Willy Or Won't He – So Many Years of Experience But Still Making Mistakes!

Mercoledi Musicale

If I asked you to name a performer that you would associate with Pete Seeger I hardly think that Marlene Dietrich would be amongst your top ten answers. The earthy folk singer and the equally earthy but soignee femme fatale film star seem to have little in common. However the other day when I took part an impromptu singalong to one of Seeger’s best known songs it was Dietrich who immediately sprang to mind.

Seeger compiled the anti-war ballad Where Have All The Flowers Gone in 1955, taking inspiration for the first three verses from “Koloda-Duda”, a Cossack song he had read about in Quiet Flows the Don. For the melody he took an Irish folk song and slowed the tempo and fit the words to it. Later Joe Hickerson added two more verses and repeated the first verse turning it into a circular song. It was to become a favourite with folk and pop singers particularly during the years of the American War in Vietnam. You could expect to hear it at least once at any folk festival in North America. But it wasn’t something you would expect to hear sung in a Cabaret act and particularly not from Marlene Dietrich. But sing it she did and made it her own.

Though Marlene Dietrich had sung in many of her movies her style was more what is called speak-sing. Her natural contralto had a limited range but her expressiveness in conveying the lyrics of any song she sang made that immaterial. As she grew older her film career began to take a back seat to her cabaret and concert appearances. From 1955 until the early 1970s she appeared in name night clubs and concert halls.

Her show was an incredible mixture of nostalgia, artifice, illusion, disciplined professionalism, and what one reviewer called her “belief in her own magic.” With conductor and arranger Bert Bacharach she created an act that encompassed songs from her movies, her tours of the Allied trenches, and pop songs in English, French, and German. One of the many highlights of any concert was Where Have All The Flowers Gone? which Peter Bogdanovich said became “not just another anti-war lament but a tragic accusation against us all.”

There are many videos on YouTube capturing her performance over the years and it was difficult to choose one to post. Though they are essentially the same there is always some little inflection or nuance that is different. Perhaps the best would be a compilation but I choose this one from the 1963 Royal Command Performance in London.

Sadly, as we recalled only two days ago and we see in the news every day that “tragic accusation” is a true today as it was when Seeger penned it in 1955 and Dietrich sang it in 1963. When will we ever learn?

The word for November 13^th is:
Soigné /ˈswɑː.njeɪ/: [adjective]
^1.1 Showing elegance and sophistication.
^1.2 Polished and well-groomed; showing sophisticated elegance.
Directly from the French.
1821, a French word in English, from French soigné (fem. soignée), from past participle of soigner “to take care of,” from soin “care,” which is of unknown origin.

Memes for a Monday

… but on a Tuesday.

A day late – so what do you want? I’m old! I’m forgetful! So sue me!

That’s right faithful reader, it’s memes for curmudgeons this week.

Rejoice in your small achievements.

And they were ugly.

I can hear perfectly just stop mumbling.

Only one pill? Amateur!

Cute. Not funny, but cute.

If indeed you ever really did but now you don’t have to hide it.

In jest there is truth.

Or use the magnifier app.

And as graceful.

“Stay asleep all night” – in your dreams.

Why would ruin a perfectly good joi…. oh those joints.

Or the Willie Nelson or William Shatner??

Give the guy a break – look at his left hand, he has a hangnail.

Always look on the bright side of life – Monty Python.

The word for November 12^th is:
Joint /joint/: [noun]
^1.1A place or part at which two or more things are joined.
^1.2 A point of articulation between two or more bones, especially such a connection that allows motion.
^1.3A large cut of meat for roasting.
^1.4 A cheap or disreputable gathering place.
^1.5 A building or dwelling.
^1.6 A prison. Often used with the.
^1.7 Slang A marijuana cigarette.
The Middle English (late 13th century) noun is from Old French joint “joint of the body” (12th century). The meaning of “building, establishment”, especially in connection with shady activities, appears in Anglo-Irish by 1821 and enters general American English slang by 1877, especially in the sense of “opium den”. The sense “marijuana cigarette” is attested in 1935.

Lest We Forget 2024

Back in 2018 my friend Candy shared a memory of her Grandfather, Earl Mills, and his part in the Great War. I revisited it today as a reminder of why those battles we remember today were fought: A Thank You Note -1918.

What’s Cooking

For oh so many reasons I think a little comfort food is needed today, so here’s what’s cooking at our place tonight.

I may have mentioned in passing that my options for eating are somewhat constrictive – probably for life. Amongst the food that I have found difficult is beef – particularly steak. And believe me I have missed it. However, and you knew there was a “however” faithful reader, I have found a workaround that gives that fall-apart texture that I can manage and it has met with great acceptance at our nightly board: Braised steak and onion! It was on the menu one evening at Papa Joe’s, our local favourite and I cleaned my plate. This lead to a search for a do-it-at-home recipe.

Doing the search I discovered that it’s a great favourite in Australia where it is available in cans! According to the good folks at Woolworth.au Antipodean mothers often serve it on toast as a home-from-school lunch and it’s a great favourite with campers. (No! Not those sort of campers – the tied me kangaroo down Mate type.) Frankly steak-in-a-can doesn’t appeal but a recipe for a homemade version on Greg’s Kitchen, a rather quirky Australian website, did. It’s simple and – in a blessing in this day and age – uses inexpensive cuts of beef.

Braised Steak and Onions
Greg at Greg’s Kitchen
Serves: 3/4*
Prep time: 10 minutes
Stove top time: 10 minutes
Oven time: 2 hour

Ingredients
1 kg braising steak (round, blade, chuck, faux fillet)**
Flour
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 large onions
2-3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
500 ml beef stock

Preparation
Preheat oven to 325ºf.
Cut steak into large pieces***
Season flour with salt and pepper
Dredge the steak pieces in flour, shaking off the excess.
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium high.
Brown the meat off getting a good sear on each side.
Transfer the meat to a baking dish and arrange in a single layer.
Cut the onion into large rings or chunks.
Dredge the onion in the remaining flour being sure to shake off the excess.
Using the same pan (adding oil if needed) fry off the onions.
Arrange the onions to cover the meat.
Mix the stock with the Worcestershire Sauce and pour in enough to almost cover the meat.
Tightly cover the baking dish and place in the oven for 2 hours.
When done the meat should be fork tender.
If you prefer the gravy thicker beat in a bit of cornstarch slurry.

Serve with mashed potatoes (at Papa Joe’s they had horseradish whipped in) and crusty bread.

*There are only two of us but like most braised dishes it’s easy to reheat the leftovers the next day or even to freeze them for later.
**Some stores are now selling beef cuts marked as “simmering steak”.
***It is better for serving this way but it can be left whole.

Keep in mind this a basic recipe and I’m going to try a few additions to dial it up a bit. Maybe add some carrots to the mix, a touch of tomato paste, wine, or garlic. And it’s also a great do-ahead dish and some people say it tastes better the next day.

Enjoy Mate!

The word for November 8^th is:
Slurry /slûr′ē/: [noun]
^1.1A thin mixture of a liquid, especially water, and any of several finely divided substances, such as cement, plaster of Paris, or clay particles.
^1.2 Liquid waste produced by mountain top removal mining. Usually very toxic. Usually stored nearby in giant dams.
^1.3 In cooking: a thin mixture of liquid and a starch (wheat flour, cornstarch) to add to a liquid to thicken it.
Middle English slori, perhaps from sloor, mud.

Memes for a Monday

Well Nicky is not impressed by this change of schedule and has voiced his displeasure in the early morning at breakfast being delayed. And I can’t say I’m overjoyed at darkness at 1700. But there’s naught we can do but smile and show our dimples. So here’s a few Monday Memes to make you grin and ~~bare~~ bear it.

You’re asking for logic in the English language??? Oh phoolish man.

Ever the romantic.

You’ve always meant to do it – so now’s your chance.

And let’s not even talk about the packets of M&Ms – air bags belong on cars.

I am reminded of a strip club up in Jonquiere back in … Never mind!

No groaning please.

Once upon a midnight dreary …

Try it.

At what …. oh.

Problem solved Archimedes.

And in as a gelatinous mass.

A good question! Over to you Disney?

Talking about your sang-froid!

I had heard that the rule of thumb is “E” is for Europe and “A” is for America but then Canada is part of America so …

Believe me the way my weight has changed I’ll join the chorus.

And finally a thought for the week.

The word for November 4th is:
Sang-froid /säɴ-frwä′/: [noun]
^1.1 Coolness and composure, especially in trying circumstances.
^1.2 Freedom from agitation or excitement of mind.
^1.3 Indifference; calmness.
Circa 1712 from the French: sang, blood (from Old French, from Latin sanguis) + froid, cold (from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *frigidus, alteration of Latin frīgidus.

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