Jim Bailey's Blog

We Need To Do Something...and quick!

 This post is about children and how to get them more inclined to concerts and the orchestra. For teens, that is a little more difficult and I will offer my observations about that soon. 

Yes, the BSO does a lot for the younger BSYO by offering free or reduced tuitions and now hosting a side by side concert  in the first half of 2025, but we simply cannot rest on our laurels if we want to keep our beloved BSO a true community orchestra for generations to come and hire the best local musicians. Other orchestras around the state and in New England are having an even rougher time, so we really need to focus our attention to the young musicians and those who have musical tendencies yet to surface. But in order to do that, we need to make sure we HAVE local musicians in the future, and that can only be done by nipping the issue of musical decline in the butt. 

I expounded on the hurdles many families face when trying to get their children involved in playing an instrument, from beginning to continuing, in today's world in my last post. Now I would like to say a few words about the adult version of the same topic.

 I have noticed over the years a decline in interest in youth orchestras around the state of Maine as well as many pro orchestras. Although the Bangor Symphony Orchestra do great things and are a marvel to watch and listen to, I feel there can be much more done to captivate younger audiences, entice a wider variety of concert goers and especially to get children attending their remarkable concerts.  

We need to look ahead, and quickly! This post is by no means a castigation of this Maine institution. They reach out to the community more than many other pro orchestras. I am simply going to give my two cents worth regarding how we can better capture a new audience and sustain our proud musical culture here in Central Maine and other orchestras around the state that are having a very rough time with concert attendance and finding musicians. 

Just the same as restaurants and other businesses do, they must bring the children in because with children, are parents. Not only will this bring new blood into the fold, but it will help solidify the future of this great institution. 

My son Thomas is a 6th generation Maine violinist, with his grandfather and great grandfather attending the New England Conservatory of Music and the Boston Conservatory. They taught violin in Maine since the early 1920s and have had their own orchestras and performed with other orchestras around New England. I can only hope that my son will continue on with this legacy and perform with the BSO as soon as he has finished his musical schooling. In the meantime. I hope the BSO orchestra is still going strong when it is his turn.

Here are just a few ideas right off the top of my head as I sit hear and write my post.

Host interactive concerts. 

This can be easily done in a myriad of ways that is fun, exciting , informative and engaging to children, and thusly to the parent. Have question and answer sessions from children. Bring them up on stage, have them try an instrument, ask a question or two, ask if a certain performer can play their favorite childrens song or even play a popular children's song and see what child can identify the song. 

Turn the lights down low, have the orchestra play a simple song from a chldrens show or movie while wearing glow in the dark bracelets, necklaces, hats, head bands, ....anything the glows in the dark and hand the same out to any child who attends. Have the conductor tell the children to wave their hands a certain way or pretend to conduct the orchestra themselves while they are playing an elementary song. Let the kids be part of the concert they are attending.

Incorporate a singalong. We all know children not only love to sing and dance, but when they think they are part of a pro orchestra...well, they will not only be exciting to them but may foster an interest in an instrument.

Use video cameras and wide screens to show closeups of the children singing, dancing, playing an instrument. Let the children see for themselves how much fun it would be to be onstage.

Have more themed concerts.

Have a fairy tale concert where children dress up as someone or something in the theme of the night. Have a movie themed concert and do the same thing. Popular childrens video games r  zoo animals would be a great fit as well. Before each of these themed concerts, have a fun hour before the concert with pre-show activities relating to the theme of the evenings concert. Or have a pre concert workshop to allow children to see the instruments and talk to the musicians on a one to one basis. Heck, even have a pre concert face painting room for children where they can have their faces painted in the evenings theme. Have a craft making room available after the concert so they can make something to take home with them after the concert. 

If, for example, you will be doing a Peter and the Wolf concert, have the conductor or announcer read a portion of the story with light background music to enhance the story or read, then play, read more, then play more....

Use Creative Marketing Ideas

You do not need to hire expensive marketing consultants. Hand out simple and colorful brochures of a certain childrens themed concert in schools, the local Y, museums...anywhere that children congregate. For example, have a Halloween Themed Concert where children can attend wearing their favorite costume, but do not forget to have the orchestra and conductor do the same. The whole premise is to show children that the performers onstage are simply one of them, just a little more grown up. 

Have a superhero night where children can dress up as their favorite super heroes and the orchestra can play the theme songs from Superman or any superhero movie or sound track. This would work equally well using Harry Potter, Ghostbusters.....the list is endless. Have a disco night with children dressed up in disco clothing.

Have a scavenger hunt by handing out simple fliers at the beginning of the concerts and let the children go on stage to find an instrument that is shown on their flyer. Then find out the names of them, having the performer of that instrument play a few bars in order to show the children what it sounds like. 

Have a contest either on promotional material before the concert to chose a guest, child conductor for one song, or a couple of winners to conduct a few minutes at a time. This would be sooo thrilling to these children.

Remember that children's attentions spans are short comparatively so keep the concert no longer than an hour or so but during that time, make it engaging and go from one experience to another without spending too much time on  one particular element of the concert. 

The music and program needs to be simple and inviting. Don't tell the kids you are going to play J.C. Bach Symphony in G minor, Opus 6 No. 6 because that means absolutely nothing to them. They simply cannot relate to something like that, no matter how much you hype it up.

I could go on and on but because even some adults have short attention spans, I will end this post post haste. The message I am trying to spit out is...

We need to do something quick or orchestras will continue to get smaller and smaller as the years go by and there are simply too many ways to counteract this decline if we just quit thinking of concerts as boring and too time consuming for children. The answers to these issues are so simple I just don't understand why the adage "If there is a will there is a way" isn't utilized more often. 

If I can come up with all these ideas simply by sitting here and typing in an hour or so, imagine what could happen with the entire board of directors, conductor and musicians and marketing people from community orchestras can come up with.

Musicians in Trouble

....and then there were none. 

 The days of children picking up an instrument at an early age are slowly waning. I am not talking about band or the child who teaches themselves on the electric or acoustic guitar because they want to teach themselves from YouTube videos how to play like Eddie Van Halen or Hendrix. I am talking about the violin, viola, cello, bass or even the piano. 

When I was a child and picked up the violin in the later 60s, there were so many children who played in school orchestra that the program was at capacity every year. We were able to find an instrument of our choice quite easily and cheaply. Lessons were given at a very reasonable price and the added expense did not alter our standard of living(which was low to begin with at times). 

But over the years, at least here in the U.S., the cost to a parent to be able to afford an instrument, pay for private lessons and keep their child interested has seriously declined. Sure, there are some things that we just cannot control and one of them is the advent and soaring popularity of electronics. Most every child has a PlayStation or x-box and at roughly $20 a month subscription, they can have fun and play with their friends online at the drop of a hat. FAR cheaper then it would cost to rent a violin and to take lessons, not to mention paying for music camps, joining a community orchestra and paying for lessons.

This post is not to diminish a teachers role in charging for lessons. I get it! They spent exorbitant money to get a degree in music and need to earn a living as well...I truly get it! But that does not mean that 'different times require different measures' if we are going to keep music alive and orchestras sustainable. 

Private lessons cost anywhere from $45 an hour up to, and beyond, $100 an hour. There aren't many families that can afford that. Let me give you an example of what I am trying to say. I am a chef. If it cost me $30,000 to get a culinary degree and if I were going to use the same logic, I would charge $75 an hour because "I have to pay for my education". Noooo, that is now how it works. I go into my chosen field knowing that it is going to take years to pay it back and I would have to work and get paid no different than any other career. I do what I can in my chosen field. I don't think to myself I am any better then the chef who worked their way up the ladder the hard way to become a chef. 

Over the past couple of years, my 13 year old violinist son and I have reached out numerous times to help those families whose child wants to play an instrument but simply cannot afford it. We have offered to teach them free of charge for the first number of months to make sure their child is seriously interested. Not only does this help a family's financial burden but this offer also helps a child learn with another child(my son) and in turn, makes it more interesting and fun instead of sitting in your room at home practicing by yourself. THAT is boring and not very conducive in fostering attention or interest. I am with my son at every home practice. Even it I were not a violinist, I would still sit down with him every day and do everything I could to make him feel as though his practice was not only important, but he was doing a great job.

I will never forget a former teacher of his who came highly recommended. He was loving her for a while then all of the sudden, on week, he came out of practice and I could tell he was saddened about something. I mean he looks really upset. I found out why. His teacher came out with him and her first words were "I did not see any improvement this week at all". I just didn't know what to say. Is she kidding me? Nope, those were her exact words...at right in front of Thomas. I was upset to the point of wanting to say something to her but I did not. He has practices at least 2 hours a day for 6 days a week and just because he did not show improvement that one week, she needs to make sure he hears her say that to me? Tell him what he improved on rather than embarrass him like that. Within a week we found a new teacher and she has been so positive for his growth and are still with her today. 

Our offer of free lessons has been accepted numerous times but have not continued for a variety of reasons, some beyond a family's control while others saying negative things about the schools music teacher and the added expense of a violin.  The one good thing is you can rent a violin at a very very reasonable price from your local music shop. There are schools that also have instruments that belong to the school as well and you can use them free of charge. This is a great beginning but I am afraid that is where kindness ends many times. I have seen time and time again where the stringed players are mixed in with band members, first year string players are practicing with multi-year brass players and the complete lack of attention from the band/string teacher in order to foster a childs interest in strings. Now if this were decades ago, I would understand because there were literally dozens and dozens of students playing instruments but today(at least in the district my son attends), there are under a dozen. 

Community youth orchestra's are declining at a rapid pace, worse then school orchestras. You would not believe how many students have no idea about the local community orchestra because it is not offered by their teacher at school. Every music teacher worth their weight should be telling every music student about their community orchestra. For example, here in Bangor, Maine. Every school district in the surrounding areas who have a music program should be telling them about the Bangor Symphony's Youth Orchestra's. There are 3 of them at varying levels of discipline, from the very beginner to the more advanced. Yet after speaking to parents, they had no idea. Shameful!!!!

Now having said that, the cost of joining a community orchestra, such as the BSYO is very very agreeable to many families. There are even scholarships and help with the expense. Kudo's to them for providing this but if students and children do not know about it, what good does it do? The only thing I would change about the BSYO is to put a crazy amount of effort into reaching out to each and every school orchestra and band....before it is too late. The cost would be minimal but so well worth that minute cost and effort. There is no reason(if a music teacher is truly a lover of music and wants it to continue) each and every music teacher does not talk to the school children about this. They should work as hard as the student to foster growth and excitement. In just the past 10 years, many youth orchestra's are not even close to the numbers once seen. And please don't give me the Covid excuse because that is just what it is, an excuse.

I understand that in many foreign countries, there are programs set up to help parents with the cost of getting their child to play an instrument. It is a shame that we don't see something like that here in the U.S..

To put this all in a nutshell, we need to change with the times if we truly love music and we are in it for the devotion to our craft and the future of it. 

Lets make it affordable for young people.

Let's get the word out to every single school and tell students there are more opportunities for them outside the school.

Let's get school music teachers to actually help encourage students to "spread their wings".

Let's get the community involved in the child musicians. If half the effort went into this as it does with the adult pro's, you will be ensuring future orchestra's are full of talented musicians. 

We need private teachers to offer reduced or even free lessons to just 1 student. Come on, giving 1 hour a week to a student in need would make such a difference. If my 13 year old and I can do it, anyone can. 

If you are a teacher, give a little, you will get so much more back. 

If you are business owner or one who could help a child, consider sponsoring a child fora just one year in the BSYO. It costs just $300 for 2 seasons and boy oh boy, will that make a difference.

Something needs to be done because if not, this decline will continue and it truly will not be long before more youth orchestra's will shut down or have to increase their costs simply because of lack of enrollment. And this lack of enrollment was something that could have been avoided in the first place.

Such simple steps but above all, change with the times people. 

We are STILL Bullying!

 I have been meaning to write a blog post about this for a very long time, which is a travesty to begin with because this behavior seems to be getting worse. I honestly thought that people were more aware now then in the past with regards to bullying, of any type and have learned some empathy. But because of all the drama that continues to unfold online on various social platforms as well as a daily 'news item' on unbecoming behaviors, my voice will have little to no impact. 

I remember the days when I was a child just barely older than my current youngest son and the trauma, humiliation and torment I went through being bullied. If I did not comply with the thoughts and demands from my "abusers"(for a lack of a better term for all those who bullied me), I would not only widely ridiculed but mocked and picked on even more. If the person bullying me told me to agree with them about something, I was persecuted even more. Only when I agreed that he/she was "the toughest" or to outwardly believe in whatever they said, was the persecution eased somewhat. But if I did meekly agree and say or do what they said, it would just bring bullying tactics by them even more frequently as well as a mob mentality. If another friend of the person who bullied me heard that I could be 'coerced' or 'frightened to agree with them', then that would bring yet another bullier to take advantage of me. 

The ONLY way I was able to crawl out from underneath that cloak of agony and suffering was to stand up for myself. I learned to box and the very moment I learned self defense(that is why I will always think of my trainer Cal Ware with adoration) the torment completely and utterly stopped. 

I never had to 'believe' in what others said or believed. I could disagree with their ideas and  actions without the fear of retribution of any kind. I wasn't called names anymore. I wasn't hassled in any respect because of my opinions or disagreements. I think when people knew that I wasn't going to stand for it anymore yet I STILL respected their ideology and opinions(no matter how absurd they were), I was treated with the same respect.

UNTIL........the time we are living in now. 

It is off the wall how people are hiding behind their keyboards now while they obliterate those who think differently. This is called RELATIONAL(or even cyber) BULLYING.  I have never seen the amount of bullying that is happening today before. You can argue the point that it is not considered bullying all you want, but the bottom line is that it is exactly that...bullying. I even have to shut off comments on my 13 year old sons youtube channel because actual adults will get on there and simply lambast him if he gets notes wrong, his tempo is different then theirs or a host of reasons. 

An example of which I recently encountered. Albeit slight and minimal, it goes to show the mindset of someone who disagrees with your point of view today. A couple days ago, I posted a question. Very innocent, but still JUST a question. I asked what the the fervor over the eclipse was because I though I was missing something I had no knowledge of. It was just not so important to me so I asked if there was something special that I was unaware of regarding the eclipse. I friend of mine, within a day, had posted on her timeline somthing to the effect of 'some people are so ill-informed and spend way too much time posting memes and spending hours a day online instead of educating themselves about the eclipse. In other words, I must have been "not very bright". I did not respond because I had a choice. Do I begin an argument and 'fight back' with words or do I easily just skip on by and unfriend her? Naturally I took the high road because I, alone, create the atmosphere in which I think. I can ask questions all day long if I so chose. So to ridicule someone for asking questions ....I don't need to harp on that triviality now do I?

I have been right down the middle when it comes to politics. There are obvious flaws in all parties and once in a while I will post a meme that pokes fun at both candidates. But I have NEVER bullied anyone to believe the way I do about anything. I have never resorted to name calling just because someone does not think the same way I do. I have never said someone is any nasty adjective because of who they vote for. I have never pressured someone to do or say something because that is what I want them to do. 

Is it because I was bullied for such a long time and realize how hurtful it is and the damage it causes? Is it because I learned that 2 rocks thrown at each other does not advance trajectory? Maybe. 

I tell my son so often(which should be a dead give-a-way of the times we are in) that "Not everyone has to believe the way you do nor do you need to believe the way they do." BUT, we don't mock, ridicule or bully those who think differently! Every single day he sees and hears adults act like schoolyard bullies or that the world revolves around them. Everyday he sees and hears people who try to force their beliefs on others. And if these "others" don't respond the way these people want, they are called names or tormented either online or in person.

There has been times when I have had to tell my son NOT to respond to someone who is saying nasty things. "Just walk away" as my father drilled into my head when I was his age. Sage advice. Stress kills and because I learned just how stressful, non-ending, non-resolving and non-learning these bullying tactics can be, it is simply best to remove yourself from the situation and "enjoy who you are!" Let everyone else be upset and mad their entire lives. 

And it is not just politics. If you live differently then others(your lifestyle choices) you should not be bullied either. This is called PREJUCIAL BULLYING. Live how YOU want to live.

But if you are tormented in any manner because of your lifestyle, simply walk away.... if you can. Speak to someone about what is happening. Do what you can to stay level headed and content with who you are. Those people who are bullying you have no right to try and change you to "their side" simply because they think they can dictate how YOU should live. But understand that the same principles extend to everyone. I could never call people names because they don't live my lifestyle.  I can honestly say I am your friend regardless of how you live your lifestyle and would not be mad at you because of it. Treat me with the same respect. 

We ALL need to respect each others decisions, not just one side. That is what created conflict and absolutely nothing will change or get better. You simply cannot legislate morality as much as we may want to. There will always be those who lash out, bully, torment in some fashion or disagree with you. There will always be people that are just plain mean, nasty, horrible or cruel. You honestly have to learn to be happy yourself. 

Sure bullying is just plain wrong! We can all agree on that! But it is still not illegal. We can all say it should be...absolutely! But it is not. So we need to take our own personal steps to keep it from ruining our lives in any manner. 

Do what you can to facilitate change but do it responsibly. 

I end my diatribe by acknowledging that there will be those who will disagree with me on how to handle certain obstacles. And that is perfectly fine! That is where conversation begins. 

5 Months Without A Post

 I have never gone this long without posting something and the guilt finally caught up with me.  Even though I should be out in the woods getting next years wood cut, deep cleaning the entire house as I do every year(usually right after Christmas though) and painting what needs to be painted around the house, I opted to spend most of my free time with my son Thomas in his quest to become the best violinist in the world....at least in Maine to start. 

His work load is incredible but he never complains. I think because he would get bored practicing simply 1 or 2 pieces over and over again. Plus add onto that, his homework in which he needs constant help with and the fact that I have spoiled him with regards to practice. He has never practiced by himself, I have always been there right next to him to help him with his mistakes. Granted, he gets upset with me a lot because I will have him repeat certain bars over and over again or continuously make sure his pinky is down, his knuckles are flexible in his bowing hand and he sits up correctly but honestly, he would not have it any other way nor would I.

Over the past few months of my hiatus from this blog, Thomas has taken over the concert master position with the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra Prelude division. We think this may be his last season with the prelude because at the same time he is playing with the prelude, his teacher and conductor(one and the same lady)has placed him with the "big kids" Philharmonic orchestra. As kind of a send off from the prelude, he is going to be playing his very first "professional" solo in April with the orchestra back up. He is so excited. He has also been selected to have a master class with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra's concert master in April as well as being invited to perform at the BSO's Soiree, I believe sometime in April as well. This is their biggest fund raising event and includes some of the most prestigious violinists all joining in to raise money for the BSO.

Thomas is also getting ready for another competition in April at the Bay Chamber Music School in April. His teacher hasn't decided which piece to play with Meditation by Massanet. It will either be the 3d movement of Summer by Vivaldi or the first movement of Winter, also by Vivaldi, his favorite composer. 

I urge you to subscribe to his youtube channel because it means a lot to him to see his subs climbing, however slow it does. It is uplifting for him and gives him a sense of purpose. I can see every now and again, he is not as dedicated or enthusiastic playing the violin, but that happens to most of us at one time or another. It doesn't help that from the very first day of his Christmas vacation from school, around the 20th of December, until this morning, he has been sick. He had a bout with covid and then I think he had some type of RSV, progressing to an ear infection. He is still having wicked difficulty in hearing, can't taste food still and his sense of smell is negligible. Poor kid.

One of his highlights this past half year was having his great great aunt Marion watch him play as concert master for the very first time. He was so excited. She is 96 years young and simply adores Thomas, and the feeling is quite mutual. He played a concert at the home she resides in and was given a very hot reception after. He nailed it and you should have seen how proud his aunt Marion was, as I was as well. We are hoping she will attend his very first solo in a couple months as well.

 He was equally excited to have his "pretty"(his own words, LOL)cousin Sage attend along with his cousin Carole, who has been so supportive of Thomas since day one. 

Below find his youtube channel. We turned off comments because, as everyone know by now, there are always bad apples in the barrel and even adults can't stop themselves from being rude. We don't mind criticism, but many adults have taken it wayyyyy over the top, which is so childish. I could NEVER in a million years degrade a child for any reason.

                                             https://www.youtube.com/@6thgenviolinist383

Just a short of Thomas warming up...Not bad for under 4 years of playing I must say.

The Charleston International Music Competition

I wanted to share a brief post and link to a very special young man. My son Thomas, who is 12 years old, has made the final cut of of this worldwide music competition. He is one out of about 150 who made it this far and the only one from New England. 

I would like to ask that you click on the link and just listen for 30 seconds at least. He is crazy talented and the hardest working young violinist I have ever heard. So take a moment and give him the gift of you like or view. It would mean the world to him. 

Thank you in advance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjiHne619c8&list=PLgdkUhRgoAHqYhTIWWQiQyhQt4W6s0Zuz&index=80

Darned if you do....darned if you don't!

 My 12 year old son Thomas has been playing the violin now for a little over 3 years and he has a particular knack for this instrument, as any of my children would have had if they would have picked it up and given it a chance. No doubt each of them would have excelled as well and fast as Thomas is. Although this is a gift, it also leads to a dilemma that I truly believe is not of our making.

Here is my favorite picture of Thomas(holding the violin) and others who accompanied him to the Pine Tree Competition in 2023. Sascha Lorimer(the lady to his right)and Rob Lorimer(the gentleman in the blue shirt) have been and continue to be instrumental in his violin endeavors. Sascha is not only his maestro in the orchestra but is a profound mentor to him privately as well. Her husband, Rob, is also a dedicated fan and supporter of Thomas in ways that he will never understand. 

Now don't get me wrong, I believe positive reinforcement is key to a childs growth and self worth. For example, if a child, and I mean a youngster under the age of around 14-15, plays for any sports team they should be given play time equal to all the other children regardless of their experience or affinity to the game. Good sportsmanship medals or recognition is a great way to encourage youngsters to continue with their dreams and allows them to believe they have a chance at greatness. Any recognition at all is a great boost to moral, plain and simple.

And then we have the cases of gifted children. No, this is not coming from a biased parent or a misplaced sense of grandiose. Thomas is truly gifted as his a 14 year old friend of his who excels at the cello. Each has an uphill struggle for identification and their place. Sure, Thomas has a great chance at being first chair in the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra this season but he is constantly playing in quartets, chamber groups and his schools band that include children who are far below his level of playing. Some music teachers will say that it helps the other students with their playing and I do agree to a point. Thomas has helped others with their violin playing many times over and has endured playing with children less advanced than he is for 2 years now but now it is time for him to stop up and truly be challenged. He needs to be with older children that can now "teach" him or be his inspiration. 

What could possibly be the reason for certain music school directors, teachers, conductors, mentors and others "in the lead" to NOT place him in such a group? Are they afraid of singling out one student over the other? And are they trying to put all violinists of his age together, regardless of skill? To me, this is wrong on so many levels. Thomas could easily play with teens, even advanced teens but he has not been given the opportunity. This is problematic because it keeps him down, which is extraordinarily unfair and detrimental to his growth as a musician. 

"We didn't know of his skill" could be one answer if I were to ask this question. To me, I believe this is an excuse because there is only one way of determining a child's skill(as in any sports team)  and that is to listen to them play a variety of pieces that show his musicality, much as a try-out for a sports team. If Thomas were to go up to the coach of a football team, after having been sitting on the bench, and ask him why he isn't playing and not to have been given a chance to show the coach what he can and cannot do, and ask "Why can't I play?", what would be the wise answer? The coach should be drilling the child to see his skillset. The same goes for playing the violin. A teacher or coach should make determinations based on observation and intelligent dissemination of that childs skills, NOT on age alone. 

So here we have Thomas and his cellist friend who are consistently playing music far below their level simply because of their age rather than their skills. There is NOTHING in this type of judgement that enables someone to grow....period!

There, I am done ranting and would love to hear from any of your parents that are in the same boat.  

 

A Few Of My Summer Favorites

 Yankee Chinese Red Spareribs

This will be you favorite recipe during this summer when you have an urge to cook some Chinese-style spareribs. Honestly, you will never order out again, they are that good! Althouh the glaze/marinade is thick, it is the perfect consistency not only to marinate the ribs, but to keep as a slathering glaze and for dipping as well.

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

15 drops(about 1/4 teaspoon)red food coloring

2 tablespoons vinegar(see NOTE)

1/2 teaspoon celery seed, optional

2 pounds boneless, country-style pork spareribs

In a large bowl, whisk together first 8 ingredients; set aside. Cut spareribs in half from top to bottom, making each half as thick. Place in a shallow container in a single layer and pour bowl of sauce over the top, making sure each rib is fully covered. Refrigerate at least 24 hours and as long as 2 days for an intense flavor.

After removing the ribs from the marinade, transfer to a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat, cover and serve alongside the ribs for dipping.

Preheat only one half of an outdoor grill on high. Place ribs on the grate that is NOT over the flame. Close top and indirectly cook ribs for about 10 minutes before flipping over to continue cooking until completely done. 

If you want to cook these on the stove top, simply add 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ribs, in a single layer, and cook for about 10 minutes per side, until thoroughly cooked. 

NOTE: Because this is a Yankee recipe, of course I use apple cider vinegar. It imparts a fantastic flavor, but use rice wine vinegar if desired. If you would like, add a 1/4 cup hoisin sauce as well, but it really isn't needed. Honey can also be a great substitution for maple syrup. 

Country Kitchen Potato Salad with Crabmeat 

 I remember so well one of my parents first restaurants in Maine. It was the Canaan Country Kitchen. It was here that I first learned his recipe for cole slaw dressing that I have never had since. So what a perfect marriage, combining cole slaw, great dressing, some crunchy vegetables and crabmeat. Think about it for a moment......done? Now go make it!
Country Kitchen Dressing:1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing1/2 cup buttermilk1/4 cup apple cider vinegar1 tablespoon sugar2 teaspoons prepared horseradish1 teaspoon each lemon pepper and Old Bay SeasoningSalt and black pepper to tasteSalad:4 cups cooked, cubed potatoes2 cups cole slaw mix1/2 cup cooked, whole kernel corn1/2 cup minced cucumber4 ounces cooked crabmeat *
Whisk together Country Kitchen Dressing ingredients until smooth; set aside. In a large bowl, add all salad ingredients, tossing to combine. Fold in the dressing to the potatoes well. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

* Your choice of crabmeat will be just fine, including canned(but drained well), freshly cooked and chopped or even imitation that has been chopped. 




Picnic Seafood Pasta Salad   





Who doesn't invariably have leftover lasagna noodles in the cupboard? I do constantly! So rather than looking at them every single time I open the door, I cooked them up for this refreshing, cool and great tasting seafood salad. Nothing fancy, high-end, gourmet or even expensive. Just good ol' eatin'!
4-6 large shrimp, peeled and deveined1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream2 tablespoons honey1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice2 lasagna sheets, cooked, rinsed and cooled *3-4 ounces cooked crabmeat1 cup frozen California mix vegetables, thawed1/2 cup chopped, fresh cilantro
Cook shrimp in any manner desired. I simply boiled them for 2 minutes before cooling. Slice shrimp in half to form two identical halves, as seen in image; set aside. Cut lasagna noodles into thin strips, either from end to end or side to side; set aside.In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Toss in the pasta, shrimp, crabmeat, vegetables and cilantro, blending very well. Serve cold. 
Enough for 2-4 servings



Escabeche   



The Spanish answer to Ceviche, but cooked. Like ceviche, this "pickled" fish dish is enjoyed during the summer months(see NOTE). A refreshingly light and delicious broth that is just as vibrant as the dish itself, but Yanked ™!. I also cut way back on the amount of olive oil traditionally used in Escabeche, substituting more broth for a fully flavor.
1 pound firm, white fish of your choice3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil1 each green, yellow and red bell peppers, julienned1 small onion, diced1 habanero pepper, seeded and minced2 cups vegetable broth1/2 cup white wine vinegar *1 tablespoon chopped, fresh basil(or 1 teaspoon dried)1 teaspoon garlic powder1/4  teaspoon dried gingerPinch allspice, optionalSalt and black pepper to taste
Cut fish into bite-sized pieces; set aside. In a large skillet, add olive oil over medium heat. When hot, add bell peppers, onion and habanero pepper. Stir to combine and cook until all vegetables are crisp tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the broth, vinegar and all spices as well as the basil. Lay the fish pieces on top, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until the fish is cooked through. Remove cover to serve hot.
NOTE: Classically, the fish in Escabeche is breaded and only cooked about half way before adding to the remainder of ingredients before being refrigerated overnight so that the fish finishes cooking in the acidic marinade. It is then served either cold or at room temperature. If desired, chill the soup completely before serving with crusty bread.

* I think white wine vinegar is phenomenal in this recipe, but use your favorite.

If he would have only listened....

 .....to me that summer morning at Canaan Country Kitchen, Dad would have turned 85 today. I will never forget that few moments on a Saturday morning in Canaan. I remember it so well because to the rest of my siblings at the time, my fathers drinking was just an every day occurrence and it became a typical visual whenever we would go see Dad next door at the restaurant.

I remember it was about mid morning or so because it was just starting to get warm out and I was taking a break from helping Dad in the kitchen. He told me to go take a break and if I wanted, I could go to the take out window and he would scoop me some ice cream in a cone. On my way out, 2 men walked in(even though we weren't open at the time)and said hi to me as we passed one another. I knew who these men were and they were very friendly to me...always had been. There names were Harold and David. I knew them not only because they came to visit Dad frequently, but they would bring him in a pint bottle of vodka a couple times a week. But for some reason, this one morning it just rubbed me the wrong way. 

Anyway, I stood at the take out window for a few minutes and waited for Dad to come and give me my ice cream cone(I was about 12 or 13). He didn't come over so I put my hands up to the winder to shade the sun and looked in. I saw Dad and his 2 friends in the kitchen tipping up that bottle, each sharing a swig. This was the first time that I remember being upset. I started crying as I stood away from the window.

I remember turning around and just looking out onto the street out front, wicked upset. I wanted to say something to him so bad. I wanted my father to just stop drinking!!! As I am writing this, I am getting angry at him for drinking, but I also feel that lump in my throat at the same time. Angry and upset, at the same time. Not often that happens I must say.

I then turned around and decided to pound on the window to get his attention. I was going to have to go back in the kitchen to help Dad in short order and I wanted my ice cream. I pounded, he looked over at me and then just turned around and began swigging, joking and chatting with his friends. I didn't want to pound again cause he had an awful temper. Not a temper where he would physically hurt me or even yell at me, but the kind of look that would quickly "put me in my place".

To heck with it, I started crying and I mean sobbing crying. I decided I wanted more than an ice cream at that point. I put my hands up on the window again to shade my face as I put my nose right onto the glass. I, very gently, knocked one more time. He turned to me and walked over. He opened the sliding glass window and with the most stern face I remember he just stared at me with his pursed lips. I knew that meant he was angry but I didn't care. 

"Dad, will you please stop drinking?" I actually asked him that while very audibly crying. I honestly thought he was going to get mad but he didn't. His face turned to a more loving look and he replied "We will talk about it later." I said okay, wiped my cheeks and he dipped into the ice cream freezer and scooped some ice cream into a cone. After handing it to me, he just stood there and looked at me. I remember me telling him that I loved him and he almost...almost....nodded his agreement. I could tell, even though he didn't acknowledge it, that he loved me too.

He never did stop drinking and I soon forgot all about what had happened after Dave and Harold left. I went back to work and all I remember is him being so nice to me for the rest of the day. But he didn't bring that little conversation up again.

To this day, that was the most upsetting time of my life...right next to the day he passed away in the ICU room when it was just him and I together.

Today he would have been 85 years old.....and still alive if he had just listened to me. Boy I hate you Dad for not listening to me, and I love you more than anything. 

\

A 6th Generation Violinist

 Sure , parents brag about their child all the time and I am no different, but I truly do not embellish. Thomas is America's ONLY 6th generation violinist!

 If I say my youngest son Thomas does not swear(even behind my back or while hanging out with his friends), I truly mean it! 

When I tell family members that all kinds of people will come up to me to let me know how polite and friendly Thomas is, they really do!

When I mention that Thomas does not bully or ridicule others, he honestly is that kind of young man.

Thomas also buys children bicycles every summer as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for parents who are down on their luck. He even paid off lunch debts from children whose parents fell into arrears on their bill. Paid every cent of outstanding bills!!!!

Now I am hearing from many adult, professional musicians and those in the world of strings that Thomas is gifted and a natural talent on the violin, not only am I telling the truth, but he is quite literally the best 11 year old on the violin with only 3 years practice I have ever heard....well besides some prodigies I see on social media. 

I have been teaching Thomas for this duration and just recently gave some of my teaching up to a very skilled violinist named Sascha Lorimer of Bangor, Maine, albeit it begrudgingly. But he is continuing to excel and I could not be happier.

Thomas has attended the Bay Chamber Music Schools Envision Program in Rockport, Maine, belongs to his schools band(a very meager ensemble of mostly wind instruments and a few violinists who are miles behind Thomas in relation to experience. He hated to go to it last year but after being informed by his music teacher at the school that Thomases presence is helping the other kids, he does it.

He is a second season, first violin member of the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra, starting in the third row and now the assistant principal while filling in for the first chair. 

He will be attending Kneisel Hall Chamber program this summer.

He is entering the Pine Tree Competition at Orono, Maine in a few short weeks playing Czardas, Schindler's List and Arioso.

He is competing in the Glen Jenks and Elsie Bixler competition in Rockport as well.

So as you can see, he stays busy and loves to be competitive. On the other hand, his love of baseball is first on his list ever simmer, being a great pitcher. 

 He began his own youtube channel, and while we do not click-bait or over dramatize the video titles, he finds enjoyment from the few subscribers and likes that he has garnered so far. 

I admit, the videos are not for everyone because they tend to be boring to those who do not enjoy the violin. But I am writing this post to see if I can drum up more support for him on this channel. 

So I guess, in short, what I am asking is for anyone who would visit his channel to either subscribe or like any of his videos, I and Thomas especially would appreciate it. Just the simple things like that makes all the difference in the world to a child.  And the one drawback we have is that we live here in Maine. Although we love this state, it offers very little in the way of publicity or renown. Heck, most people don't even know where Maine is. As for competitions, he can win state competitions but there is no chance at all to advance outside of Maine, which is not only frustrating, but it doesn't give him any hope for long term happiness. 

So I will ask once again, please like or subscribe to his channel if you would. It would mean the world to him and I cannot thank you enough.

https://www.youtube.com/@6thgenviolinist383

Amazing It...

                                               Amazing Italian Grape-nut Pudding 

Although Grapenuts was first produced in the late 19th century, within the next couple of years, these little grains were used as a crispy topping for baked custard. Here in New England, Grape-nut Pudding was at its culinary pinnacle in the 1920s and has stayed popular for almost 100 years. I created this recipe because my children dislike custard. So if I could reproduce the flavor of this classic Yankee dessert, without the overpowering flavor of eggs, than I could keep this dish alive, hopefully for another century. And this did the trick. Creamy and smooth, the flavor and crunch of Grape-nuts isn't lost, but that eggy flavor is. Don't be dismayed however, the creaminess and a sweet crust forms all throughout and around this classic, making it even better!

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese

4 eggs

3/4 cup raisins

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup Grape-nuts cereal *

1/4 cup milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon and nutmeg

Grease an 8-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Blend all ingredients in a bowl with an electric mixer until as smooth as possible, on low speed. Pour into prepared pan and bake 34-36 minutes, or until firm to the touch in the center. Remove from oven to cool before covering to refrigerate completely.

*If you don't want to spend the money for an entire box of this cereal, your favorite granola makes a fantastic substitution.

Apple Pie Fritter Bread On a day like this, I don't need to tell you how good this would taste sitting at home. 


Apple mixture:2 apples2 tablespoons granulated sugar1 teaspoon cinnamonSpice Mix:1/3 cup brown sugar1 teaspoon cinnamonBatter:1/2 cup oil(I used canola)2 eggs2/3 cup brown sugar1(6-oz.)container vanilla or plain yogurt or use milk1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract1 1/2 cup flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 teaspoon nutmeg1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice, optional2 tablespoons butter or margarine



Grease a loaf pan; set aside. Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Peel, core and dice apples very small and mix with sugar and cinnamon; set aside. in a small bowl, blend brown sugar and cinnamon; set aside. In a large bowl, beat oil, brown sugar,eggs, yogurt and extract until smooth. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Continue beating until well incorporated. It does not have to be lump free. Pour half the batter in prepared pan. then half the apple mixture evenly over the top, then half the spice mix evenly over the apples. Repeat , this time pressing the apples just slightly into batter. Dot with the butter and bake 75 minutes, or until the middle bounces back when pressed. Remove from oven to cool before glazing with a mixture of 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons milk or water.




Crispy Cheesy Potatoes au Gratin, Two WaysWho doesn't like that crispy edge often found around a great mac and cheese? Now take that a step further and give this recipe a try. Not only is it far easier to prepare(and foolproof I might add), but you get that same cheesy crispness in every single bite!



2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled11 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided2 tablespoons olive oil1 tablespoon maple syrup1 large Spanish onion, peeled, halved and sliced thin1/2 cup panko bread crumbs1 teaspoon minced garlic in oil1/4 cup flour2 cups milk1/2 teaspoon both salt and black pepper1/2 cup(2 ounces)shredded milk Cheddar cheese1/2 cup(2 ounces)Gruyere cheese, shredded
Begin by slicing potatoes 1/2-inch thick. Place in a large saucepan, cover with water and boil until just fork tender, about 8 minutes. Carefully pour into a strainer allowing to drain and dry while making Caramelized Onions and cheese sauce. Prepare Caramelized Onions first by placing 2 tablespoons butter with olive oil and maple syrup in a large skillet over medium high heat. When butter has melted, add onions and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring often, or until browned. Remove from heat and immediately transfer to 9-inch square baking pan, or equivalent; set aside to cool. It may harden, which is perfect.Preheat oven to 400-degrees F.Melt 3 tablespoons butter and mix with panko crumbs evenly; set aside.Melt remainder of butter, with garlic, in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook 3 minutes. Whisk in flour until smooth. While still on heat, add milk, salt and pepper, blending well. Continue cooking and whisking until milk has thickened. Add both cheeses and remove from heat. Sir until cheese has melted.To assemble, layer cooked potatoes over the onions. Pour cheese sauce over the top evenly and sprinkle panko crumbles over the top. Cook 20-25 minutes, or until bubbling and lightly browned. Remove to serve hot. 

NOTE: If you don't care for the Caramelized Onion layer, simply omit the entire process and follow directions for the rest of the recipe.


Bacon Cheeseburger Soup


This is probably one of my best soups for winter. And I hate to even call it a soup, more like a cheeseburger chowdah to be honest. Creamy, cheesy, thick and delicious. Many will make it a Deluxe or even a Royal with the addition of diced tomatoes and/or onions. By all means double it if you are cooking for more than two. After all, what soup isn't tastier the second day?
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted2 tablespoons flour4 ounces ground beef4-6 ounces yellow American cheese, thinly sliced4 strips cooked bacon, crumbled2 cups milk2 egg yolks, lightly beaten1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Whisk the melted butter and flour in a small bowl; set aside. In a medium saucepan, add ground beef over medium heat, breaking apart with a spatula or large spoon. Cook, continuing to break apart, until cooked through. Carefully drain grease and return to stove. Add bacon, milk, yolks and pepper, stirring well. Bring to scalding, stirring frequently and add cheese, bacon and butter mixture(roux). Stir well and continue cooking and stirring until thick, creamy and cheese has completely melted. Serve hot.
If you decide to make this either a Deluxe or Royal version, simple add diced tomatoes at the very end or cook a quarter cup diced onion with burger.

Blueberry Coffee Cake


With the wind gusting and the temperature already in the minus category, I have absolutely no issue starting up the oven and keeping it going all day long. I remember my father saying that HIS father used to repeat "Maine has 2 seasons. Winter and August". It is almost true. So sitting down to a great tasting New England coffee cake is a feel good snack or dessert. Even a husband can make this delightful cake.
Topping:1/3 c. brown sugar3 T. flour1/2 t. cinnamon2 T. butter or margarine, meltedCake:Nonstick cooking spray2 c. flour3/4 c. sugar1 T. baking powder1/4 c. butter or margarine, melted3/4 c. milk2 eggs1 T. lemon juice1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Grease an 8-9-inch square baking pan or cake pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.In a small bowl, blend together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Add melted butter and stir until flour mixture is entirely moist; set aside.
In a large bowl, place all cake ingredients at once, except blueberries, and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Fold in blueberries. Pour batter in prepared pan and evenly sprinkle crumb topping over the top. Bake 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is crisp and the cake bounces back when touched in the middle. Use a toothpick if needed to make sure it comes out clean. Remove from oven to cool slightly before cutting to serve.