In the spirit of better late than never, my spouse and I, along with a couple of in laws, visited a local treasure, the Roberson Museum, for its annual Home for the Holidays yesterday afternoon.
I thought you might enjoy these ornaments from a needlework based tree even though Christmas 2025 is gone and it's New Year's Eve.
Here is a video if you want to see more of the exhibit.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday, and wishing all my readers a Happy New Year.
It's Monday, and it's time for music!
Who are the Music Moves Me Bloggers?
We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.) We have occasional theme weeks, but you are welcome to ignore the theme and use music of your choice. Why not join us? You don't have to sing, or play an instrument. All music lovers are welcome.
This month's theme is "Whatever Christmas music moves you" . It's also the final Music Moves Me for 2025. I, for one, am happy to leave 2025 in the rear view mirror. We've lost so many people who enriched our world, including too many musicians. In fact, I will have to delay another Rock and Roll Heaven induction until January, so I hope you'll also join me on January 5.
For me, one song and one song only defines New Year's Eve. That is Auld Lang Syne, and today, I present two covers (so to speak) of this classic song.
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians took Auld Lang Syne from a Scottish folk song with words by Robert Burns to the theme song of New Year's Eve, starting with their radio broadcasts in 1929. I heard this song every year live from New York's Waldorf-Astoria, a place this native New Yorker has never been to. This recording is from 1947. Guy Lombardo certainly earned his nickname of Mr. New Year's Eve.
The Times Square (New York City) ball drop, ushering in 1953. I was a baby (and not there). Guess the song that starts playing partway through the video.
These are the words of the song.
First verse:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Second verse:
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup!
and surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Chorus
Third verse:
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin’ auld lang syne.
Chorus
Fourth verse:
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin’ auld lang syne.
Chorus
Fifth verse:
And there’s a hand,
my trusty fiere!
and gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak’ a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.
And that's a wrap. Happy New Year to all my blog readers!!
Join me again next year for another episode of Music Moves Me.
How fitting that, this year, that Shadowshot Sunday comes on Groundhog Day.
Although these shadows won't predict if we will have an early spring or six more weeks of winter (noting that the official Groundhog of Groundhog Day is only right about 40% of the time), they make for a good Shadowshot.
Groundhog in shadow from back in June, 2024.
Incidentally, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Let's hope he's wrong again.
And, in a number of cultures, they are celebrating the new year. This year will be the Year of the Snake. This picture of a shake was taken this past September.
More information:
Joining Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventure for #ShadowshotSunday.
What a difference a few hours makes.
New Year's Eve gave us a tantalizing glimpse of blue sky, so unusual at this time of year. Here's the sky about 11:15 am.
About five minutes later, in a different direction, this.
I took another set of photos about 3pm. This is more like our normal December skies. This tree keeps its brown leaves all winter.
I closed out with this photo.
By Thursday, incidentally, we had snow on the ground again.
If I didn't wish you a Happy New Year, let me wish you a belated one now from my corner of the world, the Southern Tier of New York, United States.
Joining Yogi and other sky watchers for #SkywatchFriday.
Flowers in the Southern Tier of New York on New Year's Eve?
I went out in the back yard yesterday and was greeted with this.
I have an early white Lenten Rose. It usually blooms in January if the weather permits it, because sometimes we have a brief reprieve from the harshness of winter. But this year our reprieve came this past week.
Some years, this doesn't bloom at all. But I was fortunate enough to see its blooms yesterday.
Joining up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
Happy New Year to all my readers. May it bring you many good things.
It's Monday and it's time for the last Music Moves Me of 2024.
Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post may be labeled "No Music".)
Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.
Tomorrow is the last day of 2024, and that means music about endings and new beginnings.
I have had this song before but I love it so, here it is again. Rod Steward and Auld Land Syne (Live at Stirling Castle). This song makes me want to spend New Year's Eve one day in Scotland.Chicago - Beginnings. It's not about New Years Eve but it is about the beginnings of a relationship.U2's 1983 classic New Year's Day is a political song but I am also including it because of its title.And that's a wrap, as we look ahead to 2025.
Wishing all of my readers a Happy New Year. May it be better than 2024.
Many people make New Year's resolutions. They will become Better People. They will stress less, laugh more. They will be kinder. They will lose weight. They will drop bad habits. Maybe they will even participate in Dry January.
Me? I usually don't make New Year's resolutions, but this year of 2024 will be an exception.
I WILL FINISH MY 2023 TEMPERATURE BLANKET BEFORE THE END OF 2024.
Maybe.
A definite maybe.
I first blogged about crocheting a temperature blanket on November 17, 2022. On January 25, 2023, I told my readers I was underway. I did start. I even purchased almost all of the yarn over the last year.
So what is a temperature blanket? You can knit, crochet or quilt it. You pick colors representing temperature ranges that make sense for your climate (or the climate of someone you want to gift the blanket to. Some people make one for a new child or grandchild/great grand in their family to record their first year of life. Or, you can just make one for no reason at all.
Below are the colors I decided to use for my blanket. What I did was record the high and low temperatures for every day in 2023 and my plan was to crochet one row for each day's high with its assigned color.
100F (38C) and above - Fruity Stripe (shades of pink - a variegated yarn) I didn't have to use it.
So, as of December 31, I had gotten up to (drum roll) - April 6.
This is what 2023 (as of April 6) looked like on December 31.
At this rate it will take some two years to complete the afghan. A confession here, I did much of the work on the afghan during road trips. There were several from my home in the Southern Tier of New York last year: in February, to Greenville, South Carolina, in June to New York City and Long Island for a wedding, in July, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, and, in September, to Bennington, Vermont.
Am I going to have to schedule several more road trips to work on this afghan?
Meanwhile, my spouse wants me to continue posting high and low temperatures on our calendar in 2024. It was educational doing it in 2023.
After all, 2023 was a most interesting weather year. The weather in winter certainly wasn't anything like the late 1980's when I first moved to this area. I can remember snow in December piled high with the city of Binghamton wondering where their snow removal people could put it.
2023 was also a year of many memories. Wouldn't it be nice to have a completed 2023 afghan to celebrate on December 31, 2024?
Wish me luck keeping my New Year's resolution.
I suppose I should be doing a year end review of my life and blog today, New Year's Eve Eve. But I'm not quite ready to.
Do a review, that is.
It was hard picking a topic. After all, my Sirius XM subscription has expired - about the fifth time this week. Ditto my McAfee anti virus. Fed Ex is still trying to find me to deliver a package. I've won so many things from so many famous retailers and I'll have to get around to checking those emails out (NOT!) And, some well known streaming service wants me to subscribe for only $2 a year (plus a package of ransomware and viruses, most probably.)
One of my favorite bloggers announced that her post yesterday would be her last one. I'll miss her.
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| Wisteria window, Roberson Mansion, Binghamton New York |
One can tire of today's world and think about years past. I love visiting historic buildings and mansions. But I wouldn't have been one of those living in those mansions, unless I (perhaps) was a servant.
Still, once you've reached the magic decade that begins with a seven, you have a lot of stored up memories.
Today, I caught myself thinking "let's go to the brewery that is where Pat Mitchells Ice Cream used to be." Pat Mitchell died in 2002.
It's so comfortable being nostalgic, especially as another year draws to a close. I had a conversation with a cousin earlier this month. My son and her daughter are four months apart in age. When they were little, my cousin, her husband and their daughter came up a couple of times on the day before New Years Eve (what I call New Years Eve Eve) for a New Year's Eve event called First Night.
For the price of a button, families in the Binghamton, New York area could have a lot of non-alcoholic fun, and we did. Have fun, that is, despite the weather. I remember one of the times they came up here it was close to 0F (-18C). But we were younger then, and a lot more tolerant of the cold.
If I remember correctly, the First Night national organization actually was headquartered in Binghamton for a couple of years. But I believe our last First Night was held in 2010-I know we lost some major funding. First Night is alive and well, just not in Binghamton, New York.
My cousin was so disappointed to hear that.
I miss First Night, too.
The closest we have is an annual New Years Eve family friendly celebration called First Knight, in a small village in our county - Windsor, New York, population about 880. It's a big community effort. Someone I know who lives in Windsor does some volunteer work for them and it would be great if we went and checked it out. But now that we are in that magic decade beginning with seven, we'd rather just sit home and watch a movie.
Growing older does that to you.
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| Clock, Roberson Mansion, Binghamton, New York |
Time waits for no one at all.
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| Clock, Lorenzo State Historical Site, Cazenovia, New York |
Time marches on.
Tomorrow, I will take a quick look back at 2023 and some of the travel spouse and I did. Nothing major - no cruises, no flying, no international travel. But, oh, the places we went. Each was interesting in its own way.
Come to think of it, in some ways, 2023 was a very good year.
I wish the same for you all, dear readers, in 2024.
It's time for reflection, apples, and honey.
It is Rosh Hashanah 5784, the first full day of the Jewish New Year - the year 5784 on our religious calendar. This time is both festive and serious, as we undergo our annual review from Above and reflect on our behavior of the past year/seek forgiveness from those we have wronged/plan for how we can improve and better the world in the coming year.
As far as food, we celebrate with sweet and symbolic dishes. Apples and honey are prominent in many households. Last night, my spouse cooked a brisket with apple juice, potatoes and carrots. For dessert, we had apple honey cake.
It's been a long journey.
When I was young, my Mom served a honey cake for Rosh Hashana that I did not like. When I was an older teen and became interested in baking, I embarked on an odyssey to find a recipe for a honey cake I liked.
One of the challenges was that so many of the recipes made two loaves of honey cake. By then, my Mom had passed away and it was just my father and me. My Dad was diabetic and couldn't eat cake (that was back in the 1960's, when diabetic diets were different) so it was just me. I put my quest on the back burner for years.
In my later adult years, I returned to the quest. Although it's a large cake for one or two, I finally found the honey cake of my dreams.
Each year I make an apple honey cake, from a recipe I adapted from the excellent recipe published years ago by Tory Avery. My cake most likely isn't as good as hers, because I cut down on the oil (thanks to Weight Watchers, which I've been a member of since 2012 with one short break). Also, I don't put icing on it - I've never been a fan of icing.
It's a joint effort - my spouse shreds the apples and also takes care of removing the cake from the oven.
Getting the apples we wanted was a journey. We live in an apple growing area and like to use a locally grown baking apple (at this time of year, our plan was Cortland apples). But the apple crop failed this year due to a late frost- one local grower lost 80% of his crop. We ended up using supermarket Ginger Gold apples.
The cake's top fell apart when spouse tried to remove it from the pan.
This definitely isn't a baking blog picture. To you, it may be an ugly apple honey cake. I disagree.
To me, it is beautiful personal tradition.
None of us is perfect. We can strive for a better coming year.
May life for you in the coming year be as sweet as this slice of cake.
To my blog readers of the Jewish faith, Shanah tova (good year).
First, let's get these out of the way:
Yes, I stayed up until midnight.
No, I didn't drink anything alcoholic.
No, I didn't go to a party or have anyone over. (I will have a family member over later today).
Today, as we look ahead to what, hopefully, will be a better year than those in this second decade of the 21st century so far, I am reminded of some of what I blogged on January 1, 2020. What I wrote is indented and my January 1, 2023 commentary is in red.
Although I gave up making New Years resolutions years ago, and don't choose a "word of the year", I am aware that this year is going to be a year of major changes in my life....understatement of the century.
I've let relationships drop. I won't blame anyone but myself. Now, I have to try to find some of those loose ends and reconnect them. Another understatement.
I am reminded once again of how short and precious life can be... and, since March of 2020, we've been reminded of that again and again.
So, New Years Eve was the perfect opportunity. I texted, Facebook messaged, and spoke on the phone - and did some long awaited catching up. For me, the days before New Years is still a time of catching up.
Now, I just have to keep these relationships going - easier said than done. Old acquaintances should never be forgot. They should always be brought to mind. Still, so true.
What about you?
Let me end today's post with some memories of our recent holiday season, taken at the Endicott Visitors Center in Endicott, New York. I will be sharing more photos at a future date.
This is the original building that later became Binghamton University. At one time it was known as Old Colonial Hall and is now a combination museum and banquet facility. It was once the residence of the executive secretary of a famed industrialist of our area.
Candy cane Christmas.
May 2023 be a good year for you, dear readers.
Today is a day of reflection.
This week, several famous people of my youth or early adulthood died, including Pele and Barbara Walters. Pope Emeritus Benedict also died, along with a grandson of music legend Bob Marley. It's dreary out today (although it's also mild). Sickness is everywhere. Although my spouse and I have dodged it (so far) my son caught "something". He's better now.
When I bought a new iPhone earlier this month, I transferred my thousands of photos to the new phone (why? who knows) and I was able to bring up "2022" and relive some of the highlights of this interesting year.
Time seems to speed up the longer I live and I just want to yell "Stop! Freeze!"
Photos allow you to do that, in a way.
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| February 20 local park |
The year almost always begins in my part of New York State in a frozen world, and if it doesn't, it happens soon enough.
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| March 24 crocus, my yard |
But finally, the world comes alive with flowers once more.
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| April 25, Binghamton, New York |
Spring arrives.
It's time to get out and travel. Here, June 14 along the Erie Canal in Macedon, New York.
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| Gourds, Ithaca, New York, mid October |
But the warm season speeds by, and before you know it, it's harvest time.
The trees turn color.
The holiday season arrives.
So here we are. I can't end a 2022 post without this picture, though.
May we all have a better 2023.
And thank you to my readers - I appreciate you all!
"See" you in 2023.
It's Monday! Once again, it's time for music.
Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!) Our head hostess is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and she is joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and (last but not least) me.
Why
not join our music loving folks? It's so easy. All you have to do is
join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music
video. Without a music video, the post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO
MUSIC*.
Each month, we have a guest host. For December, our honorary host is Santa Claus. Santa calls on us to post holiday music so we can all dance and have a good time.
Now that Christmas is past, we look forward to New Year's.
Now, let's party like it's 1999, with the late, great Prince.
From the movie New Year's Eve, here is Jon Bon Jovi and Lea Michele with "Have a Little Faith In Me".
Finally, how could I leave out the song Auld Lang Syne when we in the United States use this song to ring in the New Year? I'm not sure there is an official count of how many times this song has been covered.
I love bagpipes. I could listen to bagpipe music all day. Don't worry, this post is not filled with bagpipe music, but I couldn't resist one performance of Auld Lang Syne with bagpipes.
When next we meet for Music Moves Me, it will be New Year's Day. Happy New Year to all my readers!
I love reading. I always have. Now, as I approach the age of 70, I read but I seem to be so distracted that the day slips away, and I find I spend more and more with magazines and Internet reads.
It isn't for lack of opportunity. I own many books. I also take books out from our local library, and hve ebooks on my Kindle. (I way prefer physical books, however.) I also regularly take out e-books from the New York (City) public library, which, thanks to the pandemic, I have access to as a New York State resident.
What I decided to do this last week of December is compile a list of books read, or books I started and did not finish, for whatever reason. I've included reviews (some taken from a blog post I wrote in July of this year, and shortened): I've assigned "stars" on a scale of one to five.Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. I generally do not get into thrillers, but this book had so many good reviews, I decided to pick it up. It's a harrowing book, but I am so glad I read it.
Two ex-cons, one black, the other white, team up to find the killer(s) of their sons, who were married to each other. Both the fathers had rejected their gay sons, and are propelled both by the need for vengeance and their guilt over how they treated their sons. There is blood and violence, all of which rings true. Be forewarned!. There's not much more I can say without spoiler alerts. The plotting and the writing are both first class.
Five Stars.
The Auschwitz Photographer - The Forgotten Story of the World War II Prisoner Who Documented Thousands of Lost Souls by Luca Crippa and Maurizio Onnis This is the true story of photographer Wilhelm Brasse, a Polish/Aryan gentile who refused to swear allegiance to the Nazis after they conquered Poland. He was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1939 and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. Because of his background as a professional photographer, the SS chose him to take intake photos of the prisoners. He was forced to take other types of photos, too, and we are not spared the details.
As the war ended, Brasse was ordered to burn the photos he took. He started to, but changed his mind as a final act of defiance. We have him to thank for many of the Auschwitz photos that survived the war.
Five Stars.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Dystopian literature is one of my preferred genres. I had already read Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, a chilling story of an alternate present where human clones are bred to be used for organ donations. That book has never let me go - like all good books, it continues to echo in my mind from time to time. Klara does not echo in the same way. It is a deceptively simple story of a solar powered AF (Artificial Friend) who is purchased as the companion of a girl who has been genetically modified to increase her intelligence, and is slowly dying as a result.
Don't be fooled. This is not a simple story and Klara is far from a simple AF. Ishiguro provides the exact amount of information at the exact right time.
Five Stars
Zero Fail, The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service" by Carol Leonnig. The United States' Secret Service is tasked with many duties, the most important of which is the 24 hour day protection of the President and Vice-President of the United States and his/her family. Carol Leonnig, an investigative journalist with over 20 years experience, wrote a well documented (and scary) book of triumphs and failures taking place mainly from the Kennedy administration to right after the end of the Trump administration.
You learn a lot about our various Presidents. It's not always pretty.
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan tells the story of four women competing in a British cooking contest in 1942. The prize: being a co-host for the BBC's cooking show, The Kitchen Front. Their task? Create the best edible recipes with food readily available in the food rationing system. The contest is fictional but the radio show was real. I loved the historical details and the strong female characters, which is why I gave it the rating I did. But I also feel the book fell short in character development and the ending was somewhat unlikely.
Four Stars
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. This is a retelling
of Homer's The Iliad from the point of view of a female character,
Briseis, a Trojan queen taken captive and enslaved when the Greeks take
her city and sack it. I don't read much historical fiction but this
intrigued me because I have never read The Iliad.
On the whole, the book was
well written. However, the British slang threw me out of the story more
than once (minor quibble - certainly the soldiers couldn't speak in
Greek for the English audience). Just yesterday, I found the sequel in the library and took it out.
Four Stars.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Carrie Ryan. I enjoy dystopian literature and (some) zombie literature. I love a good zombie apocalypse, and looked forward to a good read. The book disappointed. Stilted writing and one of the weirdest love triangles I've ever run across in dystopian young adult literature ruined the book, although I did finish it. I won't be seeking out the sequels.
The End of Men by Christa Sweeney-Baird. This book was written not long before before
the COVID-19 pandemic. So, one could compare and contrast the reactions
to the pandemic in the book (a virus that kills only males, and kills
most of them) to what happened "in our "2020 and beyond" reality. The book
is presented to us as written by an (initially) unknown author some
years after the pandemic struck, telling the story of various survivors.
The book also
ponders many questions, some of which we will need to answer for ourselves as we move towards our future.
Five Stars.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
This started out great, but after about 75 pages, I just couldn't get into it anymore. A Did Not Finish.
Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge
Similar to She Who Became the Sun, it started out great, and then, it wasn't. However, I feel that I may have failed the book. I may give it another try in 2022. Another Did Not Finish, for now.
These are the books I am currently reading.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (just started the other day). So far, I'm finding the several interwoven stories interesting.
The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington. The author did not start out intending to write this book, but found the story while doing research on fashion and was fortunate enough to be able to interview the last surviving dressmakers. What I love is that this is the first comprehensive look I've found of the daily life of women in a concentration camp. It's a slow read - lots of detail. Well worth your time. This is shaping up as a Five Star read.
The Bird Way - A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, by Jennifer Ackerman. I've read this on and off. My spouse may read this more than I will.
There's more, but I don't quite remember.
So, do I try to make a New Years's Resolution to read more? No. I haven't done resolutions in years. But I need to go back to my roots, and start reading more in 2022.
Are you an avid reader? What were some of your favorite reads? (If you blogged an end of year reading post, please feel welcome to drop a link to it.)
Guess what? It's our last Monday of the year, and it's time for music!
Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!) First, there is XmasDolly. Her co-hosts are: Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and me.
I want to thank those who have joined us for our weeks of holiday music. We'd
love more music lovers to join us. It's easy! All you have to do is
join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music
video (there must be a music video).
Each month, except December, we have a guest conductor. For December, our own Xmas Dolly asks that we feature music of the season.
I hope everyone who celebrates Christmas had a happy one. Now, we look forward to New Years Eve. And I do mean look forward - how many of us are hoping that 2022 will be a much better year than either 2020 or 2021?
Let's spend some time with music about New Years Eve or the New Year. Prepare for some oldies but goodies.
Let's go back to 1942 for my first song. Let's Start the New Year Right was from the movie "Holiday Inn" - written by Irving Berlin and music by Bing Crosby and his Orchestra.
Happy New Year! by Spike Jones and his City Slickers dates from 1948 and is the "B" side of their more familiar "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth".
I found this song from 1952 called New Year Song, by Nicola Paone and his Gang. Not sure about the song, but the video was interesting if you like the 1950's.
Let's jump to something more modern: 2000, to be exact. The Eagles and Funky New Year is more the story of a New Year's hangover than the new year, but let's go with it.
I can not ignore 1983's New Years Day by U2.
There's only one way I can end this post, with Rod Stewart singing Auld Lang Syne. I posted this last year, too, and it's a fitting way to end a New Years themed post.
That's a 2021 wrap.
See You in 2022!
We creep closer to fall. The days get shorter.
Local apples and winter squash arrive at farmstands. Today, I want to blog about both.
We have just the right climate for winter squash here, and have a bounty of squash types. One university about an hour from here, Cornell University, has developed a number of new varieties. One, Honeynut, a small extra sweet butternut, I've blogged about before. It's amazing and it's about the only winter squash we eat anymore. My link earlier in the paragraph contains a recipe.
This year, we found another new squash, called Koginut. Well, Robin's Koginut. The description says only it's a cross between two other winter squashes and I have to think one is Honey nut. The other - ?
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| Honey nut (left) and Koginut (right) |
We cooked a koginut and it isn't as sweet as honey nut, but was still good.
Now for apples...
Monday, the Jewish New Year begins at sunset, just in time for local apples and fall honey. That means it is time to make my version of an amazing apple honey cake. The original recipe can be found here.
My modified version can be found here. I will be making it once again.
There are several reasons why I modified the cake the way I did. First,
believe it or not, I do not like confectioner's sugar/liquid type
icing. Even as a child, I would pass up cinnamon rolls and yeast cakes
because I never liked the icing drizzled on them. I can't explain why.
I still don't like it. So my version does not have icing. If you want icing, click the link above.
Second, I've started to use coconut oil more and more as a substitute
for oil in my baking I've never made this cake with anything but
coconut oil, and I love it.
Third, instead of the original Granny Smith apples, I prefer tart, local
apples. I'm fortunate to live in New York apple country and there is
an abundance of cooking apples grown here. For Thanksgiving, I make
this with local Northern Spy apples. Tomorrow I will make it with local apples I bought a couple of weeks ago and I can't quite remember the variety name.
It is so good.
And best of all, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy it.
Just a lover of apples and honey.
Do you have a favorite food of fall?
With so many grim things going on, I wanted to post something positive today to give us a breather.
The 2021 tournament of Roses Parade was mainly cancelled (with the exception of a virtual performance of bands that would have performed this year ). The organizers had to depend on documentary type "past history" type video reruns, prerecorded music, and a guest performance of Kermit the Frog.
Here are some highlights. I'm happy to report that the seniors who couldn't march are invited to the 2022 Parade.
Additionally, I found this online video that can reinforce the belief that there are still good people out there.
This video tells the story of a 10 year old girl, Francine, whose organs were donated after Francine died in a 2019 car accident. Her heart, her kidneys, her pancreas, were donated to a total of four people. Francine was honored at the parade.
In grim times, we must hang on to hope - not at all ignoring what is happening to our country now, but also realizing there will be an end to this.
See you tomorrow for some music.
I've seen a couple of bloggers welcome 2021 with a "one blog post from each month" theme, and I've decided to do that today.
No need to read all the posts, but if one attracts you, it would be great for you to read at least one.
January - an innocent time when I could blog about yarn bombing I saw in a trip to Florida. That was about a million years ago, now, the ability to travel without fear of catching a dread illness.
February - COVID makes its appearance and a cancelled road trip I have wanted to make for years.
March - at the end of March, things are serious in my native New York State.
April - it seemed everyone was deciding to garden.
May - I couldn't see her in January and now I never will. RIP.
June - Please don't taste-test the cherries (especially in these times).
July - Blueberries and a recipe (blueberry picking helped save my sanity)
August - Blueberries and another recipe
September - the Story Garden
October - Fall foliage, of course
November - No, you can't cancel Thanksgiving. But you sure can change it.
December - We could have done without 40 inches of snow.
What was the highlight (or lowlight) of 2020 for you?
In (I believe it was) the January 6 issue of Time Magazine, there was a little sidebar. I found the magazine cleaning out some stuff not that long ago, and I don't even remember the magazine date for sure anymore. The short news item talked about a mystery illness outbreak in Wuhan, China.
A little sidebar. A couple or three paragraphs. I wish I could find it.
Welcome to 2020. Now, it's time to ring it out.
Could anyone have even imagined this Saturday Night Live skit? Or understood any of it?
I'm not sure any of us want a recap of 2020. So many painful moments. I wish I had something profound or healing to say. So much suffering. But, for me, it's time to look on the somewhat bright side.
What else did 2020 bring?
And I watched a lot of squirrels.
Now, we have less than 24 hours left to go in this most unusual year in our lifetimes.
All will be quiet this New Year's Eve. Even in my native New York City.
The New York City ball drop? It will take place - with 100 people watching in person.
Think of when we could get together and sing. My wish for next New Years Eve - celebrating Hogmanay in Scotland. Wouldn't it be grand?
But in some ways, I like this New Year's Eve. Quiet. I'm an introvert. I'll be happy staying home and watching a movie. I thank all those who sacrificed so I could do this - the health care workers like my cousin, the first responders like another cousin's husband, the food workers, the other essential workers like at least two more cousins, and so many more.
THANK YOU.
Happy New Year, my friends and readers. Here's to a better 2021.
Guess what time it is? Yes, it is time for Music!
Who are the #MusicMovesMe bloggers? We are bloggers (and perhaps also musical elves) who blog about music
each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most
welcome to join! (Music Posts Only , please!) First,
there is XmasDolly, Her co-conductors are: Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and me. (All, please note Xmas Dolly has a new blog location. Please use this link.)
For the month of December our theme is "Christmas Music" except for today. Our theme for today is "Music about this Year or about New Year's".
Oh, where do I start? 2020 is All About the Pandemic, like it or not. (And who likes it??)
I don't listen to Pitbull that often, although, when I did water Zumba years ago, one of his songs was part of one of our routines. For the pandemic we start off with Pitbull's "I Believe That We Will Win/World Anthem." This is one upbeat song that will get your dancing feet moving.
Christmas was different for so many. We needed a song such as Twenty One Pilot's Christmas Saves the Year. I love the video, too.What does a rock star sound like without his band? Just one person and a guitar? Here is Jon Bon Jovi and "Livin' on a Prayer" for a New Jersey pandemic benefit several months ago.
We all want to fast forward to New Year's Eve, don't we? Why don't we?
Or we can go back to 1965, and watch the ball drop in Times Square. I saw this live on New York City TV; we never dared go down there. Seeing a crowd of 700,000 watch the New York City ball drop now would be inconceivable. The broadcaster was the late, incomparable Ben Grauer; to me he will forever be the voice of New Years Eve. And Guy Lombardo the official music maker. Yes, I'm showing my age. Proudly.
Speaking of Guy Lombardo....enjoy his music, and the vintage photos.
It's a wrap! See you same time, same place....new year...next Monday!
