WLU’s Patriotic Salad Buffet

On Tuesday, June 14, the Woman’s Literary Union held a lovely luncheon at the Deering Masonic Hall on Bishop Street, Portland, with 82 attending. It was called a Patriotic Salad Buffet and was for the benefit of the Eunice Frye Clubhouse Fund. The patriotic theme was carried out well, with red, white or blue necklaces handed to us as we entered the hall, one color to be chosen. The silverware at each place was in a folded paper napkin with red, white and blue design, and a handsome paper top hat was at the end of each table.

Greeting us as we paid for our buffet in the hall entrance were members Gertrude Parker and Joan McCormack. The salads and desserts were contributed by members, and there were many to choose from. Salads included one of broccoli and cauliflower small slices and with a salad dressing; an orange gelatin salad with grapes in the center; platters of fresh fruit and vegetables; stuffed eggs, a favorite; and dishes full of fresh shrimp. A beautiful, big, round loaf of baked bread, nicely browned on top, was displayed on the buffet table and then cut in thick slices. That was another treat.

The floral bouquets, raised by Anna Brown of Sebago, were beautiful. On a buffet table were vases of tall purple iris, yellow lilies, and daisies, and on each table were small vases of flowers, a daisy, a tall chive flower, a jonny-jumpup, with its pretty leaves; and, in the center, a handsome lily with a purple center and two white petals, a small lavender polygonum, new to me; and a little pink rose. These flowers were all grown and arranged by Anna Brown. Her garden must be magnificent. I hope to visit her one day this summer.

The desserts were varied and delicious, all home-baked finger foods.

At our table, sitting near me, were Alice Allen of Sebago, her sister-in-law, Pat Allen of Portland, and Vera Carlson of Falmouth, and her daughter. I complimented Vera for wearing a wool jacket. She was pondering what to wear, she said. This June’s strange weather has us all baffled. Many of us wore our coats during the meal.

The entertainment after our meal was another treat. Carl Barker, who lives at Ocean View, played several songs for us on his collection of harmonicas. He told of first playing harmonica when he was a student of Mrs. Sands at the Longfellow-Leland School on Stevens Avenue, Portland. He bought his first harmonica there for 50 cents. Recently he bought the same model which cost him $24.95. (I think I have the correct price. It was a big change in price!). Mr. Barker has certainly mastered that instrument, since his elementary schooldays. He played two Stephen Foster songs, “Old Black Joe” and “My Old Kentucky Home”; “Santa Lucia” and “You Are My Sunshine” on his chromatic harmonica. He played “The Old Rugged Cross,” “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” and his last number was “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Our member, Joan McCormack, who recently had a harmonica lesson from Mr. Barker at a club meeting, started to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” for us, as she had learned the first line. Mr. Barker then went over to her place and taught her the next line, “How I wonder what you are.” That was fun for us all, and for Joan too! He then played all of that familiar song for us. I can’t imagine the skill it takes to play a real tune. When we were young, all we did with a harmonica was to blow in and out, in the same place.

We learned what can be done, hearing Mr. Barker perform for us. He is a talented man.

The Hawkes’ Pickin’ Party

We had an invitation to Al and Barbara Hawkes’ annual Pickin’ Party, held June 10, 11 and 12 at their house on Hardy Road, the lovely, rural part of Westbrook. We’ve attended for many years, and we’ve always enjoyed the Country, Blue Grass, and Folk Music, played by the musicians attending, on their guitars, mandolins, banjos, and auto harps.

This year we missed the evening sessions, but I was determined to get there for Sunday morning’s hymn playing. I decided I should go early, arriving at 9:30., but all was quiet there; I realized why when they mentioned playing long after midnight the night before. Barbara said she got to bed at 2 a.m., and Al mentioned being up until 4:30 a.m.!

Al mentioned one of the groups, “Two Timin’ Three,” an excellent group of young people from the Portland area, who played Friday evening.

Soon after 10 a.m. the picking started, and how nice it was! First Corey Bonnevie, on guitar, and Shauna, who had a lovely voice, sang (and he played) “The Old Rugged Cross,” a hymn we all like to hear, and they harmonized, too.

Drew Smith, from New Jersey, played “Praise the Lord” on his auto harp, and all sang along. Al told us that Drew is a champion on that instrument. It looks difficult to me, but he is an accomplished musician. He also played and sang, with his wife singing too, “A Mansion Just Over the Hillside.”

John Shelby, on guitar, played “Keep On the Sunnyside of Life.” Joining him, and singing, was Claudie Lindell. She also played the double bass with the group, and she plays guitar and fiddle, too. Such talent!

Phil White Hawk, a Cherokee Indian, played and sang songs he wrote himself. That impressed me. He and Connie Bellet live in Palermo, Maine. She does scrimshaw for a living. She showed me a few pages of pencil drawings she had done of several of the musicians at the Hawkes’ party. They were exceptional.

Elmer Prentis and Gloria played and sang the last Gospel song.

Al Hawkes played “The Tennessee Waltz” on his mandolin, with all joining him in singing the chorus.

Jim Cox, of Topsham, played his banjo, accompanied by Aaron, a young friend of his from the Brunswick Naval Air Base. Aaron played guitar. Jim, probably the oldest performer there, has been coming to these gatherings for many years. Al told me that Jim makes banjos and has 49 to be delivered soon. His instruments are bought from a worldwide clientele.

Margie Blount was a guest, coming from Pawtucket, R.I. She has been coming for many years too.

It was a wonderful two hours. I’m always amazed that there is no music in sight, for all that playing and singing. When one musician started a song, soon all were playing along, with chords, on their instruments. It is a pleasure for the audience, as well as for the performers.

A visit with Merrill Luthe

I was a week or two late to see the many flowering bushes at the Washington Avenue home of my brother-in-law, Merrill Luthe. But his handsome rose-colored rhododendrums along the driveway were a pleasure to see. A treat was the array of photographs he has taken over the years. I looked at a large bunch of them, photos of my parents, our children and their cousins when they were young, and many scenes of the Luthes’ camp at Watchic Lake and their A-frame at Mt. Abram, one of the first camps built at that well-known ski resort. There were several photos, too, of the many countries Jane and Merrill traveled to. He is a skilled photographer.

He gave me a copy of the Fall 2004 issue of “Ski Museum of Maine,” a four-page newsletter, with a picture on the front page of my sisters, Jane and Sally, Viola Hilton, and Merrill. It was taken by Vi’s husband, Avon Hilton, in 1946, at the slope on Hurricane Mountain, Falmouth. Vi has her skis on; the others are carrying their skis and poles. The information tells about rope tows, which many of us early skiers used. The first rope tow opened in 1936 on Jockey Cap, in Fryeburg.

Hurricane had one, too. The article said “It was in some ways typical, one rope tow on a good hill near a lot of people. Because the hill (at Hurricane) was steep, better skiers enjoyed it.”

Vi’s husband, Avon, was a skilled skier; one of the rails is named for him at Dyke Mountain, Sebago, where Ted Johnson, our Deering High School ski coach, taught us all to ski. We stayed, girls one weekend; boys the next weekend, at the cabin we all loved, “Ski Haven.” It had no running water, no electricity, and a wood stove, but what good times the club members all had there.

Recipe

Today’s recipe comes from Marion Brown’s “Southern Cookbook.” Our daughter Sue made this chicken recipe when my Mother and I visited her in Atlanta, Ga., many years ago. The flight was my Mother’s first airplane ride; we were served a sumptuous breakfast (those were the days!), and we enjoyed our daughter’s sumptuous meals too.

Tarragon Chicken (serves 6)

6 half chicken breasts, bones (more elegant than with bones, which makes more work)

Reese roll-on garlic oil (Sue used a garlic clove, cut slightly to release juices)

Salt and pepper

Flour

4 Tbls. of minced onion

2 Tbls. butter or margarine

2 Tbls. oil

1 tsp. dried tarragon

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup white wine

1 Tbls. lemon juice

6 slices of mozzarella cheese

Rub both sides of chicken with garlic oil. Salt and pepper the chicken; dip it in flour. Sprinkle with minced onion. Brown lightly in butter and oil in frying pan. Remove chicken to a shallow baking dish and sprinkle with tarragon. Add broth, wine and lemon juice to drippings and bring to a boil. Pour over the chicken. Bake covered in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove cover. Place a slice of cheese on each breast and bake uncovered until cheese is melted.

This may be frozen before baking, thawed at room temperature and baked for 1-1/4 hours at 325 degrees.