March Radio Playlists 2014

The name of the show: Blackbeard's Delight
Your host: Prof. Kitty
The station: WVEW 107.7 Brattleboro, VT

March 6, 2014: "Inspired by THE GOD JOE JACKSON"

• Mess: Ben Folds Five
• Look Sharp: Joe Jackson
• Tempted: Squeeze
• Heavy Weather: Jarvis Cocker
• Work to Make It Work: Robert Palmer
• Kid: The Pretenders
• Steppin' Out: Joe Jackson
• Gamma Ray: Beck
• It's Over: Milosh
• Take It Like a Man: Joe Jackson Band
• Pearl's Dream: Bat for Lashes
• Jacking the Ball: The Sea & Cake
• Sole Salvation: The English Beat

March 20, 2014: "SPRING!"

•  "La Primavera": composer, Antonio Vivaldi; violin, Anne-Sophie Mutter
• Wear Your Love Like Heaven: Donovan
• Padranga Differente: Rene Touzet
• Jazzy Retro Satanas: Françoise Hardy
• Her Mellowness: Orange Cake Mix
• Say Aha: Santigold
• Cars Are Cars: Paul Simon
• Pristitiya: Amadou & Mariam
• Volunteers: Jefferson Airplane
• Our House: Madness
• (Just Like Me) Breakdown: Hot Chip
• A-Punk: Vampire Weekend
• Feel the Heartbeat: Treacherous Three
• La Faim des Haricots: Les Negresses Verts
• Panda Riot: Our Hour
• Mr. Sun: The Lettermen

March 27, 2014

•  Girl: Heck
• I Wish You'd Stay: Club 8
• Untrust Us: Crystal Castles
• Out of My League: Fitz & the Tantrums
• Future: Cut Copy
• B Boys Will B Boys: Black Star
• Sir Duke: Stevie Wonder
• Wait for Me (Please): Kleenex Girl Wonder
• Nadine (Memory Tapes version): Fool's Gold
• Seven Nation Army: White Stripes
• Can You Tell (The Kids are Radioactive Remix): Ra Ra Riot
• Toxic Holiday: Stars

Mack's Place, friendly eatery in Grafton, VT

I was going to write, "if you ever find yourself in Grafton, Vermont, stop at Mack's Place," but you can't just find yourself in Grafton, Vermont. It takes some effort to get there. But if you ever make the effort, do stop at Mack's Place! It is a super friendly deli/cafe right next to the Grafton Inn, which is to say it is one of the buildings at the intersection that is downtown Grafton.

A view of Grafton.

We went to Grafton for a raptor presentation put on by the Nature Museum at Grafton. It was pretty cool. A bird educator/handler came from the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum. He talked about the historical significance of birds of prey, and brought out 4 birds to show the child-heavy crowd. There was a small kestrel or falcon, a gorgeous red tail hawk, a bald eagle, and a small owl.

 

Afterward, we wandered across the parking lot to Mack's Place Eatery. Actually, half of our family got antsy during the bird presentation and had to leave early, and the other half missed the first half so left the presentation as well, and then we finally found each other again at Mack's Place. I was really happy to hear that a breakfast sandwich had already been ordered for me!

 

The breakfast sandwiches are lovely, made on a sweet Portuguese bun and quite cheesy. (I was fascinated by my mug. They have a bunch of mugs hanging on the wall by the coffee urns for people to use.)

 

The younger family members got blueberry muffins. This one got shredded prior to eating for some reason. Other fare include specialty sandwiches and a Ploughman's Platter.

 

The cozy atmosphere includes a little "wood stove" nook (it's electric). There are photos of pets and weddings and the Governor posing with staff on the wall.

 

A large fork decorates the side yard. The other half of the building is the Grafton Cheese Shoppe for your wine & cheese needs.

While we were in Mack's Place it started to snow, a cheerful fluffy snow of the exact type that you'd want to see on Christmas Day. Of course, it's Spring now.... but this is Vermont.

I Hab a Code

I was JUST thinking how nice it is that I haven't gotten sick this season, and then I came down with a wee cold. Apparently one can only eat the leftovers of a runny-nosed & coughing preschooler for so long before contracting disease oneself. So far, my cold has been fairly contained, making me sneeze and blow my nose a lot but not traveling to my chest or sinuses. (TOUCH WOOD) I am trying some of my milder cold remedies to get me through the days.

One sick-time favorite is the Olbas Natural Inhaler. I love these for clearing out that itchy sneezy feeling in my nose (does not work if you're fully congested though, you have to be able to breathe). It is minty fresh and bracing! The inhaler contains menthol and oils of Peppermint, Cajeput, and Eucalyptol (whatever that is). Refreshing!

Whenever I wake up with a sore throat, I hit it with Honey Gardens Propolis Spray. This was recommended by an acupuncturist and I truly believe it helps my sore throat (slowly and surely). It costs about $10 an ounce but is worth it. Made in Vermont!

Tea! I like Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat (they now have a Lemon Echinacea version for immune support too) and also their Gypsy Cold Care.

(Update on my lily-pad-shaped silicone lid... it actually doesn't stay on containers the way I'd hoped. But it's great for covering a cup of steeping tea.)

Other springy news:

Our front yard has been thawing, and there are some peeks of grass. Even better for children... there are peeks of MUD. (Seen here with this morning's ice)

We are so far removed from paleo living now that I've started making sourdough bread on Sundays again. It is excellent. Make sure you have lots of soft butter nearby when these guys come out of the oven.

I am obsessed with ramen right now. After posting about it in January I can't stop making it, sometimes late at night as a snack. I also can't stop adding Sichuan Chili Oil. I think I am addicted. I actually had a dream that I was eating ramen without Sichuan Chili Oil and I was so ashamed. To top it off, the New York Times published a ramen article on March 4! I am so au courant. What what.

Late-night ramen after a night of clubbing in the big city at home in Southern Vermont