A Vacation in Orient Part 2

Les Trois Soeurs
We Bake and We Bake

As we continue our time in Orient this summer, we find Les Trois Soeurs, Carol, Susan and Jeanne, baking away, and I do not mean in the sun on a beach.

We are following in the footsteps of Mary Berry, one of the judges on The Great British Baking Show.  Have you watched it on Netflix? On each episode, amateur bakers vie for the top prize of Best Baker in the U.K by baking cakes, breads, pastries and desserts.

Mary Berry, a cookbook author, and Paul Hollywood, an artisan baker, were judges for a season or two. Jeanne, Susan and I were quite captivated by the show.

Susan borrowed Mary Berry's cookbook, Simple Cakes, from her library and brought it with her to Orient. Thank goodness the cakes were simple, because I was in no mood to work hard baking a cake. In Britain they call the goodies "bakes" as in "that's quite a good bake." If something goes wrong with bake, the contestants throw it in the "bin."

We are making the Simple Chocolate Cake with Fudge Icing. It did not go in the bin. We served it for dessert at our supper after the Oysterponds Historical Society Benefit. The cake turned out to be delicious although Jeanne and Susan proclaimed it too dry. I had no such complaint and happily gobbled up my portion.

Les Trois Soeurs (The Three Sisters) sporting the red

aprons I had customized with our names for the baking event.

I begin the sifting process. 

More baking was going on in Jeanne's kitchen.

Here Jack and Sophie make a Pavlova -- a

meringue with fruit.

No day in Orient is complete without a Scrabble

game with Dave and Sue.

Dave's scorecard with drawings.

I believe he was winning.

 Taking a break from the hot kitchen, we took the

ferry to Shelter Island and had lunch at

Marie Eiffel.

It was my pleasure to meet Marie after our fabulous lunch

on the deck overlooking the bay.

A Bientot

A Dedication to Fern

Fern Markel Wedge
Fern Markel Wedge, my sister Jeanne's dog, died peacefully today in Orient, New York. She was 12. Fern, a Labrador, was lovable and sweet and compassionate and empathetic.

Fern loved to take long walks on the beach in Orient. Jeanne would sometimes throw a stick in the water, and Fern would happily splash into the bay to retrieve it. She loved to take dips in the water and swim with you. She would wend her way along the sand with the sea grass swaying near the marsh and daintily walk on the pebbles at the shoreline at low tide.

Fern notoriously had a mind of her own and, on walks, she would dictate which direction she wanted to go and make it hard for an unseasoned dog walker, like her Aunt Carol, to get her home again.

Fern's sweet face and soulful eyes.

Fern had a job. Jeanne trained her to go to the end of the driveway and get the paper. Jeanne would say, "go on, pup," and after a few looks back, Fern would trot down the hill and pick up the paper. You could not watch her do this because she would not go if you did. She would bring the paper in the house and drop it near her food bowl. Fern's salary was paid in biscuits. If you put both hands behind your back with the biscuit in one hand, Fern would lift a paw and choose the correct hand.

Fern's favorite section of the Times was Sunday Styles.

Everyone in the Markel Wedge family loved Fern. I loved her too, and she loved me. When I visited Jeanne's house, Jeanne would tell her, "Carol is coming." Fern would go to the door to see if I was there. The last time I saw Fern was a few weeks ago in Orient. Fern was up in studio when I arrived. My nephew, Jack, told Fern that I was there, and she came bounding out to find me. She was ill then.

When we were all sitting at Jeanne's long dining table, Fern would lie under the table. Sometimes she made the rounds of people at the table. You would feel a soft touch and took down, and see Fern's face on your lap looking up at you. Then you told her that you loved her.

Au revoir, my dear one.

Have you missed me? I missed you. Part 1

Hello, Again. 

I just looked at the last time I posted on my blog. It was seven months ago. My life has been taken over by care giving. Richard, who will be 87 next week, has dementia and needs full-time care. I do have help, but not enough. I am in the process of getting more help.

When you have to care for someone, it is exhausting and depressing. My creative life has suffered, as has this blog. You have to fight your way back. I want to do that.

So this post is a celebration of a renewed creative life that I want to kick-start. I had the chance to get away last weekend to a wonderful place called Orient, New York on the tip of the North Fork of Long Island. I was able to do this because Richard's daughter, Dianna, and her husband, Michael, came from Chicago to stay with Richard. They are two terrific people. Am I not lucky to have them in my life?

So it was knowing that R.C. was well cared for, that I got away as a guest of my sister, Jeanne. Joining us were sister Sue, brother David, nephew Jack, and his girlfriend, Sophie. A full house and a happy house.

Getting Ready To Go

First, a hair cut at Fringe, my Lower East Side go-to

salon on Broome Street. This is my stylist, Chenoh Maia,

who gave me the perfect bob.

Next -- nails at Blair, a stylish nail
salon on Orchard Street.

Bordeaux on the toes.

Magenta on the fingers.

We're here!
Deep Roots Farm Stand 

Friday arrival...I'm fresh off the Hampton Jitney.
 Jeanne, Susan and I head to Jeanne's 
favorite new farm stand, Deep Roots.

My bag, from London's Muzungu sisters, 
is taking over my body.
Nice radish.

   It's the honor system, and
 Jeanne is paying for her tomatoes. 

Have you ever not been satisfied with your melon,
and wished you could return it?

The Yard Sale

 It's impossible to pass up a good yard sale.

Susan, who just moved into a mid-century modern house,

contemplated a snack server that might be ideal
for serving mid-century snacks.
Better get a fondue set, Sue.

 Jeanne makes a call on an ornate phone. 

We are all going to a fancy party on Saturday night,

so we consider this belle-of- the-ball frilly frock,
mold included.

A Someday Rental

 But first a word about peaches!
There were no good peaches on the North Fork.
Come clean, farm stands, where did you get these mealy peaches?

 This sweet little house is a rental in Orient.
It's the stuff of dreams.

 A screened-in porch in the back for
morning coffee or evening wine.

The back yard with a view toward the bay.
A girl can dream, can't she?

A Bientot mes amis.
See you soon with Part 2
of the Orient Getaway!

Advanced Love by Ari Seth Cohen

Keep a-goin'!
It was on my mother's kitchen wall in her condo in Southold, New York. The little, framed picture with the motto keep a-goin'! I, my brother, David, and my sisters, Jeanne and Susan, took care of our mother, Mary, for many years as she went through the stages of Alzheimer's. At the end, we had to move her to a nursing home where she died on my birthday, January 11, 2008.  It took a lot of stamina and patience to take care of her, but we did, especially David, who lived with her and took her for a walk to the "post office" (actually the mailbox a short distance from her home) every day.

Now keep a-goin'! is my motto as I care for my husband, Richard. It's the theme of an essay I wrote for a new book,  Advanced Love, by Ari Seth Cohen. Ari's photographs and text celebrate the beauty and creativity of older couples who he has met in New York City, California and around the world.

Ari is the creator of the blog, Advanced Style. He has two previous books of photographs to his credit and a documentary film. He has enriched the lives of those he has met and made older women and men more visible in the world. Recently, three of the ladies in his documentary were featured in an H&M campaign and seen in a giant image in Times Square.

 "...the art we made, the lives that he, as a teacher, changed. Now it's different. One of us is eighty-five, uses a walker, needs lots of help, and can't remember things. What are you going to do? Make the best of it, confront the daily challenges, renew your spirt. Keep a-goin'.    

from the essay by Carol Markel in Advanced Love 

The cover of Advanced Love, published by Abrams Books.

Richard and I were honored and thrilled to be included in Advanced Love.

 Ari took this photo some years ago in front of the

Donut Plant on Grand Street next to our apartment.

Richard has that rakish look that captivated legions of

women, and especially me.

Ari took the photo on the left last Spring. 

I am wearing a hat and beads of my own design.

The photos on the right were taken at our wedding in 1970.

The book signing party at The Strand Bookstore in their rare book room was held last week. I picked up this silvery sequined jumpsuit before New Year's at H&M. After a recent trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the exhibit, Jewelry, The Body Transformed, a friend and I stopped at Roundabout, a resale shop on Madison Avenue. That is where I found the Yves St. Laurent necklace that I am wearing. I made the headpiece using a velvet rose from the artificial flower maker, Dulken and Derrick. Two people who worked for me at The Guardian, bought the flower for me back in the 90s and gave it to me in a white florist box as a corsage. The bag is a gift from my sister, Jeanne. I embellished it with the velvet patch that says "Love".

Jeanne accompanied me to the book signing. We dined at Il Cantinori before the party. It had been pouring all day, but the sun came out just in time to walk from the restaurant to The Strand. Jeanne was able to put on her adorable red suede shoes without fear of ruination by rain. She is wearing a delightful dress with silvery polka dots and a fun sleeve treatment. Her dangly white and black earrings are a thrift shop find. We had a great time at the party chatting with a lot of the folks featured in Advanced Love. I would have loved to have had Richard with me as well, but these days he is inclined to want to stay at home, especially at night.

I made these earrings for the book signing, and

I had my ears pierced as well, so I could wear them!

However, my ears would not cooperate, and I could not wear them!

So I am showing you now.

On January 26, Ari was interviewed, along with Barbara Flood and Stanley Dorfman,

on the WNYC program, All of It. I was a wonderful interview and Ari quoted my essay. 

Here is the link to the episode.

A Bientot!

Christmas Party Chez Carol

A Tree Sparks a Party
For the first time in years I bought a tree and put it up for Christmas. The Soho Christmas Tree company was selling trees on my block of Grand Street in front of Saluggi's sports bar, and I passed the trees on my way to shop at the new Trader Joe's on the corner of Grand and Clinton. This Trader Joe's, by the way, is the largest one on the East Coast. Just shopping there is like having a spa treatment. They have polished cement floors and vast, wide aisles. In fact, they are not so much aisles as spaces. As is typical of Trader Joe stores, the clerks are super happy and helpful in a cult-like way. Just don't drink the free Kool Aid.

The tree sellers had cute, little trees, and one day I succumbed to a four-foot one which set me back $60. This price is reasonable compared to purchasing an 8-foot tree in a tony neighborhood of Manhattan, like Tribeca, where it will lighten your wallet by $500.

Decorating it was fun. I purchased tiny blinking lights and multi-colored balls at Target. Did I mention that we also have a new Target store across the street, next to the Trader Joe's? I adorned the tree with my jewelry, doll clothes and labels that I have saved from hats, among other things, like a plastic, red and yellow chair from a doll's house. Instead of tinsel, I draped the tree with gold and silver rick rack. It was quite charming, and I liked it.

Since I liked the tree so much I decided to have a party to show it off. 

Drawing by Carol.

Me and my sister, Jeanne.
Photo by Jack Wedge

 Party attendees (left to right)

my niece, Sarah, nephew, Jack, and Jeanne.

 Jack Wedge and Will Freudenheim.

Jack is a senior at New York University's

Tisch School of the Arts in the film program.

He and Will are collaborating on a movie for

which Will is composing the music.

 Jack and me. I am wearing a dress and beads of

my own design and an ornament with feathers

 from my friend, Nita.

 Me and Jack with Sarah's dog, Polly.

 My beautiful niece, Sarah, with Polly.

Happy New Year and

A Bientot!

The Uncle Johnny Files: Tonawanda Trove, Part Two

Never Forget
Uncle George
Today we are observing Veteran's Day and I thought it fitting to write about my Uncle George Keleher, an Army veteran of World War II. When his brother, John Keleher, died in October, my cousins sent me photos and letters that John had kept. I received two photos of George and some letters that mentioned his time in the Army.

George C. Keleher

My parents, Sam and Mary Markel, were just married in 1942. George was in Europe fighting the Germans. This was a time fraught with anxiety. I was born in 1944 when Mary wrote to her brother John. 

"Doubtless you will wonder what has happened here in Bayside. Right now, Carol is on the floor having a great time. We expect to go to Tonawanda around July 10th. We are waiting until Sam has his tires recapped. Can only have one done at a time as he has no extra tire."

 "What did you think of the invasion? Good news, eh. At this writing. Have you heard anything from George? I haven't heard anything in about two or three weeks. Am afraid he has gone out of the country...I think they have almost captured Cherbourg. Hope this means that it will be over soon."

The battle of Cherbourg was part of the Battle of Normandy and was fought after the Allied landing on June 6, 1944. American troops isolated and captured the fortified port of Cherbourg. It was a hard-fought, month-long battle.

 Mary by a tree.

"The garden is coming along fine although the rabbits ate all our string beans. The baby keeps me jumping most of the time now. Believe me, she is the boss in our family. Sam has been singing her to sleep lately. I put her in a playpen now where she's outside and she loves it. No doubt, she will be sitting up in another month."

  Uncle George with his mother and my grandmother, Kate Keleher.

 Happy Times.

Left to right: Uncle George, Cousin Kathleen, Jack Wedge,

Mary Markel and Jeanne Markel, at Mary's condo in

Southold, New York.

A Bientot!

The Uncle Johnny Files: Tonawanda Trove, Part One

The Newlyweds
In September, Uncle Johnny died days before his 98th birthday. Johnny was our mother's brother, the second of 10 children. Mary was the oldest. Over the years, we were close with Johnny who was a bachelor and who lived in the family homestead in the upstate New York city of Tonawanda. A modest house, on the corner of Fuller and Highland Avenues, the dwelling was across the street from train tracks. When, as kids, we visited Tonawanda, the freight trains would pass in endless progression with a clickity-clack sound. It is safe to say that nary a nail was hammered to keep the house at 63 Fuller Avenue from falling down. So when Johnny died, my upstate cousins has their work cut out for them in clearing the place. He was a bit of a hoarder.

Uncle Johnny was a party guy who loved to wear funny hats.
 He skied with a team of retired American Airlines 

employees until a few years ago. There is a story that he once skied

with an oxygen tank. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps and served
in World War II and Korea. He retired as chief mechanic from American
Airlines in Buffalo.

Fortunately, the cousins recognized the importance of the many photos and letters that Johnny had saved. They were kind enough to send us a box of these mementos. In going through the pictures, it occurred to me that there were some touching family stories within. One was the marriage of my parents, Mary and Sam.

Mary and Sam Markel on their wedding day,

September 28, 1942. Grandpa John is to Mary's left and Grandma Kate

to Sam's right. A mighty wind is blowing Mary's veil in a cloud of ghostly white.

Aunt Peggy, then a little girl, stands in front. 

"The bride wore a white net gown, the close fitting bodice of lace with sweetheart neckline and the bouffant skirt trimmed with lace, the sleeves bracelet length. Her finger tip length veil, edged with with lace to match the dress, was caught with a spray of orange blossoms. Her arm bouquet was of white baby chrysanthemums and bridal roses.... Her younger sister, Margaret, wore a rose-colored taffeta frock, with matching hair bow and corsage of baby chrysanthemums in blending colors."

Miss Mary Katherine Keleher Wed this Morning to Mr. Markel

From the Society Column of a Tonawanda newspaper.

"Immediately after the ceremony, the wedding breakfast was

served to members of the family and some fifty friends. The bride's

table with covers for twelve, was centered with a three-tiered 

wedding cake, surmounted by a miniature bride and groom,

and decorated with pink and white streamers."

"The couple left on a short wedding trip, the bride wearing

a royal blue, velveteen two-piece costume, with dubonnet hat

and accessories. Her corsage was of gardenias. They will

be at home after October 1st in Camden, N..J."

Mary and Sam. They look so happy.

Mary, from a large, Irish Catholic family from upstate New York,

 and Sam, a Jewish man from Brooklyn.

Together they forged a good life with success and happiness.

They provided their four children with wonderful life 

experiences and opportunities.

I would like to thank my sister, Jeanne, for copying these photos.

Also, thank you to my cousins, Mary Linda and

Kathleen, for sending the photos to us.

A Bientot!