Hot Dog!

Dallas is terribly hot.  Today is the 24th day of 100 degree+ heat.  Yes you read that correctly- 24 days in a row with a thermometer in the triple digits.  There is no end in site, tomorrow's high is 105.  It comes as no surprise that 27 weeks pregnant, a permanent hyper thyroid condition and 100 degree heat don't mix.  I basically hide in our bedroom where the AC is the strongest and pretend I am anywhere north of the Mason Dixon line.  The only one who hates the heat more than me is Lola.  She refuses to go outside.  During our weekend walk she insisted on army crawling most of the way to punish me for taking her on a forced march.  Needless to say we didn't get much exercise.

Connecticut 2011

Nick and I took our annual pilgrimage to the Connecticut shore last week.  In 28 years I have never missed a summer visiting Branford.  I look forward to it all year.  Here is our trip in 10 pictures:

1.)  Food.  Lobster, lobster rolls, swordfish, salmon, shrimp, clams, corn on the cob, caprese salad, burgers, scallops, filet, 4 course french dinner.  You name it, we ate it.  It is par for the course when vacationing with my foodie father. Thankfully I can blame my weight gain on being pregnant, Nick not so much. 

2.) Melissa & Sean visit (and partake in some kayaking).  Everyone loves having Melissa & Sean up from Brooklyn.  This was their 3rd/4th (?) year at the cottage.  They also bring special things like bottles of good champagne and fresh NYC bagels, making them even more welcome.

3.)  Gorgeous sunsets.  I never get tired of this view, I think I have 50+ pictures just like it.

4.)  Okay this is sort of similar to the above, but I thought I would share anyways.

5.)  Stony/Creek & Thimble Islands- No trip is complete without a trip to Stony Creek to look at the boats and admire some of my favorite houses. 

6.)  Grafitti! In Connecticut! No! 

7.)  An office with an ocean view.  Nick worked for much of the week.  I was just thankful to have him there.  This make-shift office on the porch beats his converted laundry room/office nook in the crazy Dallas heat any day. 

8.) Hangin' with Gram.  At 93 Gram is still quite opinionated and pleasurable company.  We enjoyed many hands of cards, a painting lesson from a neighbor and a trip to visit Aunt Holly.

9.)  Bump picture.  There have been many a request for a bump picture.  Here I am at 24 weeks.  Don't worry 10 days later and I am about 10 sizes bigger.

10.)  In-N-Out Dallas.  The trip was not complete without a late nite trip to the new In-N-Out.  It was delish, and a perfect ending to a great week. 

Picture Bonus: 

Elena Lardo (1910-2011)

Elena Lardo and Erica Lardo at her 100th birthday party in Argentina (2010).  I think both the ladies look stunning!

Nick's paternal grandmother, Elena passed away June 21st in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  She was ready to go, whispering to Horacio, "It is time for the angels to take me away" during her last days on earth.  She was just three months shy of her 101st birthday and 4 months shy of becoming a great-great grandma.  

Sadly I never had the opportunity to meet Elena.  However, Nick tells stories of her often and sometimes I feel like I know her well.  He wanted to share some of his favorite memories. 

What do you remember most about your grandmother's personality?
She spoke exclusively Spanish and therefore it was difficult to have detailed communications due to the language barrier.  I remember her seeming very content just being in the company of her grandchildren.  She reminded me of a female version of my dad in that she took her responsibilities of being a grandmother and mother seriously, family was very important to her.  During summers she would visit Michigan for several months at a time and live in our basement apartment.  During these visits she would go on walks in the neighborhood, knit, help out with dinner and talk with my dad in spanish.  I remember her being very put together, always wearing skirts and her hair was always 'done'.  I loved having her around the house. 


What is your favorite memory of Elena?
I lived with her for 3 months while going to school in Argentina at the age of 9.  She would cook me meals and take me everywhere in Buenos Aires.  I remember thinking she was very protective and proud of me.  At the time she was in her 80's and was still very 'on the ball' and a great caretaker for children.  In return, I tried not to give her a hard time.  I also remember, on her US  visits she would stay up all night talking to my dad while he drove us across country to South Carolina beach vacations.  She also kept him company when he remodeled the basement.  My dad loved having her around as we all did.  

What qualities do you think you share with her?
 She was very academic and highly educated, she worked as a teacher for many years in Buenos Aires.  I get the feeling she was pretty smart and 'hard core'.  She was also very independent and self-sufficent, which I like to think I am too. 

What will you tell our future son about her?
 I will tell him that she was a very classy, traditional lady with good family values.  She didn't take any 'funny business' or 'nonsense' and was devoted to her Catholic faith.  She knew what was important in life and had a strong spirit.  She represented the best of 'old school' values and I loved her very much.


You sometimes tell funny stories about her- what are your favorites?
While traveling back and fourth from Argentina to the US she ended up on the wrong flight one time. She landed in Phoenix and was confused why my dad was not there to pick her up.  I don't think this would be possible with airlines today.  It didn't phase her and she took it in stride.  This was her personality.   Once when we were meeting her in Brazil for a different vacation, she showed again on a different flight and was dropped off at the wrong hotel - miraculously, my Dad found her hanging in the lobby of a nearby hotel and brought her to the right spot.  

In old school Latin culture, the eldest son is particularly valued.  When giving gifts of money to my sisters and me she would often give me a greater amount than the three girls.  Afterwards, my mom would take all the money and divide it equally among the four children in a more American democratic redistribution of wealth scheme. 

Selfishly we are sad the Elena is gone, but we rejoice in her memory and a life well lived. Have a favorite memory of Elena?  Feel free to share below!

Why I Don't Play Golf

Nick and Paul searching for my golf ball across a road, over a fence and in a neighbors yard.  Brutal.

 

I like riding in the cart and taking photos of the other golfers more than playing,

Forest Lake golf outing with Suberlaks and Lardos

 and riding in boats even better.

 

Except when you get stranded in the middle of the lake and have to paddle to shore.

 All in a day at Long Lake.

Lobster at the Lake

Summer and lobster go together like peanut butter and jelly in my world and on a beautiful summer night nothing beats a traditional shore line dinner by the water.  Twenty-eight friends showed up to bring this tradition to Long Lake at the end of June (I am a bit behind on my blogging).  Jann and I had a great time planning the party together for a guest list ranging in age from Grandma Barbara and Alessandro to Isaac and Levi Schaal, our youngest guest at about 15 months.  Jann even put up with most my party planning theatrics without complaint, although I think my mom warned her to ignore some of my ideas.  My mom knows me too well.  The last guests left late into the night- which I think is a sign of a good party!

Note no pictures of Jann and Horacio.  Jann must have been too busy cooking, while Horacio was too busy tending bar!  Saturday we were all exhausted . . .

Paul & Katherine Suberlak, Sean Thornton enjoying cocktail hour

How many pictures like this do we have?

No party is complete without Patricia- she had my favorite quote of the night, "This house is a lot more fun than the other one!"

A seated dinner for 28- we had three tables, hydrangeas from Jann's garden (some of them)

Jann's appetizer display

As they say a watched pot never boils, in this case it really never did . . .

The pot was brought inside, thank goodness for Jann's industrial strength stove!

The spread

The kids table, Schaals, Thorntons, Suberlaks

Dinner!

Katherine quickly discovered that 1 Horacio Lardo martini is really enough, 3 is deadly

We ended the night with sparklers

And a bonfire with s'mores! Note, the bonfire burned up all of my burlap runner arts and crafts project

Here comes the bride: Sara & Micah

Happy {purple} wedding Sara & Micah.  In the words of Nick Lardo, we had a great time, "kickin' it in the 'ham".  He means Birmingham, but apparently he is beginning bad dad jokes/lingo a few months early.

The traditional Catholic ceremony at Holy Name was beautiful.  I can't help but love the ritual of the Catholic church- every part of the service is filled with pomp and circumstance.  Nick kept buzzing in my ear, "I wish Presbyterians did that".  He is going to be wishing for awhile, but I admit priests singing and being all dramatic with the offerings gets me excited too.  The reception followed at the Townsend Hotel.  It was gorgeous and the band had "Murder on the Dance Floor" on CD, what more could you ask for? 

Pictures.

I hate my camera.  I thought some of my friends might upload better photos that I could poach, but then I remembered I am still waiting for pictures from the Ohio State/Michigan game in 2004 from two of them. You are stuck with these . . . sorry.

I am getting a bit sick of this goofy pose Nick has been striking during 2011- before leaving for the ceremony at Long Lake.

The first kiss as husband and wife.

The U of Michigan ladies, Katherine, Julianne, Laura

I can't believe I didn't get any decor photos, I did get one of the lovely bride

My Crazy is Genetic

While in Connecticut I flipped through an old photo album and stumbled upon the following photo:

Yes this picture is blurry.  It is a picture of a picture- a 110 year old picture at that!

It is a picture from about 1890 of my Great-great Aunt Louise Kellogg Cookingham.  Is it just me or does the dog in the unusual matching puppy costume/carriage look just like my wonder dog Lola?  I am now convinced my undying love (some may say obsession) for our fluffy little terrier is completely genetic.  I am going to tell Nick this when he complains that I bought Lola another new accessory.  At least I haven't gone so far as to buy her a carriage and a matching outfit like they did in the olden days. . .

Summer Reading

 I love to read.  It is an excellent stress reliever and according to book number one on this list stress is very bad for the littlest Lardo.  If you are looking for a summer read I have suggestions! Since the beginning of summer I have read the following books and would recommend them all:

This list makes it look like I have lots of leisure time, when in fact I haven't seen most of my friends in Dallas since the beginning of May.  Books on tape and plane rides are the book lovers best friend.