A gem of nature near the Riverside, Rhode Island home of Gifted Daughter Lesley and husband, Profesore Massimo R., is the Tillinghast Estate in Barrington. Owned by RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), this is a gorgeous expanse of wetlands, beach grass, gentle meadows and Narragansett Bay beach. With the sun shining brightly, the Freeman/Riva clan strolled along the beach. Haru F. tossed stones in the water. Little Teru F. examined shells. Pip, the Riva family’s super intelligent and eminently lovable dog, made friends with the many other dogs frolicking in the sand. BSK found some nice pieces of beach glass (they will be added to the vast collection that prominently adorns a Chinese chest in the entryway of HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island home). Tillinghast Estate is magical and RISD is to be commended for its sensitive stewardship. Back to Riverside to watch the very exciting Sun Bowl contest between Duke and Arizona State, a game decided in the last seconds.HG always roots for Duke (this is satisfying in basketball season). A number of family members attended Duke. One female family member, later a law professor, exemplified the family’s leftist persuasion by leading an action protesting the low pay of workers in the Duke cafeteria. ( The Duke bowl game, alas lost by Duke, was watched on a new TV, a source of controversy, amicably resolved, between the Rivas). Another (gentle) controversy emerged at dinner. Lesley R. used left over brisket from the previous night’s dinner to make one of the most deliciously savory pasta meat sauces HG ever encountered. Lesley R. served it over Pappardelle (broad durum wheat noodles). HG exclaimed about the excellence of the pasta. Massimo R., a highly critical and knowledgeable analyst of Italian cuisine, disagreed and labeled the Pappardelle “mediocre.” (He did commend the sauce and his denigration of the pasta did not prevent him from devouring a large bowl with hearty appetite). Scholarly Massimo did note that the Italian approach to pasta can be excessive. He cited a friend who made a long journey to Naples each month to purchase the family supply of pasta. (He believed the particular water used by the pasta maker made the product superior). HG followed his pasta with green salad and a wedge of Gorgonzola. Dessert was the very good key lime pie baked by young Raphie W., a Riva family pal. It was topped with ample whipped cream (much to HG’s delight). Another happy holiday day and night..
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