Amana and "Always.......Patsy Cline

I guess it has stopped raining for a little while. Now if it would warm up just a touch. The frost the other night had me chasing around trying to make sure everything was covered. How did your new plants survive? Mine looked OK and none the worse for wear.

I am old enough to remember Patsy Cline and to be able to say that I have always enjoyed her music. My husband, Denny, surprised me with tickets to "Always....Patsy Cline" at the "The Old Creamery Theatre Company outside of Amana. We decided to make a day of it and explained to Buddy, our traveling Shih Tzu, that he was going to have to sit this one out. He didn't like it but took it fairly well.

Amana HISTORY:
Looking for religious freedom in Germany back in the 1700's a group known as the "Community of True Inspiration", founded by German Lutheran clergy and their followers, emigrated to an area near Ebenezer, New York. The group flourished and soon needed to find a larger area. They found what they were looking for in the what we now know as the Amana Colonies.
The style of living was communal with no one drawing a wage but each full filling a need for the good of the greater community as directed by the church clergy and the community leaders. The community was very nearly a completely self sufficient society, requiring very little contact with the outside world. (The Ronneburg Restaurant was the original communal kitchen and dining hall.)This communal set up, over time, of course, has changed as society has changed and each home now has it's own kitchen.
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I have been to the Amana's several times over the years and eaten at a couple of the eateries in town there but never eaten at The Ronneburg Restaurant, http://www.ronneburgrestaurant.com/. What a pleasant experience. We were shown to the German Room (don't know why the name as the whole place is German) and seated at table near the window. Choosing what to order was kind of a struggle. I have lived in Germany many years ago and the dishes that were offered were good German fare.
We decided that we would make this our big meal for the day and did the family style full meal. I went for the Wiener Schnitzel with spaetzle and Den went for the Bavarian Chicken with mashed potatoes and veggie. Of course we shared and of course we brought part of it home with us.
It has been an age since I have had Wiener Schnitzel and "No, Margie, this isn't a hot dog". A tender veal cutlet, breaded and fried is a true Wiener Schnitzel. The spaetzle, a kind of noodle but crossed with a dumpling, was wonderful. I have got to learn how to make these. They came buttered and crowned with toasted bread crumbs.
Den enjoyed his Bavarian Chicken and wanted to know if I can make it at home. This is a skinless/boneless chicken breast, sautéed and then baked with a thin slices of smoke ham and Swiss cheese. Yummy.

We then had to take a walk and check out the shops. Of course, I had to do The Kitchen Sink, a shop filled with all things food prep and dining. I did well and we moved on to take in the clock and furniture store. It is always so satisfying to see furniture that has a beautiful finish on it. You just want to touch it to be sure it is as smooth as it looks. I fell in love with the $4,000 grandfathers clock with a crystal pendulum. Lastly was the Quilt shop and Den thought I was lost at that point. I am making tea cozies lately and ...... well you know.

The Old Creamery was our destination, let's not forget. The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for profit professional theatre. It started in Garrison in 1977 and moved to Amana in 1988. This production of "Always.....Patsy Cline" is in it's 5th run and stars Molly Hammer (Kansas City, MO.) as Patsy Cline and the story is told on stage by her friend Louise, played by Marquetta Senters (now of South Amana). Molly really nailed the tonations and tempo of one of my favorite singers from my younger years. May 24th is the last performance of this production.

You can check out what is coming and when online at http://www.oldcreamery.com. The prices are reasonable and there isn't a bad seat in the house.

Next weekend we are headed to Nelson Dewey State Park (that is in South East Wisconsin, Margie) for some canoeing and camping and Linda, with the help of Julie McGovern, will be preparing the Saturday night meal for 20 hungry camper. Not sure which river will see the paddles yet as that is someone else's to plan but I am sure that a great time will be had by all. So, maybe next week we will be "and Maybe A Bit Beyond".

Oh, I have to tell you. At the Ronneburg the couple sitting at the next table engaged us in conversation about where we were from and what we thought of the strawberry/rhubarb pie. They are from the Chicago area and were there seeing their new grand-child. They hadn't heard of the theater and one thing lead to another and I think they are coming back to see Manchester, Mt. Pleasant and Old Threshers, and The Villages Of Van Buren County. Oh, on the pie, I told her to used 2 cups of strawberries, 2 cups of chopped rhubarb, 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of corn starch,1 teaspoon of real vanilla and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. I think that they will be back to Iowa a couple of times this summer and fall. She was writing it all down. So, keep the front porch swept and the windows washed, companies coming.

God Bless,
Linda