As I am sure you have realized by now, I obsess about some seemingly pretty inane things from time to time. Earlier in the Fall I was out snapping photos in the yard as the blooms were kind enough to hang around for a long time this year. I took some pictures of some of my amazing roses and was somewhat distressed about the fact that I could not remember or determine the name of the glorious variety thriving into late Autumn by the side door. As I had mentioned, this was the first year that I had repeat blooms on these two bushes. Here are the pics:
No apologies – I simply adore these!
I put out an APB to see if anyone could venture a guess and got no replies. I guess I have decided that these are my favorite roses – for appearance, habit and, especially fragrance. I spent a lot of time digging around in the dirt back then, pricking the ends of my fingers often, in an effort to try to find their tag – to no avail. I was pretty sure they were David Austins but somehow I couldn’t id them on the internet. Yesterday, I was walking in the door and I happened to notice a tag on the ground. Somehow, when the landscapers came to clean up after Sandy, they must have unearthed their tag. Ah – actually something good to have come out of Sandy! and alas, a gift: They are Lillian Austin Heirloom Roses (Ausmound)! I am so happy to find this as now I know who they are and I can order more! I highly recommend this rose and I am off to Walter’s in Bernardsville to see if he still has any of the apricot ones I saw there this Summer. (I know, it is not exactly rose planting season.)
Who is Lillian Austin? She must be someone pretty special to have this glorious rose named after her. I guessed it was his mother – who else would he name this glorious rose after, and I was correct. I am trying to find a bio on her. Anyway, now I am not sure why I couldn’t find this – but, oh well, mystery solved.
You may wonder why I am even writing about this topic on December 12. I guess I am pathetically reminiscing about the season past and yearning for the season to come – note to self: Marianne, it isn’t even Winter yet!) (today, the song, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” keeps coming into my head.) Ok, let’s try to focus more on seasonal topics.
Today, my sink and dishwasher are being hooked up. Yippee. Now, I can get ready for my big baking day on Friday. My friend, Maria is coming over and we are going to go to town. Among the items on the list are:
Francine Alcorn’s Hungarian Nut Cookies
Linzer Cookies
Spritz
Russian Tea Cakes
Vanilla Kipferln from Austrian Desserts and Pastries by Dietmar Fercher and Andrea Karrer
and various Biscotti, vanilla rolled cookies and gingermen.
At this time of year I enjoy watching the shows on PBS about the Christmas Markets in Europe. One of my ambitions is to visit Austria and Germany in December and experience the wonder of these markets first hand. I hopefully will be going this Spring on one of a couple of trips over to Europe, to see Salzburg and Vienna and experience some of the amazing scenery, architecture and, of course pastry shoppes there (looking forward to seeing Violetta). But going when it is Winter is something I covet – perhaps this is the only place where I think I’d enjoy the cold and snow. One way I indulge this idea is to delve into some special books on the pastries of Austria. Here are two books I highly recommend – especially because they have some amazing items to bake for the holidays. Enjoy!
The first is Austrian Desserts and Pastries by Dietmar Fercher and Andrea Karrer and the second is Kaffeehaus by Rick Rodgers. Take a look – they are both great books.
Stay tuned for more updates on cookie baking………… and, please send me your favorite cookie or holiday baking recipes (or any recipes for that matter).