Conversation 27

Sheba, Glad you and Poppy had a good walk without the snow. Sorry I didn’t mention the Basilica picture you posted yesterday. OK, where is it located? I could not place it. Hopefully I am not embarrassing myself.
My cream colored CL Prestige box arrived today. It looks pretty and is light colored so I see everything in it easily. I did Mcgyver it a bit. I added ring rolls under the earring board and put most of my rings in there. I ripped the ring rolls from the old box which was a good thing as a tiny pendant piece was underneath ( it wasn’t a CL box). Maybe that’s where some of my tiny lost earrings went?
Are you cooking for Thanksgiving? I ordered take-out from the same local place as last year. That way it will be easy, convenient and calm.
HD tomorrow!

@taci

Hi and a good evening to you. Yes, the Concord was in the Catskills. A beautiful hotel off the main road for some miles. The Concord was my favorite. I did meet someone from my hometown there and we both had fun with a horseback ride through the mountains. The smell of pine trees still remind me of those days. The Concord had many amenities. A huge pool beckoned you if it was warm enough and they had a lake for rowing or just sitting to take in the views. Before heading home we made several stops for plants and some planters that you never see anywhere else. Prices were high, but the beauty was all around and those planters I still have to this day.

Many years later the Borscht Belt died and people stopped going to the resorts. New businesses opened and there were rumors that the area would house hotels such as seen in Vegas. I’m not sure if that ever materialized. It would be fun someday to take a ride through the Catskills just to see what’s there. It’s funny, hubby and I were discussing that area tonight. But right now a cruise wouldn’t be so bad. I need to wait and see what hubby can do and not do to make a decision.

Hope you are finally settling down after that glorious trip. Not sure if I will bake a turkey this year, though hubby is asking for home cooked things. I always purchase a fresh turkey and it takes about 3 hours to cook all the way through. It is something I have always enjoyed. And this year, for the first time in Florida, I am seeing fresh cranberries that are not packaged. The taste or should I say the flavor is so different when you purchase it that way. Cranberry and Orange relish comes to mind. Takes just minutes to make and so delicious with the turkey. Our Farmer’s Market has chestnuts this year. But at $8.99/lb it becomes sticker shock. The fresh ones in the northeast run about $.50/lb even now. If you find some in your area they are sweet and delicious. Hard part is getting them out of the shell. I usually put an X on both sides using a good sharp knife. You don’t need to go all the way down to the other side. Just do enough to cut through the shell. Then I nuke it for a minute and when you take them out, the shell splits open and you can then enjoy the fruits of your labor. Boiling is another option. I may swallow my pride and buy a few for next week. They tasted even better when walking the streets in NYC during the winter months and you could get a bag full from a vendor on the street. But that’s another story.

@sheba2011

When I was single, I started going to the Catskills for singles weekend. My first stop was Grossingers which was at the beginning of the “Borscht Belt.” There were many not so known entertainers back then that got their start in this area. Many were comedians such as Alan King,
Totie Fields, Danny Kaye, Red Buttons, just to name a few. The weekends were bright and the rooms were huge by our standard of hotel rooms today. The atmosphere was always warm and inviting. OMG the food. There were always seconds and thirds and if another dish appealed to you, a snap of a finger brought it to your side. There were ways to meet other people. Simon Sez comes to mind as well as a meet and greet with appetizers and soft drinks. Dancing was always on the agenda and if you didn’t know the steps, there was always someone to show you how. This was the way it was not only at Grossingers, but the Concord and the Pines as well. All offered different amenities to get the $$ from anyone.

The drive. Ever so beautiful through winding uphill roads. The scenery breathtaking at every corner. Hubby and I often took a weekend to the Pines. It was a three hour drive with a stop at our favorite restaurant in NY.. It was a diner but no counter or stools. They had booths and tables and sometimes you had a choice. Just like the Catskills you had mountains of food and a huge takeout to put leftovers into. This restaurant is a stop even today on our way North or South. And still the mountains of food. Last time we were there I ordered a Corned beef. There had to be at least a pound of meat and cheese on that homemade rye bread. I couldn’t finish that sandwich. It lasted three days going South which included the salad and cole slaw and FF. .Luckily we had a refrigerator for the car that was a plug in.

If I remember correctly, Middletown was the beginning of our driver upward and onward. That beginning used to have trees and other things to ooh and ahh over. Today, both sides are shopping areas. The Galleria on the right are mall stores. We did make a stop there once and found it to be OK. The other side is also a line of stores and businesses. We stopped for gas once or twice in that area. Often we had said we will go back to the area. It is not out of the way North either. We bypass the two exits to get you there. We always say maybe. on the way South. But, that diner, it is always waiting and beckoning to us on our long drive.

I made it to the Farmer’s Market following the doctor’s appointment. My labs, like yours, were thru the roof. Even after all I have been through. Amazing. Now to put the groceries away. Yuk!!

Oodie, Love your stories. Was the Concord in the Catskills? Was it a Hotel? Sounds like you and your hubs had a lot of fun.

@sheba2011

Good evening Sheba 🍁🍁🍂🍂🍂

It’s still a warm evening here. Today the humidity was 83 percent. Temperatures are supposed to go down in the following days. Like into the mid to low forties. Time to get my winter bed coverings out 😂. It’ only for three nights.

I am still decorating for Christmas. Had hubby take down some huge storage bins in the garage and found a bunch of Thanksgiving decorations. But I am skipping decorading for Thanksgiving this year and going straight to Christmas.
Not sure what I am cooking for Thanksgiving. I don’t like turkey and neither does hubby. We do eat a small piece of the breast, should we go to Thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s house.

Take care Sheba 🌹🌹