Family
Pre-Labor Day Fun
Sep 2nd
Tonight we are having a family get-together at my aunt’s house to celebrate the upcoming holiday. I have a big family, and I truly love these types of gatherings as they give me time to relax and catch up with everyone. With my cousins going back to school and summer coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to come together and celebrate.
I did some cooking last night for the party. It was my job to make a few desserts. I decided to make something that would be fun for my little cousins to eat yet still delicious for the adults. I made homemade raspberry and strawberry Jello with fresh raspberries mixed in. I put the Jello in individual serving dishes. It took all my self control not to eat one this morning!
The second dessert was an easy classic. I mixed chocolate pudding with Cool Whip and put the mix in a graham cracker crust. When the pie sets, I’ll add another layer of Cool Whip on top and sprinkle some chocolate chips to top it off. I can’t wait to try it.
The family party will be the beginning of my Labor Day celebrations. I am going to Manasquan Beach for the weekend, which will probably be the last weekend I’m able to spend at the beach. Summer went by too quickly. I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!
– Amanda Smith, advertising and editorial coordinator
Girls’ Weekend
Jul 25th
Nearly every year, the women of my family come together to enjoy a weekend of fun and relaxation. No menfolk, no counting calories, no rigid schedule or rules. We’ve been doing this since my daughters were young, and now the girls of their generation (who were all too young to come along on those first excursions because — another requirement — there is no whining or being taken care of on these trips) are young mommies themselves. They have come to discover the joys and blessings of leaving kids, husbands and responsibilities behind for a few days of just hanging out with the girls.
Perhaps we are unique, but our group is blessed with very little drama and a bountiful appreciation for each other. A quick wit and the ability to laugh at oneself are hallmarks of each of us, whether daughter, sister, aunt or mom. Usually, we find a big house at the beach or a lodge in the mountains to rent for a long weekend, and a dozen or more of us will trickle in over the course of a Friday (depending on work schedules and the distance from home). We bring along beverages and goodies of choice, perhaps a game or two, and a store of family news and chat to share. There are always those who stay up late and others who rise early and get the coffee on; those who head out for a walk in the cool of morning and those who prefer to just find a cozy corner to curl up in with a good book.
That is the charm of a girls’ weekend: Everyone is comfortable with doing her own thing without pressure to take part in any group activity, but there is usually at least one other person prepared to join you when you want company for a shopping excursion or a little outdoor activity. We share cooking duties or, more often than not, let someone else do the cooking for us with take-out or a restaurant meal. Most of us are avid readers, so there are often lively book discussions as well.
This year, for the first time, the venue for this much-anticipated event was held in a family home . . . mine, to be exact. It gave me the opportunity to share our new place with a bunch of my female relatives, most for the first time. With cute shops to peruse in nearby Grants Pass, Ashland and Jacksonville; outdoor activities galore; and an assortment of other avenues of entertainment, ours seemed to be the right place to host our gathering. Today, seven of us enjoyed an exhilarating (and wet) jet boat ride on the Rogue River (a nice way to spend a 100-degree afternoon) while the rest partook of a little shopping and a leisurely lunch in historic Jacksonville. Tonight we shared Lemon Drops and dinner together, followed by a new event, a book swap where we traded off our favorite reads with each other. Tomorrow we’ll enjoy brunch and a shower for my niece and her first baby before everyone (except me, of course) returns home.
We’ll all come away from this time together refreshed and recharged for our daily lives and responsibilities. We will also have tightened the bonds that tie us together through blood or marriage, thankful to be part of this loving and lively family.
– Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editorÂ
Remembering Barb
Jul 11th
Just three months ago in my blog, I shared my memories of my cruise in the Mediterranean last spring with my sister-in-law, Barb. Less than two weeks before I wrote that piece, Barb had been diagnosed with lung cancer which had rapidly spread throughout her body; and the day after the blog was published, Barbara Ann passed away. She was the first in our family of my generation (siblings, cousins and spouses) to die, and I know I am not alone among us in still processing that fact and coming to terms with the idea that I will not be sharing another wonderful trip or girls’ weekend with her.
Barb was warm, generous, kind-hearted and full of fun in life, and her husband Glenn wanted to be sure that any sort of memorial service for her reflected her spirit. Neither of them liked traditional funerals, so my brother knew what Barb’s service should NOT be like. He waited until the initial shock at her passing had passed and the calendar was more amenable to travel. He then sent out a notice that on July 10 there would be a gathering in a park near their home. He recalled how much Barb, a Southern California native, had loved the crowds of evergreens on the hills of her adopted home in the Pacific Northwest. He asked that those who were able plant a tree in Barb’s memory and attend the gathering if they could.
Yesterday a whole bunch of Barb’s loved ones — family and friends going back to her childhood and from near and far — gathered at that park and shared memories and stories of her. There was no speech-giving or song-singing, and prayers were of the silent kind between each individual and his God. Instead, it was so like Barbara’s favorite kind of get-together, where everyone mingled and caught up with everyone else while the kids played on the swings and jungle gym. Cousins who hadn’t seen each other in a dozen years or more hugged and exclaimed over how big the children had grown and how good it was to reconnect again. Far from being a solemn occasion, this one boasted much laughter; and off to one side was a large bulletin board on which Glenn posted pictures of some of the trees planted for Barb along with pictures of her from throughout her life (including several from that cruise we shared the year before) and those dearest to her — particularly grandson Gavin.
Later, a smaller group of us gathered at my brother’s home and shared more time together while we sipped Barb’s favorite libation, lemon drops. As the day drew to a close, each of us prepared to head for home or overnight accomodations. Hugs were exchanged and plans made to see each other again soon, call or write. Glenn seemed so pleased that the day had been everything he had hoped it would be and none of what neither he nor Barb didn’t want. It was, just like our dear one, full of life, love and laughter, and a true celebration of her spirit that all of us continue to carry with us.
– Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor
Portuguese Wines
Jun 21st
While traveling, we took a few hours to visit the Cartuxa Vineyards for a tour and winetasting. The vineyard was originally a Jesuit post — the Jesuits were expelled from Portugal in 1759; and in 1821, all religious orders were banned and their property was taken over by the state. It was not until the early 20th century that orders returned, but never to the same strength. This was an interesting story for me, someone with eight years of Jesuit education in Philadelphia (St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and St. Joseph’s University). The Jebbies always have an interesting story.
Portugal makes some wonderful wine, and I think it is often overlooked by the American market. Spain has done such an incredible job marketing and promoting its wine, whereas small Portugal has been overlooked (says something about marketing and advertising your brand!). When Americans think of Portuguese wine, they immediately think of Port, the fortified sweet wine often served after a meal. They actually have many varietals to offer.
Since yesterday was Father’s Day, we uncorked a bottle that we brought back (I shipped two wonderful whites in my golf bag). We enjoyed a light and crisp white wine, Perma Manca 2007, from the Evora-Alentejo vineyard. Perfect for the day before the first day of summer!
So next time you are in Portugal, make sure you stash a few bottles of Portuguese wine in your golf bag!
– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO
