Musical Pursuits

June 25, 2015 / Mackenzie / Leave a comment

For years I have loved a song that was played on the piano in the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility. It happens in the scene where Elinor is standing in a doorway crying while she listens to Marianne play the piano. When Edward approaches her she explains that the song was her Father’s favorite. So when I was in a music shop and happened across a music book called “Jane Austen’s World” I was thrilled to find an arrangement for “My Father’s Favorite”. When I got the book home and started pecking out some of the other tunes I was pleased to discover several more arrangements that I enjoy from some of the films. Learning them should keep me busy over the summer.

Book of music from Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Persuasion.

A New Toy

June 13, 2015June 13, 2015 / Mackenzie / Leave a comment

The museum I cook at got a new toy – a reflector oven. By some stroke of luck I got to be the first person to cook something using it. I have been wanting to use one of these replica ovens for years, and was thrilled to finally get the opportunity to have a go. I roasted a chicken. The bird was about 4 lbs and took 2 hours to roast, turning it every 15 minutes. I basted it in butter and a simple herb mixture containing salt, pepper and sage. There is nothing like fire roasted meat, just delicious.