Seven Fabulous Women

As you know, the Dalpiaz "Women of the Clan" gathered to spend the day in Saratoga Springs to celebrate Jean's and Kathleen's upcoming milestone birthdays.  Kathleen was able to spend the week touring upstate New York to see various nieces, a nephew and a cousin in addition to having some special time together with sisters of all varieties.

It was a weekend that began with quiche and ended with mineral baths--a real female gathering.  Although Bob did an OUTSTANDING job, men were mostly not allowed.  Despite 25+ years of marriage, I haven't had an opportunity to spend quality time with the Dalpiaz sisters/sisters-in law absent the cloak of motherhood or spouses.  Maternal and spousal concerns and responsibilities generally take priority over simple girl talk so it was exceptionally relaxing to simply spend time together getting to know you all in a very different way!  I'm so glad everyone could make such a gathering a priority because I know that setting aside those other responsibilities is no small gesture. 

So Happy Birthday to Jean and Kathleen as well as Cheers to a new kind of relationship among seven fabulous women!

Garlic anyone?

I wish I'd paid more attention to your Mom's cooking when I had the chance.  As the days turn cooler, my thoughts revolve more around comfort foods.  It's nice to feel like cooking again after hot summer months.  Near the top of my comfort food list is homemade sauce.  One thing I clearly remember your Mom doing was using garlic in making her sauce.  Not garlic salt or powder, but real garlic from real cloves.  They would often be leftover on the table along with breakfast and coffee!  She would start early in the day, I guess. 

When I how she used these real cloves, I was released from my reluctance to do the same.  Now I'm a garlic nut (well, on the occasion that I actually cook, anyhow).  I freely use garlic in many recipes, but it's always when I put it in the sauce that I think of your Mom and smile to myself.  I thought you should know that.

I think this conversation has been held around the table a time or two already but it bears repeating.  We each have our own spin on our homemade sauce recipe.  It's been ages and ages since I've used fresh tomatoes for my sauce, but there was a time in my life when I did!  My ingredients include diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, a little sugar, chopped onion, spices, and a dash of grated parmesan or romano cheese.  I usually throw this in the crock pot, but sometimes on the stove.  I think the stove method produces better (thicker) sauce, but I don't do this very often mostly because I really love the idea of coming into the house after work and smelling the sauce waiting for me. 

I throw meatballs and/or sausage right into the sauce without pre-cooking.  I like the taste the meat adds to the sauce and I think that gets a little lost in the pre-cooking though I know that's a very popular method--if I recall,  your Mom would pre-cook her meat (am I right?).

I'm certain your methods for sauce incorporate your Mom's techniques along with your own touches.  We can expect our children to do the same.  Of course, sauce is not the only hand-me-down from our mothers and it's not the only thing that make us smile remembering her.  But, for me, your mother is forever tied to the garlic clove!  It's not a coincidence that L-O-V-E  is part of that. 

First Day of School

September 6 2012 will be my 34th opening day of school.  And my last.  I expect it to be somewhat bittersweet and nostalgic.  I expect to be a great deal calmer throughout the year than I typically am.

It appears that I'm the longest serving teacher on staff.  I cannot imagine how that happened.  September 1979 is still fairly clear in my mind, even if I did spend the entire first year in some kind of fog.  One very clear memory is from the end of that first day when I had no idea what I was supposed to do after the students were dismissed.  I remember watching from the window as they loaded buses then peering into the hallway to figure out what the rest of the staff was doing.  I didn't know if we were supposed to stay until a certain time or if we were free to leave.  Just seemed too simple to just go to the car at 3 o'clock, but off I went.  Then I got on the highway going the wrong way: driving east automatically toward Walton rather than west toward my new home.  "Go West" took on new meaning for me when I realized my mistake.  I had to readjust my daily routine which held me in good stead for the ensuing years.  I wonder if I'll know what to do at the end of the day on the last day of school in June 2013.  Let's hope I don't take a wrong turn!

I don't have many clear memories of my own first days of school--even the first day of senior year at the new school in Walton.  I can only imagine the relief our mothers felt along with a little twinge of uncertainty about the required school supply list we'd come home with.  Those were the days when you didn't get that information until you actually got there.  Those were the days when Back-to-School shopping did not generate special inserts in your Sunday paper.

I thought you might enjoy this First Day of School picture from the year Ryan entered as a 7th grader and Amy was a new junior.  Looks like they didn't mind having this picture taken (unlike some other years!).

This series of pictures tells quite a story.  Of course, fashion sense is one story but the story of our home is also present in the background, so it's fun to go back and review these once in a while.

Happy September--special Good Luck wishes to Drew for a wonderful year.  Glad to hear he's safely arrived in England.  Happy Birthday Mallory, Hailey, Sarah and Cheryl this month.