“WHAT’S COOKIN’?”

A SPECIAL 25TH Anniversary, ”PRECIOUS” and Front Page for Joe!

I had a rough week. I have written two letters to you and both were lost in space. I was unable to retrieve them. Sooo, I had to write still another and this is the result. Every now and then, it happens and I still don’t know what causes the problem. Could it be me? It is hard to write them as they were in the beginning, so bear with me.

I guess I do not have to tell you about the weather, but there it is everyday bugging us every day. We had such a wonderful January that it spoiled us into believing it would last forever. Like many of you, Joe and I both got a lot of outside work done at our respective homes. Ah, but there is still much to do. Winter let us know that she was not done with us and daily snow flurries , rain, and accumulations put a real chill in our bodies and we felt the winter BLUES. It helped to experience the extra daylight hours with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.. It seemed to help me deal with the winter effects we were experiencing. I am, however; anxious for a full time spring so that I can once again start my gardening . . .

Joe and I had planned for weeks to attend the First Communion service at Atonement Lutheran Church in Oneonta, which was, if fact, the 25th Anniversary of Pastor Paul Messner’s ordination. It was a wonderful service and the church was full of friends, family and old seminary buddies. Following the service, everyone was invited to cross the street to Dwyer Hall, where yet another celebration would take place. Pastor Paul would be ROASTED! It was raining cats and dogs and we had a time finding the entrance. When we finally arrived, we were greeted by live music. A wonderful series of tables were set up with an array of cheeses, veggies, crackers and sweets of all descriptions. We mingled with the crowd and enjoyed. Soon the ROAST began and the comments brought laughter from every corner of the room. We stayed as long as we could, but had to leave as Patchy was outside and we knew she would not enjoy the thunder and lighting and rain. When we got there, she was seated outside her cozy doghouse waiting for us. She was happy to see us, doing her little Welcome Home Dance. It was a wonderful day.

Nature’s Scene: The recent heavy snows and rain have the Robins population lost. I have seen 25 or more searching the lawn for worms. I am not sure if they find any. Deer in numbers have dotted the fields. I guess they know when a storm is coming. The birds have been very active. Joe keeps the feeders filled. It is one of the pleasures he enjoyed since he regained his hearing.

Reporter Janine Giordano, from the Richfield Springs Mercury, arrived at Joe’s home about 10:00am to do a story on his return to a world of hearing. Tex Seamon, Otsego County Veterans’ Director, had set it up and I was able to be present. Janine is a lovely gal, pleasant and does her job well. She asked all the right questions and Joe was comfortable answering them. The story appeared of the front page of the March 29th issue! The comments from readers were rewarding to Joe and he was so happy that he could tell his story. “My experience might just help someone make a decision to “Go for it”..

My son, Andy had his carpel tunnel surgery on March 26th and he is nearing the end of a month of healing. He said that he is doing fine and feels good that he went to have it done. “Spring is here and I have a lot of work to do so the timing is good,” he told us. I am so happy because the condition really gave him a lot of pain, but he worked anyway.

Speaking of Andy, I just got off the phone with him. He is an ardent weather watcher. He watches the weather channel and always calls and tells me when a storm is coming. In the last few months he has warned me of what was headed our way. He was always right. The past weekend was right on the button. It amazes me that the weather can be forecasted so well. Andy should have been a weatherman!

For some time, Joe has made a comment that he missed having a cat/kitten. His last cat, Samantha, who he raised to 4 years old, was given to the SPCA with all her belongings when a friend living with him was allergic. Joe was broken about it. From time to time, we would stop at the Susquehanna SPCA on Route 28 and LOOK! Then we would go to the Thrift Shop next door. Well, it finally happened. He was smittened. It took him a few days to finally make up his mind and now he is very happy with his new kitty, Precious. The photo here is her first. She and Patchy, Joe’s 13 year-old Jack Russell, are getting along fine. It is nice for Patchy, because she now has a friend to play with. She missed Samantha too.

Today is Sun., Apr. 14 and we have had heavy wet snow, sleet, downpours of rain and winding down to MORE SNOW. Help!

Thought for the Week: Find a need and then fill it.