Summer Catch Up!

 

Looking down from our front deck - summer is in full bloom!

Our first night's dinner of the week: Zoe, Sean, Rowan, Heather, Will, James, Kolya and Morgen

A few I managed to get together for a photo (not easy). Jenny, Sean, Will, James, Rowan, Morgen and Scott.

Larry and Scott. This was actually 
taken during a visit to Essex, NY to
visit Larry earlier in June 

We went up to Spring Lake every day and sometimes twice in 
one day. The weather was hot most of the week and sunny!
The lake is just up our road one mile!
Here is Morgen, Zoe, Rowan, Sean and Will.

Kolya saying good-bye at the end of the week.

Here's a montage of photos from our summer so far. Since our visit from our oldest son's daughter Shira, three of our other children came for a week around the Fourth of July - along with some other friends. James, Morgen and Kolya drove up from Washington DC. Sean, Will and Rowan came from Boston. Zoe flew to Boston from Palo Alto for a few days with them and then came up for the week here. Larry and Zuzia from Essex, NY and Jenny & Marty Wolf came for the weekend. And last Scott Silverstein joined us for a day. 

And we're attending lots of concerts of every kind. There are so many choices around the area. Pierce's Store continues to be busy with Heather putting in 8 hours (2 - 4 hour shifts) running the store as a volunteer and  lots of other events such as a wine tasting, and a film documenting Marjorie Pierce's life, both with lots of music. Shrewsbury hosts a 6 concert series at our Meeting House and there are similar concerts at almost every town around us all summer  We drove over to Saratoga for two days and saw BalletX perform the Four Seasons Reimagined.  And then trips to Cornish, NH for two of our 3 performance series at Opera North - Rossini's Cenerentola. and Douglas Moore and John Latouche's Ballad of Baby Doe.  We obviously love opera - we saw a second version of La Traviata at Middlebury Opera in June  (the fist was January at Pensacola). 

Heather makes the appetizers for the
wine tastings. We sell them and wine &
beer in the garage to benefit Pierce's.

The view from our seating at the Saratoga Performing Arts
Center for BalletX

The flowers and butterflies are amazing
this year in our garden. 

We always have a picnic supper before our Opera North 
performances. Our friend Sally joins us. The view over to the
Connecticut River and Mt. Ascutney is beautiful and we've
lucked out twice now with the weather. 

Scott is on 5 boards and Treasurer not only for all of them, but also for for our candidate for State Representative, Phoebe Tucker. He is a faithful attendee at Quaker meeting here in Shrewsbury on Sundays too. Heather is an active member of the Rutland Garden Club and leads the team that maintains the gardens at our Senior Center (as well as our own huge garden, where she does have help). Scott is doing a lot of maintenance work around the house, for example painting the decks. So we keep really busy.

Handy Man Scott replacing the sink faucet

Tony's Polka Band (www.tonyspolkaband.com)

Looking at the audience behind me

And over to the left behind me with our Meeting House in the rear. Spring Lake Ranch provided the dinner and there were 502 ice cream bars for dessert. 

This view from the front deck includes Baby.

Our side deck has two tables for six and lots of extra chairs. Awnings can cover the whole deck when it's hot - not that often!

Looking down the walkway that leads to the garage with a few of my many herbs visible.

Cooking with Shira!

 

Shira and Heather with our freshly made Maple Pecan Sandwich Cookies.

Our 13 year old granddaughter Shira took the train up to Rutland from NYC for a all too short visit. It's a treat to have one of our grandchildren on their own. We really had time to get to know each other better. One thing we know of her is that she loves to cook, Heather and she love the Great British Bakeoff series!  So we did a lot of cooking/baking together. We made Maple Pecan Sandwich Cookies first - Yum! It's from the All-American Cookie Cookbook by Nancy Baggett so I've included the recipe at the end here. 

Enjoying our Lumpia our on the deck..

Then we made Fresh Veggie Lumpia for lunch. It was a modified recipe from several on line as we wanted to work with tofu for a change. That recipe is here as well but really you can put most anything inside the wrappers! The traditional Filipino brown sauce recipe was mostly followed  Lumpia or Lumpiang are Filipino Fresh Spring Rolls. Heather was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines from 1966 - 68. This year she is running two Cooking Classes to benefit Pierce's Store here in Shrewsbury (for the past 8 years she's been doing this once a year). The first one in July will feature Philippine dishes. Shira plans to make these for her siblings at home as everyone can make their own lumpia, choosing the ingredients that they like! 

Lumpia with Tofu and Veggies

That afternoon Scott and Shira made Focaccia with fresh rosemary: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/big-and-bubbly-focaccia-recipe. This is a easy recipe although you need to be around the kitchen for a half day as there are many steps at intervals. As this was a rainy afternoon, it was a perfect time. It was amazing!

Blueberry Cheese Danish and 
scrambled eggs for breakfast!

The following morning she and Heather made Blueberry Cheese Danish for breakfast.  Here is the basic recipe: https://homemadehome.com/20-minute-blueberry-cream-cheese-danishes/#tasty-recipes-27883, We made several modifications - no almond flavoring, and a large teaspoon on blueberry jam over the cream cheese and under the fresh blueberries. Also brush the egg mixture on the edges before filling the centers - much easier.  I highly recommend buying Dufour puff pastry if it's available - it uses butter (although they do make a non dairy one as well). 

And here it is when it came out!

Scott and Shira pose before the focaccia goes
in the oven.

Shira also helped me with my latest painting. My small studio is in the local Maker Space, called The Mint. We spent a morning working on it together and she really helped me work out a bunch of problems! It's the second of two big paintings for my 2 year old grandson that include favorite children's and young adult's (and old folks) characters in an imaginary landscape. 

We hated to say good-bye! But Shira had to go back for final exams. She graduates from 8th grade this year and has been chosen for the Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan next year - a real triumph!

Maple Pecan Sandwich Cookies

(from The All-American Cookie Book by Nancy Baggett)

1 cup (4 ounces) chopped pecans

2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

½ tsp baking soda

Generous ¼ tsp salt (ordinary kind)

¼ cup packed brown sugar

¾ cup unsalted butter (1 and ½ sticks), slightly softened

⅔ cup powdered sugar

3 and  ½ T pure maple syrup

1 large egg yolk

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 T finely chopped pecans (not toasted) for topping

Maple Buttercream filling:

⅓ cup pure maple syrup

1 cup powdered sugar

6 ½ T cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks

⅛ tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Spread the pecans on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven, stirring frequently, for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly browned. Be careful not to burn - it’s easy! Immediately turn out into a small bowl and cool, set aside.

In a medium bowl thoroughly whisk together the flour, soda and salt, set aside.

In a food processor, process the toasted pecans and brown sugar continuously until the pecans are completely pureed and form a paste, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the processor sides and bottom several times. Add the butter and process until well blended. Add the powdered sugar, egg, vanilla and maple syrup and process until very well blended and smooth. Add the flour mixture and process in on/off pulses just until evenly incorporated.

Turn the dough out on a clean surface and knead together briefly into one piece, then divide into thirds. Place each portion between large sheets of waxed paper (parchment paper would work too) and roll out a generous ⅛ inch thick. Check the underside of the paper and smooth out any wrinkles that form. Stack these layered sheets on a baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes (or chill in the refrigerator for a few hours) until chilled and firm. These can also be frozen for up to 24 hours, let thaw before using. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease several baking sheets or coat with nonstick spray. Working with one portion at a time and leaving the remaining dough chilled, gently peel away and then put back one sheet of paper. Flip the dough over, then peel off and put aside (sometimes the original sheet tears during the cutting process so I use the discarded sheet to reroll).  Using a 1 and ½ or 1 and ¾ inch cookie cutter (fluted or scalloped makes it prettier), cut out the cookies and transfer to a baking sheet, 1 and ½ inches apart. Reroll any scraps. If the dough gets too soft, chill until it’s usable. Sprinkle half the cookies with a small amount of finely chopped pecans and press down into the dough. These will be the tops of the sandwich.

Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time in the upper third of the oven for 6 to 8 minutes, reversing the sheet halfway to ensure even browning. Transfer the sheet to a wire rack and cool to firm up about 2 minutes before transferring the cookies to another wire rack with a spatula. Let cool completely.

Buttercream

In a small heavy saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a simmer on the stove over med high heat. Simmer briskly for 2 minutes, remove from the heat and cool slightly. Then pour into the food processor. Let stand until barely warm. Add the powdered sugar, butter and vanilla and process until well blended a smooth.

Spread a generous amount over the underside of the undecorated cookie and top with a pecan sprinkled cookie. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for one month.

Fresh Filipino Lumpia (very modified from: https://panlasangpinoy.com/asian-vegetable-dish-fresh-spring-roll-lumpiang-sariwa-recipe/), We cooked onions, peppers, garlic and carrots together (as everyone liked all of these), Then another dish or stir fried mung beansprouts and cabbage. Then we fried crisp the extra firm tofu. Everyone helped them selves to these, added a fresh romaine leaf and peanuts and added them to the softened rice wrapper. The sauce was the same except for no beef powder but several spoonfuls of peanut butter and more soy sauce, I'll make the homemade lumpia wrappers next time.

Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania

 

The trip home from Virginia was too far for one day so we stayed two nights at the Pennsylvania Westchester KOA near Longwood Gardens so we could spend a day there. As you can see we really lucked out on the weather.  After you leave the visitor's center you can head over first to the extensive greenhouses, seen here in the distance,

Longwood Gardens is a public garden, 1100 acres in the Brandywine Valley, purchased in 1906 by Pierre Dupont from the heirs of the Pierce family. George Pierce purchased 406 of the acres in 1700 and his grandsons began planting an arboretum in 1798. It covered 15 acres and the possible destruction of the trees caused Pierre to save it. He did extensive renovations and enlargement of the Pierce home and used it as a vacation residence. He designed formal gardens and water features and opened the property to the public in 1921 and in 1937 created the Longwood Foundation which runs it. 

We went out to dinner both nights as we'd been away from the RV for two weeks and the cupboard was unusually empty. We enjoyed our first choice so much, Hood's BBQ, we went back there the second night.

There are 1.6 acres (0.65 ha) of Conservatory gardens under glass, with 13 indoor gardens and 859 different types of permanent plants, as well as fountains

We  managed to walk around the main part of the garden and that took about 4 hours (with plenty of rest stops).  There are extensive walks further out on the property and you could spend may days here and not see everything. The one thing we really missed due to the early season was the fountain shows. They are pretty spectacular from what we heard! 

There is fabulous orchid room and we enjoyed
a long talk with the staff person there. 

The flowers change with the seasons and 
who doesn't love spring flowers.

There are three enormous conservatories all in a row. 

Scott poses in a lovely spot - due to the early season we had
very light crowds. It must be crazy in the summer.

It was all breathtaking!

The older home, the original section from the 
Pierce's time is joined to the new building with 
a conservatory garden

The outside of the home's conservatory was covered
with  blooming wisteria.

From the main path around the garden there were views of the meadows and forests beyond. We could see people on the trails off in the distance

Tulips of every color and combination in the formal gardens. 

As you can see the weather was almost good enough to eat outside, but not quite - sunny but around 60 degrees.

I didn't take a photo inside so used one from a google review. But you can see how attractive it was 

Our Three Sons

Heather got to celebrate her birthday with family this year with our oldest son Josh and his family. For many years we've been away during April.  And every year is a milestone year now - she's 81! From left Scott, Jonnie (old friend), Jonathan, Josh, Maya, Michal, Shira, Heather and Daniel in their dining room.

Over the next several weeks we schlepped back and forth between our three sons and their families.  Our youngest had asked us to babysit their 2 year old, Rowan, while he and Will went to New Orleans. It was too early to get to Boston with the RV, so we flew down from Washington DC. 

Rather a gloomy rainy Easter but it didn't stop the 5 kids from
their Easter egg hunt!

Kolya diving into his Easter basket
with Mom looking on.

But first we spent a long Easter weekend in Washington with our middle son, James, daughter-in-law Morgen and grandson, Kolya who is 7.  Easter day itself was with Morgen's parents and sister's family. Despite the rain there was a successful Egg Hunt and then a wonderful holiday meal. On Monday we spent the day at the National Aquarium in Baltimore with Kolya. It's one of his favorite places and a remarkable building and location on the inner harbor as well as, of course, an excellent aquarium.

The live version of the stuffed alligator we brought
back from Florida for Kolya.

Kolya added a Moray eel to his collection at the
Aquarium Gift Shop. 

Our time in Boston with Rowan was great as always. We got to see son Sean the first night and he and husband Will the night they came home. Two days were with daycare so very easy but then two full days over the weekend. He is so much fun but keeping up with him was exhausting. One day we went to the Franklin Park Zoo. A huge success were the groundhogs, cranes, and especially the giraffes, which includes a baby one! The second day we stayed close to home. There is a terrific playground and park at a nearby beach. 

It was a windy day at the Franklin Park Zoo -
as you can see from Rowan's hair!

He loves to climb and is pretty fearless - he
keeps us on our toes!

After returning to Washington we spent three more nights including our 47th Wedding Anniversary with James and family. We went to dinner at a local Trinidad Restaurant and it was great. We spent many months there on 3 different times on our boat, including two summers and the 2 months of Carnival preparations and events. We also had another fun day with Kolya at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - another big favorite of Kolya's, especially since it includes another gift shop. This time a beautiful butterfly. And Scott had a day visiting politicians for a bit of lobbying. He talked to staff at Chuck Schumer's, Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch. One of Bernie's staff took Scott on the underground train over the Representative Becca Balint. He was really sorry he didn't get a photo of that!

Lunch with a butterfly at the Natural History 
Museum.

James, Kolya and Morgen

Scott at Chuck Schumer's

The Capitol District's gardens were fabulous with
spring flowers and trees. 

Last, we took the Amtrak down to first, South Orange, NJ for a night with Scott's brother Brent followed by 3 nights at our oldest son's home in the upper east side of NYC. Josh, Michal and 4 of our grandchildren were at home. They had a wonderful birthday party for Heather, who turned 81!.  Several of their friends joined us for that. On Sunday we visited the Frick Museum and saw the Gainsborough Exhibit. We're usually away for my birthday so it was a treat to celebrate this year with family.

Michal and Daniel look on while I
attempt to blow out the candles.

Then back to Washington once more to pick up our RV at the Virginia State Park and head home James kindly offered to pick us up at Union Station and drive us. We decided to break up the long trip with 2 nights in Pennsylvania seeing Longwood Gardens. That will be my next entry.