Soul Food

On February 13, Geo and I attended the Northeast Organic Farmers’ Association (NOFA) winter conference. Farmers we are not. However, Geo is interested in the locavore scene here in Vermont, and I am interested in learning new gardening practices. Living in a most rural state, we need to be informed about agriculture.

Keynote speaker LaDonna Redmond of Chicago was worth the price of admission. Unable to find real food in urban supermarkets for her child with multiple allergies, she set forth on a mission of organizing her inner city neighborhood to grow organic veggies. She promotes a sustainable, organic, urban, and local food system that has soul. The food that is grown nourishes not just the body, but also the soul. Food actually becomes a by-product because what is really grown is community. It’s about knowing the people who grow your food, how that food is grown, how it's prepared, and with whom you share it.

She went on to say that the Hippies (who began the back-to-the-land movement) have a lot in common with the Hip-Hop Generation. Both are counter-cultural and anti-establishment, as is sustainable, local and organic agriculture. What she calls the soul-food system is about building community. Community needs to happen in urban areas as well as rural. Through soul-food, the Hippies and Hip-Hop Generation may be able to meet on common ground.

One of the workshops I attended was presented by Lee Reich on weedless no-till gardening. He advises using wet newspapers (4 pages thick) spread out over soil or grass, covering them with an inch or two of compost, and planting seeds directly into the compost. They will take root and grow through the newspaper. The grass or weeds below the newspaper, with no light and air, will smother and die. So this is my plan for my 5 packets of sunflower seeds. I’m collecting newspapers now and will be ready to plant in Spring. This I will do without digging up the lawn in the backyard. Reports to follow.     

#5, Check!

Jenn challenged me to list 50 things I'd like to do during 2010, and DO them. I took up the challenge. Saturday I checked off #5: See an opera.

Verdi's Simon Boccanegra was performed live at the NY Met, starring none other than Placido Domingo. This performance was broadcast in HD, as it was happening, in select theaters across the U.S., including one in South Burlington. I was there. It was fabulous.

Besides focussing on all the action, the camera took us into the orchestra pit, backstage as the sets were being changed, and even into the audience. I could see notes on the musicians' sheet music, and even beads of sweat on the performers. I especially liked seeing all the detail on the costumes. And, yes, there were subtitles for the Italian lyrics.

I'd recommend this experience for anyone who loves music, even if unfamiliar with opera (like me). I'm already planning to see Rosssini's Armida on May 1st.

Someone famous once said, opera has it all - passion, violence, romance, vengeance, murder - what's not to like?

Emotionality

Jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris is performing in Burlington. Last night he led a workshop on the art of listening. Of course, I had to be there.    

Stefon defines music as the science of organizing sound and silence into emotion. The workshop was about experiencing music emotionally. Sitting at the piano, he directed us to close our eyes, then to experience and demonstrate the emotion our ears were hearing. One time he changed just one note in the chord, and the sound - and the emotion - changed noticeably. 

When our group was having difficulty demonstrating an appropriate emotional response, he asked us clench our fists, or open and raise our arms, just to feel if if the physical response was in tune with what we were hearing. Then we would sense if it was right or not. This worked. He said the body naturally knows how to respond to emotions.

  

When I hear a performance, I may walk away impressed with the technique and virtuosity of the musicians. Now I will focus on how I am feeling as the musicians are recreating and communicating emotions musically.

As Stefon said, when he plays, if we’re not feeling it, he is not doing his job. If we come to a performance filled with the distractions and anxieties of the day, he says, let the music take you away. That’s the beauty of it.

I am eager to practice my new listening skills. It won’t be long. We’re hearing Stefon Harris play the marimba and vibraphone tonight at the Flynn, along with the Imani Winds.

VJO

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra performed in Burlington last night. They are a twenty-piece group playing in the musical tradition of founders Thad Jones and Mel Lewis.

What I find so unique about them is that they’ve been performing Monday nights at the same club – the NY Village Vanguard - for more than 40 years, staying together despite the departure of key players. That’s staying power. In 2009 VJO won a grammy in the category of large jazz ensemble album: Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard.

It’s a great time hearing live jazz performances, but it was a special treat for us to hear the full sound of a jazz orchestra in the style of big band jazz music.

To check out the Village Vanguard, click on my title VJO.
Swing on, VJO!

Soledad O'Brien

CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien spoke at UVM yesterday as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day calendar of events. Geo and I arrived early enough for first row seats.

She spoke about Martin Luther King, Jr. as being a servant leader, and because he served as “one of the people,” he had great influence. She noted that a true leader is not just one who can see problems - “anyone can see problems…” – but a person who sees the possibilities within the problems. Although her themes were familiar, she presented them with not-so-familiar quotes of MLK, the people who worked so closely with him, and even her own parents. Her parents, a bi-racial couple, were not discouraged by an oppressive social climate of their times because they knew and passed on to their children that “America is better than that.” They lived, as did MLK, demonstrating what was possible within situations in need of change.

Soledad went on to challenge the audience to look around to see what needs to change, then to personally respond positively and actively to make it happen.

At the reception afterwards, she continued to engage everyone in conversation around her, mostly about her recent experience in Haiti. Geo and I were impressed with her high level of energy that does not quite come across seeing her on TV. I will definitely be looking for her documentaries with new interest.

Pineapple Cake

I'll call it "Lazy Sunday Afternoon Pineapple Cake" because it took less than five minutes to put together.
I mixed a 20 oz. can of crushed pineapple, 3 eggs, and a generous splash of rum with 1 box of yellow cake mix. This took less than five minutes. I poured the batter into a greased cakepan and topped it off with a handful of pecan pieces. It went into a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. What a great aroma! It came out perfectly. To serve, all it needs is a dollop of whipped cream. We'll enjoy this while we're watching the football playoffs today.

January Thaw

Today I wore a jacket without an overcoat. Geo wanted to ride down the interstate in our Subaru with the window open. If it is January in Vermont and the temperature is in the upper thirties with the sun shining - well, it feels almost balmy outside. A lot of that snow accumulation has already melted away.

Yesterday I stopped in at Gardener's Supply for their outlet clearance sale. I picked up a few things, including another string of solar lights for our tree in the front yard. On my way to the checkout counter, I noticed displays of seeds for 2010. Sunflowers! I picked up seeds of unusual varieties. Now that I have them, I will be planning for new flower gardens. January thaw is definitely giving me Spring fever.

They Arrived Today

Two of my Christmas presents from Geo arrived today. Each year at least one of his presents to me is culinary-related. This year I’ve received subscriptions to Cooking Light and Cook’s Illustrated.

I can’t help but think that these are actually gifts for him. He knows I’ll use these gifts and he reaps the benefits. On the bright side, he knows my interests and finds something that I will really enjoy and use. Guaranteed, he does his research and gives the best.

Last month’s Cook’s Illustrated featured an article about cinnamon. So I ended up throwing out what I had in the cabinet and ordered the highest rated, a Vietnamese extra fancy cinnamon from Penzeys Spices in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. I love Penzeys, and I recommend their Ethnic Milwaukee collection of spices and herbs for pasta, meat and fish - basics for culinary creativity.

Okay, I’ll admit I bought Geo a gift of a Belgian waffle maker. And I’M the one who’s enjoying the waffles (with a dash of Penzeys cinnamon)!

This year promises to be another one of eating well.

More Snow!

Enough already!

50 in 52

Jenn suggests that, this year, instead of making new year's resolutions, make a list of 50 things you want to do in 2010, and DO them. Check off one per week. Included on her list:

go to a museum
do a craft project
hike a mountain
do a good deed for a stranger without them knowing it was you
walk 5 miles
travel to a location by yourself, pretend to be a tourist, take pictures, and scrapbook them
stay in bed for one day and read
bake something for a friend
mail a letter to someone you haven't heard from in a while
clean out your closet
have a shopping spree, take out $100 from the bank and spend it all on yourself at the mall

I would add:
plant sunflowers
update address book
attend a seminar

Okay, I'll take up the challenge. 50 projects in 52 weeks. We can do this. First project: Make a "50 in 52" list.

Snow Day

It’s deep out there. Addie, Geo, and I dug out the driveway. (I found a new use for my garden cart. I filled it with snow, then pushed it off to the side to dump it.)

This aft I watched a little football, including Brett and the Vikings creaming the Giants 44-7.

A pot of chili is simmering on the stove, and cornbread is in the oven.

The snow is still coming. Looks like lots of it will be around for a long while.

Jenn, don’t forget to pack those new red X-country skis for your next trip to VT.!

The Year of Listening

New Year’s Eve found Geo and me in Burlington for First Night 2010. What I like best about First Night (besides people coming together from near and far for one huge celebration) is being able to hear music of different genres – all at one event. We heard vocalists and instrumentalists, jazz, blue grass gospel, and even hip hop. It was nice seeing Ed and Peni at one of the venues. We briefly met up with Addie and her new friend Billy, and we dined at the Blue Cat. 2010 and my “year of listening” definitely opened on a high note.