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. 

Florida 2012 for James and Pat

At this writing, Kathleen and Nick are anxiously watching the Weather Channel for news of Tropical Storm Isaac to determine their immediate future plans.  I am glad we are safe and sound in New York State as we keep Kathleen and Nick in our thoughts.

We had a grand visit to Belleair Beach soaking up sun at poolside.  Oh, yes, and the shopping.  There's a little Irish store I'll be visiting again!  Kath and Nick shared many of their stories of the Italy trip which only made us ache for the day that we could do the same.

Then it was off to Disney for a few days at the Happiest Place on Earth.  James was able to fully participate in a NASCAR Driving Experience despite a slight rain delay.  He had a grand time:

We also made a little game of taking some of our pictures from previous trips so they could be recreated circa 2012.  This project turned into great fun, especially with the complete strangers we asked to take these pictures after we explained what we were doing.  They took the job very seriously and these were fun little encounters.  James took on the mission of finding the original picture locations with all the seriousness of planning his next band trip.  I've take the old and morphed them into the new for your viewing pleasure.  I hope this works.  It will require your computer to have Adobe Flash Player and you may need to allow blocked content for Active X controls (gibberish I realize but that's what you'll likely see when you click to view).  Here's hoping this works for you. 

Florida or Bust

We'll be on our way to Florida tomorrow morning for a long awaited vacation trip.  We'll be visiting Kathleen and Nick as well as Mickey and Minnie.  Anticipating this trip has given me time to reflect a little bit on past trips to Florida and Disney.

My first trip to Disney was 25 years ago on a senior class trip. 

I took some abuse from James and my fellow chaperones for taking pictures of flowers on this trip.  As I go through those pictures, I am happy to note that I believe my picture-taking skills (and equipment) are much improved in the ensuing 25 years.

1996-the first trip with the kids.  Epic trip because we got to spend time with Kathleen and Nick, my sister Kathy as well as our friends the Hamiltons who also took their first trip with their children in 1996.

This was our dinner at Tony's which I remember for being so NOISY! 

2000 marked our designation as the "Millenial Family of the Week" at Disney.  Our room was decorated for us and we got some nice little gifts including beach towels I still have.

I remember this trip especially because all the kids seemed to care about was the pool and TV.  I vowed that any future trips would only require a pool and ESPN!

2004 it just so happened that our trips fell 4 years apart.  This visit was rich with character sitings--including these guys:

Three Stooges

2008 was timed so that the four of us could have one (probably last) big trip together before Amy left the nest and it was WONDERFUL!  Absolutely full of wonder.  I'm a sucker for Disney!

How happy do these guys look to you?

2012 promises to be epic on its own as it will be our first trip without children (either school children or our own!).  Stay tuned and I'll catch you up on the other side. 

Visit Report

Robert and Bobbie were able to come for a visit this past weekend and we had a grand time. I can't remember when they were here last, but it's been a while and it's always nice to have one-on-one time with siblings.

James was supposed to entertain us at the Binghamton Mets game along with two of his buddies.  He's been "chosen" to wear the spiedie outfit and race down the sidelines between innings with a hot dog and a bottle of mustard.  Yes, you read that right.  It's a between-inning amusement for the spectators and he'd been "lucky" enough to score a chance to participate.  Again, yes, you read that right. 

So, against our better judgement, Bobbie and I accompanied James and Robert to the game.  Who could miss such a highlight?  Alas, it was not to be because the DealChicken budged his way into the race earlier than planned.  DealChicken won.  (still reading it correctly) So, even though Bobbie and I lost out as witnesses to this pinnacle of a True Met Fan Experience--we were all surprised by the following:

Yes, 27 wonderful years--many of the most recent spent in these very seats. It was nice to spend it with Robert and Bobbie. (Thank you for dinner!)

Bob said he'd never been to Cooperstown so off we went!  We went to the Farmers' Museum and to the Fenimore Art Museum.  Although it was the hottest day of their visit, we spent most of it outdoors.  Bobbie also experienced a first---

Bobbie and I worked on some genealogy and neither of us can say for certain what the guys did during that time.  Before I knew it, they were getting into the car so they could visit with the Bulman clan. 

Next week, we'll be visiting with Kathleen and Nick.  We hope Ernesto stays away.

Memories.....

Earlier this week we heard from Kathleen that she'd taken a spill on her bike.  So, of course my first thoughts were:  BLOG!  I'd been considering "bikes" as my main topic for this post.  I understand your dad bought a tandem bike to help provide transportation for you and most people have fond memories of their childhood two wheeled adventures.

But then we got a request from Thomas for some pictures of Racing Days for the Dalpiaz Boys which sent me searching through old pictures that hadn't seen the light of day recently.  And both James and I got sucked right down Memory Lane.  I thought you'd all enjoy the same.

This appears similar to the connections the media is trying to make between the 1948 London Olympics and 2012. 

Here's one I love from 1986--I suspect it's Danielle's birthday.

And another birthday celebration.  Two Jeans with matching necklaces.  Your Mom is leaning on a space heater and Jean has a similar grip on her:

They both look really happy.

Moving to the cousin category:

I think this might be Angela and Jean?

Maurizio showing Olympic style swimwear of the time period.  James says he thinks this is the closest your Dad ever got to the water in the pool!  But again, he looks happy.

And since it was the Defiant that got this started, I guess we'll end with

So Kathleen can rest easy (especially her tailbone) until I'm digging around for a topic next week.......