This fall has been absolutely gorgeous in Central New York. It’s been a welcome change from the cool, rainy, non-existent summer we experienced. This past weekend was no different. Both days the sun shone brightly and temperatures were in the mid-70s. I had an incredibly productive weekend, getting all the chores I wanted to get done completed. I had things on my list, such as making Christopher’s spider Halloween costume, going through the kids’ clothes switching out summer gear for cooler weather clothing, and even cleaning out the linen closet and refolding the sheets (remember that chore; I’ll refer to it again in a bit).
We also had time to visit Beaver Lake Nature Center for an hour or so Sunday afternoon. It was a gorgeous hike and the kids enjoyed romping through the woods and skipping along the floating bridge over the bog.
From there, we headed to Longbranch Elementary School where Lucia and Christopher played on the playground with a bunch of other kids. After working in the yard a bit (cleaning up a downed tree limb that wreaked havoc last Sunday evening), we enjoyed a delicious meal of spaghetti and homemade meatballs before settling in for the night.
Oh, and about that linen closet clean-out? Well, it’s literally something I do twice a year. And it’s a good thing I had done it because Saturday night, our poor sitter actually had to rifle through it looking for new sheets for our son’s bed. Instead of going to bed he decided to sprinkle baby powder all over his bed! Ugh. Three and a half year old children are so mischievous!
But, it’s hard to get angry when the weather is so amazing and we’re enjoying the last remaining gorgeous days of fall before the snow sets in. The two wines we enjoyed this weekend were both from One Hope: Cabernet Sauvignon (monies support children with autism) and Pinot Noir (funds raised support pet adoption). Cheers!
What’s your favorite wine to drink with Italian comfort food like spaghetti and meatballs? I like a good red with pasta but lately I’ve found that a crisp Pinot Grigio can be so yummy when paired right. What are your thoughts?
I totally agree that you don’t have to stick to “traditional” wine/food pairings. If it tastes good to you, go for it! I, personally, like lighter reds that don’t overpower the sauce. Sangiovese and Chianti are on the dry side. Or, if you’re looking for a really yummy one, try a Barolo. You can find reasonably priced ones if you look, although they can run into the $30 to $40 range.