THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120579
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GUY FRIDDELL
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Among delicacies at the week-long Azalea Festival starting Monday is a cookie, nanaimo, so rich it is only one-inch square.
Wives of five Canadian NATO officers gathered in Daniela Gauvin's kitchen to cook a batch for public sampling during the NATOfest on April 20 at Nauticus.
My being in the neighborhood won me a role in taste testing.
The verdict: one of the finest.
The chefs, along with Gauvin, are Mary Power, Jan Banks, Sharon Wickware and Alyne Robinson.
The neat bar, Robinson noted, is in three layers. The bottom is a blend of graham-cracker crumbs, butter, brown sugar, cocoa, crushed walnuts and coconut. The second has butter, milk, custard powder and icing sugar; the third is a drizzling of melted chocolate.
A sweet mix of flavors and textures, it won a cooking contest for a chef in British Columbia.
As wondrous as are Azalea Festival offerings, ranging from the Blue Angel daredevils to a Dutch village where artisans carve wooden shoes, the most enriching are military couples who put down roots quickly during pit stops in Hampton Roads.
``You have to be quick with the military because, already, after a year and a half, we will be leaving a year after July,'' said Alyne.
Shortly after she and Lt. Col. Edward Robinson reached Virginia Beach, she registered for a card at the Bayside Library. A week later, returning, she became a volunteer.
``One wants to keep busy,'' she said.
She has a master's degree in library science. Noticing there a poster advertising nearby historic Lynnhaven House, she dropped by to watch costumed docents cook at open fires and tend herb beds.
``I found it fascinating,'' she said.
Again, she volunteered. Along with guiding visitors around the ancient house, which looks as if it grew out of the ground, she manages the gift shop.
As manager, she travels to other shrines throughout Virginia in search of tourist souvenirs of genuine interest and design that can be attractive on Lynnhaven's shop shelves and in visitors' homes.
``It's fun,'' she said.
Among her new friends at Lynnhaven was one knitting baby clothes for Navy Relief. Invited to join the circle, Alyne did. ``I feel I've had a very good life and I want to give back,'' she said.
She also is treasurer of the SACLANT Wives Club, which raises funds at monthly meetings to aid charities in Hampton Roads.
How did we ever get along without these talented sojourners?
And what will we do when they leave?
``More will come,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Canadian Alyne Robinson, wife of Lt. Col. Edward Robinson, says,
``One wants to keep busy.'' She holds a toy beaver.
by CNB