Early June 2007

“WHAT’S COOKIN’?”

I’m doing FINE, Joe enjoys Father’s Day, Andy Garlic is Doing GREAT & Everybody is Comin’!

Just got back from my first checkup with Dr. Ryan at Bassett Hospital and I am in good shape following my emergency surgery to remove a BAD appendix. . .Dr. Ryan said I was doing fine and to continue to not overdue. I do not have to see her again, but should make an appointment with Dr De, my Prime Care. So, I am in good shape for 15 days following surgery. The incision is healing nicely without too much discomfort. I do tire quickly in the day and take a short recess to catch up. I should be back on schedule soon. THANK GOD. . .

Joe had a wonderful FATHER’S DAY! A call from his youngest son’s wife, Faith, from Long Island was GREAT. He listened to their little one, say “Happy Father’s Day.” A tear welled up in Joe’s eyes. He could hear her! “We are planning a trip up this summer. We will keep you posted”, Faith said.

Joe’s brother Ronnie and his wife also called too. They too are planning to come up from Orlando early in July. We haven’t seen them since Ronnie’s daughter, Nicole, got married last year on Long Island. It should be a fun visit.

Both Joe’s local sons, Joe and Tony, spent their Father’s Day fishing in Massachusetts. Joe came by and visited for some time about his trip. Fishing was not good. Tony will report in soon. A message on the answering machine wished Joe a Happy Father’s Day from his daughter, Missy, but we didn’t see her this year.

Steve, Joe’s oldest son, called from Englewood, Florida with Father’s Day greeting too. The two of them visited for a long time. Steve wants his Dad to go deer hunting with him in Tennessee this fall. We are going to work on getting the two together.

After working in the garden and mowing lawn on the following hot day, Joe said, “Let’s go to Good Year Lake and put the boat in the water, perhaps we can take a dip!” Instead of taking both motors as planned, he took the one that he hadn’t used last year. It didn’t start so he rowed to the point and we got wet. It was a beautiful time to go and Joe will check the motor out again and the next time will work out better.

We noticed that the Zebra Mussels were everywhere where we docked. I had no idea they were so prevalent. Boaters are encouraged to wash boat when they come to the lake so that this would not happen but now it seems it may be too late.

Later in the evening, it rained and continued for several hours and we knew it was just what the garden needed, but not welcome by pets. Patchy is deathly afraid of thunder and lightning. She follows us around as if to hide, Precious just dashes about trying to run away from it. Last night we had several storms. Come morning everything was up and green and smelling Great..

Andy and Laura came after the storm subsided to service the garlic that he had planted for us last fall. He pulled the Scaps, which grow out of the tops and curl up like a pig’s tail. They should be removed as they sap the growth of the garlic bulb. He told us to chop them up and put them in olive oil and refrigerate. They are great for cooking. In a week or two we will harvest the bulbs. He is very proud of his garlic and has shared it with his sister, Wendy, and I.

Speaking of Wendy, she and her son, my only grandson, Kenny, drove down from Rome, after work to check on me and see for their selves, that I was doing OK. It wasn’t a long visit, but it was special. Kenny and his buddies are going to come and stay the week of inductions at the Baseball Hall of Fame. That will be fun.

Nature’s Scene: Pee Wee, the chipmunk is back. He/she has been renovating the rock garden just outside the kitchen window. We have seen another, but are not sure if it is a mate or offspring. They both venture quite a distance into the front yard, which has come to the attention of Precious, who watches through the screen door with much interest. She likes to watch also from inside the large cage I got at the SPCA. We also have had a night creature digging there and almost taking down feeder. As it turned out we took it down. This has put an end to the evening visits. Oh, I forgot. A pair of Bluebirds was very interested in a nesting box that Joe had just made and hung up. The sight of the pair prompted him to make two more and immediately hung them up.,

Joe and I stopped at the Manor to see Dolly Hunter, who now is employed as a Regional Director of Winding Way.

She looks great and is very happy at her new position. She brought her tradition of a purple office to her new space. It looks really nice. She pointed us in the direction of Florence Rood, who was sleeping when my eyes caught sight of her daughter Patty DeForest and her hubby. They also had come to visit. It was great. Patty used to baby sit with my children when I was working. What a nice visit we had.

Joe and I were leaving when I caught sight of two familiar faces-George,Irwin’s Fly Creek neighbor for many years and Ellis Harrington, my friend and serviceman for years. It was good to see them.

It is interesting to note that you can visit at the Manor and also get some nourishment. It is called the Otsego Manor Café and is open for coffee from 6:30am-5pm; lunch from 11:30am-1:30pm and dinner 4:15pm-5:15pm. Takeout are available.

My girlfriend, Julie Sunday, of Abington, PA will be coming up this summer in late August with much of their large family. If all goes well, they will rent five adjacent cabins at Gilbert Lake.

Well that is it for this week. I am feeling rather tired now, so I will email this right off and catch you next week. Please let me know what is happening in your lives. .

Thought for the Week: Every day is a new beginning and every morning is a world made new. . . .