“WHAT’S COOKIN’?”

Joe and I signed up with our church (St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Laurens, NY) to be the Saturday’s Bread volunteers this past Sunday. Saturday’s Bread recently celebrated 150 years of service to the communities across the country. We were twelve strong and were on duty at 9:30am and would work till 2:00pm. Joe cut up the salad items as well as made the salad and then made the individual servings. Another volunteer and I made 150 turkey and cheese sandwiches, bagged them and put them in fridge. By the time we were finished, the doors opened folks started streaming in. I had three tables of eight to take care of and Joe was the biggest bus boy on duty with Jeff Hahn advising him. It was a first for Joe, but for me, it reminded me of the 30 years at our Country Kitchen. I really enjoyed the challenge. Joe and I have signed up to volunteer every month.

I make frequent trips to Eckerd’s Pharmacy in Oneonta to pick up prescriptions. I signed up with EPIC and now, I have prescriptions set up for three month’s supply so now I don’t have to go so many times, especially with gas prices up there ($2.99 a gallon. It was a busy day at there and I had to wait for some time. During the interim, I visited with Jack Bresee, my former employer from the sixties at Beb Products and the Golden Roaster Gift Shop. He had been waiting too. He looks great and sports a nice short beard. I admired the hand carved elk on his cane. Everyone is fine at his house.

I am so happy that Jack Bottita of Hartwick was able to do some window painting for me this summer. I have been waiting since last year. He did a very nice job.

Every time I go into Oneonta there is some new building project going on. The most recent is a cinder-block building next to Penny’s on Southside. I don’t know what it is yet, but plan to find out.

I have been thinking about Debbie Flanagan of Sidney and decided to give her a Ringy Dingy. She was home and happy to hear from me. She had been extremely busy with her church work and also a new admirer. She shared that she had met a nice gentleman from Binghamton and had been seeing him frequently. I am sooo happy for her. We will try to get together on Thursday when Joe has his appointment at the Bainbridge VA Clinic.

I got a nice hand written note from my niece, Beth Eves in Florida. She is doing well after some health challenges and says she is almost her old self again. I hope to visit her this winter.

I took my usual walk through downtown Cooperstown and after some errands, made my way to Lake Front Park, where I sat on a bench and viewed the beautiful scenery. I sooo enjoy it there. There was a light lake breeze and the sky was blue with cotton ball clouds. The lake was calm and there were a few folks getting an afternoon a cruise in, but I had to get back to the office. I would love to be out there with them, but I guess in is not in my future.

Last Sunday afternoon, Joe took me to the Unadilla Gun Show, a show and barbecue that he has been going to for years. It was a nice drive and it was cool when we left, but soon the temperature rose and it was HOT! We made our way around the many outside vendors and then an additional 40 on the inside. We ran into Dav Allen, who works for the county. H had made some good deals on a few guns and also sold a few. Joe saw any of his old friends, who were please to see he could hear them with his cochlear implant. At 12:30pm, we mossier over to the periling, where we enjoyed a wonderful chicken barbecue

There will be a Teaneck High School Breakfast Brunch in November. I have already gotten a letter from Elaine Meyer asking if I was going. I will check to see if my good high school friends are going and then make a decision. The brunch is $55.00 and lodging was available for 20 rooms if you wanted to stay over for the next day..

Joe is anxiously waiting for his brother, Ron and his wife, Marlana, to come for a visit. They will be driving from Orlando, Florida and will stay a few days. During that time we all will attend the 25^th Wedding Anniversary of Joe’s son, Joe and Cheryl and also the Sweet Sixteen birthday of their daughter, Jenna. It will be nice to have them stay. They are very interested in moving back to New York State and perhaps close by. I will have more of that next time.

Nature’s Scene: This morning I saw two young red squirrels darting about the garden. At first I just saw the plants move and then every once in a while a head would pop up. My, they are fast. It took several minutes before they raced to the hedgerow. They were fun to watch.

Thought for the Week: Life. . gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.-Henry Van Dyke