It is hard to believe that this is September.  Where has the summer gone?  All that most of us have to show for the summer is the produce from our gardens.  And if you ask me that represents a lot, especially hard work.  Labor Day always represents the beginning of fall and with the beginning of fall there are still a lot of fairs and festivals to attend. Mark your calendar for the Black Heritage Festival this weekend. Hats off to the WVIHF Board for the tremendous job they did with this 36th Festival.  There was a varied group of entertainers. We attended the Honorees Banquet and I was seated with Follie Basile and her son, Ethel and Leigh Schorr and Dave Seamon and Heather. The committee did a great job in the seating process. What a great time we had reliving old memories.  We especially talked about the great fashion shows that we put on.  Nothing like it in Clarksburg since.  Something that should have appealed to everyone. For the first time in 36 years I did not get to attend Saturday’s events but I did enjoy the coronation and the mass. My granddaughter, Holli, was a Maid of Honor in the Court and it made me especially proud to know that the third generation in my family is participating in the festival. The old saying "what goes round comes round" is especially true for good things; so all my work was not in vain. I want to call your attention to the book recently released by Diane Pishner Walker. Just the title brings back a lot of memories for me and I cannot wait to read it.

 

My friend Veronica Oliverio Moorman and her husband Steve came in for the festival and what a wonderful time we have had catching up.  She will be here for dinner and my menu contains a little Italian and a little Spanish. Most everyone enjoys Dave and Frank's sausage and I am sure they will too. I had several calls inquiring about Pietro Mazza, I do not believe that he attended this year's festival.  I checked several times at the hotel and he had not checked in.  For those of you who left messages with me for him I will be sure he gets them.

 

I want to thank the lady at Ryan's who shared with me her enjoyment of reading the Grapevine.  My friend at the Hot Spot inquired as to why I did not write it more often because she enjoys reading it so much and once a week is not enough for her.  Thanks to all of you for kind remarks and if you have a friend who does not receive the Grapevine remind them that they can get it on line at Connect Bridgeport or with the Shinnston News. No matter where I go someone will ask me if I am the Grapevine Lady; I guess I have been called worse. It is my pleasure to provide the column for my regular readers.

 

I have inquired around and I am being told that the Chicken and Hen mushroom is not coming up yet, but keep looking.  They are to delicious to miss. If you have green tomato's in your garden try putting some down in the crock for eating this fall with a dish of minestra. A note that if you just want to do a small amount try using the crock from your crock pot.  You can use a saucer on the top to put your weight on.

 

I am still not tired of the tomato, onion and basil salads.  Just a reminder that you can use canned whole tomatoes with dried basil in the winter.  There is nothing better, especially with hot Italian bread.

 

A happy birthday to Debbie Merandi, what a lot of memories we have together, and may she have many more. Also, a Happy Birthday to Dan Fisher.

 

My sincere condolences to Mary Kay Marino Lindsay on the loss of her son.  I can never imagine what this loss is like.  May she find comfort in their many wonderful  memories.

 

Keep in touch with me at 304 842 2662 or at spanishqueen86@aol.com.  And until next week "Now You Have Heard It through The Grapevine."