It was late.  One car had a flat tire.  The other car had a warning light glaring at me. The problem — a severe need for dessert and no reliable way to get to anything.  The solution had to be in the pantry.  I went back in mind to an earlier time in my sister-in-law’s kitchen. 

One thing marriage does is bring new ideas into a family.  She brought, among other things, pudding.  She cooked up some of the best puddings I had ever had.  I’ve forgotten the name of her light and fluffy lemon concoction, but the creamy strawberry dream for Bavarian Cream.  Of course, she made a rich thick chocolate pudding.  That would be the ticket for my craving.

When I mentioned pudding to my son and his girlfriend, the reaction was quizzical.  Did I have pudding?  That made me smile — no, I didn’t mean grab a box of something.  I meant make real pudding from scratch.  So we did.  An added bonus, no flou so it was gluten free.  We only waited long enough to eat it to avoid burning the tops of our mouths.  With a dollop of whipped cream, we were in heaven.

So here’s a quick fix for late night sweet cravings–

Chocolate Pudding

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, use regular, dark, or a flavored cocoa
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 3/4 cups milk- not enough fresh milk on hand?  Keep a box of powdered milk on hand
• 2 tablespoons  butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a saucepan, stir together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Place over medium heat, and stir in milk. Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat, and stir in margarine and vanilla. Let cool briefly, and serve warm, or chill in refrigerator until serving.

Despite the fact that my source was incredibly close to this situation, the information regarding the Renaissance Festival and a 20 year lease turned out to be untrue.  No decision or agreement has been reached between the parties regarding the future of the Festival in Crownsville.   The sentiment, however, remains the same.  I hope that the Festival continues to enliven Crownsville for several months each year and that for the rest of the year the land  remains as a bucolic respite in the ever-growing presence of development.  Please read the comments provided by the General Manager of the Festival.

Festival Has New Lease

A reliable source close to the parties involved has told me that the Renaissance Festival now has a twenty year lease with a 5 year renewal for their current location on Crownsville Road.  This lease means that for two months every year for years to come, Crownsville will be alive with the characters of the festival (or the inconvenience of the traffic) and have the beautiful property preserved for the rest of the year.  More on the developing story as I get information.

The Millersville Elementary School PTA is bringing back a great annual event – its Indoor Flea Market.  March 6 is the day.  Historic Baldwin Hall in Millersville is the place, and 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. is the good time shopping time.   Vendors galore will have goodies you can’t resist.

Let’s start with the bake sale.  You just can’t beat homemade goodies. You can sneak a sweet before you get home and wash it down with coffee or hot chocolate decadently topped with lots of whipped cream.

On the subject of food – Pampered Chef will be on hand with yummy morsels to taste from their line of specialty food items.  They’ll have their cookware available, too.   Season the meals you cook in the Pampered Chef pans with spices blends from Todd’s dirt.  Todd is a local small business man.  Once you’ve cooked, it you can serve it in a basket from the Longaberger Basket vendor.

If you’re not cooking in, you might go out, and, of course, you want to look your best.  Joanne’s Handmade Jewelry will help you sparkle (That’s kind of sexist—thinking only women go to flea markets.  Gentlemen, feel free to by jewelry for someone special.)

This is, after all, a flea market, so you’ll find lots and lots of folks passing on treasures at bargain prices—everything from toys to home décor and furniture.

All proceeds go to the Millersville PTA general fund.    The fund supports  student activities such as skate night, family night, Halloween parties, and Earth day observances, which help beautify the school grounds.  Monies are also given to classroom teachers to help offset classroom expenses.

The PTA doesn’t do big fundraisers.  Instead, they do smaller, community service oriented events.  The Flea Market helps the community and the school.

Have some fun and support one of our schools – that’s this Saturday, March 6 from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Historic Baldwin Hall at Millersville Road and Generals Highway.

Our friendly volunteers who operate the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds want you to know about all the great events they have coming up.  They’ll start the spring with the Flea Market Series in April and move on through teen dances, tractor pulls, demolition derbies and more.  Of course, their big event is our County Fair.

Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds announces the 2010 Schedule of Events

Flea Market Series: April 10, May 8 & June 12

Teen Dance: April 17

Spring Craft Festival: April 24 & 25

Spring Antique Tractor Pull: April 24 (rain date: April 25)

Nation-Wide Demolition Derby: June 5 & August 7

County Fair: September 15-19

Fall Craft Festival: October 2 & 3

Fall Antique Tractor Pull: October 2 (rain date: Oct. 3)

Halloween Happening - Open weekends starting October 15th

Location: Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, 1450 Generals Hwy. Rt. 178, Crownsville, Md. 21032

For more information visit our web page at www.aacountyfair.org or call 410 923-3400

“We are a 501c3 non profit organization bringing family oriented events to people like you”

Date:           Saturday, March 13, 2010
Arts Organization:      Candlelight Concert Society
Contact Person: Bonnie L. Hoff-410-997-2324

The Candlelight Concert Society is proud to present
Narek Hakhnazaryan, Cello
Noreen Polera, piano

Candlelight presents Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan who is the 2008
Young Concert Artists International Auditions winner and recipient of the
Candlelight Concert Society performance prize.  Narek Hakhnazaryan will
perform:

Narek Hakhnazaryan will perform:
BRAHMS (1833-1897)              From Five Lieder, Op. 105: No. 1.

BRAHMS                          Sonata No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99
PAGANINI (1782-1840)            Variations on One String on a Theme
by Rossini
DEBUSSY (1782-1840)             Sonata in D minor for cello and piano
MIKHAIL BRONNER (b.1952)        ”The Jew: Life and Death”
ROSTROPOVICH (1927-2007)        Humoresque, Op. 5

Event Time(s):  8:00 PM; with a pre-concert lecture at 7:15 PM
Cost:                   Advance: Adult $29; Senior $26; Student $12
At the Door: Adult $30; Senior $28; Student $12
Ages 9-17 free when accompanied by a paying adult

Location:               Smith Theatre, Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD  21044

Contact Phone:  410-997-2324

Generals Highway Council of Civic Associations

P.O. Box 14 Crownsville, MD 21032

Agenda for March 9 meeting:

Guest Speaker: Although he claims he was prepared to brave the icy conditions, we were not, so our last meeting was cancelled. As such, Douglas Clark Hollmann, County Administrative Hearings Officer, and longtime resident of the General’s Highway Corridor, will be at the next meeting. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this office that often represents the first interface between the citizen and County bureaucracy as well as some of its new and controversial requirements for testifying.

GHCCA Business:

Although discussed at the last meeting, the items below must be voted upon by the membership; therefore they will be an agenda item for the coming meeting.

1. Establishment of an Executive Steering Committee

a.      Composed of the Executive Board and other GHCCA members as determined by the Executive Board.

b.      Chosen annually by the Executive Board

c.      Meetings called as determined by President

2. Term limits for annually elected officers

a.      President – 3 years

b.      Vice President – 3 years – should succeed President

c.      Secretary and Treasurer – 5 consecutive years

3. Establishment of Standing Committees

a.      Compliance: monitors code violations in GH corridor. Follows up on actions of I & P on such items

b.      Land Use – monitors county websites for rezoning, and subdivision changes. First line of GHCCA evaluation of rezoning requests in the GH corridor. Develops objective criteria for GHCCA approval of requests.

c.      Legislative. Monitors pertinent County and State legislation.

d.      Membership:

4. Structure of membership.

a.      Community

b.       Individual

c.       Community member* new category, replaces associate

d.       Business* new category

COMMUNITY NOTICES

• March 8, 6:00 – 8:30 PM.  County Executive Leopold’s Community Connection Day and Constituent Open House.  Old Mill High School cafeteria, 600 Patriot Ln. Millersville, MD

• March 17, 11:30AM – 1 PM.   A Panel Discussion: The status of our citizen’s right to know in Maryland.  Tom Marquardt; editor of the Capital newspaper, Maryland, Common Cause director Ryan O’Donnell, Mayor of Annapolis Josh Cohen, Assistant Attorney General William Varga.

Ste. Anne’s Parish Hall, Room 102, 199 Duke of Gloucester Street Annapolis, MD

• A reminder of the once-a-decade procedure known as; The U.S. Census.

The US Constitution requires that every ten years a count be taken of every individual living in the United States, citizen and non-citizen.  Census data is used to distribute more than $400 Billion dollars of federal funding to local and state government each year that is spent on infrastructure and services like: Hospitals, Job Training Centers, Schools, Senior Centers, Bridges, Tunnels and other-public works projects, and Emergency             Services. “A census undercount of just one percent can mean the loss of millions on dollars in local funding to Anne Arundel County.”

Feb  – March 2010      Census questionnaires mailed or delivered to households.

April 1, 2010                Census Day (All census forms should be mailed back by April 1, 2010.)

April – July 2010          Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.

December 2010          Census Bureau delivers population counts to President for apportionment

March 2011                 Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.

• Condolences to Brenda Reiber, County Community and Constituent Services Specialist, on the sudden and untimely death of her husband.

2010 DUES are now past due!

Community Association  $100.  Individual $20.

Mail checks to :

GHCCA

PO Box 14

Crownsville, MD 21032

See you  March 09, 7:30 PM at the schoolhouse behind Historic Baldwin Hall.

Richard Falk

President GHCCA

GHCC

Why not have a big party at your house and share the good food of Lures.  Or maybe a meeting at work would go better with a little food.  How about a graduation or a wedding — maybe rockfish bites on a boat?  Lures Catering Service will bring the restaurant to you.   Catering manager Mary Bradshaw will work with you to get just the results you want.  call her at 410-585-4151 or 410-923-1606 or through their email: luresbarandgrille@verizon.net.

His March program will incllude

• Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Op. 73
• Khudoyan: Sonata for Solo Cello, No. 1
• Beethoven: Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69
• Shostakovich: Sonata in D minor, Op. 40
• Shchedrin: Quadrille
• Paganini: Rossini Variations on one string on a theme by Rossini

Check out the Society’s website for more information on the concert and directions.

It’s great to see Lures becoming so successful– even if it means I have trouble finding a parking spot.  The menu presents delicious options that don’t repeat what every other restaurant in their price range serve up.  Owners Jill and Chuck Soja have assembled a staff who treats patrons like valued friends — sincerely.  And then the “lure” of music.

I just got the schedule of the upcoming shows — give yourself a great treat without leaving Crownsville.

• 3/5- Dan Fisk
• 3/6- Jim Counter
• 3/12- Larry Thomas
• 3/13- Dave Tieff
• 3/17-St Pattys day party!  Hall Vote 7-11pm
• 3/19- Matt Fanuele
• 3/20- Lenny Burridge
• 3/26-Stanley Whitaker
• 3/27-Tommy Rothman

Check out the Lures website for more details!

The maple tree has already set its buds for spring.  Now they just have to hold on through these forty mile per hour blizzard winds. The solid sheet of ice that was the river developed a fissure with the tide.  At first, a dark gray stream seemed to flow between the islands of white ice.  The wind soon widened the stream. I felt as though I were watching Pangea break up into the continents. Now I can see a lake surrounded by a snow-covered ice shoreline.

Along the real shoreline, the mallards have gathered for a little crack corn.  They don’t stand.  They sit in the snow facing into the wind.  Yesterday they were joined by a little female green-winged teal.  This morning they were joined by a male canvas back.  One canvas back usually mean 200 to 300 more. I’ll just have to wait and see.

I prepared for this weather.  I went to the bank, the gas station, the feed store, and the grocery store. Even with four wheel drive though, I am staying in to enjoy the fury of the storm and let those who must work do so without my vehicle as an obstacle.  As night fell, the wind still howled and the snow swirled.

With morning came sunlight and a new landscape.  Drifts and ice floes obscured bushes and trees and made previously open water look like a series of lakes and streams surrounding ice islands.  The animals adapted.  Squirrels and songbirds easily found the seed I had scattered even though the back porch had not been a previous feeding ground.

Canadas and tundra swans comingled along the new shorelines created by the ice. The little green winged teal was right at home with her new mallard friends enjoying more cracked corn.  The gourmets of the morning were the seagulls.

One gull out on the ice caught my eye.  He was obviously eating something with great gusto.  I went for the binoculars.  I squinted and focused — a crab.  He was eating a crab, a really big crab.  How the heck did he get a crab.  I began watching other gulls.  Most of the others were clamming.  One came up with a fist sized clam that he repeatedly dropped on the ice in an attempt to break it open.  Eventually he triumphed.  Another lost his clam over the edge of the ice shore back into the water.    I watched as still others were on the hunt.  They would fly up about two feet over the water and dive.  Eventually with sufficient repetition, one would emerge with a clam.  The lucky diner would fly up to about twenty-five or thirty feet and then let go of the clam.

Finally, I had the answer to one of my little mysteries.  How does a gull drop a clam and get down to the broken bits before his buddies?    I was assuming the gull would watch the clam down fall then fly down.  I don’t know why.  Seeing the gull in action made it seem so obviously.  He let go of the clam and then immediately began his descent keeping up with the falling clam.  He or she arrived at the ice the same time as the clam.  I was able to verify my observations since using the ice as the anvil surface required multiple drops.  It’s strange to realize a seagull is smarter than I in some things.  The crows, those clever scavengers, found leavings among the clam ruins.

The geese and swans had left for the day,  but now that the shadows are lengthening, they are returning. Standing on the ice, which just two hours ago was too thin to support the weight of a single goose, they are now bunched together, aimed into the wind with their beaks tucked under their wings.  The tundra swans are approaching the false shore making a few last tip-ups in the water before hauling out to nestle down.    Buffleheads are still bobbling in the water in their now-you-see-them-now-you-don’t feeding dace.

Life is not perfect, but it’s pretty darned close.  I will not complain about cabin fever.  At least I have a cabin.