Anne on February 16th, 2015

I have searched for this recipe for Finnish Democradie rye bread for decades. The recipe, which I actually knew as “democratie”, was first given to my father, when we lived in Putney, by his dear friends Richard “Dick” Merrifield, and Dick’s wife, Lennie, who lived across the border in Harrisville, New Hampshire.

Continue reading about Found: The Finnish Rye Bread Recipe from My Youth

Anne on April 20th, 2014

I mentioned at the end of how I came to be making my own life decisions at the age of 11 that the next bit of my life was spent in Arlington, Massachusetts. But I didn’t share how or why. As may be imagined, given my rather erratic childhood up until then, and with the […]

Continue reading about Meeting one of My Guardian Angels – Os Cresson

So many of you have asked me about the story of how I came to decide where I was going to live at the age of 11. At last, here is that segment, with a bit of a surprise ending!

Continue reading about The Video Series – Part 10: I Decide Where I’m Going to Live at the Age of 11

This is the last segue before I (yes, finally!) get to the episode which explains how I started making my own life choices and decisions at the age of 11 – I promise! But first I need to tell you about the Merrifields, Marina Svetlova’s Dance Camp, and an amazing bread recipe for which I’d been searching for more than 30 years!

Continue reading about The Video Series – Part 9: Old Friends Found, Svetlova Dance Academy Camp, and Bread at Last!

Well, we’re still in Putney, Vermont folks. We will really get to how I started fending for myself at age 11 soon, I promise. But first, a few memories about mean kids, nice kids, sugar on snow, horseback riding at Debonair stables and oh yes, Playboy!

Continue reading about The Video Series – Part 8: Mean People, Nice People, Sugaring, Horseback Riding, and Playboy!

Anne on February 4th, 2013

More memories of Putney, Vermont, featuring Tania Emma, Sarah Johnson, Joan Shore, and Kathleen Kennedy!

Continue reading about Video Series Part 7 – More Memories of Putney, Vermont

Anne on January 30th, 2013

Before we get to how I struck out on my own at the age of 11, I wanted to share a few memories of Putney, including pink water, Sarah Doyle, my first job, and other random yet connected items.

Continue reading about Video Series Part 6 – Memories of Putney, Vermont

Anne on January 30th, 2013

We move to Putney, Vermont, and I save some kittens. NOTE: Apologies for the sound quality (or lack thereof) on this one. Also the light issues. In fact, I would have redone it, but, well, I didn’t because that would not be true to the whole “easy and authentic” thing. But I have learned, and […]

Continue reading about Video Series Part 5 – We Move to Putney

Anne on January 29th, 2013

Having an alcoholic as a father, being left alone, horseback riding, ice skating, and ballet! Also Anthony the Crayon Eating Boy, and Roger Javor. This is Part 4 in the video series of the story of my life.

Continue reading about Video Series Part 4 – Memories of My New York Childhood

Anne on January 29th, 2013

Including Hartley House, PS 69, Anthony the Crayon Eating Boy, Roger Javor, and goats!

Continue reading about Video Series Part 3 – 45th Street Memories

Anne on January 29th, 2013

This is part 2 of the video series. Still rough, but hopefully bearable. My father’s name, by the way, was William F. Mitchell (William Francis Mitchell), and my mother’s was Joan Barbara Zeltzer, although for most of my adult life she was known as Barbara Mohler.

Continue reading about Video Series Part 2 – I Go to Live with My Father

Anne on January 28th, 2013

This is part 1 of the video series of the Story of Anne’s Life. As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been feeling guilty about not updating my story more regularly, and then I had the idea “What if I recorded brief video on a regular basis and posted it, starting at the beginning […]

Continue reading about Video Series Part 1 – I arrive!

Anne on August 19th, 2012

This is the story of how I came to live in Putney, Vermont, and how I came to stay in Putney, Vermont, taking my destiny into my own very young hands.

Continue reading about How I Came to be Making My Own Life Decisions at the Age of 11

Anne on August 7th, 2010

My mother and father met in New York City, where they both worked at the time. My mother got pregnant with me in the hopes that it would induce my father to fall in love with her. Her somewhat flawed logic was that he would love the baby so much, that he would love her too. Not surprisingly, it didn’t work. Here’s what happened next.

Continue reading about Hell’s Kitchen, Here I Come

Anne on July 16th, 2010

Some things have always been true about me. These include my always having had a soft spot for animals, and my always being willing to rise to the occasion – to try to do something, anything – if I think that I can make a difference. While I didn’t think of it in those terms way back when, it turns out that I was this way even as a young child. Here’s an example.

Continue reading about On Saving 3 Little Kittens

Anne on July 10th, 2010

It’s late at night, and I’m lying in bed, crying. I’m 6, maybe 7, years old, and I’m all alone. I don’t mean that there is nobody in the room. I mean, I am all alone, by myself, in the apartment. The apartment belongs to one of my father’s best friends, and we are staying […]

Continue reading about In the Dark in the Middle of the Night