October 29, 2008 Wednesday

It's Wednesday and we're going to have my sister Kathy and her fella, Jimmy, over for dinner so we're off to shop. Also, we have to prepare for our trip to Seekonk tomorrow.

We shop and lunch at a local diner and Vicki puts together a WONDERFUL sauce/gravy with meatballs and sausage. It's an extra huge pot so we'll take the rest to Seekonk.

I think I've mentioned a street in Hackensack that goes ALL OUT for Halloween. In fact, at night during this week, the street is closed to all but foot traffic. While I was out there today walking the street, a group of school children were on tour with teachers and aides. This is some street! Following you will find just a few of the over the top houses!

Vicki said this street has been doing this for years. Of course, there are homes all over the area that are decked out for Halloween. I've not been here for Christmas since Steve was in college so I don't know the type of decorating they do for that holiday. Maybe in a year or two. . . or maybe I can get Vicki to make a contribution to my blog???

So tomorrow we got to Seekonk. Pictures will follow but not until Sunday as Carol isn't wireless yet. Stay tuned and I promise you will see pictures of the MOST beautiful children ever!!

Nite.

October 27, 2008 - Monday

Here we are on Monday. Just one more week to go before I have to leave! Today, Vicki and I did some more running around which included a trip to Ridgewood to visit La Casita, a shop where Susan Bogard works. Susan makes beautiful jewelry and items are included in the store windows. And yes, I bought some clothes. After all, there's no sales tax on clothes so I'm actually saving money. PLUS Susan gave me a "friends and family" discount. I really should go back and save more money!!! Really nice clothes and, of course, her beautiful jewelry.

We also stopped in Bloomingdales!

On Sunday, we had Rocky and Lorraine Gelok and Ginger Hoey for a lovely fall dinner. We really had such a good time. Saturday, it was windy and rainy and it was as if the sky was cleaned. It was just beautiful. However, all the leaves are now in the driveway and on the lawn. Rocky and Lorraine lived next to my Mother since 1959. I babysat for their two oldest boys while I still lived at home and Vicki sat for all three.

Anyway, when Steve was here and we were at Total Wine & More, he found Smutty Nose IPA. We were shocked to discover that one of the men on the label looks just like our stepfather, Neil Markley. Now, back in 1959, all the neighbors on Arnot Place were good friends, but soon Neil [being the oldest] became grumpy and used to yell at all the kids, especially Rocky and Lorraine's three boys. The friendship between Neil and Rocky fell apart but as you can guess, they are still our dear, dear friends. In any case, on Sunday, I asked Rocky if he wanted a bottle of beer and presented him with the Smutty Nose IPA. He could hardly believe his eyes and got quite the kick out of the label.



Here is the formal picture of Laura and Josh that Matt and Carol had made in August. I'll get mine when we got to Seekonk on Thursday but just in case . . . They are extremely adorable kiddos.

We're going to walk over the Clinton Avenue tomorrow and I'll take pictures. The street is now blocked off to car traffic - just pedestrians. I've never seen so many Halloween decorations!

Ciao for now.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Not much has been going on. On Monday, we did laundry and rested from our Vermont trip.

On Tuesday, we shopped [I returned a sweater - Vicki bought a few outfits for Laura], had lunch and saw The Secret Life of Bees. We really enjoyed the movie. I highly recommend it to you ladies.

On Wednesday, we tried to find the Orvis store but it moved and there was no note. I might have to Google it. I caught a cold so we headed to the drug store [I know, it's exciting] and then home for soup.

Regent Care [where my mother was] has a birthday party once a month for all the birthdays in that month. Tuesday was the October Birthdays celebration. Regent Care is a very nice place. Lorraine's mother, Mary, has been there for over a year and a half. The third floor is for rehabilitation from injuries/strokes and Mom was there for all but 2 days. The fourth floor is for the residents who don't want to be a burden on their families or who have Alzheimer's Disease. The entrance was decorated for Fall and looked lovely.



The residents were eagerly awaiting the entertainment and cake, of course. That's Mary looking at the camera. She was 95 years old in August. The lady in red is a resident and the lady in white, as well. The little lady in blue is Mrs. Patterson who was Mary's neighbor for 58 years. She looks like a sweet little old lady, but don't let that fool you. She's a PIP and cusses like a sailor. In fact, she displayed her ability to curse in Italian. She's quite fond of the F-bomb.



These two men, who are part of a Reggae Band currently playing in The City, entertained for over an hour. Vicki and I really enjoy them. They used to play at The Crow's Nest, a local restaurant, and they play quite often at Regent Care. They are very nice young men.



There were about 50-55 folks in the room, only 3 of which were male. The ladies sang along and there was much toe-tapping.



Here is the lead singer getting ready to pack up and head to The City for tonight's gig.



Lorraine, Mrs. Patterson, Vicki and I left at the same time, so I had to snap this photo. Lorraine is nicest person you'll ever meet. She left sauce, sausage and meatballs on Vicki's porch which we ate for dinner. YUM.

I think today will be a "stay home" day as my nose is runny and now Vicki is sneezing. We have a couple of movies to watch and I think that's what we need to do. We were going to go to Wurtzboro, NY for the memorial services of Christine's mother on Friday morning, but it's nearly 2 hours away and starts at 9am. Neither one of us feels like getting up at 5am to drive to a place we don't know how to get to, so we decided not to go. Christine will understand.

More in a day or two. Be well.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Before I start, I must make a correction. Pat's last soccer game played on Saturday was won by a score of 4-0. I want to be sure you are made aware of his sportability! He's terrific!



It's Sunday and our last day in Vermont. These two little angels popped over to our room bright and early. I was ready for them and while Vicki got ready, I was the entertainment. They're just adorable - but I repeat myself.







We all meet for breakfast at the hotel and then congregate in the lobby to wait for Jim and his family. Carol and Laura cuddle up with a rather large Green Mountain Bear!





Laura chats up one of her cousins at fireside . . .





and then hopes this sleigh will be filled with goodies from Santa in a few months.





Steve left for Pittsburgh to visit friends and Vicki and I left for home. Matt and Carol and kids were to head back to Seekonk as well.



On our way home, we decided to take it easy and stopped to take in a view or two. Vermont really is quite beautiful and everyone looks so healthy.

So, our days in Vermont were spent with loved ones and it's a bit hard to leave this place and our wonderful family. BUT, in two weeks, Vicki and I are heading up to Seekonk, Mass to visit Matt, Carol and the kids. And just to whet your appetite for more photos of those sweet babies, here's Josh saying goodbye. Love those eyes!

I probably won't post for a few days as we're going to chill, see a movie and walk/exercise. You know what that looks like.

Ciao for now.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

What an absolutely perfect Vermont day! Vicki and I were awakened around 7pm by Laura and Josh. Here he is with Mom Carol. Josh is the most even-tempered, happy, cuddly and adorable little boy I've seen in about 40 years! And Carol is Earth Mother Extraordinare! She makes all his food. Of course, right now it's only rice cereal and mashed bananas but she did it all for Laura and Laura's BRILLIANT! Just ask her!



Today was the first hard frost Waterbury has seen this season. The cars in the lot were covered in frost and it was a nippy 34. However, the sun was shining and no need of a coat - just a sweater. We wanted to see snow on the mountain tops but not just yet. Dang.

We all met at McCarthy's in Stowe for breakfast. Great food. I had a Belgian waffle, two eggs over easy, one slice of bacon and a sausage link. Josh ate an entire banana and loved every bite. Pat couldn't join us as he had PSATs and a soccer game.

After our hearty breakfasts, Jim, Sue and Steve went off to watch Pat play soccer. Matt took Laura and Josh for a car ride to put them to sleep. Vicki, Carol, Chris and I shopped for cheese, dessert and ingredients for the dinner Chris is going to prepare for us.

Around 2, we met back at the hotel and Matt and Carol took Laura and Josh for a swim. It was Josh's first encounter with a pool and he loved splashing himself in the face. Here's Matt and Laura.

And here's the beautiful Giuseffi family: Josh, Carol, Matt and Laura [with her cheesey smile].

They enjoyed the pool while Vicki, Chris and I headed up the mountain to Jim and Sue's home to prepare our dinner. Vicki made fabulous stuffed mushrooms; I prepped for Chris; Chris prepared a pasta dish with shrimp, scallops, basil, GARLIC, wine, butter and love. It was terrific. Jim tries to get the water to boil faster for the pasta, but we all know a watched pot . . .

While we enjoyed Chris' wonderful meal, Josh ate rice cereal!

We played for a little while after dinner and Laura found a hat. Have you ever seen a more beautiful little girl? I think not.

And what about Mom Carol? And Handsome Josh? They're just beautiful - Josh, Carol and Laura.

Chris has a gig tonight at an art show in Waterbury Center. It was an extremely eclectic mix of art and people, to say the least. Very hippy dippy. Here Sue, Steve, Josh and Matt enjoy a moment of laughter, while Laura is off dancing.

The music was great. That's Chris on drums. The gal singing [not pictured] was very good - very Norah Jones-like.

I was holding Josh for a while and decided to join others who were sitting on the floor as Josh is no lightweight. Somehow my legs were turned into a train with Josh, Bella and Laura wearing me out. Bella and Tatiana took Laura under their wings and Laura had a ball.

We then went back to the house for maple pecan pie and pumpkin pie. Laura, being the charmer that she is, talked Sue into reading her yet another story. Sue, being the lovely lady that she is, obliged.

We ate the pies, drank coffee and continued to have a wonderful time. Oh, and by the way, Pat's team won the soccer game today by a score of 4-1, with Pat having an assist. It was his last game of the season. Steve said it was a terrific game with wonderful weather, as long as you were in the sun. Here's Pat as his computer.

After such a long day, we're all pretty bushed - especially Josh who is taking another power nap, this time on his Grandma, who wouldn't have it any other way.

Much as we hate to call this evening to an end, children must be put to bed. So, we make ready to head back to the hotel. Here is Steven trying to make an even cheesier smile than Laura makes.

Again, this Old Gal is whipped. I love playing with the kids but it's really hard work. God Bless Carol and Matt for doing such a terrific job with those Little Angels.

So, nite nite for now. We leave Vermont tomorrow and it's going to be hard saying goodbye to the family. I am, however, so very grateful and fortunate to have such a wonderful bunch of relatives/family/kinfolk. Whatever you call them, they are much loved by me.

Friday, October 17, 2008

It's Friday, and clear and cool and just beautiful. Laura taps on our connecting door and hops into bed with Grandma Vicki to have her first [of three] breakfast. Vicki reads to her as Laura just loves books.



I'm dressed and ready first so I take Laura exploring AFTER we have her second breakfast in the restaurant. There's a covered bridge on the property, streams, a few little waterfalls, and lovely wooden swings scattered about the property.



We gather the Clan together and then head out to Cold Hollow and sample some cider and cider donuts [breakfast 3 for Laura]. The adults even sample some of Vermont's hard cider and fruity wines. One wine I particularly enjoyed was a cranberry wine. Nice.

And here is the Apple of Our Eyes. Laura didn't want to pose in this at first, but when she saw the picture on my camera, she totally got into it and Sue took lots more shots. Yes, Laura is a Hambone!



After leaving Cold Hollow, we drover over to Stowe and took a long walk on one of the many trails. It's just so beautiful here, as you can see from the following.



One of the farmers sets up a Maze through the corn at this time of year. We didn't go into it as Laura and Josh were back at the car asleep. No, they were NOT left alone - Carol was there and then Vicki cut her walk short and went back as well.

More pictures of our walk follow. You can see how beautiful it is. I would walk miles every day if I had these views.

After our walk, Sue, Vicki and I drove over to Burlington to get Chris. He attends UVM majoring in music. Here is is meeting Josh for the first time in person.

Sue and Jim picked up Pat from soccer practice and we all met at The Alchemist for supper. It's a brew pub that Steve is quite fond of. I tasted his two IPA choices - very good. The food was pub food but not that spectacular except for the garlic mayo used to dip the fries into! WOW. Really good.

Laura enjoyed herself but the noise was just too loud. Here she is with Vicki being loved by all.

We all then went back to our hotel and took over the Community Room where was enjoyed pumpkin pie from Cold Hollow and games in the game room. I must say, Laura wore me out. If I have 1/5 of her energy!!!!!

Tomorrow, we're going back to Stowe for breakfast at McCarthy's, a swim in the pool at the hotel, Pat's last soccer game of the season, dinner and then Chris' gig. A full day is planned so I must close. I'll try to get shots of all the festivities.