My Grandfather Clock

     My parents have had a grandfather clock in their house for many years. I have always liked grandfather clocks. There is something about them- beautiful, stately, musical- that speaks to me. My Dad bought it as a gift for their 33rd Anniversary, in 1987. There is a brass plaque on the front with their names, 33rd Anniversary, and the date: June 19, 1987. The pendulum is engraved with an M for McCormack. It seems I said I liked it, and would love to own it eventually. From that time on, Dad always referred to it as "my" clock.

     Mom is moving to a smaller apartment on April 1. She will be living in a senior apartment building, where she will feel more secure than being alone in the apartment she is in now. We drove to PA last week to pick up the clock. We brought it here to NH in the back of the van, all wrapped up in blankets. The weights and pendulum were wrapped in bubble wrap.

     Mom said that it wasn't running well lately, and we thought perhaps it needed oiling, and maybe needing a good cleaning. We decided to see what happened, and, if necessary, call the clock shop in town to get it serviced. We got it into the house (with only minor problems. Like the 12 pack of beer I knocked off the counter on the way through the kitchen. Oops.), and put it in place in the dining room. Got the weights and pendulum hung, and set and wound it. It ran for a while, then stopped. Started it again. It stopped after a while again. So the BaldMan did a few adjustments, and it has been running nicely ever since. It was a bit slow, but that's fixable. The strike was an hour ahead, but that's been adjusted, also. It seems a bit quiet, which is not necessarily bad, although I do wish it were just a bit louder.

     It has a "secret" compartment in the bottom, and there is a scroll, hand lettered with Mom and Dad's name, address, and the date, that is supposed to go in there. I will put our names on it, as well as fill out some of the other paperwork that wasn't when it was bought.

    So, Dad, I have "my" clock now. I see it and hear it everyday, and it makes me happy.

Friday Review: Swift, Brutal Retaliation by Meghan McCarron

Swift, Brutal Retaliation by Meghan McCarron

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a nice quick read. It can easily be finished in one sitting. It takes place in the few days after the death of Ian, the oldest child in the family. It is a ghost story, since Ian appears to his younger sisters several times after the funeral. It is also a complex story about family relationships and grief, for all its short length. The family is dominated by the father, who is strict and dictatorial. Mother is withdrawn and distant, afraid to antagonize her husband. The two sisters are confused and unsure how to deal with the changes in the family because of the death of their brother.

The interesting thing about the story is the framework. The girls grew up dealing with their brother's constant pranks and bullying. They fall back on that familiar behavior in trying to deal with their own grief. The ghost of Ian seems to be continuing his pranking behavior even now that he is dead, but there are hints that it is something more. The hints are there, and the girls are trying to figure out what he wants. Without spoiling anything, I think the message is different from what most people might think. The ending is not quite a "tie up all the ends" type, and can seem a bit abrupt and unfinished. It did fit the story quite well.

This is not a typical ghost story, but its subtlety and psychological aspects make it worth the short time it takes to read it.



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Monday Musings

Just a few things I've noticed lately:

We were in the grocery store, purchases made, and ready to leave. Coming in the door was a woman with a toddler, maybe two years old or so. They walked in the automatic door, and he just stopped, with a look of pure awe on his face at the door that opened all by itself. He just stood there, staring at it, eyes wide and mouth open in an O of wonder. It made me smile. Just a reminder that we, as busy adults, take so many things for granted, and perhaps we need to just stop and enjoy the wonder of little things more often.

I find great comfort in baking bread. I baked two days in a row last week, and it was so calming. I do use a stand mixer to do all the tough work- mixing and kneading- since my tendinitis makes it hard to knead by hand. But just watching the dough come together, and change from a ragged lump to a smooth dough is amazing. And it requires patience. The dough is going to rise and proof in its own time, and it won't be rushed. I don't know why, but I always feel better when there is bread baking going on.

The White Mountains here in NH are very pretty, even now when they are dark and wintery. The highest peaks are covered in snow, white and frosty looking. On the lower mountains, the ski trails are white streaks among the surrounding trees. It looks like a postcard picture as you drive up the highways.

I was outside at night a while back. I don't even remember why I was out there in the dark, but I looked up and thought to myself that I should just go out and look at the stars more often.

We had our usual St. Patrick's day dinner on Sunday. Both grandsons came. The house had laughing, shrieking kids and an extra dog in it again. It freaks out the cats, but they get over it. And we enjoy it, of course. Family dinner- nothing like it.

I kind of enjoy the slower walks I have to take with Murphy now. Since his legs are giving him trouble, we don't walk as far or nearly as fast as we used to. I miss the extra exercise, but the slower pace means I see and hear more now. More and more birds are singing, there are buds on some trees and bushes, and it gives me time to think. It's good to slow down sometimes.

There is your week's dose of trivial minutia from me. What have you been noticing lately?

Friday Review: The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) by Robert Jordan

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Wheel of Time is one of the most widely read fantasy series around. I've just started it, not because I was waiting for it to be finished (the final volumes, written from extensive notes after Jordan's death, were written by Brandon Sanderson. The final book was published this year), but more because I wasn't sure I wanted to start another long continuing series.

The book certainly stems from the Tolkien school of fantasy. It is a sweeping epic, with a large cast of characters and plenty of action. I found it a bit wordy, something I have also found on re-reads of Tolkien's works. There were repeating sections with the same basic pattern that took up multiple chapters. Escape pursuers in one village, walk to the next, get attacked again, escape, etc. I could have done with a bit less there.

The characters were a mix of good and bad for me. There are strong female characters, although I did find Nyneave rather irritating after a while. The Warder, Lan, is a typical fighter/protector, although he was one of the characters I liked. As for the three main characters, I found Mat and Perrin a bit less developed than I'd like. Rand, while certainly one of the main focus points of the story, was just a bit too whiny for me. I am not sure I'd be any different given the same circumstances, but I was not inclined to like him because of that.

The setting is typical for a large scale fantasy of this type. Descriptions of the places and peoples in the world are detailed and vivid.

I didn't dislike the story, but it didn't break new ground for me. I will read the next volume, since the first of a long series is often more a setting up than the meat of the story. Those who like Tolkien-esque fantasy on a grand scale should give this a try, if you haven't already.



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Friday (Restaurant) Review: Bobby's Burger Palace, Burlington Mall, Burlington, MA

Yes, I am late posting this today. Usually, I write the post up on Thursday, and schedule it to post on Friday morning. I've been behind in my reading lately, and needed something to put up here for my Friday Review post. We went to the newest Bobby's Burger Palace just last night, so I am writing this now.

I think everyone probably knows Bobby Flay, the red-haired TV personality and chef-owner of upscale restaurants like Mesa Grill and Bar Americain. He is well known for his love of Southwest food and many of his recipes feature chilies and other Southwest ingredients. Lately, he has opened a string of steak places, and the burger palaces. The latest of the burger restaurants opened about a week ago at the Burlington Mall in Burlington, MA. We decided to take a ride down there last night and check it out. I am a fan of Chef Flay. We have several of his cookbooks and have enjoyed everything we have made from them, so I was eager to try his burgers. I was not disappointed.

The restaurant is fairly small, with large tables and a curved bar-like counter. The decor is bright, in apple green, deep orange, and gold, with brown accents. A long light fixture, curved like the counter seating it hangs over, echoes the color scheme. Large, modern, food oriented artwork hangs on the walls. It is open and inviting. You come into the restaurant, place your order at the counter, and get a number sign to put on your table. Find a table, sit down, and when your order is ready, the waitstaff brings it to your table. Service was quick and efficient, although the place was not crowded when we were there, so I don't know if it bogs down when it is.

The food was excellent. The menu is burgers only. You can get beef, turkey, or chicken burgers. There are a number of different choices on the menu, with different sets of garnishes and sauces. Any burger can be "crunchified," the signature embellishment of the chain. This involves adding a stack of potato chips to the burger. None of us tried that option. Sides are fries, onion rings, and sweet potato fries. There is a kids' burger option. The usual array of soft drinks, iced tea, and water are offered. This particular restaurant does not offer alcohol, which was a bit disappointing, as I do like a good, cold beer with my burgers. Not a big deal, however.

I ordered the Napa Valley burger, which is topped with goat cheese and watercress. I asked for mine cooked medium, and that is exactly what I got. The burger was crusted nicely, and the entire interior was pink but cooked, and very juicy. The goat cheese was tangy, but not overly so, and didn't overpower the burger. The watercress added a nice bit of crispness. The Meyer lemon honey mustard was slightly sweet, but balanced. The fries were very good, and served with a dipping sauce that seemed a cross between a remoulade and aioli, without the strong garlic of a typical aioli. The onion rings were huge, and the beer batter crisp. You could taste the beer in the batter, unlike some I have had. I even enjoyed the sweet potato fries, and I am not usually a fan of those. They were served with a honey mustard horseradish dipping sauce that was very tasty, but I didn't feel it enhanced the fries.

Prices are reasonable, with all the burgers under $8. Sides are $3.

All in all, I enjoyed the meal, and will likely go there again, when I am in the Burlington area. Next time, I will try the crunchified burger!

The Old Dog's Life

No, nothing is wrong with Murphy. Well, other than the usual, that is. For those who don't know him, Murphy is our chocolate Labrador retriever. He is somewhere in the vicinity of twelve years old. We have had him since he showed up on our porch in December of 2003. He is mostly deaf, his eyesight is a bit cloudy so he doesn't see well in the dark, and he has problems with his rear legs. Mostly, I refer to him as Old Dog. But, as I tell him every day, he is the best dog in the whole world.

I've gotten used to his mobility issues. He has significant arthritis in the rear legs and spine, and most likely some myelopathy, as well. He can't do the mile or mile and a half walks we used to. He gets two short ones these days. He also loses control of the rear legs, and falls sometimes. If he gets them too splayed out when he does, he can't get himself back up. He often needs help climbing up the deck stairs.

For a while this winter, I was thinking he was getting worse- he seemed to need help more and more often. Lately, he seems much better. Not miracle better, mind you, but more active and alert. He wants to walk more, and hates it when I tell him it's time to head home. I know he wouldn't make it much further than we go without really having difficulty on the way back, but he wants to keep going. He seems more- sprightly, I guess is the word. Oh, he still walks with that funny gate because of the bad legs, and when he runs, he sort of rabbit hops on the rear legs. The right rear foot knuckles over a fair amount. But I've noticed when we don't have deep snow in the yard, he does run more than he used to. He sleeps a lot when he's in here, but he is a senior and deserves it.

I wish I could say it was something I am doing, because, believe me, I would keep it up. He gets the same food, the same supplement, the same everything. I'm not complaining. I'm loving it. I hope he keeps it up for years.

I know too many people who have lost pets recently. It makes me worry a bit about the old guy. But he's doing well right now, and he's happy, so I'm going to enjoy our walks and excursions to the chicken coop. Best dog in the whole world, for sure.

Review: Bouchon Bakery by Thomas Keller and Sebastian Rouxel

Bouchon Bakery by Thomas Keller

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I haven't baked everything in this book, but I think there will be many recipes that get made before long. Thomas Keller is a renowned chef and owner of very upscale restaurants including per se and the French Laundry. He wanted to start baking the breads for his restaurants, and opened the first Bouchon Bakery in 2003. He wanted to provide the bread for the restaurants, of course, but also to have a small cafe to sell pastries and breads similar to the ones he'd loved so working in Paris. He hired Matthew McDonald to run the bakery operation, and Sebastian Rouxel as pastry chef. The Bouchon Bakery has expanded to five bakeries.

Keller is mainly a savory chef, but he grew to love the aroma and flavors of bread and baked goods in Paris, as well as growing up where cookies were an everyday treat. The bakeries recreate some of these childhood memories in their own way. There are versions of Oreos, Nutter Butters, and Pecan Sandies, among others, in the book. I've made the Pecan Sandies, and they are delicious.

The book is beautiful, with clean, white pages, and stunning photography. It is large and a bit heavy. The recipes are clearly written, with ingredient lists in both metric weight measures (which Keller highly recommends using, and I do, too), and the more usual volume measures. Some recipes use specific ingredients, but there is a source listing in the back of the book. There are sections on Cookies, Scones and Muffins, Cakes, Tarts, Pate a Choux, Brioche and Doughnuts, Puff Pastry and Croissants, Breads, and Confections. There is also a chapter on Basics which gives recipes for frostings, fillings, glazes, and other things that don't necessarily fit in the other chapters, but are things every baker should know.

This is not a learn to bake book. Some of the recipes are a bit involved, and some are not, probably, for the novice baker. It certainly has a place on the cookbook shelf of anyone who loves to bake and wants to make some really wonderful treats.



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