"We could learn from each other"

In my line of work, I'm fortunate to be able to meet and hear the stories of many, many people. But few stories have touched me more deeply than the ones shared by the folks profiled here who attended the Worton Point Colored School No. 2 during the 1940's and 50's.

Now the home of the African American Schoolhouse Museum under the direction of Karen Somerville, this snug, one-room schoolhouse in Kent County merits a visit, not only to see the desks and cloakroom, the school photos and report cards that line the walls, but as a reminder that learning can happen--and is happening--in places we often overlook or ignore.

(Photograph by Kirsten Beckerman, care of Chesapeake Life Magazine)

Good spaghetti does not grow on trees

Remember the infamous 1957 BBC hoax? The one where they ran a fictitious segment about a Swiss family idyllically gathering noodles from the branches of trees during the spaghetti harvest?

This week's City Paper Free Range review is Ullswater Restaurant and Wine Bar and can be found here.

Southern. Inspired.

The above title is the catchphrase of Langermann's, the newest addition to Baltimore's Can Company. I'm not sure I like the two periods (wouldn't a comma work better and be less cute?), but I'm assuming we're to think that Langermann's is both Southern and inspired, and not just inspired by the south.

Or something like that.

At any rate, the City Paper review is here.

As a bonus, here's a peek at my first attempt at both placemats and machine quilting. A little wonky, perhaps, but full of vintage charm, dontcha think?

Catching Up

You know that old chestnut about the cobbler and his shoeless children?

Turns out the same adage works for the writer and her empty blog.

Yes, I've been writing--just not here.

I'll attempt to catch up this week, starting now, with this piece on hominy. (Who knew pigs feet could taste so good?)

In the same issue of Style I write about the old Hochschild Kohn department store. My editor has expressed interest in a simliar piece on Stewarts (another of Baltimore's fabled department stores). If any of you dear readers have memories of Stewarts you'd be willing to share, please let me know in the comments below or email me at lahuitrefrite@yahoo.com. Thanks.

And now for the obligatory cooking photo. It's a little early, but we had our St. Patrick's dinner last night: corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and this very nice Brown Irish Soda Bread, recipe courtesy the Crabtree & Evelyn Cookbook. I added currants and thought about caraway seed. Maybe next time. Slainte!