Let it snow, let it snow!

Home today with time to bake, wrap gifts, shovel snow and best of all, nap. I stayed up last night for the finale of Biggest Loser. Then couldn't get to sleep so I think I got about 5 hours in. It started snowing at 3 a.m. and just kept on coming to accumulate about 8 inches or so here in Hartford. There was a period of sleet before it finally stopped shortly after noon. I tried to go to work but couldn't get out of my driveway. My snow plow man didn't come until about 11 am. but even if I could have gotten out to the road, the town truck had plowed a very large snow bank across the end of my drive. My car is low in the front and there is no way it would have bucked through that stuff. I hate to lose a day of work though.

Tomorrow we have a Christmas meeting up at the Great Escape Lodge in Lake George. It is going to be lots of fun. We are going to eat lots of good food, make blankets for the homeless and we have a gift basket raffle. We are finished at 2:00 and I will come home, pick up the Bus to drive it back to Hudson Falls to a truck repair place where they will change the oil, check all the fluid levels, tires and grease the chassis. I had made an appt. at the Cumins diesel engine shop in Richmond, VA for the OLF but they want $400 for the service. I am very happy I found this local guy who is much more reasonable. I fret about all the "stuff" I need to get done before Bernie and I leave but it just always falls in place and somehow it gets done.

I haven't had time to work on publishing my book in the last couple of weeks. I have been busy with holiday things in the church, basketball games and Jones' family stuff. Pete and I enjoy watching Tad play JV basketball with Hartford CS. My granddaughter, Emily is playing Varsity BB with Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT but I haven't seen any of her games yet. They don't play within easy driving distance for me in the daylight. We are dark here now at 4:20 pm. I have a grandson Colin who plays hockey for Lasalle Academy in Troy, NY - Haven't seen him play this season either. Frustrating!

You should see my house.....I have been packing stuff to bring to FL in bags and then grouping them for loading. So much for traveling light! For me, traveling light is impossible. I wish we were leaving right off though. The waiting is nerve-wracking as it gives me more time to worry about the weather etc.

I will try to keep you posted. I have designated a "blog reader" list on my facebook page for those of you who are on FB. You can read it right there. If you are one of my regular readers and on FB and don't get it, let me know. I will add you to the list.

Happy Holidays...... from me and Sebastian

November Sunday

It has been a month since I have visited my blogsite. I did receive one phone call from a loyal reader asking, "Why?" The call prompted this writing for sure. Some of you know that I wrote a book a few years ago about my journey through a total life-change as I became functionally blind, my 27-year marriage fell apart and I was forced to move from my beautiful home in coastal NC. The title of my book is Born Of Fire: A Yearlong Diary of Personal Transformation. My dear friend and author, Janet Lembke, edited and guided me through the process but like I said that was about 7 year ago before Sebastian and I went on the road in the Bearfoot Coach. Now it is time to revisit the manuscript and web-publish. I had looked into publishing the book through a commercial publisher a few years ago. The cost was prohibitive for me. I became discouraged and put the book away. But with the advent of web self publishing, it is doable. This is a lengthy excuse regarding my absence from my blog writing. I have been diligently working on BOF whenever I have spare time. I am getting very close to publishing and will certainly announce it to ya'll.

This post will appear on Facebook too. I guess since it is all Google web...... I want to bring my blog only readers up-to-date on what has changed in my life in the last month. My last writing here, I said I was leaving Hicks' and going on to subbing again. That did happen. But one day three weeks ago as I left my job at Fort Ann CSD, my phone told me I had several messages. I was wanted at the BOCES Gick Road Special Education Offices. I not only had phone calls but emails requesting me to fill a secretarial post to the director. The hours worked for me and for Sebastian for now. The job will end by mid-Dec. so hopefully the heavy snows will hold off. I like the job and it is good to be back, spending time with the friends I met when I subbed for them last spring for 3 mos. It just so happened that I had treatment for my eye spasms a week before the BOCES job began. I received the largest dose of Botoxin that I have ever had in the 12 years I have had to have the injections. I personally think it was too much for me to handle. My immune system which is already challenged from Sjogrens, went into a talespin. My eyes just couldn't stay focused or clear. The dryness was just awful as was the fatigue. But I am pulling out of that now. It seems to improve each day. I have about 5 weeks or so before I pull the old Bearfoot Bus out of Hartford and point it southward once more. ((:

What a great day that will be!!! I have a friend who is willing to learn to drive the bus and share the winter with Sebastian and me. Her name is Bernice Burnham. We share many of the same interests and she has a great sense of humor which is essential when riding/living with me.

I have been a busy person though (another excuse for not posting). I began a new series of paintings a couple of months ago. I have called it Through Will's Eyes. Will is my grandson who it turns out is a fine photographer. With his permission, I am using some of his shots as models. This is an exciting project for me. My daughter Theresa took me to the Georgia O'Keefe tourning exhibit at the Clark Museum in Williamstown, MA for my birthday a few months back. I have been to a couple of O'Keefe exhibits since her work has always inspired me. Seeing her work upclose and personal combined with Will's photos just got all my creative juices flowing again. The only problem with this is, I have interrupted the process with life, at least for now. I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to me during my 50 years of painting. I keep the painting out in my living area where I look at it each and every day. That way the juices are still trickling away just waiting to continue. See the photos attached. Progression from abstract underpainting to realism.

So between work, BOF (the book), preparing for winter, readying the bus, closing the garden and all the other stuff we do on a daily basis, finding time to write a journal has not been high on the list.

I must tell you I had a visitor in my maple tree right by my bedroom window last week. I put up one of Pete's birdhouses in that tree last summer. The tree is only about 10 ft. away from the house. I saw a flash of blue and there was a bluebird looking into the birdhouse. I crept away to get the camera but alas, s/he was gone when I returned. I am looking foward to a nesting pair in that place in the spring. I had a pair all summer but they were down on the lower locust grove area.

I finally was able to find a seasonal flu shot clinic in Saratoga. My boss gave me as much time as I needed to go up to Walgreen's. I stood in line for about a half hour which wasn't bad. The H1N1 virus is all around me but now that I am no longer in the classroom, I feel better about avoiding the virus. I have always opposed anti-bacterial soaps except for medical people since the natural bacteria on our skin is protective in its own right. I use, along with many others, the hand sanitizer now, and I wonder if we are not inviting more virus' than we are preventing. Certainly my skin has suffered from the frequent application of alcohol as well as soap and water. Time will tell.

Enough rambling for now. Enjoy the photo of Sebastian taken yesterday after we had to walk in the rain.
donna

After the first frost 09

My garden is just about finished growing. Just about because I have 4 wonderful stems of brussels sprouts which will be fine throughout the winter. I think they are so amazing. They taste nothing like the store-bought ones.

Today is going to be my last day at Hick's Orchard. I just haven't had the hours that I need and I have been working weekends. Now I look forward to leading a normal working life. I will be able to join friends and family on weekends and go to church. All the things I have missed since July. Bash and I are going to be out in the UPick orchard today. It is cold and raw. We will have our car there to warm up in between customers.

I need to write about being a Fan. I realized last week that I have never experienced being a fan before in my life. Oh sure, I have said I was a fan of so and so but I have never been face to face with them. I was working in the winery at Slyboro Ciderhouse on the weekend. It was extremely busy in the wine room. I was giving tastings to approx. 9 people lined up at my station like recipients of Christian Communion. I was moving back and forth along the line of people which actually was about 4 deep as well. I had been having a really good time with some jolly people on the end of the counter when they parted and there stood a woman whose face was so familiar to me, it was like looking into the face of a dear friend or family member. I felt like I wanted to reach out and hug her close. Instead, I said, "Hi, I am one of your greatest fans." She asked me my name and we shook hands. I was speechless. It was Rachel Raye. She is just as pretty in person as she appears on TV. So that is what it is like to be a fan I thought.

Pete and I watched the Amazing Race the other night and we were both shocked that most of the participants could not correctly identify a photo of Jackie Kennedy. Why are people now-a-days so unaware of people who have made history? In an effort to be understanding, we searched our memories for images of former first ladies. We could both go back to FDR - we were young kids then and yet I would recognize Eleanor Roosevelt's photo. Those Americans on Amazing Race made me ashamed of them. They were in Cambodia and the Cambodians of every age knew who Jackie Kennedy was. Sad...

I haven't taken many photos this fall. It hasn't been as pretty as it usually is. So much rain and many cloudy days. I mowed my entire lawn last week just before the frost. It may be the last time. I discovered I have large areas of mole infestation. I will have to find a natural way of discouraging them from living in the main part of the lawn since I don't allow any poisons in my yard. They do make it tricky to walk though. Suddenly my foot sinks and twists. Easy to sprain an ankle.

I am finally going for Botoxin treatment this week in my eyes. I always put it off as long as possible since the after effects are difficult for about a month sometimes even longer. I think I have been 6 months this time. For 12 years I have gone every 3 mos for treatment so this was unusual. The only part of it has been I have limited my driving distance in the daytime and almost never drive at night. I pray the treatment works as it should this time so I can safely drive the MH to FL in Dec. I have a friend, Bernice, who wants to go along but I do have to teach her to drive the rig. She has been busy so we haven't done that yet. Also, I now have 2 dead starting batteries that are original equipment (10 yrs) and are done for. The replacements are very expensive but they have to be purchased. I have pumped lots of dollars into the coach this year and haven't used it once. }}:

I have begun editing my book and will publish it on the web soon. Web self-publishing is the way to go for writers such as myself. My creative juices have begun to flow again, Thanks be to God. I also have started a series of paintings from my grandson Will's photos. I call them Through Will's Eyes. I see the possibility of at least 4. The Barnyard Series from the last two years is nearly finished. There is one more I want to do of a chicken yard. Wish me continued "juicyness". Sometimes it is very difficult to muster.

Be well dear readers.....

Some Poetry I wrote

Myrtle Beach, SC '05

Restless Ocean
knocking on the shore,
Berms, dunes, fences, grasses-
A wall built by man
to keep her visits to
a minimum.

She comes to her shore
like an unwelcome relative.
She comes to claim what
is hers.

Man opens windows
to allow her to come in.
She comes, she claims
every 12 hours.
She drags it all back
with her. As she spits
out plastic bags, bottles,
cans - debris,
flotsam, jetsum - sort of -
except
it doesn't come from the Ocean but
from shore; From her visits
through those open windows.

Gifts of welcome?
I hardly think not.

Some Poetry I wrote

Myrtle Beach, SC '05Restless Ocean
knocking on the shore,
Berms, dunes, fences, grasses-
A wall built by man
to keep her visits to
a minimum.

She comes to her shore
like an unwelcome relative.
She comes to claim what
is hers.

Man opens windows
to allow her to come in.
She comes, she claims
every 12 hours.
She drags it all back
with her. As she spits
out plastic bags, bottles,
cans - debris,
flotsam, jetsum - sort of -
except
it doesn't come from the Ocean but
from shore; From her visits
through those open windows.

Gifts of welcome?
I hardly think not.

Mid-September

It is cloudy today and cool. We won't have many temps in the 80's any longer. More apt to be in the 60's and even 50's. No frost here in Hartford yet, came close though. I went out to clean out my garden and discovered a crop of green beans. Picked them and made 3 more jars of Dilly Beans. Then I cut the basil and made more pesto to freeze plus more tomato sauce for the freezer. I have frozen many bags of peppers, hot and sweet ones. The garden is now producing multi-colored and shaped gourds from one plant.

I was just reviewing my cooking schedule for the coming week. Speaking of cooking; I have had little opportunity in my life to cook just for me which at this stage would be very little fuss. It seems there was always someone who had to be fed. Now I am alone but I feed Pete and the neighbors and his family. We have an active community here and everywhere one goes, one is expected to bring food. I had to dig out old recipes and find new ones to keep up with the "modern palate". Whenever I find myself wishing I didn't have to cook, I think of the loneliness I felt during those times when I had no one. I much prefer the job of creating something new or an old favorite and sharing it. For instance, we have two openhouses on Sat. I have to work Sat. so that means I cook Fri. I am making a dip(spicy cheese) in my little crock pot for Pete to carry along with some chips, also making a plum kuchen which is a german plum cake with custard on top for Mary Beth's (Pete's d-i-l) b'day celebration also on Sat. I will get to that one late. Then our church has a fund raiser Pie Sale on Sunday. So I will make an apple pie for that on Friday and need to make some choc. chip pumpkin drop cookies for my neice the following Wed. She has invited us for dinner and I offered to bring dessert. So it goes -- week after week. Pete and I are invited to several people's homes often and we lament that we need to reciprocate. The question is, WHEN??? I just don't have the energy or the funds to entertain. He doesn't either since he has been working as a carpenter with another man. I do enjoy it though!

I am off to work in a little bit but wanted to update my blog. I am going to sell my gourds to Hick's Orchard as soon as someone lifts the basket into my car. Too heavy for this old lady. Sebastian and I get to work outside in the orchard checking in and out the UPick customers once a week. I dress warm and bring a book. He on the other hand, obsesses about all the cats around the yard. Today I am in the Winery. We have 6 new flavors of hard cider wine now. I like them all.

I have been called for Jury Duty next week. It is the first time in my life since I was married for nearly 30 years to a lawyer/judge, I was never eligible. I am going to try to postpone it though since the orchard is counting on me during this their busiest season.

Enjoy this harvest season ya'll,

Note: the photo of the river is a shot of the headwaters of the great Hudson River away up in the northern Adirondack MTs.

Ah! September

Dear Readers....
I'm watching old re-runs of Touched By An Angel as I post this writing. I always liked this tv show. I like gentleness and happy endings when I am entertained.

Here we are on the cusp of autumn. There is a full moon tonight. The moon is in Virgo. My virgo friends and I have been celebrating our birthdays for a few days. We are a joyous group and get along well together. I have been posting lots of pictures on Face Book. There are some good ones of these birthday celebrations.

My work at the orchard has been sporadic. There are others there who want as many hours as they can grab so the rest of us get what's left. Soon we will be very busy and we will all work more hours. The opportunity to be home has been good for me since I have had to put away the veggies from the garden. I also have been preparing the motorhome to make the trip to FL at the end of Dec. The lawn this year must be mowed twice a week. I mow about an acre and a half. And then there is Sebastian who needs me home. This time has given me an opportunity to paint again. My grandson Patrick manages a resort in Sugarbush, VT. He and his companion Sarah very graciously asked me to show some of my work in their lobby. Pete and I went up there for a couple of days and delivered five paintings. The lobby space is lovely. The paintings look great there. Having a nice place to show my work has helped to get my creative juices flowing again.

I have had time occasionally to go for a bike ride too. The weather has been perfect for the last couple of weeks. Cool nights (close to frost one night) and warm sunny days with low humidity. I rode a couple of days ago to N. Granville and back which was about 13 miles from Pete's. I load the bike and start from his place because the shoulders of the road are very wide up there. Here at my house, they are narrow, cracked and weedy. Since my eyes have been in spasm a great deal lately, I need wiggle room. I was riding the bike trail but driving over to Hudson Falls takes a lot more time out of my day. Riding Rt. 40 is right here and Pete's place is 2 miles from me.

If you would like to look at some of my paintings, check out another blog I have made: http://castleandcobwebgallery.blogspot.com

I saw a hawk on the wires as I rode by. See the photo. You can also see what looks like white fencing way back in a field, it is actually white wrapped round hay bales.

Wednesday

I must confess dear readers, I have been spending a great deal of time on Face Book. I like it because as I browse through friends and family photo albums, I feel as though I have spent sometime with them. I also enjoy the immediacy of the comments. When I was a girl we had a party line. Everyone in town knew what you were doing that day. It was a like a big family. FB is kinda like that too. There are lots of things about it that I don't like but for now it serves its purpose nicely for me.

Let's see.... I have been busy this month making Dilly Beans and I made a few jars of summer squash chutney. They will make excellent Christmas gifts. My garden leaves me breathless with gratitude for its abundance. I love this time of year. We eat all we can -- it tastes exquisite. I have a gourd plant that is immense. It has taken over everything. The amazing thing is there is many different kinds, colors, shapes and texturess of gourds on the one plant. Pete and I went to Maine with his son and family. I went to see my first official ball game at Hadlock Field in Portland. We watched the Sea Dogs play. It was very sunny and hot. We ate lots of sea food, walked the Marginal Way and browsed the shops. The ride over through Vermont and New Hampshire was beautiful. My daughter Lisa and her husband George came up to visit from Virginia. I hadn't seen her in almost two years. We had a perfect visit. She was here for her brother Matt's 50th surprise birthday party. It was held in a party barn in East Rupert. The Barn restaurant catered. I decorated the tables with mum plants wrapped in different colors of tissue paper. Then I bought all the toy airplanes I could find in the Dollar stores in two counties. Those were placed on the top of the plants. I also placed matchbox race cars around the tables. Since he has been a race car driver, an excavator and now, a pilot, I thought it was appropriate. I couldn't find any inexpensive bulldozers though. His daughter made a dvd of his pictures from birth put to music. They showed it on a large screen on the wall. If my son ever doubted his life-long accomplishments, being confronted with the video history of his life certainly would make anyone happy.

We had a community band concert on the church green in the center of town. Our band is comprised of musicians who have played in the Hartford Central School Band while in school. Their ages range from 80+ to 16 yrs. old. It is an unique and accomplished band of 30 people. We also had a silent auction as a fund raiser. I donated a small watercolour painting and painted a group of notes. Pete donated a beautiful hand crafted cherry box to hold the notes. We had lots of positive feedback. Our women's fellowship is now making christmas angels from castoff hymnals. We also have a major rummage sale coming up in Sept.

My sister and brother-in-law have sold their home here and will be cleaning out to move to a townhouse in Queensbury. I will miss them here in Hartford as will many family members. But having done a similar move myself many years ago, I understand their need to make the change. This will free them up for the next chapter in their lives.

I am working at Hick's Orchard and Slyboro Ciderhouse as I did last year. It is part time and still pretty quiet up there but that will change in a couple of weeks when the apples are ready. Right now all we have are the blueberries and cider donuts. We have 6 different wines made from cider too. School will be starting soon and I plan on continuing my sub jobs.

My motor home is presently at a glass repair shop having its windshields resealed and reseated. It has been there a week since they ended up ordering parts. This will be a costly repair but is necessary. I did make reservations for Naples in Jan. and Feb. I am looking for a driver though. I can no longer drive the coach for any distance due to my slow blinking eyes. I hope by taking it down south, it will sell.

I think I have covered the highlights of the month since I last posted.
Blessings....

Last day in July

What happened to July???? We have had lots of rain interspersed with some absolutely perfect summer days. The flora and fauna are lovin' this weather. My pole beans are 7 ft. tall and growing. I have several heads of cauliflower, brocolli,great onions, squashes, tomatoes and loads of peppers. I made two bottles of fiery hot pepper vinegar to serve with pork or beef dishes. I made a pepper salad for supper this week. Here is the recipe: seed and chop green peppers, chop a yellow onion, quarter a couple of tomatoes, chop fresh italian parsley and a few leaves of basil, chop a clove of garlic fine; stir together and sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and a bit of evvo. It makes a great side dish too. The flowers in my yard are all huge too. I looked at the pictures of the house I took last summer and compared them to this year. It looks as though I had instant landscaping done.

I like my work hours at the orchard. Most of the time it amounts to 4 hours with an 8 hour day thrown in for good measure. Bashey and I don't like the long days. But we manage.

I finished my notecards for the church's silent auction next week. Pete is donating one of his beautiful handmade spalded maple boxes to showcase the cards. I am also donating a small watercolour painting. The wonderful part of all this is, my creative has been roused from it's rest and I am eager to paint again. Now that is not a guarantee I will paint but at least it is a step in that direction. I think I mentioned,I hung 5 paintings at the winery. Now my grandson, Patrick, who manages a lodge in Smugglers Notch, VT has asked me to hang a few in the lobby there. Turns out, I don't have enough work that I would consider showing for sale. The answer of course, is paint, paint, paint.

We have been selling various local organic goat cheeses at the orchard. My favorite is the Rosemary and Fig Goat Cheese from Painted Goat Farm in Garrettsville, NY. Check it out - just google Painted Goat Farm. Then there is a local goat farm in nearby Argyle called Argyle Goat Farm. All delicious! The blueberries this year are numerous and large and sweet. I will walk up to the blueberry patch to take a picture for you.

I called a neighbor about helping me start my MH. He put a charger on the batteries and viola', she started right up. Next thing is to get the windshields resealed. I have a place who will do that in Glens Falls but I have to take it over there. It is an expensive job but must be done. I now have to register it with DMV and get it inspected after the windshields are fixed. I renewed my membership in the Good Sam Roadside Service so I guess I am almost good to go. I am hoping Sharon, my friend from Tampa, will fly up the end of Dec. and help me drive it to Naples.

The photos include Sebastian giving new meaning to the expression "booty call"; Emily, Dino and Sebastian taking a walk; and a shot of my "office", check out the website, Slyboro Ciderhouse Winery. We just added a new selection made exclusively from the old english cider apple, which is quite black in colour, Kingston Black.

Have day of Joy....

Beautiful July day

Can't quite believe it is almost August. Where has the time gone? I have been chasing Emily and her horse, Dino around Vermont, working at Hick's Orchard again and tending my gardens and lawn. I have been working on some watercolour note cards that I am donating to the church auction. That led to sorting through lots of old sketches, photos and paintings which led to my hauling a few up to the orchard winery for display. They liked them and I think they lend a bit of local colour. I am still picking jap. beetles off the potatoes and the beans which seem to be their preference. I don't like the traps because then all the beetles in the area congregate. I wish the birds would eat them. I saw a lovely doe in my yard early the other morning. I think her presence solves the mystery of the tramped down grass in the marshy area of my yard. I think there are several who sleep there at night. I have tried to create a safe haven for all the creatures who come to my little acre and a half. I hope that is why they are here. Bash and I see lots of different critters in the yard. My winter squash is taking over the yard. See photo. I have volunteer sunflowers scattered around the gardens from feeding the birds. Today, Pete helped me haul home some man-made stones for a path through the new flower garden I am creating. The stone wall is a work in progress and slow going since the stones are heavy. My little tractor and wagon cannot carry many.
Pesto pasta for supper tonight made from the basil in my herb garden. Yummer!

I made reservations for Naples in Jan. and Feb. Now need to find a driver to help bring the coach down right after Christmas. I hope to find a part time job down there for the time I'm there. Right now, the coach won't start. Trying to find a mechanic to come here is a real challenge.

I just discovered a major plumbing problem under my kitchen sink so gotta go friends. Enjoy the photos.

Saturday

Two perfect summer days in a row! We are very grateful after this rainy cool summer. I may not like the rain and cool temps but my veggie garden just loves this weather. I have tomatoes as high as my chin and huge brussels sprout plants. Everyting is doing extremely well. The Jap. beetles came a few days ago but so far I am keeping aheaad of them by picking them off. My lawn became a thick lush hayfield as I waited for my mower to be repaired. But yesterday when I returned from Hick's Orchard where I have been working, there sat my red tractor by the back door, just waiting to get to work. Although, I was looking forward to a power nap after being on my feet most of the day, I succumbed to the lure of the red machine and began to mow. I quit an hour later to greet Pete who brought some most welcome libations. We joined on my porch as I grilled sweet potatoes and salmon fillets. A from-the-garden lettuce, onion and tomato salad and we had another feast. Pete and I enjoy our respective porches. We watch and identify birds with an occasional hot air balloon huffing and puffing in from my porch. At his house, we watch hummers, squirrels, chipmunks racing back and forth and the woodchuck fammily with an occasional family of turkey or deer. Last year we had a hawk swoop in and sit on the barn roof watching us. Oh, the beauty and excitement of a porch.

Hicks' Orchard is picking sour Montmorency cheeries and huge blueberris right now. We have been busy. I have been working in the store this week stocking shelves, cleaning and weighing fruit for the families of pickers that make it a yearly event. I will be in the Winery next week I think. I would like to get some free time to pick some fruit myself. I brought home a quart of cheeries which I pitted, sugared and shared with Pete last night with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Rosie Pup has been with us all week. She is the alpha dog. It is amazing how Bash just changes his habits to allow her to sleep in all his favorite places. She has emptied his toy crock several times searching for his stash of bones. When she gets to the bottom, she dangles in there huffing and puffing but comes up with nothing since I had already removed the bones. We found last year that the bones create problems between them.

Gotta go mow before so I can run to Granville for groceries then on to a party for Marty Nestle who just graduated from training with the Air Force. Team Jones is hosting the party at their place in Hartford Village. Gloria and Emory are motoring all day today back from the VA mountains where they have been vacationing with two of their grands.

Have a blessed day dear friends.....

Wednesday before the 4th

I am posting a current photo of my little house so you can see how the plants have matured since last summer's photo. I have been building a low stone wall around the new flower bed on the corner of the house near the drive. I found that hefting the big stones is very hard on my back so I only do one load a day. We are going through a rainy patch now. It rains every day - the news said 8" in June. In May, we were in a rain deficit. That is the way of nature.

Yesterday, as I sat out on my porch eating lunch there appeared a large coyote trotting up along the hedgerow towards the road. He was obviously very nervous and was roused up from a noon-day slumber by the town bushhog mowing along the road and ditch. Seeing the coyote explains a lot about the tracks I saw in the snow and the bloody evidence that some creature had been killed for supper. I pray he doesn't get hit on the busy road. I see large domestic kitties all the time too. I have another very welcome and unusual visitor in the presence of a Kingfisher. I don't have a pond for fishing but I think the bird flies over to the huge marsh SE of my house and also flies to my neighbor's pond S of my house. But I am honored that one of my favorite birds has chosen to hang out on the light pole near my porch.

I spend a lot of time and energy creating this sanctuary for critters of all kinds and it is very rewarding when I see them here.

I just posted some photos of the giant dredging project taking place now in Ft. Edward on the Hudson River and adjacent canal. GE poisoned the river there for many years with their effluent discharges. It was all damned up and pretty much contained until the damn was ordered opened. Of course, all the toxins went on down the River. Now GE will pay to clean it up for the next ten years. It is a huge undertaking and is carefully monitored (we hope) to avoid poisoning the drinking water of people all down the River. They will dredge for 16 miles downstream. This clean-up site is the largest of its kind ever. I took the shots from the bridge and from the yacht basin.

I put this website on my Facebook so you should be able to access both.

Last Monday in June

I went out to mow the lawn and got caught in a summer shower. Now I have time to write in my blog and post on Facebook. Friday night Pete and I attended of graduation of two grandchildren, Lydia and Conor from Hartford. It was a nice ceremony, rather short since there were only 43 in the class. It wasn't hot for a change. Conor claimed high honors and received over 10 awards. He will attend Sienna College in the fall. Lydia will attend Plattsburg State in the fall. Hartford has two extra ceremonies to their graduation since they are a small school. One is a rose ceremony where they have a rose bearer, usually a small child, who presents the rose to the graduate who in turn presents it to their mother. The other is a candlelight ceremony where a sibling received an unlighed candle to be lighted and passed on by the graduate. See the attached photos. Saturday, Pete and I started out early to help with the graudation breakfast/brunch being given at Mark and Mary Beth's home in Hartford. They are Lydia's parents. I had prepared two large egg, ham and cheese casseroles the day before and baked them early Sat. morning. It was a huge success with many creative egg dishes, pastries, mimosas and deserts. We left there late morning to attend another graduation party for a friend. It was fun since we kept seeing many of the same people. Then in a summer shower, we left Hartford for Conor's party in Glens Falls at his Aunt's house. It is a lovely gracious home with a heated pool and large shady deck. The kids went swimming, we just parked ourselves under the awning, indulged ourselves with steamed clams, bloodymary's and burgers. Another successful party. Back to Hartford to feed Sebastian before going to another friend's college graduation party in the evening. By then, I was drinking bottled water and falling asleep. Four parties in one day is too much for this old gal.

Early Sunday morning found me cutting up fruit to take to early service at church for fellowship time. Another friend brought coffee cake. That too was a success. Just as I arrived home from church, I had a call from Kate and Will, grandchildren, coming back from NYC announcing they would like to stop by. I truly love drop-in visitors although I had to really scrounge around to feed them but we managed quite nicely. I just absorb their love and companionship - two blessed young people. Will is attending Lasell College in Newton, MA in the fall. Kate is out of work right now but is in the process of re-inventing herself. Everyone has to do it sometime from age 30ish through the mid-forties. She has been a nanny for many years.

Pete stopped by and offered to take Sebastian and I for a ride to Wells, Vermont where we can buy fuel that contains no ethanol. We like that for our lawn mowers etc. Also VT fuel prices are lower than NY's. One of our favorite things to do is go for a late day ride to view all the wildlife in these parts. We stopped at the mkt to pick up a few things for supper, came home to my house where I grilled veggies. I then served crab salad on my fresh garden lettuce and made a dish of coleslaw. We have both consumed way more food on Saturday than we needed so having a light supper was just the ticket. After watching the sun go down from the porch, Pete went home to an early bed (he was out half the night before on a fire call). Bash and I crawled into our bed and were soon fast asleep and none the worse for our graduation weekend.

I have decided to put the MH back on the road even though it means a fairly large expeniture to do so. I really feel the best place to sell it is in the south so we will take it to FL in January. I will need a driving assistant since my eyes are not good enough to drive the entire distance. Call me crazy but hopefully I can find some work in the Naples area. I need to be close to my dear friends Sharon and Brent who are enduring chemo for his cancer which has gone to his lungs. Please dear readers, hold them in the Light of healing to the level of that which is appropriate or in other words, God's Will.

Strawberry season is upon us. We haven't picked yet due to the rainy weather. When cherry season begins, I will be back working at Hick's Orchard. I haven't started my stone wall yet but hope to get that going soon. I have a long list of things to do.

The first image is of grandson Will and granddaughter Kate; second is Conor and his brother Dylan; third is Lydia and brother Thad.

Have a pleasant day.......

Thursday - School's Out!!

I am celebrating by going biking again on the Adirondack Trail in Glens Falls and Lake George. I went yesterday too. Bike 11 miles. Pedaling to an aria by Bocelli, sung in Italian, makes the experience quite etheral and unreal. Yes Gene, I use all my gears too and still walk some. I stopped by Cooper's Cave for homemade ice cream udoing all the good of the calorie burning exercise. I do enjoy sitting in the warm sunshine eating ice cream while people watching. I am now on FaceBook if any of my readers wish to follow that link. I don't devote a lot of time to the computer anymore since the weather is grand, the garden grows (weeds)and the nature calls me outside but I will try to keep up. I have been negligent in posting to this space so I don't know how many of my readers are still active.

I changed my header photo to a shot I took on the way to Emily's horse show in Buskirk, NY. We have a great deal of beauty around us. Emily was disappointed early in that show since she only placed 5th in one class and nothing in the others. Old Dino decided to get playful and bucked right in front of the judge. Not a good way to get a ribbon. But he got down to work in the jumping classes and she won all blues. Once a jumper, always a jumper. They will go to the very prestigious show in East Dorset, Vt. this July and back to the GMHA Hunter Jumper show also in July.

Mowing here takes me about 3 hours. I stopped the other day for a break and as I was sitting on the deck with Sebastian. He woofed a couple of times. Then a passing motorist stopped his truck and walked into my yard gesturing towards the back. He said, "Do you see what is in your yard?" I fully expected a moose but it was a black bull with impressive horns and other parts. He was mooing softly like a kitten and strolling across my lawn. I called to him from the deck, something like, "Hi, bull, where you goin'" He answered with more soft mooing. The motorist went to try to find the farmer who owns the bull while Bash and I observed from the safety of the deck. The bull meandered on down the road and disappeared. He was gone about 30 mins or so. I was preparing to change the oil in my lawn tractor when he reappeared in my yard. A neighboring farmer appeared at the same time. We decided he would try to halter the critter and take him up the road to the farm nearby. We chased the bull speaking softly in "bullease" but Bull would have no part of it. I became the drover and traffic director since I live two busy roads. I have to hand it to Wayne Foote, the farmer, he has tremendous stamina and patience. Finally, after much time and wrestling through the tall grass and the ditches, the bull was snagged. Wayne tied the bull to the back of his old truck. He is truly a modern day cowboy. Certainly not liking roping the critter and tieing him to the saddle horn. Slowly up the road they went with the bull reluctantly following behind. Until the rope broke! Back to wrestling in the ditches and roadside weeds. As luck would have it, Wayne's son and friend came by. On went the four-way flashers and the bull was once again snagged. Now we had a convoy or was it a parade? Two trucks, two cowboys and a bull. Long story short, the bull was returned to his pasture safely. Sebastian is still looking for the bull in the yard.

Pete and I have to attend 4 graduation parties this Saturday. My grandson Will's graduation was two weeks ago. NYS is later than VT. We are both cooking for the first one which is brunch and is being held for Pete's granddaughter, Lydia here in town. He had a grandson, Conor, also graduating this weekend and that party is to be held in Glens Falls. The other two parties are here in town. Graduation ceremonies will be held Friday night in the gym. It will be terribly hot, it always is hot and crowded. I am not really looking forward to it but will surely enjoy the parties.

My trees are full of all the fledged young birds from the nests in the yard. Many different kinds of woodpeckers live here from the largest, the Piliated to the smallest, the Downey. I have many finches of different colors and Tufted Titmouse as well as nuthatches, doves, bluebirds, cardinals, chickadees, huge American Crows, catbirds, orioles and robins. My bird friends are many. There is also a mystery here. Down in back near the swamp is a circle of stamped down grasses. It is visited frequently by my mysterious friends at night. I have never seen them or heard them. In time, they will reveal themselves I'm certain.

Off to ride the trail.
Have a grand and glorious summer day.

Thursday night

Finally, I am writing in this journal. What a busy life I have inadvertently created. I have no idea where the time goes. I get up very early (the sun shines in my window at 4:30 a.m. along with loud birdsong) and I go to bed early since I cannot seem to muster up any more steam. I finished my long-term sub job as a secretary at the Special Ed offices of BOCES in Saratoga after 5 weeks. I met some great women and we had lots of laughs. The work was a challenge since I had very little training and actually hadn't done secretarial work in over 35 years. But I feel better about my ability to retain information and learn a new job. My mind is not all jello afterall. Bashey suffered the most from my long days away. He held his pee for 9 hrs. every day. That is remarkable for a 14 yr. old fellow. I am very releived that it is over and I don't have to drive down there and back anymore.

This week I have had two sub jobs in the area, all special ed classes. It has been nice to catch up on my yard work, wash and shine the MH tires as well as run the engine and genset. Then I mowed, Pete trimmed for me and I finished planting the veggies as well as my new flower garden. I planted a lovely Butterfly Bush out front and a couple of Lilac bushes. The fun part of creating an interesting yard out of an open field is like painting on a blank canvas. It will be a work in progress for sometime. I have to mulch yet. When I get it looking pretty good, I will post a photo.

Still no buyer for the MH. I have had a few lookers since I moved it out front. Such a nice coach. I hate to see it deteriorate.

Since I wrote here last, my granddaughter Emily and her Dino won Grand Champion of a Hunter/Jumper show in S.Woodstock, Vermont. I can't keep up with her so I don't know how she has done since. Our girls' softball team from Hartford HS may take the championship. They are well on their way. We have three graduates this year; My grandson William from Otter Valley HS; Pete's granddaughter Lydia and grandson Conor both from Hartford CS. All three are going to different colleges in the fall. My grandson Travis finished the Iron Man event in Orlando in good time. He is now out west for Army training. Annie my granddaughter is transferring from Tech to UVA in the fall. (Wendy can keep an eye on her). She has a boyfriend at UVA.

I just got off the phone with Gloria and I told her I was finally writing in my blog. She asked how I could remember what took place over the last 3 plus weeks. I realize, I am struggling to do so. But I guess I have a few highlights. Hope you enjoy these two pics of our mountain views.

Thursday night

Please don't lose faith in my posting. I have been journaling like this for nearly 5 years and I don't want to quit now. It is just that this business of working 5 days and not having the time to do all that I once did, is taking its toll. I did take a day off this week to work in my gardens. It was the best thing I have done for myself in a long while. I trimmed, finished mowing the dandelions, fertilized the grass (I must be crazy), bought veggie plants and planted my onions. I still need to mix some topsoil in with this sheep doo. Even though it is composted, I suspect it is too rich. I came in the house last night feeling very tired and sore but those were good feelings.

I went to Cambridge last sunday to watch Emily ride in a show. It was a great way to spend Mother's Day. She did well with severals third and fourth place ribbons. This was her first show of the season. I also believe that local politics plays am important role in who gets the first place ribbons. Most of the judges are trainers for many of the local riders. When I was competing, I showed there once and never went back due to the way they treated the visiting riders. This coming weekend she and Dino will be eventing in S. Woodstock, VT. Pete and I are going up on Sunday. I have competed in that setting as well. It was my favorite place to show.

I came back last Sunday to a picnic for my neice who just received her MA degree. My daughter Jill and her family were there. It was great to see them. My other two daughters called. My grandson, Travis will be in an Ironman event in FL this coming weekend. He is an incredible young man. He is now Commander of the VA Tech marching band in addition to his studies and Army training as well as jazz band and Highty Tighties. Only the young could manage it.

TGIF tomorrow. Enjoy the photo of the cemetary next to our church and the shot of Emily at the show. Time for me to sack out.

First Sunday in May

Thanks to my patient and faithful readers. I note that it has been a while since I journaled here. One of the many perks I miss since I have been working full time is keeping up with friends. Although, now that I sit at a desk much of the day, I have full access to my email at work. I not only open my office email page but at the same time, I open my personal page. Don't hesitate to email me. Actually, I can be reached during the week through the email easier than on the phone since my phone does not work in my building.

Speaking of my job: I like the women I am working with, the work is not difficult, I like my boss who is a young woman and I like my paycheck; I just don't care for the drive down and back. 56 miles round trip doesn't sound like much to many people but for me it is a challenge to stay alert. The neurological aspects of the Sjogrens becomes apparent when I am forced to stay focused and process a great deal of information constantly while driving. I will stay through the May 20th deadline for this job and maybe a bit longer if I am asked but not on a year-round basis. Besides, I do miss the children (some) in the classrooms I have frequented.

I am busy gardening now. Pete made me two more raised beds for veggies. I have yet to put dirt in them. My friend, Marybeth, gave me several buckets of perennials which I planted yesterday. I broke down and bought a hydrangea tree for the front of my house. I want to buy a weeping willow for the marsh down back and a grafted apple tree for the end of the house. I mowed yesterday. The lawn looks really nice. I did not mow a large patch of blue violets that have sprung up. I wish the entire lawn was made up of violets. People complain about the dandelions, I don't mind them now when they are beautiful yellow masses. I don't like them when they become stalks and go to see though. I must get out and take pictures for this site.

I haven't seen any hummers yet. I did put out my feeder since I noted in my diary that a male spotter came last year on the 1st. It was upsetting to see that the swallows had frightened off a nesting bluebird I had. I think I will move one of the houses. It may be too close. I should rename my place woodpecker something or the other since I have many different kinds of woodpeckers residing here. They eat a whole lot of suet which can sometimes be hard to come by. I have recently been buying the suet with the berries and seeds in it; Buy one get one free deal.

Sebastian had a haircut yesterday and he looks great! Smells good too. He did not pant at all last night. Lately, since the temp climbed, he has been panting in bed, waking me up.

Chicken BarBQue today at Stewarts store where Gloria and Emory's IGA used to be. Pete is cooking there for the HVFD and will bring home a couple of yummy chickens with the fixins. This event is a sure sign of Spring for us.

The photo was taken on a bike ride about a week ago. I posted it so you can see how we have progressed in bloom when I take another shot today. We are very green now although the mountains are still purple.

Well, here's to dirt under your nails, callouses on your knees, pain in your low back but joy in your heart as you touch our beloved Earth.

April 21, 2009

It's Tuesday night and Spring is bursting out all over these meadows and hills. Everyone here has been cutting, splitting and stacking wood for next winter for the last month. Now the trees are budding out and wood cutting is over. Pete has over 10 cord put away. I remember how good that felt from the time many years ago when we heated our house with wood. I claimed two stumps with hollow centers which I have put in my yard. I plan to plant in them. I used up the mulch I had from last year as well as the sheep manure from my neighbor. I am expecting another load this week from the sheep farm across the road. Pete is making two more raised beds for my yard. That will bring me up to 4 beds and 8 tires for potatoes. I hung two more bird houses tonight. The Bluebird is already nesting in one of my last year's houses down in the Locust Grove.

It was lovely having last week off. I was able to jury rig the automatic leveling jacks up on the bus and move it up by the house where the hose will reach. I dragged the ladder up and hauled a bucket of rubber roof cleaner up topside. I scrubbed and rinsed it but as I did a layer of some kind of coating kept flaking off. Now I am trying to find out what it is and how to get it all off safely so I can recondition the roof and seal a few cracks. I washed and waxed the rest of the coach just before the rains came. It really looks great.

Since I had the last botox injections in my eye lids in February, my eye condition has worsened and it had become very difficult to get around. I gave in and called the doctor. He injected me again last week. In the 13 years I have been receiving the injections, I have never had this much. It has worked as far as opening my eyes but the downside is I am not blinking enough now. Consequently, my eyes hurt from dryness and strain especially at night. I have to wear my mask to keep them closed. All of this is worth it though to be rid of the spasms.

The effectiveness of the latest treatment came just in time since I have been offered a long-term temporary position at the Saratoga BOCES office. I am going for a day tomorrow to see if I like it. It is about a 40 min. drive but the weather is good now. My car is economical to drive and the money is much better for BOCES jobs. I think I will take the job unless it is just impossible for me to handle.

I will be mowing grass by the weekend. Whoopee! It has been a long winter. We are supposed to be 80 degrees in a few days. Seasonal changes happen very quickly here.

It is very nice having my sister Gloria back home. We went to lunch once already. Social calendar around here picks up rapidly when the winter ends. We will be busy. That is a huge switch after several months of doing jig saw puzzles.

Happy, happy --

Spring Break

It is warming up nicely today. Easter dinner was a success. I had 17 family members stuffed in my house. The food was super duper. I notice each time the grandkids are here, they haul out all our old family photo albums. They sit for hours going through shots of themselves and others from the past. I find myself wondering if all the digital photos I have stored on dvd will be as popular as those old albums. All my anxiety was for nothing since it turned out to be a perfect gathering.

I have been out on my bike a couple of times. I have been riding route 40 since the shoulders are wide and the road quiet. I don't have much stamina yet but it will get better. I want to go over to Hudson Falls to ride the Adirondack bike trail to Lake George this week. I just wish I had someone to ride with. It is a lot more fun with a companion.

My plan is to move "the bus" up into the driveway today. I want to begin cleaning it, inside and out. A big job. The water supply is up here away from the barn.

Last year, I mowed my grass on April 23rd. I don't think it will be quite ready by then although this week of warm sun will certainly bring the grass along. I still have branches to pick up down by the barn. I also want to make a path to the small creek that flows down there. I couldn't reach the creek last summer due to the intense weed and grasses. We have too many ticks in environments like that.

I made some lamb broth from the leftover bone and meat. I will add some fresh veggies and whole grain for a soup.

Enjoy the day.

Palm Sunday

It has been awhile but not a lot to tell you. It seems like the work week is full and I come home tired. Then the weekend is there with many chores and obligations. The blog posting gets postponed once again. I wanted to mention that I looked through an issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine. In the latest issue is a wonderful article on our County, Washington County. It is a nice read with some good photos. We are meeting in our communities to attempt to map out a plan for the future while preserving our rural life and beauty. The article will, no doubt, lure people from other places to this special place. As the urban areas deteriorate with over crowding, pollution and crime, folks will be looking for the quiet life of rural counties.

Some of the bushes are budding; daffs are beginning to bloom and tulips are showing up. We have deeply rutted muddy back roads and frost heaved, pot holed paved roads. All sure signs of spring in this area. I went for a bike ride the other afternoon and was thrilled to hear the tad poles singing their little hearts out from all the ponds I passed by. We had rain yesterday for much of day. Pete and I ventured up the hills to a birthday party last night in Belcher. Yes, I spelled it right. You haven't lived until you have visited Belcher. The elevation is probably not more than 200 ft above my house but it was snowing and sticking to the ground. The wind was blowing and visability was poor. Felt more like early December rather than April. As soon as we dropped down to our level, it was quiet and damp. Still cloudy this morning but supposed to have sun this afternoon. I am going to church this morning.

I plan to host Easter dinner at my house for my family. We will be crowded but the weather is going to be great and we can spill out onto the porch. Besides, being cheek to jowl for awhile is not a bad thing. Especially, when we don't see each other very often. Ham and lamb are on the menu.

The puzzle that is currently on my dining room table is about 2/3 finished. I may have to clean it up before it is finished since I need the table for Easter. The one we have at Pete's house has been neglected for weeks. Pete and I have been watching the video reruns of the TV show,24 hours with Keifer Sutherland. We are into our 5 dvd now. The puzzles have taken a back seat to the perilous adventures of Jack Bauer. Actually, for me, the tension is such, that I need a sleeping pill after watching it.

So goes life up here in these hills with the cows, the sheep, the chickens, pigs and llamas/alpacas.
Happy Spring everyone!

Another Sunday

Happy Spring dear readers!
I'm glad I didn't introduce the adopted cat on this web site. Read on, you will understand. Wed. last week, I took a health day. In the afternoon, I drove over to Lake George to Purrs and Paws adoption for cats. I had visited there before and found several possible kitties who I thought might work in our family. One large long haired dark tiger female with big feet kept nuzzling me and climbing up on me. Turned out, her name is Sarah, which was my beloved Grandmother's name. I took that as a sign (big mistake). I loaded her in the carrier, placed her in the backseat along with all her gear that I had purchased on the way over. As I proceeded to drive back to Hartford, her cries of protest stopped. I took that as a sign that she was a smart cat. At home, I carried her into the guest room, closed the door and opened the crate. She came right out and proceeded to make herself at home. All her gear was set up in there too. Then I put up the child gate at the door so that when I was home, the door could be open and she could choose to come out, get acquainted or stay in the room looking out. Sebastian was very curious and would lie in front of the door with his nose near the crack at the bottom. She was on the other side with her paws snaking in and out while she cried to come out. The first time I opened the door, she eventually came out to sit on a chair and watch Sebastian. He didn't approach her but she lept from the chair with her claws, teeth and voice ready for battle. I intervened and put her back, closing the door. Hmmm, I thought she seems a bit agressive. That was Thursday. By Friday, if I opened the door she came out immediately ready to attack. She chased poor Sebastian into the kitchen and hit him in his side and near his eye. He was in shock from the unprovoked attack. That was it for me! Sarah or no Sarah, she went back Sat. a.m. We are now recovering from "the cat from hell". Oh, I forgot to mention, on the way back to the shelter, I placed her crate in the front seat and Sebastian in the back. I was about 200' down the road when she proceeded to come out of the crate. I quickly pulled over, opened the trunk and put her back there. I have to admit though, on the drive over, the hair on the back of my neck kept raising as I thought about Sarah coming through from the trunk and attacking. I have decided to wait until I have some time off so that I can be at home with a new cat.

I went to a lovely celebration of life at our church yesterday for the pastor's mom who passed over last week. It was a sunny, warmish day and the church was full. Our choir is just spectacular and also the bell choir played. Our pastor and his wife who is also a pastor, live across the road from me and raise sheep. I have been watching for baby lambs.

All the song birds are singing at dawn even though we are still below freezing each morn. These temps are good for that sweet first run of maple sap. I think it should be a good year for syrup. My sunny side plants are all up. The weather has got me thinking about increasing my veggie gardens this year. I think I will add two more raised beds to grow more brocolli, brussels sprouts and onions. I only had a few plants last year but they grew well here. I also have 4 more tires to add for potato growing. That method worked well too. The bird houses are cleaned out and ready for occupancy. The neighbor who plowed the snow for me is coming over to repair the yard where he plowed up the grass and driveway base. Our first blizzard arrived before the ground froze so it was inevitable that the soil would be plowed up with the snow.

I am going to post a couple of shots of the frozen Lake George. If you enlarge them, you will see open water in the foreground and ice fishermen in the middle ground. These were taken at Assembly Point. And a shot of Sebastian on our sofa.

Enjoy what I hope is a "day of rest and relaxation" or Sabbath Day.

Wed. after St. Patty's Day

I am home today. I took the day as a healing/resting/mental health day or as our pastor recommended, "a Sabbath day". I have been very tired this week. On Monday, I was actually working in the school nurse's office as a clerk. We were surrounded by sick children all day. Actually, all the schools I have been in lately are filled with sick people. I have been very lucky all year to stay healthy. In the interest of not pushing that luck, I am home today. It is warmer and a bit cloudy as we expect rain later. I have a yard full of downed branches, plowed up clumps of lawn and soil and trash from the road. I think I will go up to Lake George too to adopt the kitty I spoke of. Bashey had his yearly physical on Sat. and other than the deafness, he is is great shape. The vet thought it was a good idea having a playmate. Sebastian still plays with me at night. We wrestle with his toys, he growls and pulls, then chases it when I throw it. Last night I was watching TV when I noticed he had dragged out several toys and tossed them around the room. His spirit is still young and vigorous.

We went for a walk up to Gloria's and back to Pete's yesterday. I left the car at Pete's so we could walk all uphill, a distance of about 2 miles I guess. (the return trip is all downhill). I must be truly out of shape since I required Advil to relieve the stiffness and pain in my hips and legs last night before bed. I need to make that walk as often as possible. I did put my bike rack on the car in the hope that the bike path in Glens Falls/Lake George will be open soon. I hope to take a ride after working over in that direction.

Yesterday, I worked in Whitehall HS as their art teacher. It was constant classes until early afternoon, 8th grade through 12th. I couldn't wait to get home. Many of the students were obnoxious. This experience reinforced my wish not to teach the upper grades. This morning I had 3 calls. It was tempting to take a job but I really think this sabbath day is necessary mid-week.

I will take my camera to Lake George as I go to Purrs and Paws today. I want to show you the huge snow banks still hanging in there. Our snow is all but gone. Actually, Pete has plants coming up on his SE side. But over towards the mts., it is another environment.

Stay well dear readers --

Wednesday

What a time I have had getting on here to post. I recently changed my server and email account. I neglected to change it on Google which is where this blog is housed. They wouldn't let me on and when I asked them to send me a new password, they kept insisting on sending it to globalweb.net which is where the closed account is. Finally, I was able to get on by contacting globalweb and having them reopen the email address for just the mail from Google. How complicated?

It is a rainy day and I had the day off. I have been finishing my taxes with Turbo Tax. I am such a disorganized person when it comes to saving my info (yes, I have Quicken but no longer use it). Guess I should begin using it again for '09 taxes. I just barely made double digit income so one wonders what the big deal is. Looks like I will get some of the stimulus money indirectly through the bank that holds my home mortgage. I seem to qualify for all the criteria. Hope so since the money situation in this household is extremely critical. At least I have a job (sometimes). Tomorrow I am to work at BOCES in Glens Falls for the Special Ed Elem. school. It is only half a day.

I think we (Sebastian and I) are going to adopt a kitten. I need to do something to keep Sebastian more present when I am away from the house. He loves cats and since we had Perceval back a few years, he will keep watch of the kitty. Maybe they will even play. Bashey's vision is quite good, it is just his hearing that is gone. He sleeps too much and too soundly while I am away. We see the vet this Sat. for a physical and some shots. I plan to ask him if he thinks it is a good idea. I did visit the cat adoption place. They have over 400 cats in all sizes, colors and ages. I had cats on my head, on my shoulders, winding around my feet, jumping up on my legs and patting me on the back when I neared a perch. I loved being with them. I wish I could take more than one. Many of them plead to be taken home and loved.

I included a photo of Naples, Wiggins Pass Beach and the dolphins. I won't post a picture of Hartford now since we are very wet, drab and with piles of dirty cruddy snow around. There is water running in one of my crawl spaces. My yard is very wet but the cardinals are singing their hearts out. There are ice jams on the Mohawk River and some of the small streams. I don't see any baby lambs across the road yet. I can hear the stream that runs along my back border from my back deck. There are incredible pot holes and frost heaves in the roads. Teeth jarring actually. Ahh! Can Spring be far behind? Oh, I forgot to mention the mud ---

I am making a fish stew for dinner. It is a recipe given me by my friend Janet Lembke from Staunton, VA. Pete and I both enjoy fish and since it is cold and rainy, it will be a warming supper. We are eating at his house tonight. We are on a "take turn" kind of basis with our suppers. We have a dvd to watch tonight - an episode of the TV show 24 Hours. That show is and was very exciting. There are 5 or 6 discs in the series. I watched Dancing WithThe Stars and Biggest Loser this week so far. Also Amazing Race. I like some of the reality shows.

I am done with the taxes all but reviewing my input and I am tired. So will close for now.

Blessed Be friends

Holy Cats, It's Cold

Minus 4 this a.m. Spring is due in two weeks, hello! I have attached a couple of photos I took Sunday. They are of Pete's yard. Since then we have had 5 inches of add'l snow. The sun is bright and beautiful today though. I am going in to work mid-morning today. I plan to go to the Y for a bit of exercise and pick up some groceries before going to school.

Last night we watched the sectional finals of HS basketball that were held at ACC (Adirondack Community College). We played Argyle HS girls. We were beat out badly. It was a very rough game with the Argyle team overly aggressive. More like a football game actually. Pete's granddaughter was suffering from the flu but played anyway since it was her last game as a senior. Gloria's granddaughter Kayla who is a fine shooter and can easily make those 3 point shots was not played much. I don't understand the coaches decision. Pete and I hadn't eaten so we stopped for a sandwich on our way home. I dislike going out at night during the winter though. The vehicle is so cold and we had to walk a distance because of the crowd. My muscles just seize up. Bashey and I cuddled in bed with the electric blanket on until I was able to warm up.

I have a small bouquet of yellow daffodils on my sideboard. What cheerful sight! One important fact I noticed when I came home from FL - our air is clean and fresh, cold but we can take a deep breath without congestion.

Gotta go!

Holy Cats, It's Cold

Minus 4 this a.m. Spring is due in two weeks, hello! I have attached a couple of photos I took

March 1 Cold Sunday

Ah! A brisk 13 degrees as I write. Even colder breeze blowing. I need to go outside to feed the birds and have been postponing that adventure. Last night Pete and I went to the Hartford HS to watch the Scarlet Tanangers play in a sectional game. I have two great young women I watch; Lydia Jones and Kayla Casey. They beat Fort Edward soundly. These young women are very self-assured and strong. I wonder about my generation of women - how would be have been different if we had played an agressive sport.

I will get going - feed the birds and prepare for church at 11. Spring is just around the corner - that is what the calendar says anyhow. Everyone here in the north country is at the stage of wanting it over. The "it" being Winter along with all of it's acoutrements. I am very fortunate to have gotten out of it for a week and gathered in the warm sunshine to my soul.

I am playing more and causing Sebastian to be more involved since his deafness has taken him to a place of silence and sleep. My goal is to keep him alert in the hope of preventing further ageing. Stimulation is the key. He has always been alert and following my every move throughout the day. Now he sleeps. He looks like a small polar bear right now just before grooming date.

I will write more later -
Teresa of Avila wrote this prayer:

Let me die to myself that I may serve You,
Let me live to You who are life itself.

Ah, Friday Night

I have been to FL and back. The teaching sub jobs were many. I accepted a job as a teaching assistant for pre-K special education class. There were 12 students and after spending a large portion of the day on the floor with them, I am resting at home tonight. Pete and I were supposed to go to a concert and dance but I begged off due to many vague symptoms that tell me to go to bed rather than out in the cold rain. I'm usually the first one out the door when someone yells "party" but not tonight. This rain is going to switch to snow later on when the temperature drops down into the low 20's. I stopped for much-needed groceries on my way home, getting soaked between the store, car,car and house.

I thought you might like the picture of the Naples Pier with the gull at sunset. We had dinner on the docks, sitting outside surrounded by green plants and flowers. Naples is very beautiful with it's flowers and palms. I wasn't able to ride bike with the club at Lake San Marino because my eyes are suffering the effects of the recent Botoxin injections. They are all fluttery and the blinks are too long. Riding with a group would be dangerous. I did lead a small group of my dear gal friends, the Buoy Biking Babes, on a 6 mile jaunt for lunch and back. That was great fun. Leading was safer than riding behind someone. I rode in the annual night bike parade the night I arrived but the aftereffects of the treatment hadn't really hit me yet. Now I am struggling to drive the 11 miles to work in Glens Falls. The good part of this whole picture is it will get better in a couple of weeks for the next couple of months.

My dear friend, Sharon, came down for the day while I was in Naples. We went to lunch and walked on the beach. She is in the picture with me. Another picture is of my sister Gloria and me with the Banyon tree (ficus). I am working hard now to lose the 20 lbs I have gained in the last couple of years. My body is telling me to return to normal for health reasons. Exercise, exercise and more exercise. We now have 12 hours of daylight so Sebastian and I can walk when I get home from work.

Enjoy the photos -

greetings from Naples

I can't tell you how lovely it is here. The sun and all the green grasses and palms are spectacular. I had easy flights down here. Arrived at midnight on Monday night. Gloria, Em and Rosie picked me up. I have been reconnecting with old friends since I arrived. Last night we went to the "Hoss Races" at the community hall. I realized how little it takes to entertain retired people. The night before we had the annual lighted bike parade. The entire day was spent decorating our bikes and our helmets. There were approx. 60 riders who showed up at dark to parade around our park. People lined the streets and clapped and cheered enthusiasticaly as we passed. There were others blowing their airhorns with gusto to support our nighttime endeavors.

But last night, as I watched 50 people place their bets on stick horses with colored heads of pink, purple, cream, brown, white and dark brown, I was able to see the connection between the children in my fourth grade class and the "recycled teenagers without parents" who reside here in paradise. It doesn't take much to entertain us really. The dice are tossed by each person and the horses move by floor tile squares until they reach the finish line. I managed to win back $5 of the $7 I had bet.

A friend loaned me a bike and helmet for my stay. Today, four gal friends and I road up to Bonita Springs for lunch. The wind blew us up there but was in our faces on the way back. But it felt just wonderful to me.

Tonight we are going to a surprise birthday party for a friend and then to a street dance in the park. February is very socially busy here. Parties, dances, bike rides, golf games, shuffleboard, swimming and plenty of gaming. There is a sign at the entrance that reads, "Slow, Grandparents at Play".

I am going to try to load a picture of Lake San Marino with our resident swams. There is an Iguana here too who resides in the top of a fir tree. By the way, an Eagle few right over my head on the bike ride back from Bonita today. I plan to ride to the beach soon.

Bashey has been sick since I left. He and I have not been separated for a long while. But I think he has adjusted as of last night. Please keep him in your thoughts.
I remain - soaking up the sunshine.