March 14, 2007

"WHAT'S COOKIN'?
Celebration! Patchy is limping, Missed appointment in Manhattan

Joe's 13 year-old Jack Russell dog, Patchy, has been having problems with her mobility. We think that she probably has arthritis like her master. She has been favoring her right front leg. She limps when walking and when she runs, it is on three legs. . . . Now that the snow is melting and the sun is warm, she lies at the front door and soaks it in. We are sure that that warmth of the sun is doing her a lot of good too. If fact it would work for me. He decided to give her a baby aspirin twice a day and it seems to be working. She is such a good dog and she just idolizes Joe. She almost turns inside out trying to please him. We will keep an eye on her.

Joe just loves his eggs, any way he can get them, poached, scrambled, sunny side, hard boiled, and in an omelet. He buys GOLDHEN farm fresh eggs at ALDI'S in Oneonta .Inside the carton, they feature neat breakfast recipes. This carton had a Breakfast Strata. I recognized it as a treat during coffee breakfast at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Laurens. It is very good. I also noticed that GOLDHEN is a Christian bases company and ALSO quotes the Bible verse on the carton: "This is the day which the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it".-Psalms 118:24. I think that is great. It is an example of living your faith everyday to everyone you meet. . .

Nature's Scene: We finally got to two feeders that were in areas where the snow was too deep to get to. Once filled, all kinds of birds attacked the feeders. There was also a little red squirrel, which made his presence known. He would get his fill and then head for the old iron tub, now near covered with snow. I had painted and filled it with soil and planted flowers in this spring. He would go under it and I never saw him come out. Perhaps he is storing his goodies. I will have to watch closely now.

I have talked with Dolly Hunter, our former purchasing agent for Otsego County several times since he took her new position as a regional director at the Manor, the county's new nursing home facility. She is doing well and loves her job. You may remember that her favorite color is purple and her office showed it. I am sorry to say that since she left there, there is not any purple, but she assured me that when I visit her new office, it will be there. Perhaps we can make a lunch date. I miss her bubbly personality and bright smile.. .

I got a long awaited email from Natalie Fisher, who has been traveling. She assured me that she will be heading home soon and she would fill me in on all her adventures.

St. Patrick's Day came and went and we didn't have corned beef and cabbage! We were; however, we did green tee shirts! We got another heavy snowfall that day and didn't leave the house except for digging out again. We spent most of the rest of our time doing other things. I worked on my letter and straightened up the house and Joe was happy to work in his gun shop.

Leave it to Joe, when it comes to FOOD. When he realized that we couldn't go out for corned beef and cabbage he devised a plan. . "How would you like sautéed crab meat in butter, parsley and butterfly pasta?" he asked as he grinned from ear to ear.

"Sounds like a winner, I said. We can have some of our brussel sprouts."

"You can make a cold beet salad with thinly sliced onion, salt and pepper with olive oil", he added with the same grin grinning" As the snow continued to blow and fall, we enjoyed our St. Patty's Day dinner, wearing our green tee shirts and grinning. . . . .

Joe was scheduled for an appointment with his audiologist, Betsy Bromberg, at the Cochlear Implant Center in Manhattan on Monday, but the weather was against us.. All arrangements were made and we waited till the last moment to call and cancel. Reports predicted even more wind and snow here and there. Not only would Joe miss his appointment, but also he would miss seeing his sister, Joan Sclafani, his brother, Robert Veripapa on Staten Island and his brother, Ronnie, who was here for a few days from Florida.

Ever since we set our clocks ahead an hour, which was a couple of weeks ahead of the past, I have been out of wack. I get drowsy mid afternoon and my eyes get heavy by 9:00pm. The darkness comes and goes at different hours. I sure hope hat spring will come so that I can get back on track. How does it affect you?

I first met Pastor Paul Messner, when Pastor Lynn, said", I think we should invite Pastor Paul to assist me in your marriage ceremony to Irwin as he will be your new pastor." I was nervous, but Pastor Lynn assured me, "You will love him," and I did. He not only married us, but came to the hospital on Irwin's death bed. . . I have been through the picker through the last few years and Pastor Paul was there. . He also came to the Manhattan VA Hospital where "Joe" had his Cochlear Implant surgery. I would have a hard time roasting him at his twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination and twenty-five years of shared ministry with his wife, Martha. I'll do the best I can. . .

All four of his churches: Evangelical Hartwick Seminary, Atonement of Oneonta, Saint Matthew of Laurens and Saint John of West Burlington have come together to have a service of Holy Communion in Oneonta, which will be followed by a reception and "ROAST" at Dewar Hall, Hartwick College. If you would like to contribute to Pastor's Discretionary Fund, please send it to 1 Center St., Oneonta, NY 13820 Thank you in advance for your help.

I think I mentioned that Joe's Chevy pickup had died on him again. First it was the plow, then it was and now it was the fuel plump. He was not a happy camper, but resigned to the fact that it would have to be fixed. His friend and mechanic, Wally, got it done, but it took over a week to get to it and more money. Sooo, my Altima was the only vehicle available. Would you believe Wally just called and said it was done? Halleluiah!

I found a note taped to my front door the other day. It was from Jack and Marge Wallace of California! The last time they were in the area, I called them at the number she wrote, which was the cell phone. When she answered, they were boarding the plane in Albany and she would get back to me. Come to find out, she and hubby were building a house near by. They will rent to Baseball Fans and then come when the baseball season ends. Back in the 70's, when they came to Marge's uncle's homestead, their son used to bring me hand picked berries. Now he is 36 and has been married 3 years! We have much to talk about, but it will have to wait till their next trip east.

I got an email from Marrianne of Copenhagen, Denmark

I am so disturbed about what is going on in our government. Why can't the Democrats and Republicans stop their nonsense and work together for the good of the country. The news media covers the "08" election like it will happen next week. Much is being neglected that should be taken care of. I wonder if the Democrats walk around with hatchets in hand. . Let's get together.

As long as I am talking about news media, I would like to ask if it is just me. All the correspondents and anchors are handsome/beautiful people with beautiful white teeth and show stopping hairdos, seductive attire and makeup. It makes me think that they must have to go to charm school and win beauty titles to get to do the news. It has to take hours to get them ready for Show Time. God bless them all, but I would like to see some average gals/guys too.

Thought for the Week: Leadership is to be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.-Homer