IT'S PIZZA NIGHT

Many households have some minor celebratory event on regular basis to make the work day week all the more worthwhile. In my home it is Friday (my favorite) and it is Pizza. Someone brings home a fresh pie from their special place and we do it up.
I usually like to bring home a cheese pie uncut and add the following breaded fried eggplant fresh portobello and roased garlic. Top it with fresh basil & parsley when in season.
Others have it all put together by the masters themselves.
Pizza places often called for a Friday pick up are Antonios in Amherst, The Red Rose Springfield, River Shark Cafe North Amherst. Looking forward to trying Pizza Amore Northampton.
Do any of the many regular readers of WHOLEINTHEDONUT have a frequent favorite happy meal...Leave a reply. I promise I won't poke fun at you.

Unquomonk Reservoir

How can one lose a body of water, just like that? Well it happened right here in Williamsburg MA. There once was this placid, enchanting and remote reservoir that we all loved to hike to with our dogs and let them swim, maybe take a dip ourselves on hot summer day or just sit and study the serene natural beauty. To everyone it felt like our own private place. A spot to show only our special friends who always felt blessed to be trusted with the knowledge that such a wonderful spot existed just a brief hike away. The walk to the Reservoir through the dark cool woods was just far enough. Just when you thought am I almost there yet it appeared shining in the sun. A generous reward for the exertion of trudging through the underbrush.
Then suddenly without warning some beaureaucrat decided that Unquomonk was a hazard to the public and unsafe. It had to be drained removing the allure of the water and relief from the heat and humidity of a New England summer. In the Spring of 2007 the dam was opened allowing the life giving water to run off creating a mud hole slowly being taken over by briars and weeds. What happened to the frogs, fish, snakes, birds who lived off its enviorons? A rhetorical question that can not be fathomed.

I have not returned to this natural retreat since the dam was burst. Just can't bring myself to do it.

A friend of mine who moved to the area from California used tocall Unquomonk her "Little Lake Tahoe". She will no doubt shed a tear for the loss this community has experienced with the pulling of the plug of her place of dreams.

All of the things I call home

When one leaves the comforts of a well established home even for a long anticipated, planned adventure in a far off land you cannot help but feel butterflies deep in the gut. I have to resist that tempation to sit back in the feel good, safe zone and stagnate. There must be times to stretch and see what is behind that gorgeous sunset over the snowy hills of New England. So we buy tickets,make lists, pack essentials and gather a fortune to follow our hearts on to another experience that will hopefully bring us safely back with many stories to tell and photos to share.