Family dynamics were the focus of my adventures over the last few days. While one of the clans I visited with was pretty dysfunctional, the other is somewhat inspirational, so each has its place in the grand scheme of things. 

To be fair, only one family I visited is real, while the other is fictitious, but each is well known, and both are popular and widely recognized, although for very different reasons. 

Confused? I’ll break it down. 

The fictional family resides in a fairy tale, and although there’s no patriarch in sight, the matriarch, known only as “Madame,” rules the roost with an iron fist and a more than slightly demented view of what a family should be. 

That’s right, I’m referring to the characters that inhabit the world of “Cinderella,” the beloved fairy tale that first emerged in 1697 and includes elements that we all still recognize, like a fairy godmother, a cruel stepmother and those cool glass slippers. 

Interestingly (IMHO), the Brothers Grimm revised the story in 1812 without the wand-wielding benevolent guardian with whom we all grew up. Instead of a fantastical assist from the woman who can turn mice into horses and pumpkins into coaches, the Grimms replaced her with a magical tree on Cinderella’s mother’s grave, and their version of the story is widely considered (like everything the brothers touched) to be violent and dark. It’s not exactly what we want our kids to be reading about, much less see parading across the stage in the Monticello Central School District’s (MCSD) Performing Arts production, which I had the great good fortune to catch last weekend.

Rodgers and Hammerstein, who wrote the musical version of “Cinderella” in 1957, would have been proud of this production of their family-friendly version, magically directed by Kim Schneeberger and beautifully choreographed by Kelly Keesler. Under the skilled vocal direction of producer Marissa Jurow, beloved songs like “Ten Minutes Ago,” “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?” enchanted the appreciative audience, including the young ladies who hooted and hollered every time the handsome prince appeared on stage.

The cast of more than 20 talented performers featured triple threat Emily Pine, who as the title character breathed life into the downtrodden scullery maid turned talk of the town, with her lilting voice and serious acting chops. She was wooed by Prince Charming, Brayden Pogozelski, who looked as if he had stepped out of the pages of the classic fairy tale, embodying the role with appropriately princely charm.

Supporting players Hope Kinne (Lord Pinkleton) and Sierra Auletta (Sebastian) delivered the goods with glee, while Nikki Schultz (as the despicable evil stepmother), Macy Miros (as the ethereal fairy godmother), Emelia Rodriguez (as the lovable and ever-earnest Gabrielle) and Emma Ortiz (as the hilarious Charlotte) fleshed out their roles with great style and flair. 

Evan Chan’s interpretation of awkward revolutionary Jean-Michel was endearing, and the talented ensemble and dancers, beautifully costumed by Hannah Powers and supported by more than two dozen talented musicians under the direction  of Andrew Verdino, all added up to a polished production about a seriously dysfunctional family. It was a theatrical experience of which all involved should be more than proud. Kudos to the entire cast and crew!

As for that other (non-fictional) family to which I referred 500 words ago, they reside on the Diehl Homestead Farm in Callicoon, NY, and every year they throw an epic party for Sullivan County, fondly known as the Maple Open House. 

“It’s an outdoor event,” the invitation declares, advising party-goers to “dress accordingly” and join the Diehl family for a two-day-long celebration of all things maple. “Celebrate Maple season in the Catskills,” the invite beckons. “Enjoy fluffy pancakes with fresh local maple syrup, meet the producers and learn how [the] syrup is made. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public,” the invite announced, “come taste the sweetness of the season!”

Having been to the open house before, I knew what “dress accordingly” meant, especially since Mud Month has officially begun in earnest. The dog was a teensy bit under the weather, and distressed that she couldn’t attend, knowing that there would be cows, ducks, sheep, chickens and a cat or three to chase after on the working farm. But calmer heads prevailed, and I left her at home to recuperate while I went off to chat with the Diehl family and take advantage of all that their open house has to offer. 

I’ve known Adam Diehl and his extended family for more than a few years, and was warmly greeted by them all when I showed up for the open house last Saturday, even though they were clearly disappointed that Gidget wasn’t with me. With one hand on my camera and another on my wallet, I made the rounds, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to leave without taking advantage of the many products that the family produces on the farm. That farm was established in 1842, just a few years after those Grimm Brothers decided to sully Cinderella’s good name. 

There is always Diehl Farm maple syrup in the pantry at Camp Fox, but the wide array of products the family produces also includes honey, jams, eggs, raw milk, butter, pancake mix (just buy it, you can thank me later), beef, chicken, rabbit, soap and saffron. You don’t have to take my word for it—the farm’s reputation stretches far and wide.

A quick glance at Yelp, a website that features users “reviews and recommendations,” illustrated my point. 

A visitor from San Francisco known only as “Michelle S” had this to say: “This place is amazing,” she wrote of her trip to the farm in 2023. “I was treated AMAZING [sic] by the young lady. I’m sad I did not get her name. She is the daughter of the farm owners,” Michelle wrote in her glowing review, adding that “she knew her stuff and was extremely kind and sweet. I’m from the city so of course organic isn’t really organic. The selection was great! We purchased eggs, peppers, onions, syrup, honey, apples, milk and of course brownies!”

Not sure who Michelle S. was referring to, but the entire family is “amazing,” and I bumped into Diehl family members all day long, including Daniel, Ashley and Karlee, who were all in attendance the day I was there. Adam and I chatted briefly when I stopped to ask how well the sap was flowing this season. “It’s a fair year,” he said, adding that they had tapped about “six thousand gallons,” which translates into about 60 gallons of syrup. “We have maybe another week yet to collect sap,” Adam informed me. “After that, we’re done.”

While checking out at the register (uh huh) I asked Karlee what hours they had at the farm. “You know,” I said, “for those who couldn’t be here today. Oh, right, there’s your farm market just down the road, too, right?”

“Oh, we’re here at the farm every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,”  Karlee replied. “There’s always someone here,” she said with a laugh. 

As for the farm market, they’re here for us all year ‘round, too. “Many people expect a farmers’ market to close once the New York winters hit,” the market’s dot com explains. “But that isn’t the case with Diehl Farms’ Market. Our doors are open year-round, offering seasonal products that are sure to impress.” 

I’m in no rush, since Mud Month has just been ushered in, but I take solace knowing that when the time is right, pumpkins, veggies, flowers and Christmas trees will abound, since the family that plays together, stays together, as someone wiser than I once declared.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed seeing that fairy-tale family spring to life in Cinderella, there’s nothing fictional about the  “amazing” family and their farm in Callicoon. They’re the “real deal” (sorry, had to do it) and I’m not alone in saying that we’re glad that they’re here all year long.

For more on the Monticello Central School System and its calendar of events, go to www.monticelloschools.net/.

For more on the Diehl Homestead Farm and market, like’em on Facebook, follow them on Instagram and go to www.diehlfarmsfarmmarket.com.

Ask the Google: What’s a triple threat?

Answer:  “In the performing arts, a triple threat is one who excels in acting, singing and dancing.”