one, the weather was "very warm," it was crowded (more than 2,600 runners), and his allergies were acting up. He ended up winning a third-place medal for his age group, which all of us think is mighty fine. He said his legs were still hurting the next day.
"I did really well," he said. His time for the 5K course was ten seconds off his all-time best -- BUT, he was quick to add, the course was a hilly one, the weather was "very warm," it was crowded (more than 2,600 runners), and his allergies were acting up. He ended up winning a third-place medal for his age group, which all of us think is mighty fine. He said his legs were still hurting the next day.
Buck and Doe
It was a picture-perfect day for the annual Buck & Doe Trust Chuckwagon Breakfast on Sunday: bright sun and a cloudless blue sky overhead, and the stunning landscape of the Laurels preserve. The traditional menu for the "Spring Fling" is strawberries, pancakes, doughnuts and sausage -- this year with the addition of monkey bread! -- and as always everything was scrumptious. There were lots of Unionville neighbors on hand and plenty of dogs and children.
It always feels odd to drive down the gravel road to the Twin Bridges where the brunch is held; normally the road is open to hikers, bicyclists and riders only.
Amy McKenna, president of the Trust, stood on a bench to give a speech about the group's activities this past year, and David Shields of the Brandywine Conservancy was on hand to sign his new book, "Catalyst for Conservation," about how the Laurels came into being. I've heard David give his talk about how the Conservancy preserved the former King Ranch land, and it is a truly fascinating story. His 112-page book, cowritten with Bill Benson, is available for sale at $24.95 at the Brandywine River Museum's shop and online.
It always feels odd to drive down the gravel road to the Twin Bridges where the brunch is held; normally the road is open to hikers, bicyclists and riders only.
Amy McKenna, president of the Trust, stood on a bench to give a speech about the group's activities this past year, and David Shields of the Brandywine Conservancy was on hand to sign his new book, "Catalyst for Conservation," about how the Laurels came into being. I've heard David give his talk about how the Conservancy preserved the former King Ranch land, and it is a truly fascinating story. His 112-page book, cowritten with Bill Benson, is available for sale at $24.95 at the Brandywine River Museum's shop and online.
Love a parade
Monday, May 28, is Memorial Day, and the parade kicks off in Kennett Square at 10 a.m. It's always lots of fun. I'll be there with two friends who absolutely love attending parades (in fact, that's one of the first things I learned about them).
As the Facebook listing says: "The town's largest parade includes marching bands, fife and drum corps & color guard groups, antique military vehicles and vintage convertibles, Civil War & Revolutionary War re-enactors, bagpipers, Little League teams, and much much more." I mean, really: what's not to like!
Hooray to Bill Taylor and his helpers for organizing this wonderful small-town event.
As the Facebook listing says: "The town's largest parade includes marching bands, fife and drum corps & color guard groups, antique military vehicles and vintage convertibles, Civil War & Revolutionary War re-enactors, bagpipers, Little League teams, and much much more." I mean, really: what's not to like!
Hooray to Bill Taylor and his helpers for organizing this wonderful small-town event.
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