We had two speakers just like those Sansui speakers pictured above; they were purchased in 1969 at a great price from a U.S. Army Commissary just before Andy left the service. We considered them one of the small treats we deserved – after spending a stressful year apart due to the Vietnam War. Plugged into our Sansui 5000 receiver, those speakers were in our household for close to 30 years.
Though Sonos speakers are what we use most now, a month or so ago we purchased another speaker – the portable Sony, as seen above. It’s a “Wireless Bluetooth Portable Lightweight Super-Compact Travel Speaker, Extra-Durable IP67 Waterproof & Dustproof, 16 Hour Battery, Versatile Strap, and Hands-Free Calling.” Not bad for about $50. And the sound is pretty amazing.
What’s my message here? That there’s a lot of fun and helpful and smart and good things that have happened in the last 55 years (and maybe…just maybe…everything isn’t gloom and doom).
Thinking of “the sound of music” brings me to The Sound of Music, the film with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer with music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. It was released in 1965, a few years before our speakers. As it portrayed (somewhat fictitiously) the Von Trapp family’s flight from Nazi-occupied Austria, it also made an effort to look on the bright side of things. Even if today the film seems a little overboard and way too cutesy, it has lovely singing with sweet lyrics. Julie Andrews, now 88 years old, competed with Grace Kelly and Shirley Jones for the role. You’d have to admit, she’s pretty perfect.
Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things…
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad.
If you’re feeling a little down, perhaps a crisp apple strudel is just what you need; after all, it lifted the spirits of Maria in the Sound of Music. We’ve got a recipe which I cut out years ago from some still-in-print newspaper. And we’ll have a schnitzel recipe for you before long. Meanwhile, keep remembering and smiling about those favorite things when gloom and doom wants to overwhelm you. Now I think I’ll go turn on my new speaker and listen to Julie sing “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music.” (Remember, I come from the singing Hill family, so those lyrics always make me smile.)
Apple Strudel
- a package of Puff Pastry (Dufour is much better than Pepperidge Farm!), thawed
- 2 lb apples (a variety is good – Granny Smith apples and others; you’ll need about 4), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 2 T lemon juice
- 1/4 c sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 c dried cranberries (or raisins or currants), optional
- 2/3 c walnuts or pecans, ground (measure before grinding them)
- melted butter to brush on the top before baking
- Confectioners sugar to dust the top (optional)
Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, mix the apples and the lemon juice until well-coated. Whisk together sugar and cinnamon, then add that mixture and the cranberries to the apples. Set aside.
Lightly flour a clean work surface and roll one sheet of puff pastry out to a 16 by 12-inch rectangle.
Sprinkle the ground nuts on pastry, leaving a 1″ border around the outside. Then – with the long side of the dough rectangle facing you – carefully place the apple mixture on the front half of the long side of the pastry.Tuck in the short sides of the dough and then roll it up jelly-roll style.
Transfer strudel to prepared baking sheet and brush top with butter. Cut three slits – about 1/2″ deep – on top of the pastry to let steam escape. Bake until top is golden, about 35-40 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Dust with confectioners sugar before serving, if desired.
Our speakers are Polk… some are 40+ years old, a sub-woofer that’s about 15, and a set for the TV. The sound is good. Don’t really need the TV speakers as we rarely watch anything but PBS news, Antiques Roadshow and Finding Your Roots, plus some local public TV specials..
Strudel looks absolutely fine. If we can ever get our LG refrigerator to work (new compressor installed yesterday, it doesn’t work and the fan doesn’t work either), we might try some assertive baking. Fridge is 2-years old and the compressor is the third major issue.
Thanks for the comments. We’re unfamiliar with the Polk speakers, but the brand sounds sound. Not a great recommendation for LG fridges though.
I reference Andy’s blog today… The Sony speaker is great but has no soul. I miss turning on the hifi and waiting for it to warm up while getting ready to listen to an album on my 50 year old Bozo speakers (which I never use because I have one of those new speakers as well).
At least you still have your speakers. I don’t even recall what we did with our old speakers. I guess I’m the “old Bozo” in our household now (with a little soul?).