Simple Family Fun - Stony Brook NY State Park

Every year we make the trek up to NY for the Fourth of July party on Loon Lake.  Since two of the three kids were asleep for the fireworks, I didn't get any pictures. :( But... the the kids love getting up early to use their brand new fishing poles from Grandma!  (somehow we get new ones each year :)  This is the first year though that they actually each caught a fish on their own!

Morning  Catch on Loon Lake

Aside from lounging in the lake, although our 18 month old just wanted to swim to the floating dock and back over and over and over - this kid has no fear - so there is not much "lounging",
 we love to go and visit Stony Brook State Park.  

This is my favorite stop on our annual visit. Not only is is BEAUTIFUL but you get a good work out walking to each of the falls. This is definitely not something you want to miss if you are in the Western NY area. This park is located in Dansville, NY and has lifeguarded swimming holes, picnic areas, clean locker rooms and an awesome playground!  Check out their website to plan your visit http://nysparks.com/parks/118/.   Nothing beats a simple family walk along the falls. 

What's Cookin' : Family Style Antipasto

When I was a little girl I remember hot NY summers with no air conditionion and the constant purr of box fans circulating hot air around the house.  My Italian grandparents lived with us in an apartment we built onto the house.  Having FAMILY around was a part of everyday life. On those hot summer nights when turning on the stove or oven was a ridiculous thought, Grandma would head out the garden and pick fresh green beans, basil, cherry tomatoes, cukes, and anything else she felt would make a great salad for supper.  Then with whatever cold meats and cheeses she had in the fridge, she'd toss it all together in olive oil, vinegar, and her magic wand of spices.


This week my Lella (her real name is Marietta but I couldn't say that as a kid and called her Lella and the name stuck) came down to VA for a visit. She is my mom's older sister and enjoyed those same very special summer salads her mother used to make.  After a hot week in an unseasonably cool summer, we decided to make an antipasto for dinner and Lella showed me how to make the dressing!

This brought me back to those simple summers of my youth when dinner meant running out to the garden and spending time as a FAMILY making an then eating meal.  It is all to often that we get caught up in all the craziness of life and miss out on those special moments.

Having Lella here this week helped remind me to always make time to slow down and enjoy what is really important.  I have taken my Italian heritage and upbringing for ganted. I'll honeslty admit I thought everyone "did it that way" and that when I grew up life would be the same.  Grrr... mommy fail :/  I don't think grabbing concession stand food at the 5th straight Little League game constitutes as a meal, but that is often how we roll.

Nonetheles this past week hearing the kids giggle playing cards (yes cards, not their iPods or laptop) until it was late begging for just a few more minutes was priceless!  Every now and then you need a healthy dose of FAMILY to keep you grounded and focused on creating the same opportunites for memories for your own kids.  End result...mommy FAMILY win!


Quick Antipasto Recipe
1 head of Romain Lettuce - chopped
1 can of pitted black olives
1/2 jar of roasted red peppers
1 jar of Italian Mix Giardiniera
1/4 lb of provolone cheese
1/4 lb of deli pepperoni

Dressing:
3 parts olive oil
1 part cider vinegar
seasoning:  basil, oregano, parsely, garlic, salt, pepper,
(don't ask how much we never measure just toss it all in) 

Our Simplified Summer Saturday 

This morning we took the liberty of finally sleeping in on a Saturday. No ball game to rush out to, no major project around the house, just simple family time. 

 So we sauntered over to the local Farmer's market and picked up fresh picked blackberries, some tomatoes and cukes from the sweet man who always has fruit snacks for the kids whether you buy from him or not (you guessed it - we always do!), Pink House Farm sausage raised right down the road by a great family, the best cinnamon rolls ever, from a top notch local fourth grade teacher ...does it get any better than this?  

I didn't think so until we stopped by our local Southern States Co-op to get some sweet feed for our Alpacas when we found out it was Dairy Day!  The kids got to go in and cuddle with the calves (yup right in the store-dang left the phone in the car), snack a mini cowtail candy, and enter to win the "Got Milk" gift basket.  Yes, it is days like these that I'm reminded how grateful I am for small town USA living?

Who's with me?