Sorry I haven’t written in a few weeks, but I find it hard to come up with interesting topics to write about that everyone will enjoy. So this will be a bit of a mishmosh.
Nanny’s Italian Kitchen
Trying to diet and making cooking videos on my YouTube channel is definitely a challenge. I’ve been on the Keto diet for the past three weeks, especially after looking at some of the holiday photos. Everyone else that lives in my house (except for the kids) is also on a diet. So what to do with the food I cook is a dilemma. I’ve been wanting to make pasta lenticchie (pasta with lentils) and lentil soup…Lentils Two Ways, but lentils are not Keto and they aren’t exactly diet; in particular with the pasta. Any Italian Keto suggestions?
Winters in New York
Ever since I was a kid I can remember how cold the New York winters could be. We loved it when we were young in NYC because we could go sledding in the park, build snowmen, and play in the snow, but when you grow older and have to commute it can be daunting. I’m sure there are worse conditions in states up north, but I don’t even want to think about living in those areas. Don’t know how they do it year after year with double digit snow falls.
There were plenty of times when I was married and living in the Bronx that the snow got so bad I couldn’t even open the kitchen door because of the snow drifts. During the Blizzard of 1978 (photo to the left) we couldn’t even open the door! We mainly used the kitchen door to enter the house when we lived on Wickham Avenue because it was more convenient. But since the door was located in a corner the wind drifts would pile the snow against the door making it almost impossible to open.
Relocating to a Warmer Climate
With every winter that passes the more and more I think about relocating to a warmer climate. I’ve recently been checking out houses in other cities/states like San Marcos, Texas, Wilmington, NC, Oviedo, FL (where my nephew and niece live), Wake Forrest, NC and Port Richey, FL. Even looked at a few in Oklahoma and Tennessee.
The biggest problem with moving to a warmer climate is trying to decide where to move. I want warmer weather, cheaper homes and taxes BUT we don’t want to be too far away from the rest of the family. We all look forward to getting together on Christmas Eve and other holidays. You would be surprised to learn how much lower the price of the homes and the real estate taxes are in other states. You can purchase a home for $250,000 to $350,000 for what New York would be selling at twice the price… and triple sometimes quadruple the taxes! New York taxes are about the highest throughout the nation or at least in the top five. Living somewhere other than New York would be a lot less stressful in more ways than one. I do have to say that I’m getting closer and closer to making the move.
I really want to be in a climate where I can grow my herbs year round instead of in a small area under a plant lamp. Wouldn’t it be lovely to make a sandman instead of snowman. I would love to take my entire family with me; well maybe not everyone.
Family Is Important
Family is so very important and when I think of those who do not have any family, my heart goes out to them. All families have their share of differences and opinions as well as arguments, especially when you have a big family. I remember my mother’s family having arguments on Sundays at grandma’s and grandpa’s. It wouldn’t be a Sunday dinner without one of my uncles yelling or screaming at one another. It was usually the men. But you know what, everyone eventually forgave and forgot. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be with family? Unfortunately that isn’t always the case.
I can honestly say that there were never harsh words between me and either of my sisters. Certainly never a fight. Maybe that’s because they were more like my mothers than my sisters. When I was born and came home from the hospital, my mother literally handed me over to my sisters who were 11 and 13 at the time. They took care of me, changed me, bathed me and woke up for me during the night. The only thing my mother did was breast feed me. If she could have given her tit to them, she would have. But that’s a story for another day. Maybe for my next blog?
I’m hoping that 2019 will bring some new beginnings and happy occasions. This past year hasn’t been the best, but I guess if you look at it from another perspective, it could have been worse. We have each other and our health. That’s all that matters isn’t it?
Don’t even think about port Richey. I lived not far from there…trash
Thanks for the heads up.
If you come down to the Ft. Lauderdale area let me know, it’s not bad. I actually live in Coconut Creek which is a quiet, family oriented community, about 6 miles inland, affordable. I was so busy around the holidays but your posts were great. The Thanksgiving one w/all the food and how we’d all be in a small house too, you wonder how everyone fit. My 1 uncle and grandfather always had to have macaroni and my aunt would get so pissed because with all the other stuff she’d be like ‘can’t we 1 day not have to have goddamn macaroni’? then she’d mumble why do I have to make sauce for this asshole? And of course Christmas eve & day, too much. My 1 aunt would have left over fish for breakfast on Christmas day, she’d eat it cold, the fried baccala balls & smelts. OK, I hope you had a great weekend and 2019 is a great, healthy year for all.
Hi Angela, my one son Paul is worried about hurricanes and evacuating. What’s it like by you? I would move to Florida. My grandfather would have my aunts make the baccala with the tomatoes, olives and capers in the oven. They loved it. I stopped making it because none of the younger generation ate it.
Yeah the hurricanes are a concern, but this far inland there’s no flooding really, I’m not near a huge lake and I live on the 2nd floor AND no extra insurance for flooding is needed. The closer to a coast the more you pay. I fell into this place when my uncle died, it’s a big retirement community called Wynmoor which is nice but it’s too old for the most part. Some younger people are moving in, it’s 55+ with lots of amenities, golf, security, etc. It’s probably 35% NY Italians, 35% NY Jews and then a mix. I am going to try and look a little East of here and see other options. The maintenance fees are high due to all the clubs, security and all that which I never use, 1st of all I’m not retired yet so I can’t participate. My dad is living w/me now til he gets worse as my mom died suddenly and I came down almost 3 yrs ago but had been visiting my uncle for years here. I will help you anyway I can, like I said there’s different areas like Deerfield Beach, Pompano, Boca Raton and so many more. Seriously feel free to call me, 954-933-2973, I work 8-5 from home so I’m around. If you come down to check out the areas I would be glad to meet and show you around some I just need notice to have the caregiver come over for my dad, I don’t like to leave him more than 2 hours. OK, let me know, buona fortuna ! P.S. from your videos you also like red wine and I know a couple places to have a glass by the beach !!!
Thank you so much Angela for the invite. BTW, Angela is my middle name. Yes I love red wine. Didn’t acquire a taste for it until well into my thirties. We haven’t decided when or where yet, but if we decide to come down, I’ll get in touch. Thanks again.