Tag Archives: Lifestyle

TOM (A Mother’s Day Tribute)

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Loretta Giacoletto

My daughter never smiles any more. It’s a shame because she always had such lovely teeth. I blame her lack of humor on that crazy job. Teresa calls it a position and claims she needs to work. “Give up the … Continue reading →

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Moving On

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Loretta Giacoletto

Twenty years ago Hubby D and I, along with four of our five offspring plus spouses, bought a place at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. We christened it Casalago, the Italian version of Lake House, a name we had engraved … Continue reading →

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Repurposing with a Purpose

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Loretta Giacoletto

Yikes! Realizing I think like my mother once did is bad enough, but every now and then I take on the role of her mother, at least when it comes to Grandma D in the kitchen. For one thing Grandma’s … Continue reading →

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Connecting the Italian Way

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Loretta Giacoletto

“How can we connect with relatives we don’t know, who live in villages we’ve only heard about but never been fortunate enough to visit?” Hubby D and I often get questions such as these from friends wanting to trace their … Continue reading →

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Wine vs. Diet Coke: Doing the Math

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Loretta Giacoletto

(Original Blog from December, 2011) The Euro and the Pound aren’t nearly as strong as they were five years ago when I first posted this blog but when it comes to value, table wine in Europe is still a better … Continue reading →

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A Little Garlic Between Friends

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Loretta Giacoletto

I will be signing my Italian-American family sagas and mysteries during the Collinsville, Illinois, 2016 Italian Fest at Spirito’s Groceria on Main Street, Fri, Sept 16, 10 to 5; Sat, Sept 17, 10 to 2. And to celebrate this year’s … Continue reading →

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Tomato Sundae, Anyone?

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Loretta Giacoletto

I’ve written before about my friend E, caterer, farmer, and food preservationist extraordinaire who often challenges my ingenuity with summertime gifts of produce that require immediate attention to avoid spoilage. Such was the case several weeks ago when she passed … Continue reading →

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Marinara Sauce, My Way

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Loretta Giacoletto

Hubby D and I were driving home from our place at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks when my cell phone rang. It was my good friend E, who along with her husband J, have a successful year-round catering business, mostly … Continue reading →

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That Time of Year Again

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Loretta Giacoletto

Well, it’s that time of the year again. What was supposed to be my lavender-bordered herb garden has evolved into a pleasant mishmash of rosemary, tarragon, oregano, and two varieties of sage combined with pink Monarda (bee balm), yellow Coreopsis, … Continue reading →

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Books and More Books

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Loretta Giacoletto

What’s on your bookshelves and where are those shelves located? Mine are scattered throughout the house, starting with our family room with a wall of built-ins surrounding the fireplace. And no, those shelves are not an excuse to display decorative … Continue reading →

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