Vridag is but a dream

Today jetlag is officially declared a thing of the past. I managed to get up before 8am feeling both compass and mentus. After throwing myself at making Rosti (the Swiss potato pancake that, well, makes me wish I were Swiss) I wound up with a passable latke, minus the applesauce and the sour cream. Ok, so it wasn't really a latke. It was grated onion and potato bound with two eggs and (de facto, unfortunately) scrambled. It would appear that Rosti don't have eggs in them (first mistake). Sometimes they have bacon (!) and often they have onion, and they have even been known to come with cheese in them. Thank heaven for regional variation. One trick is not to keep fussing with the mixture once it is in the pan and formed into a cake. Also, don't fill the pan and then try and flip the mixture with a flick of the wrist, unless of course, your floor is very clean. Or Monique isn't watching. Use the plate method, just like they tell you to or you'll be sorry.


The mill was open when we went by, but we were headed to the book sale. Nothing could stop us. There is something exciting about a used book sale, particularly in a new place. I must admit though that some of my enthusiasm diminished in the face of the awful truth. The setting, an old church yard, was perfect, but I couldn't help noticing the fact that almost all of the books were in Dutch. I am sure I already suspected this would be the case, but sometimes you just have to find out the "facts on the ground" the hard way. Still, it was a delight, poking through the boxes with complete detachment. There were some English books, but I didn't come here to re-read Lady Chatterly (and the Dutch Kama Sutra didn't have any pictures) so in the end I got out easy. Dore's illustrations of Dante's Paradiso, Trungpa's Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, a 45 for RZ, some Bach Organ CDs and 3 old Dutch books on Mammals; Birds; and Fish, Reptiles and Insects; all complete with gorgeous illustrations.

We stopped for coffee and spice cake in the church mess hall when a fellow came up and asked if we'd like him to open up the church and play some organ for us. We did and he did and it was really very cool. The church dated from 1500-ish, Protestant I think, and had an organ from the late 1800's. Apparantly it was made by a famous Dutch organ maker (the second one he ever made, so we are to assume that he made his reputation due in part to this one). Everything was simple, straightforward and generous (without being ostentatious). It was a perfect way to spend the morning.

The mill was closed on the way back, so I didn't get the rye grains, rye flakes or rye flour I wanted to get. I would like to make Volkornbrot, but I guess it'll have to wait until the next time the mill is open.

Monique managed to track down someone who would loan me a table to set up some still lives on, for shooting. Now I have to figure out where to put it, because while it is lovely, it's too big to be portable.

Made a first attempt at German-style potato salad, and it's time for some wine. Later, after Boekweit pancakes with Ham, Spinach and Belegen Cheese (made with the mix we bought at the mill) we'll all gather around the fire (the kitchen table) and figure out what it is that's going on here.