If you are familiar with this blog, you may remember the couple of times I mentioned my favorite aunt. My Aunt Terry.
She was the closest thing to a fashion icon I’ve ever had. She is hands down, the sole reason for my love of art. Many trips she took me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, when I was a young girl, provided delightful and educational lessons—especially on Impressionism from her.
Anyway, Aunt Terry now lives in Florida.
Aunt Terry. With a fish story of the huge Marlin she caught!!
And was very concerned about Irma destroying her condo. And a couple of my cousins ensured that Aunt Terry was carried up North via Frontier Airlines. Just in time for her birthday.
Hell hath no fury like a hurricane named Irma. Heck, if I was named Irma I would be pretty pissed off too!
Now. Due to a lot of stuff that has been going on in my life, I’ve somewhat fell off the family bandwagon. You know—you lose touch, sometimes things aren’t going so well and you want to shut down, then stuff gets better but you’re too embarrassed to get back in touch. Life happens.
But—in our family, babies are a big deal. And I was able to reconnect at a cousin’s baby shower a few weeks back.
My cousins Ann Marie, Kate and guess who!
And another generation of cousins are expecting AND expecting at the same time. MORE cousins!
A few days back I received a message from my cousin, Kate. She explained that Aunt Terry was coming up to ride the hurricane out—she would be staying at Kate’s. And I was invited to surprise Aunt Terry at a little Birthday celebration.
I was so good. I didn’t eat any cake. That was because I wolfed down about a pound of fresh Mozzarella cheese!
I happily accepted. Unfortunately, Bonaparte had a client and I would be driving back to New Jersey by myself. No big deal but he was going to be missed by everyone.
Aunt Terry was mega-surprised when she answered the doorbell and I was standing there! Kate never let on that I was going.
We had a blast! Before the rest of the family arrived, we got down to talkin’ politics of which we are on the same page. This was heavenly to both of us.
My sister and her husband arrived with my niece, and the rest was cousins from the Wynne contingent of the family.
Aunt Terry (middle) the Matriarch of the Wynne’s of the USA. There’s more of us in Ireland.
And it is great to be back in the loop. Family is everything. Family is that group you know you can always trust. Family knows you and just eye rolls your faults and failures. And family laughs with you.
Everyone is smiling now—but wait till they start to fight over that rainbow cookie cake!
The British Royals may have Queen Elizabeth–but WE have Aunt Terry!
The ride back home was just as pleasurable because I spent the entire ride home gabbing on the phone with my other sister who lives in California! The ride went very quickly!
I’m not really “feeling” it today to write a long post. I get a bit weird on 9/11. I worked in the Trade Center when I was younger and today hits home for me due to the loss of many people I knew. The world as we knew it ended that day and a new, less kinder world emerged.
Never forget. I reposted this last year and here it is this year. “Please Don’t Ever Forget”.
The Downtown skyline before our world changed.
And about Saturday night’s dinner—It was divine!
We were in the big stone building…
When we arrived at the restaurant, both buildings were buzzing with activity. Yes. Spring Mill Café is two buildings. One, the main structure resembles an old French farm house while the other is a little quaint cottage.
To the back, the little cottage is lit up. We had dinner in that building once–it was very charming!
And to please my husband, I wore a wavy wig. This is Texana by Freetress!
Here’s the dinner!
Tchin Tchin! We started off with Kir Royales!
Bonaparte started off with a Salade de Tomates
And I started off with a Baby Squid Salad. It was great!!!!
Bonaparte’s filet. The man loves his beef!
I FINALLY snapped a photo of my Moroccan Hen over Cous Cous—after I chowed most of it down!
We sipped on a beautiful Margaux–smelled and tasted just like dirt–I mean, earth!
And the server brought out dessert with a celebratory candle!!
We don’t go out to dinner often but when we do, it is for a special occasion and to a great restaurant!
So how was your weekend? Did you reconnect with family or long-lost friends? Did you do anything special?
I can’t stop thinking of Sister Sledge right now. We Are Family! From 1979!
I DID RE-CONNECT with FAMILY as well!AT A WEDDING……saw my AUNT BETTY and cousins!
We are on the same wave length Elizabeth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXO!!!
My beautiful girlfriends usually get together weekly in the summer and monthly during the rest of the year. This year, due to illness and as a few of them are moving house we didn’t get to connect as a full group. This weekend we gathered to have a late celebration of birthdays and house warm one of the new abodes! We are a crazy group of babes ranging from 80 to 55 but we have a load of fun when we get together… We are soul sistas!!!
Momcat. I wanna be a part of that group!!!!! XOXOXOXO!!!
It is great reconnecting with relatives that you like. 🙂
It was my birthday on Sunday and I was with my mum. Had the usual phone calls, text messages etc. Had a surprise from my late father’s god daughter, she texted me and wanted to know if she could come over to see me but more importantly see my mum. She wanted to give her some photos from a 90th birthday we had all been to last year. She also bought her parents. It was sooooo nice because I just thought she was bringing developed photos. Instead she had 2 photos enlarged and framed. I balled my eyes out, because it was special and it made me think of my dad who is not here. Then when my mum came in and she saw them she burst into tears. Mum talked to her dad, about like in Greece and we talked about all sorts of stuff. It was lovely, she bought me a big bunch of flowers. My mum ended giving her home made pasta and some spinach and fetta pitas she had recently made. So it was unexpected yet so very very special for my mum on my birthday. Next month my mum will be 85.
OMG. Diane. I just about started to get misty eyed reading your comment. That’s what makes life so special. Beautiful surprises when you don’t expect them and an opened gift box with memories of those you love. Thanks so much for sharing that !!! XOXOXOXO
My dad’s family was split up when he was a kid and my mom was an only child. Add to that the fact that we moved around a lot, and we weren’t close with most extended family. However, my immediate family is very close, as are all of the nieces and nephews, which is really nice. And we all have a blast when we’re together!
My husband is from a larger family, but they are not very connected. For example, his oldest brother lives about 30 minutes away. The most recent time we’ve seen him was 2 years ago. My husband says he likes my family better anyway … which is fine with me!
Hi Bridget! Isn’t it funny how we have one side of the family that we can be closer to than the other? Families are so complicated at times!!! We grew up close to both my mom’s and dad’s families but it seems that now everyone is spread out all over the place!!! I’m glad your husband likes your family better!! XOXOXOXO!!!
Ahh…family. I will say no more…best version of We Are Family was in The Birdcage. Your little restaurant looks charming…good food and atmosphere…perfect. Happy Wedding!
Hi Jeanne!! LOL–I hear you on that. And YES. I remember We are Family from The Birdcage!! Thank you!!! XXOXOXOXO!!!!
Can we offically adopt your Aunt Terry as part of the gang? She is so cute – and boy do you look like her. Please also keep us posted on what she goes home to and how things go – I am hoping her home is OK but even then, so much damage round about, yikes. Families – I adore my sister, I was a total pest when I was a kid I am sure (the younger bratty sister to the nth degree), but even though she lives back home in New Zealand we are really close, I am planning a trip home to stay with the 89yr old mother in March 2018 (she will be 90 in January), it may take the heat of other family members – like the pregnant 21yr old niece who could do without mother being a bit of a toad, how my sister copes with living in the same city as mother I will never know – despite the fact I love mum to bits and I am the golden child. I’d do basically anything for my sister (except move back home!) – her exhusband nearly killed her and every day I think how lucky I am she is still alive, he was an utter louse now roasting somewhere deep, really deep. I am also really close to my cousin Annie – fellow bookworms and ginlovers 🙂 we just pick up where we left off each time we see each other
And 9/11 – no words – even now
Hugs
Juliet. “Bookworns and Gin Lovers”. OH. I LOVE that so much!! Your family sounds like fun–and you are lucky to still have your mother–90!!! That’s incredible!! Hahahaha. I’m the OLDER sister and boy, did my younger sisters annoy me with everything. Now they just annoy me with their politics!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
And YES. You Can adopt Aunt Terry. She’s allsome!!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
I been so far behind on reading my blogs. So I just finished your last 4 posts. Congratulations! I love the story about how you two met. Your spirit shines so brightly through your blog, it always makes me smile.
I love my family, but it’s true that you can fall out of the loop with the wider circle of family. I don’t live close to my brothers, so we are in contact randomly. I do have an aunt and some cousins nearby, and tonight I called my Aunt Rose, who I love dearly, and who my brothers remember as the “hot” auntie of their childhood. She’s 80 now! And she still looks great. We made a plan to meet up in a couple of weeks so I can tell her all about my recent travels (not something she can manage easily anymore), and we can discuss politics (we are also on the same page, thank god!), and I can treat her to a nice lunch.
You always write about the best things. Love your outlook on life. xoxo
Catherine,
This weekend was spent watching Irma and football.
Yes, who is in charge of naming hurricanes? Irma- seriously a category 5 and a lame name.
I love your family post and family is a very important part of my life.
Glad it is yours too friend!
Hugs,
Robin
Spring Mill Cafe! My Frenchie and I haven’t been in a while…we’ve eaten at your little table, I mean our little table 🙂
ALWAYS a lovely experience at Spring Mill.