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Hello there!
Well guys as you can see, this is a joint Cousins' Blog today! This week, we cousins took a day trip together to the town of Warwick in upstate New York.
BACK STORY:
If you are new to travelincousins.com, than you may not be aware of the fact that we live on different coasts. Tanya is based on the west coast, specifically, Orange County, California and Elisa lives in New York on Long Island. The history of our Italian-American family began in New York, over a century ago when our relatives (on the respective family side that we are related) ventured to America from Sicily, Italy.
Since that time, much has transpired in our family, including a huge family rift back in the 1980's, and Tanya moving out to California with her mom around the same time as this rift. Over forty years later, one thing is certain - we two cousins have developed a very close relationship and are now partners in crime with our Travelin Cousins Travel Blog.
Each year, since July 2013, when we mended the family division by reconnecting, we have been lucky enough to spend time together in the month of July because this is when Tanya's annual family trip takes place to Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. As a by-product of this annual east coast trip, it has also become a tradition to see one another and do some local travel.
This year, was no different in getting together, however, there was a slight twist to the visit.
Well guys as you can see, this is a joint Cousins' Blog today! This week, we cousins took a day trip together to the town of Warwick in upstate New York.
BACK STORY:
If you are new to travelincousins.com, than you may not be aware of the fact that we live on different coasts. Tanya is based on the west coast, specifically, Orange County, California and Elisa lives in New York on Long Island. The history of our Italian-American family began in New York, over a century ago when our relatives (on the respective family side that we are related) ventured to America from Sicily, Italy.
Since that time, much has transpired in our family, including a huge family rift back in the 1980's, and Tanya moving out to California with her mom around the same time as this rift. Over forty years later, one thing is certain - we two cousins have developed a very close relationship and are now partners in crime with our Travelin Cousins Travel Blog.
Each year, since July 2013, when we mended the family division by reconnecting, we have been lucky enough to spend time together in the month of July because this is when Tanya's annual family trip takes place to Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. As a by-product of this annual east coast trip, it has also become a tradition to see one another and do some local travel.
This year, was no different in getting together, however, there was a slight twist to the visit.
Jim, Michele, Dominic, Tanya & Elisa (c)travelincousins.com
Remember that family rift mentioned above? Well, although Tanya and I (and our kids) have mended fences, the rest of the family, for the most part did not. There were many moments, milestones and even deaths that transpired without any reconciliation on the part of most family members. Well, this past week, Wednesday to be specific, Elisa reunited with another family member after 45 years, thanks to Tanya being the catalyst.
So you may be wondering a bit about the lineage - well, here it is. Elisa's Dad, George and Tanya's Grandmother, Sarah were siblings. Sarah's daughters, Josephine and Michele are Elisa's first cousins, however, there was a bit of an age difference since Sarah married and had her children a number of years prior to George, who was younger than her.
When Elisa was around ten years old, Josephine gave birth to Tanya, her first daughter. At that time the whole family all lived in the same neighborhood, literally within blocks of one another - this also included George and Sarah's mom (Elisa's grandmother and Tanya's great-grandmother respectively). When Tanya was just a baby, her Aunt Michele got married and she and her husband Jim also lived in the same neighborhood. When everyone got along, this was great!
Well, as fate would have it, a major family argument broke out in the. mid 1980's which severed all relations between Elisa's Dad and Tanya's grandmother. Shortly thereafter, Josephine took her then two daughters (one of which was Tanya) and moved to Orange County, California.
Since that time, Tanya's grandmother and grandfather have passed, Elisa's father has passed and everyone has gotten a little older with each respective member having their own children and families.
So that pretty much brings you up to date to this past Wednesday, which incidentally, just happened to also be Cousin's Day 2024!!
Tanya had asked Elisa (back in May) if she would like to join her and Dominic on a day trip to visit her Aunt Michele (Elisa's first cousin) in upstate New York, in the town of Warwick. (This town is a little over an hour's drive from the Catskills.)
Considering it has been over 40 years, Elisa agreed and was more than excited to do so!!
Tanya had asked Elisa (back in May) if she would like to join her and Dominic on a day trip to visit her Aunt Michele (Elisa's first cousin) in upstate New York, in the town of Warwick. (This town is a little over an hour's drive from the Catskills.)
Considering it has been over 40 years, Elisa agreed and was more than excited to do so!!
Catching up by the pond (c)travelincousins.com
A REUNION VISIT
And so the story begins of this reunion visit!
Our day started off with Elisa picking up Tanya and Dominic in Queens at her grandma's house (her Dad's mom). in the late morning From there, we got on the road and headed over the George Washington Bridge, through New Jersey to adjacent upstate New York.
And so the story begins of this reunion visit!
Our day started off with Elisa picking up Tanya and Dominic in Queens at her grandma's house (her Dad's mom). in the late morning From there, we got on the road and headed over the George Washington Bridge, through New Jersey to adjacent upstate New York.
Driving to Warwick (c)travelincousins.com
You can imagine what it's like when these two cousins are in the car together for hours at a time!! There was so much to catch up - family drama, future trip discussions and lots of vegan foodie recipe talk!
Elisa here - We arrived mid afternoon and boy was it exciting to see my cousin Michele standing on her porch awaiting our arrival. I had seen pictures of her in recent years through Facebook, but had not been in her company in, like we said above, in over four decades!!
We all hugged and were all greeted by the newest addition to their family - Buddy Boy, a 7-month old Bernese Mountain dog!
Unfortunately, Michele's husband, Jim, didn't remember me, but I guess it's been a long time.
Elisa and Michele embracing after 45 years (c)travelincousins.com
Elisa showing Michele her a photo of Gianna & Kelsey (her daughters) (c)travelincousins.com
Welcome to Warwick - Cousins Reunion
Rowing around the pond - Buddy Boy swimming along (c)travelincousins.com
A little history about the Warwick property which was originally purchased by Tanya's maternal
great-grandfather and Elisa's paternal grandfather in the 1940's.
great-grandfather and Elisa's paternal grandfather in the 1940's.
Sitting by the pond together (c)travelincousins.com
We spent the next four hours taking a tour around the grounds, feeding the koi in the lovely lily pad laden pond, viewing their lush vegetable garden and enjoying a lovely lunch together.
Tanya and Elisa feeding the koi at the pond
Many, many koi! (c)travelincousins.com
7-month old "Buddy Boy" (c)travelincousins.com
Getting the row boat ready for a spin around the pond (c)travelincousins.com
(c)travelincousins.com
Beautiful lily pads all around the pond (c)travelincousins.com
Tanya touring Aunt Michele's vegetable garden
After a stroll around the property, and of course catching up on some much needed conversation, we made our way through the beautiful vegetable garden to pick some items for lunch.
Beautiful veggies - chard, celery, zucchini in the back left, tomatoes in the back right (c)travelincousins.com
Picking fresh zucchini (c)travelincousins.com
Tanya fighting with the day-old bread! (c)travelincousins.com
Everything for lunch was either fresh from the garden or organic! Our meal consisted of delicious scalloped potatoes, sauteed zucchini and chard, a salad and a yummy frittata made with fresh zucchini flowers and home made breadcrumbs.
Tanya attacked the day-old bread by cutting it into small pieces for Dominic to process into crumbs.
Tanya attacked the day-old bread by cutting it into small pieces for Dominic to process into crumbs.
Enjoying our home cooked meal! (c)travelincousins.com
After a yummy meal, we said our goodbyes and headed back on the road.
What a great day! Most importantly, fences were mended after way too long!!
What a great day! Most importantly, fences were mended after way too long!!
Saying goodbye to (Uncle) Jim and (Aunt) Michele (c)travelincousins.com
Till next time -
- Travelin' Tanya & Travelin' Elisa
- Travelin' Tanya & Travelin' Elisa
