Brants arrive

I’ve heard recently from my friend Joan Ashley of Falmouth, who told me that two weeks ago, at Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth, she had seen a flock of at least 30 brants, an Artic goose, walking on the beach in the afternoon and “chattering” together. She called me, hoping that I could get out to see them. Ray, Harry and I did drive out later, but we were too late to see the brants. Kettle Cove is a nice place to park and study the birds there, and also a good place for a hike.

Actually, I was not familiar with the brant. My Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds describes it: “Similar to the Canada Goose, but smaller, shorter-necked, and lacking the conspicuous white cheek patch. Dark brown above, with black head and neck, and an inconspicuous white patch on the side of the neck. The voice is a low, guttural croaking. It breeds in the Arctic, and winters along the coasts, south to California and the Carolinas.” And some like Maine, too!

This week Joan had another group of birds to report. She saw these in the trees outside a nursing home. There were a few robins, several cedar waxwings, and, to her great pleasure, a Bohemian waxwing. She sent me details about the Bohemian, copied from her bird book. It says: “Bohemian waxwing, a sleek, gray-brown bird. Similar to the Cedar Waxwing but larger, with conspicuous white wing patches, and rusty (not white) undertail coverts. Call is a high-pitched, lisping.” A friend of hers used to describe the birds’ look as “rusty bloomers.”

So I hope to see a Bohemian waxwing sometime, and will look, for those “rusty bloomers,” too, that Joan wrote about.

Ozawa smiles

Here’s an exciting addition to our story about our son Dan and his wife, Mikiyo, attending the Red Sox season opener in Tokyo. As they were leaving the game, Dan, who was wearing his Matsuzaka Red Sox jersey, Mikiyo, and their friend Hide spotted someone also wearing an identical Matsuzaka jersey, and immediately recognized the wearer as former Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor Seiji Ozawa. Ozawa noticed Dan’s shirt, too, and they exchanged smiles.

Dan was visiting here about the time of Matsuzaka’s signing, and bought some of the first shirts available with his name at Olympia Sports in Portland then, one for himself and the others as gifts for Tokyo friends. No word on where Ozawa got his.

Ozawa was very popular in his role at the Boston Symphony, serving from 1973 to 2002, a record. He is now conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic, and also conducts some in Japan.

Herbs explained

Holly Ihloff spoke at the April 2 meeting of the Westbrook Historical Society on herbs and skin care. She and her partner, Pat Blake, have a shop called Great Things Inc. in Casco, Maine.

She handed out a brochure with an antique picture of a beautiful lady, expensively dressed, and holding a small brush and a packet of rouge in her hand. Inside the brochure were several pages of early American herb recipes, including Eau de Cologne, Perfumes, Hair Tonics, Types of Herbal Baths, and the flowers used in the baths. The center double page was fascinating, with pictures of trees and the names of many flowers. The woodland plants listed were Jack in the Pulpit, Indian ginger, ginseng, bloodroot and columbine, all familiar names to nature lovers. Roadside plants were Queen Anne’s lace, brown-eyed Susan, soapwort and yarrow.

There is a section on “Bathing with Herbs,” suggesting that water temperature is important – 96-98 degrees is ideal for a relaxing bath. “Be careful of hot baths,” it warns.

Members received several useful ideas from Ihloff. She is very knowledgeable.

The meeting was opened by society treasurer Nancy Curran, substituting for the president and vice president, and Nancy gave her treasurer’s report also. Donna Dyer was in charge of the popular refreshment table, with sweets made by society members, and punch served also. Each meeting is followed by this social hour, after the meeting.

Cookies tempt

Today’s recipe is from Good Housekeeping’s “Book of Cookies,” 1958 which has printed on the front page, in small print, “To gladden the hearts of cookie-lovers.” The illustrations make all the recipes look tempting, too. Watch ’em vanish.

CHOCOLATE CHEWS

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup butter or margarine

2 squares, unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sifted all-purpose flour

1/2 to 1 cup chopped walnuts or pistachio nuts

Start heating oven to 350 degrees. Grease 11-by-7-by-1-1/2-inch pan. Mix well eggs, sugar, vanilla. Melt butter with chocolate. Cool a bit. Mix with egg mixture. Add flour. Mix well. Turn into pan; top with nuts. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until done. Cool in pan, cut. Makes 24 squares.

Ramblings