Classic Style

  N o dinner jackets or cocktail dresses and pearls this year.  But the Grand Duchess and I took advantage of Michigan's wonderful winter weather mid-afternoon for a 90-minute ski tour around the trails of a local park just 10 minutes from the house.  Not quite snow on the ground enough for them to groom just yet (although the parks and rec guys did groom during the first half of December), but we nevertheless enjoyed some nice glide and the wooded landscape.  And we had the trails all to ourselves.  There were a couple of other skiers out there judging by their ski tracks, but we never saw them.   In mid-January the three of us will journey a little more than two hours up ol' Highway 127 and a dog leg further up Interstate 75 for a weekend ski getaway at Forbush Corner   Nordic Center, Lower Michigan's premiere spot for groomed cross-country skiing.  It's actually a nationally recognized place for the sport, but you'd never know it's there u...

  B oxing Day afternoon, the vivacious Grand Duchess baked our 2025 stollen from scratch, and it is about  one quarter gone already!  It's something I wait for all year.  Sonja uses one of her German cookbooks to prepare an authentic Dresdner Stollen each December, sometimes a bit ahead of Christmas, some years during Christmas Week depending on how busy life is. It is yeasty, slightly sweet, and indescribably delicious with fresh strong black coffee at any point in the day, breakfast included. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  N ot yours truly this time, but another vintage image fron my collection of Santa Claus, Father Christmas, and Saint Nicholas images long past.  In keeping with spirit of the season, which, despite what retailers, news media, and radio stations might have us believe, is still in full swing. Or at least it is here in the Grand Duchy.   And as I enjoy a mug of strong black coffee with a large piece of cherry pie for lunch and listen to some traditional German-language carols, I ponder Christmases long past on this icy, dark Boxing Day.  My mind turns back to December 1988 when I spent the Christmas and New Year's period with my mother and step-father in Southampton, England.   It was a day not unlike today when my TWA flight touched down about 7am at London-Heathrow on Boxing Day.  Dark, chilly, and frosty.  I had spent most of Christmas proper in transit from Philadelphia with a lengthy layover at JFK in New York on my way across the Atlanti...

  A couple of photographs from Christmas Morning: Yours truly enjoying coffee with the Drand Duchess at the dining table before things got going with the Young Master, stockings, and gifts.  The lower photograph shows our sprig of Mistletoe brought back to me from Seattle by the Grand Duchess and atop one of her gifts to me.  I haven't had mistletoe in the house since I was a small child, so this was a special surprise.  And yes, we've made use of the mistletoe several times.  She is the greatest gift I think I've ever had.  At Christmas or any other time. Merry Christmas Night Everyone! -- Heinz-Ulrich

  I n the Grand Duchy, we typically have enjoy our big holiday dinner on Christmas Eve.  This year, the goose, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, in particular, were done to perfection.  Lots of other goodies vied for our epicurean attention too, including various side dishes, pickles, sauces, and relishes.  Best of all, not only did the very slim and besuited Young Master enjoy a helping of everything, but he returned for a second large helping of buttery mashed potatoes followed by a big piece of cherry pie for dessert.   Taking a much need breather now after clearing the table and helping the Grand Duchess load the dishwasher.  Wife and son are rewathing A Christmas Carol (the 1984 Geoge C. Scott version) in the TV room. The Grand Duchess and I will reconvene later this evening once the Young Master has retired for the night.   As for yours truly, I'm still in a food coma of sorts, sipping another mug of coffee and having some quiet time with ...

  W armest compliments of the season to all visitors to Classic Style.  Here's to greater kindness, empathy, and charity during and beyond the Christmas period.  Dare I say we could all of us do a little better as my great grandmother, I was told as a child, used to say. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  J ust Bad Dad and the multilingual Young Master goofing around during breakfast today, the fourth Sunday in Advent.  The Grand Duchess will be home tomorrow evening to help us rein in our pre-Christmas zaniness.  But it wouldn't be the silly season in the Grand Duchy without Santa Claus hats and the Solstice Pineapple. -- Heinz-Ulrich

W hile I cannot vouch for his sartorial choices this Sunday morning (and I was still in my pajamas don't forget), the Young Master and I finished the family tree after his breakfast and another mug of coffee for yours truly.  He added crystal icicles, silver, and red glass balls to tie the whole tree together, which the Grand Duchess started very late last night.  The decorations on this table tree are from her own childhood and our son's along with a few additional family pieces.   As Paul and I enjoyed chatting about this and that, I handed him hooks and baubles to hang as he stood on either the love seat, or a step-stool.  Meanwhile, the Grand Duchess packed for her departure from Detroit later today.   Just the boys now for a week until her return.  We've got a date to watch Christmas Vacation (1989) and A Christmas Story (1983) together in the evenings this week.  Neither movie resonates particularly with Sonja.   It must be ...

  Y esterday, Saturday, was a bustling day here in the Grand Duchy.  In and around picking up the Christmas trees after breakfast and decorating them that evening, there is also a virtual stack of final student projects and independent capstone reflections to wade through.   Still quite a way to go with all of that before I can tally and submit final course grades along with the usual panicked emails AFTER the fact. Typically, these attemot to jockey for a grade change and offer 1001 reasons to explain why students oughtn't, didn't, couldn't, wouldn't, or shouldn't have to.  Sigh.  I really wonder what message so many parents have sent to their children during the last 30+ years or so.  But onto more pleasant things. Since the Grand Duchess leaves midday today for a few days with aging parents and sister in the Seattle area, we lit our third Advent candle during dinner yesterday evening.  The Young Master was again otherwise engaged (he's 16 now),...

  E njoyed (yes, really) my program's final meeting of the semester earlier today.  Coffee and pastries were part of the equation, both of which make any work function easier to sit through.  That said, there was some sharing of personal plans and laughter around the table during the first 35 minutes, so it was actually pleasant as far as these things go.  As usual, I was terribly overdressed, but it was an occasional after all.  Hey, anytime there is coffee, it's an occasion in my book. Final course grades are due next Tuesday afternoon. Although grades have yet to be entered into the learning management system for Collaborative Project #3 and the Independent Course Capstone Project (the latter due by 11:59pm tonight), the whiny, entitled emails have already been coming in for a few days as students try to relitigate previous grades from weeks ago.  I guess grades, in their minds, are like a plate of overcooked pasta at The Olive Garden.  If you don't...

  C ontinued snow and cold here in the Grand Duchy as I wade through final student team projects and related semester independent capstone reflections plus a few last minute grade-grubbing situations that require much more time and mental effort than they are worth.   If students simply kept up with course requirements/expectations, there would be no problem at the very end of the semester during which they try to backtrack with all manner of claims and excuses.  The part of my job I like the least. In more interesting sartorial matters, here's the attire for yesterday.  The red corduroy jeans were a winter clearance item three of even four years ago from Land's End, and less than US$20.  I really like 'em and enjoy unpacking them each fall after five or six months of storage in one of the off-season plastic tubs beneath our bed.  Fun old friends by this point, and they're in regular at home attire rotation between mid-October and late April each year....

  C old and snowy outside, and after yesterday's ski tour it's back to the salt mines this morning starting to review and determine grades for the third student learning team projects. Clearing the path, you understand, ahead of 100+ independent capstone reflections at the end of the week. But before settling down to some genuine work, how about a dash of avoidance?  Hence the quick photos of today's at-home attire.  One needn't resemble a basket of soiled laundry you know.  Even at a busy time of year. -- Heinz-Ulrich

S hortly before the Grand Duchess and I sat down to dinner yesterday evening.  The Young Master was otherwise engaged.  Should have crumbed his place before snapping this photograph however.  A meal of wonderful roasted vegetables (olive oil and Rosemary) with fresh banana bread and coffee for dessert.   Back to work today (Monday) wading through a digital stack of final student team projects ahead of their independent 'capstone' semester reflections on Friday.  And in the meantime, a week not entirely free of the usual last minute drama from a few students who sat on their hands throughout most of the 15-week term until the last 10 days or so.   The 5 to10% of my job that I could do without.  Sigh. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    F inally managed to get out for about 90 minutes midday for the first jaunt on my classic skis at a nearby park that has actually rolled trails for skate technique.  Not quite enough snow yet for classic tracks, but that didn't stop many of us from taking a tour through the Mid-Michigan woods.  Quite a few other skiers out early this afternoon.   I was a bit wobbly for about the first 10 minutes,but I found my balance and stride and did pretty well for the first outing this season.  Some nice glide and no wipeouts.  Even managed a few tricky downhills.  Yes!!! Besides yoga and meditation with the Grand Duchess, there is nothing that makes me feel as happy and at peace as cross-country skiing.  Except a ski tour with her.  It was not so today, but plenty of couple skiing is on the way over the next few months.  For the present, however, amazing early season conditions for local skiing 10 minutes from home.. -- Heinz-Ulrich

W hile I've sung many of these familiar tunes in English, Norwegian, and Swedish at different times in various choirs myself, nothing gives me the same chill -- and even brings tears to my eyes (I'm a sentimental sap, at heart) -- as their German language versions.  If you're seeking more traditional music for the Advent and Christmas seasons, I also recommend these CD's (or their streaming or MP3 versions): Christmas in Vienna -- Vienna Boys Choir (Philips, 1991) German Christmas Music: Kammerorchester; Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach; Hartmut Haenchen, Conductor (Sony Music Special Products, 1993) Weihnachten: A German Christmas (Seattle Pro Musica, 2002) Delightful, quiet, and contemplative seasonal music.  Perfect for solo listening, family dinners, holiday gatherings, Christmas Day, or Christmas Week.  A welcome departure from the overplayed Bings, Britneys, Mariahs, and hippopotami  that otherwise clog the airwaves at this time of year. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  W ith lots of fresh snow all over the place following our first major winter storm of the season, tweed, corduroys, oxford cloth, and other assorted woolen items seemed like the way to go this morning.  Merry and bright as they say. -- Heinz-Ulrich

    M y sole concession to Christmastime kitsch, a miniature version of the infamous leg lamp from the 1983 film A Christmas Story , based on the short stories in humorist Jean Shepherd's In God We Trust.  All Others Pay Cash (1966).  My lamp occupies a place of honor (?) on my desk for but one month each year before it is carefully stored away once again after January 1st.  Hey, we've got to keep up appearances, you know. -- Heinz-Ulrich 

    T hanksgiving Weekend 2025 has ended nicely with our first appreciable winter storm of the season during last night, yielding about five to six inches of snow.  That came after I hung the icicle lights along the front porch eaves and set out a few other seasonal items inside to lend a festive air to the house yesterday afternoon.  Just back from seeing the Vienna Boys' Choir here in East Lansing with the Grand Duchess late this afternoon.  Beautiful as long as they stuck to traditional carols.  A warming dinner of soup with crispy, crunchy Italian bread followed with fresh, strong black coffee afterward accompanies by a few pieces of chocolate.   My final classes of the semester meet tomorrow. Hopefully, everyone will finish and turn in their final projects without any last minute drama or desperate emails after final course grades have been submitted just before Christmas.  Time will tell. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A n easy, relaxed day around the house today after a busy but very pleasant Thanksgiving Day.  Best of all, two of our favorite Nordic ski centers in Northern Michigan have already had appreciable snowfall and opened for the 2025-2026 ski season!  It's extremely tempting to head up for some early season solo skiing next weekend even in light of the usual end-of-semester business.  Must keep an eye on the weather forecast and grooming conditions for the next several days.  Decisions, decisions! -- Heinz-Ulrich

T he Young Master at the table before Thanksgiving dinner was served yesterday afternoon.  This was about the only photograph I could manage to snap without him pulling some kind of goonish face, so I was unable to get a full-length shot of him in his new suit just back from the tailor.  Not quite what I would have suggested for a first suit, but it was given to him by a family friend, and Paul actually likes wearing it, so we'll leave it at that.  But the three-piece model and peaked lapels are nice touches. My own attire was slightly less dressy, but still pulled together and appropriate to the occasion.  Even managed to nail the temperamental wool bow tie on the first attempt, which is always a pleasant surprise.  I find bow ties are ideal for food holidays.  When one is serving and enjoying special meals, as well as clearing the table and loading the dishwasher afterward, you don't have to worry quite as much as with a long necktie. As my late and much ...

  H appy Thanksgiving 2025 to Classic Style visitors wherever in the world you might find yourselves.  Whether you observe in the sanity and sanctity of your own home, or join others as a guest, be gracious, present yourself well, and set an example for others in your conduct. Keep the faith. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A lthough many students typically decamp for home the weekend before our Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., classes are still in session for a couple of days early in the week.  And while I have cancelled my own classes in the past, I decided to run them this year since I currently teach hybrid courses, and we meet just once per week.   Yesterday (Monday), seven of the little darlings showed up the the 8am class and 10 at 9:10. I decided beforehand to run a workshop session for students to work on their remaining projects while I answered questions and provided assignment clarification as and when needed.  An easy day as teaching goes. The attire highlighted above also featured a matching chocolate suede belt and dark green Merino wool socks with many small flying pheasants on them.  The jacket has not appeared in quite some time, possibly two years, so it was time to trot it out.   I typically enjoy combining a lot of browns, tans, and gree...

A few minutes between classes this morning, so I snapped  pictures of today's attire and accessories.  The first wearing this season of the Optimo 'Dearborn' fedora, and the tie is a vintage number from Orvis, a nod to my late father's fly-fishing and fly-tying hobbies.  It's been two or three years since this particular necktie's last appearance, so high time to pull it out and knot it carefully around the ol' neck.  Managed to nail it on the first attempt too.  Could this be the start of a trend? -- Heinz-Ulrich