I’m not sure when you started self-isolating, but we’re into our third week now. Today is the last day of March, so we can all bid adieu to a kind of crappy month and turn our thoughts to the next, kind of crappy month. Oh but it won’t be so bad because the weather will be getting nicer and nicer. Really, it will!
Here are a few more diversions for you, if you are in need. A Music, a Book, and a Treat, all warm and comforting. More cheerful movie picks to come tomorrow.
Music
Django Reinhardt
Light and breezy, fascinatingly complex, wistful and sweet. Here’s a quick sample of Django playing with his quintet sometime in the 1930s*, with Stéphane Grappelli on violin:
*clip is mistakenly identified as from 1945.
Also note that Django manages all that with just two fingers on his left hand. His ring and pinkie fingers were badly injured in a fire. Go to Wikipedia for more about Django Reinhardt.
And here’s more music. I defy you to walk around with this music playing and not find yourself sashaying.
Book
The Wheel on the School, by Meindert DeJong
Sometimes it is good for the soul to read a really, really good children’s chapter book. This one is a gem I came across a few years back. It’s all about community coming together, and it is just so moving and heartwarming and sweet that I think it would be a perfect choice to lift sagging spirits.
I wrote a full review of it right here, on my other blog, so go on over there if you’d like to know more, but here’s the story in a nutshell:
There are no storks in the Dutch fishing village of Shora, though they nest in all the neighbouring towns. Why? The town’s six school children ponder the problem and decide they need to put an old wheel on the roof of the school for the birds to build a nest on. Their project is not going to be easy, for the migration has already begun and difficulties beset them at every turn. In the end everyone in the village has a part to play, from 93-year-old Douwa right down to the 3-year-olds.
Read it. You will be glad you did. (Did I mention it has illustrations by Maurice Sendak? Added bonus.)
Treat
Bread Pudding
(from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, page 252)
This is for 8 servings – scale down as needed.
4 beaten eggs
2-1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbs vanilla
1 tsp shredded orange peel (optional)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
4 cups bread cubes
1/3 cup dried cranberries, cherries, or raisins
In a large bowl beat together first 6 ingredients.
In an ungreased baking dish toss together bread cubs and dried fruit.
Pour egg mixture evenly over top. Press mixture lightly with back of a large spoon.
Bake, uncovered, at 350º for 40-45 minutes or until puffed and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool slightly. Serve warm with ice cream and caramel sauce!
All my best wishes for a cozy, comforting day!
Kim