Muriel Bonin loves to work in the kitchen.

The seventh generation Litchfield resident still cooks with a vintage 1920s stove that has been in her home for more than 30 years. Although her work is complemented with a conventional gas stove, she feels nothing compares with good food prepared with wood coals.

“I love using the wood and I love the heat and scent it gives off,” says Muriel. “It reminds me of my years growing up.”

When not busy visiting or corresponding with her three children, six grandchildren and nine grandchildren, Bonin likes to help out in her tightly knit community.

At the recently concluded Litchfield Fair, the 77-year-old Bonin scurried around an early 1900s model kitchen at the Litchfield Fair Historical Museum with her daughter, Rayna Liebowitz. The pair were instrumental in starting the venue two years ago after convincing fair officials it would be popular with fair-goers. Judging by a line of visitors gobbling up warm apple brownies prepared by the women in the old oven, they were right.

Muriel had been attending the fair for decades in connection with the 149-year-old Litchfield Farmers Club. As a club member at the fair in 1943, Muriel began giving pony rides to raise money for her school clothes. She has been active ever since.

“It’s fun to look back, but the key is to keep going and live for every day,” she says.