This past week was very enjoyable for me.  First, Dave's brother, Bill and his son Chip visited us from Alabama.  They traveled here in a beautiful motor home and parked it at the Stonewall Jackson Resort.  It had been several years since I had visited the resort and was in for a pleasant surprise.  The grounds were  meticulous and the lodge was absolutely beautiful.  The trailer park was filled to capacity and it appeared that there were many boaters using the facility. There were many golfers using the golf course. If you have  not been there lately it is worth the time to take a trip up there. It was great to be able to spend time with Bill and Chip.

 

While we were waiting for the steaks to get done on the grill we took a trip to the lodge.  I asked if Zondra Plum was there and sure enough I was able to renew our relationship.  You will remember that Zondra was a former employee of Holiday Inn and when the resort opened she went to work there. I worked a lot with Zondra through the Festival.  After a lovely visit with her I asked if Joe Corcoglionetti was there and  I was able to visit with him.  He looked great and seems to be enjoying his work there.  There seemed to be a lot of people using the  lodge facilities and  I found out that there was a conference going on.  Becky Lake was attending it as was Jimmy Marino and this allowed me a short visit with them. They have restaurant facilities in the lodge open to the public, so if you are e looking for a place to go, get your friends and family together and enjoy a nice lunch there.  It takes about 25 minutes to get there from Clarksburg. Do not forget that we have some wonderful facilities right here under our noses and once again this makes for great mini vacations.

 

While straightening up the kitchen Saturday morning my doorbell rang an upon answering it, standing there with his granddaughter was Junior Heater.  You will remember that he is one of my childhood friends from East View.  Junior was laden down with bags of Swiss Chard, garden lettuce and fresh onions.  Junior was so kind to have brought me mushrooms last fall..He is a follower of the Grapevine and he was concerned when I reported that our Swiss Chard had  not come up.  Junior to the rescue. Needless to say on Saturday afternoon we had a  nice mess of Swiss chard, that I fried in olive oil with peppers and onions and a wonderful garden salad with fresh onions and of course a lot of fresh Italian bread. I can never say enough about the wonderful people that I grew up with in East View. This was a varied group and most of us were very poor, but we learned the value of work and the value of being a good  neighbor.  When you  have these values instilled in you at an early age, they continue throughout your lifetime. Just a side note,Dave replanted the chard and it is now coming up; it will not be ready for several weeks but because of the action of a good friend Have already enjoyed my first batch of it. Our garden looks great because of Dave's efforts and barring any really bad weather I think we will have a good  harvest. I enjoyed an impromptu lunch with Cheryl Mihaulic and Alexis Scott this past week.  I always have something in the fridge that I can set a table with and with good friends, bread and coffee is enough.  Remember to keep up your friendships or after all what else is there but family and friends.

 

My condolences to Violet Suarez's family on her recent passing.  She was a Cavallaro and Dave grew up in Anmoore with the family.  I am saddened by these passing's, but I must admit it always affords me the opportunity to  see friends that I would not otherwise have the opportunity to visit with.  Tom Martin and I got to compare some garden notes and it was great to see John Pinion, his daughter, Zeke and Ida Trupo and Bill Renzelli.  There was Shirleen Isbella manning the hospitality room.  She is like the Energizer bunny;  she never quits.

 

A reminder to attend the noon time music on the Court House Plaza on Wednesdays that is being sponsored by the H. C. Commission.  You can also purchase a good lunch from the PWA Association. What a  nice way to spend a lunch hour or a great excuse to visit the city.

 

Take care and be safe if you are planning a Fourth of July trip. Remember to attend all the local festivals. Keep in touch and until next week "Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."