Douglas, MA and the family portion

Friday-Saturday, June 5-6. 

Family, friends and food. That pretty much sums up our time back in New England. 

The trip from Gettysburg to Dick and Dorothy's home in Douglas, MA, took us about 7 hours of (mostly) interstate highway driving. The trip was uneventful -- always a plus -- and the first two or three hours took us through more stunning Pennsylvania scenery. Susan and I have driven through the Keystone State many times but I can't recall being so struck by the luscious scenery and often dramatic vistas we were treated to this time.

Anyway, we arrived late afternoon and spent a lovely evening sipping chilled sparkling wine on their patio before another of Dor's scrumptious meals (stuffed shells à la Cathy Van Halsema).

We eased into Saturday morning with coffee and a light breakfast before heading out to Rhode Island for lunch. It has become a tradition of sorts for the four of us have lunch at the Matunuck Oyster Bar. Even though they are still in the construction phase of rebuilding after their fire of over a year ago they still pack 'em in and Dick had the foresight to make reservations. Anyway, the temporary tent system works fine and is close to the water which made the air inside cool and comfortable.

temporary quarters

Susan had a salad with grilled chicken and Dor had her favorite: lobster roll

Dick had three "stuffies" - stuffed Quahog clams 

I had a scrumptious clam chowder with a a glass of Alagash ale

Note in the photo above the Westminster Crackers. They're made in Rutland, VT where we lived for nearly a dozen years. Curiously enough we lived on Westminster Street in providence for eight years. 

After a leisurely lunch -- leisurely as some of you have discerned from many previous posts -- is how we like to travel. I suppose that explains why even when we travel to Europe we like to be independent, on our own schedule and not at the whim of someone else.

Anyway, from Matunuck and Rhode Island we crossed over into Connecticut. Dick drove us through a number of quintessential New England villages through the countryside as we made our way to Priam Vineyards. Part of the Connecticut Wine Trail, Priam is perched on a lovely bluff and provides outdoor and indoor seating. 

Dick and Dorothy choose a local chardonnay and Susie and I split a very generous four-wine flight  of local whites (including one rosé) -- which we thought just OK. We sat outside enjoying the sun, interessting conversation with table "neighbors" and very nice live acoustic guitar music.

From the vineyard we made our way to the town of Wethersfield in Connecticut where we were to meet up with the MacDonalds at Lucky Lou's Bar and Grill. Unfortunately Glen was under the weather but we were joined by niece Christina and daughter Kiera.

I had a delicious lamb gyro with potatoes (as did Christina), Susie had a chicken gyro, Kiera pasta and Dick and Dorothy each had a salad.

The food was tasty, the beer cold, the conversation warm and lovely. 

After dinner the six of us strolled around the village before saying our goodbyes. We had no sooner returned to our cars than a terrific wind, rain and thunderstorm pelted us as we left town. Whew talk about timing.

All-in-all a lovely day meandering through rolling hills, reconnecting with family, enjoying good food and fellowship. 

Tomorrow we return to Providence for lunch with friends Andrea and her mom Barbara and dinner at Dick and Dorothy's tomorrow night with niece Mallory and her dad Steele.

Keep travelin'!!

Hanging out in Massachusetts

  [Monday 14 July] 

Well actually we really spent the better part of today in Rhode Island and Connecticut. 

After a very leisurely morning of coffee and a light breakfast the four of us packed ourselves into D & D's car and, with Dick at the helm, off we went for our first adventure of the day. As you might expect, that involved food. 

Last year when we visited here the four of us had lunch at the Matunuck Oyster Bar in Matunuck, RI. (Susie and I had eaten here with friends Andrea ad Barbara back when we lived in Rhode Island.) Although none of us are particularly fond of oysters (the Phlegm family of food as Dave Barry referred to them) the location is lovely and the food very good.

Sadly, back in May of this year, there was an extensive fire which naturally caused the business to close. But not for long. They opened back up about two weeks ago under a large tent just across the road from their old building. They have food prep trailer close by and the best port-a-potties any of us have ever seen!

After dropping our car off with the valet (valet parking only) we walked across the road -- no jumping from the bridge of course -- and since we had reservations were seated straightaway.

The food was still scrumptious and the service spot on, as we expected. Dorothy had a lobster roll (a standard with her) while Dick had one of his favorites: a stuffie with a bowl of New England chowder. Susie and I each had the blackened chicken sandwich which was truly blackened low-country style.

waiting for the rebuild

the place was hoppin'

D & D just happy to be here

blackened chicken, yummmeeee

across the road from the big tent

temporary dining room

After a relaxing lunch, fueling us up for the next leg of the day, we drove out of Matunuck and eventually crossed over into Connecticut. (For those of you living in more wide open spaces, you must remember how close things are in New England.)

Our next destination was the village of Chester, CT. Located a stone's throw from the Connecticut River, it boasts the last remaining ferry on the river and is also home of the Gillette "Castle". More of that shortly.

After about an hour or so cruising the back roads of CT we pulled into Chester. But before stopping in town we drove the mile or so to check out the ferry crossing.

In the distance, we could see William Gillette's "castle" on the hill on the opposite side of and overlooking the river. We opted not to cross and check out the castle, today a state park, but you can find out more right here.

Osprey nest?

Gillette Castle up on the hill

In Chester itself we found parking plentiful and enjoyed a half hour so strolling this lovely, quaint village. We stopped for coffee at Simon's Marketplace along the Main street and were greeted by a trio playing a set of tunes reminiscent of folk singers Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Simon's Marketplace along Main Street

We made our way back to the highway and were soon off to Glastonbury and the MacDonald home for dinner. After another hour or so driving we found our way into town with the goal of locating the Whole Foods to pick up a prepared salad and a couple of bottles of wine. We found the store just fine but they didn't sell wine so Susie and I walked across the street to a liquor store and grabbed two bottles. Unfortunately they didn't have much of a deli section at Whole Foods and so off we went to the Highland Market (a Christina recommendation) where we picked up a large container of red bliss potato salad. 

A few minutes later we were ensconced on the patio at the MacDonald's with a glass of wine in hand. Christina put a plate of hummus with diced cucumber and tomatoes and olives which went like the proverbial hotcakes. Deeeelicious!

Liam was at home and Kiera arrived not long after we sat down. All of us spent a wonderful evening chatting, catching up on the latest developments in Lego Land and got to see Kiera's costume for the upcoming ConnectiCon (Connecticut's version of Comic Con) in Hartford. 

Dinner proved to be another outstanding home-cooked meal: flank steak on the grill, cheesy potatoes and potato salad (OK compliments of Highland Market). Dessert was a blueberry pie à la Christina and Liam's Rice Crispy Treats, the latter having just the right amount of chewiness I thought.

Eventually it was time for goodbye hugs. I have no idea when we'll see these guys again -- sooner than later I hope -- and will miss their company. The Bergman kids and their various spouses are always a joy to be around and their kids a special treat for us. 

Tomorrow the four of us meet up with old friends Andrea and her mom Barbara for lunch in Providence. Always food, of course.

 

News from Grand Rapids

This has been a dizzying, weird, very sad and yet very uplifting year.

The year, or rather that part of the year when the snow and cold had receded to other venues, began with quite a bang for us: q rail journey through France and Spain. But by now that is very old news indeed.

And while not as exciting perhaps,  the good news that spring was the return of the cranes (and I don't mean Frazier and Lilith) for another season.

It was a quick trip north for a couple of nights with friends in Traverse City. And a real treat was having lunch at the Farm Club. It may not look like much but man oh man the food was simply wonderful!

Another family gathering, this time for Memorial Day at Clear Bottom Lake.

Jen, her husband Scott, Scott's Gordon and Scott's sister Alicia

In late May Susie and I flew to Boston direct from Grand Rapids to gather with family for Kiera MacDonald's graduation from High School in Glastonbury CT.

We also had the opportunity for experience southern-style biscuits at Joe Hafner's tiny shop oddly named Irregardless (I know) in Providence, RI. The shop is owned and operated by Joe and his long-time friend James Dean, partners in culinary adventures. Joe and Susie worked together many years ago at Gracie's in Providence and he was pleasantly surprised to see her (us) having breakfast! The two of them spent some time catching up. . . 

Needless to say we had yet another grand old family time, accompanied by wonderful meals at D & D's, followed by lunch at the Matunuck Oyster Bar in Matunuck, RI.

inside the covered patio

Susie, Dick and Dorothy and I had a scrumptious supper at The Beamhouse in Glastonbury before the graduation ceremonies. 

The pleasantries of summer took a darker tun in early autumn. 

Susan's mom had a rough trip to the Emergency Room where we all spent the better part of a full day trying to discern (1) what was wrong with her followed by (2) what to do next. The long and short of it was Bernice was placed under hospice care. 

Although she returned to her room at Medilodge (still a dumb name) her need for more attentive care required a move to a room closer to staff. 

Amidst all this my old friend friend Ed Evans died in Louisiana. And since Susan was increasingly wrapped up in overseeing her mother's medical and physical needs I headed off by myself to Natchitoches, LA to attend Ed's memorial service in early October. Ed's wife Chris and her family kindly invited me over to their house to join the family for a dinner the night before the service. 

(You can read Ed's obituary and the many lovely comments right here.)

After a quiet morning in my hotel room staying out of the heat, I made my way to the church for the service.

Maybe it was because I knew Ed longer than anyone else there or perhaps because I was there the night Ed and Chris first met (we were on a double date together). Whatever the reason I was deeply moved when Chris asked me to sit with the family. 

After some fifty years think you know someone. But it's when you sit in a large room full of strangers who shared a much longer relationship with Ed and hear about what he did for so many years, who he was, all of which pretty much confirmed what I already knew of course -- but God it was fascinating to hear all those lovely stories.

1st Presbyterian Church

fellowship after the service

Chris (right)

Notwithstanding the 100+ degree heat it was a short but oh so sweet visit to say goodbye to an old friend. 

In a rather dramatic shift of tone, later that same month Susie and I attended the wedding of James Ten Have-Chapman just outside of Zeeland, MI. (James is the son of Susie's cousins Garret and Laurie Ten Have-Chapman.)

friends and family

To help ease the pain of 5 November Susie and I drove north to Traverse City to spend a couple of nights with friends Patty and Paul. Lunch at the Farm Club was as usual superb and dinner that evening turned into something of a very curious surprise.

Many, many years ago when we lived in Grand Rapids we belonged to a food and wine group called, unsurprisingly, The Taster's Guild. Often at dinners were would sit next to Peg and Erwin Sporte. The Sportes were quite nice and always a pleasure to sit with and share a meal and glass or two of wine. We would often talk of traveling and they recounted how they loved going to Traverse City but couldn't get up there much since they were in Grand Rapids to take care of their mothers. 

Over the years since, and particularly, since returning to Grand Rapids to in effect take care of Susie's mom -- or at least help her out when she needed it -- we would often think of the Sportes and wonder what ever became of them.

Anyway, back to our trip to TC. We were searching for a place to have dinner on a chilly Friday night and after two failed attempts we settled on Harrington by the Bay. Our waitress led us to a booth near the front window and Susan quickly spied a small plaque placed against the wall in the booth

 

The Sportes, as we soon learned, eventually moved to Traverse City and Erwin came into the restaurant and sat in this same booth every Tuesday for years. . . . One final dinner shared, I suppose.

I probably should have played the lottery that day.

It was barely a week later that my mother-in-law Bernice Audrey VandenBerg died. But you probably already know about that story. . . 

In early December we joined several of our neighbors for the second annual Eaglecrest Broadway Bar Christmas Luncheon.

On December 7 we joined with the family to say a final goodbye to Bernice Audrey VandenBerg. A truly lovely soul.

After the recent events celebrating lives both past and present we joined a few acquaintances from our gym at Meijer Gardens for their festive light show. 

We were planning to end the year with an overnight stay on New Year's Eve at the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids. At the last minute we cancelled and that night, New year's Eve I had a cardiac arrest.