Changes In Our Lives And Memories Of The Redwood Inn
Today for some reason I
started thinking about the time in my life when changes in my and my families
lives were going to take place by choice and later turned into changes that
were going to take place no matter what anyone wanted.
(The memory of that time in our lives was
brought back by a jar of Harvard beets believe it or not.)
At the beginning of these
changes in our lives we were deciding where the next phase of our life was
going to lead us.
We were really all
excited to make these changes and looking forward to moving once the house was
sold.
First we began thinking
of moving to Canandaigua, NY. We loved that area and the Bristol Mountains. We
traveled there often and I had even learned how to make grape pies from one of the
locals we had befriended.
On several of our visits
to the Canandaigua area we discovered the town of Naples. That became our focus
and often after visiting a local business called the Wizard of Clay in the
Bristol Mountains we would have lunch at the Redwood Inn in Naples. The memory
of what we enjoyed at this Inn is what influenced what I made for dinner
tonight. I will share what that meal was later but first I would like to share
with you the story of this time in our lives.
Soon we came to our
senses and realized as much as we liked the area we would never adjust to
living that far from the city and nixed the idea all together.
Finally we knew where we
wanted to move to. I was going to move to Taos, NM to work in the art community
running a gallery and selling art. I was excited about the future and being
with my college friends again.
Mom on the other hand
had decided she would move to Tryon, NC. She had friends that lived there and they
were persuading her she would love it.
Grandma on the other
hand had decided to remain in Rochester, NY and live with my step Aunt Connie.
Up to that point there
was no reason we could see that this would not work out. Aunt Connie lived in a
retirement high rise in the west part of Rochester where grandma had lived most
of her life and Aunt Connie was looking forward to having grandma move in with
her.
All was finally decided
and then life happened while we were making other plans as it often does.
Grandma suddenly
developed a problem with her balance and began falling on a regular basis. I
was the only one strong enough to lift her until my wrists gave out and it
became a painful thing for me have to do. I told mom that I could not go on
lifting grandma all the time it was too much for me. That was when we decided
it was time to talk to grandma’s doctor and seek advice and perhaps a
medication that would help grandma.
The doctor told us there
was nothing else they could give grandma that would help. The doctor then sat
us down explained what the future most
likely held for grandma and told us unless we could find more help in her care
that the only alternative was a nursing home. He said it was up to us to do whatever
was best for grandma.
We could understand a
nursing home if we could not give grandma proper care but we did not feel that
we had reached that point in our lives. The next decision was who was going to
take care of grandma. Obviously she could no longer go through with her plans
to move in with Aunt Connie and I knew mom could not take care of grandma by
herself.
Mom tried to persuade me
she could and wanted me to move to NM to follow my dreams and not to give up any
more of my life caring for grandma.
I had taken care of
grandma most of my life even when I was married that did not stop me from taking care of grandma on a daily basis.
I was twelve years old when
it became necessary for me to move in with grandma after my grandfather died. That was because there was no one else that could take care of grandma and she was
suffering a breakdown after losing her beloved husband so young.
Mom’s house was only a two bedroom with
questionable heat in the winter time and besides grandma owned her own home so it made sense she remain in her own home.
Once the decision was
made that I would be the one to move in with grandma mom talked to the estate
lawyer and she was told I would have to be basically emancipated so that I would had to right to handle grandmas legal
and financial affairs.
I was too young for legal emancipation, after
all I was only twelve years old but the lawyer found a legal loophole that
would allow me to move away from my family and take care of grandmas needs. The
legal part was only on paper of course because my mom told me how to do what
needed to be done and how to do it. After all what did a twelve year old know
about paying an electric bill?
I gave up the rest of my childhood until mom
moved the entire family to Greece, NY and grandma was now able to be
incorporated into the entire family.
I had somewhat of a
normal teenage life and after high school even moved away from home to Philadelphia
and NYC. It was while I lived in NYC that I was called back home to care for
grandma and had taken care of her ever sense. That was why mom wanted me to go
and finally be free to live the life everyone has the right to live and follow
my dreams.
I on the other hand was
very pragmatic. I always was. I knew no one else could care for grandma but me
at that point and I was doubtful I could even do that for much longer. That was
when my brother called and asked us to move up by him. He lived just outside
the Adirondack Mountains. He promised to help us with grandma.
It was the only solution
we had that held out any hope that grandma could remain at home.
Neither mom nor I were willing to desert the
other at this point in grandma’s life so we decided the entire family would
move to the Adirondack Mountains. We sold the house and bought a beautiful home
in Mayfield, NY.
It turned out that my
brother was more interested in having an antique shop than helping with
grandma.
He really never was any
help with her but I cannot complain. We had a good life, ran a fun business,
and our customers and neighbors often helped up with grandma and it worked out
fine.
That brings me back to
today and dinner.
I found the Harvard beets I bought last week
when I went shopping in that panty and fell into the reverie that I just shared
with you. While having these memories I heated up the beets and made macaroni and
cheese one of the best combinations on the buffet at the Redwood Inn. Dessert was
always Baklava but of course I don’t have any in the house to have for desert.
Just as well there are a
million calories in this wonderful Greek Desert!
I enjoyed dinner and I
enjoyed the memory. I don't regret the decisions I made and look forward to
new changes that will come soon I hope if my health holds out.
Until then try this meal for dinner some day. I think you will enjoy this combination and of course if you get up to the Bristol Mountains do stop in and enjoy a dinner at the Redwood Inn!
Until then try this meal for dinner some day. I think you will enjoy this combination and of course if you get up to the Bristol Mountains do stop in and enjoy a dinner at the Redwood Inn!
Here is the address if
you decide to do it.
Redwood
Restaurant
6 Cohocton
St, Naples, NY 14512-9534
In case
you want to make the Harvard Beets yourself here is recipe right off of Cooks.com how to do it( I prefer the jar of beets from the store myself):
HARVARD BEETS
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1 (16 oz.) can diced or sliced beets
1/4 c. sugar 1 tbsp. cornstarch 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper 1/4 c. wine vinegar
Drain
beets, reserving liquid. In 1 cup glass measure, pour beet liquid and add
enough water to make 1 cup of liquid. In 1 quart microwave proof casserole or
bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and vinegar. Stir in beet
liquid. Cook, uncovered, on high for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, stirring
occasionally, until mixture thickens and is clear. Add beets and stir
lightly. Cook, covered, on high for 5 minutes or until beets are hot.
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