January 2008

“WHAT’S COOKIN’?”

HOLIDAYS WIND DOWN, ENERGY COSTS RISE, CRAZY WEATHER & ONES MORE DAY CLOSER TO SPRING!

Mark and Joe would have been alone for Christmas, but I decided I would bring Christmas to them. I brought what I could from home and decorated the front of Joe’s place with wreaths and lights. Mark came by bus and I picked him up on Route 28 and brought him to Joe’s. We shopped on the 24th and got the turkey prepared for the oven when we got back. It was the first of several days and it was great.

We all chipped in preparing a wonderful Christmas dinner with all the favorites of years past. I made a wonderful salad of baby greens with Balsamic Dressing to awaken the taste buds. A beautiful, big, tasty, roasted turkey, the aroma of which permeated the house topped the list. Mashed potatoes and gravy were a must. Baked Blue Hubbard Squash, peas and pearl onions and a goodly amount of my stuffing made up the menu. Simmered fresh green kale, a tradition in my family, simmered with bacon and onion, made a hit with Joe. He said the only use for kale, was to decorate salad bars! He loved it and wants to plant it in his garden next year. After dinner, we all chipped in and cleaned up the dishes. We then, we sat down and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas movie, while slowly enjoying a slice of my apple raisin pie with vanilla ice cream! Joe loves my pie. I fixed a special Christmas dinner for Patchy and Precious and they enjoyed the treat.

Temperatures rose and the heavy deep winter snowfall that came in late December is all but gone, but not for long. A snowfall came again on Thursday. It was warmer and there was no snow on the ground as I drove to work in Cooperstown on Thursday. I was not prepared for the heavy wet snow that came while I was in my office in Cooperstown. All of a sudden I was faced with the fact that I did not have my boots! I had an appointment at Bassett Hospital and was able to get in earlier as predictions were that it would only get worse. I left a little earlier and it was a good thing, as the snow was really coming down. I almost got stuck in Joe’s driveway. I was happy to get there.

I took time to call or email as many family and friends that I could. I always send a lot of cards, but some I like to call. Jack Bresee, one of my old bosses enjoys the yearly chat better then a card. My brother-in-law, Warren Curlis, said that they had gotten snow this year. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Everyone there is doing fine. Wendy and her family laid low and enjoyed time together just “hanging out.” I played phone tag with my niece in Leesburg, Florida. I so hope I can get to see her this winter. I fear that my friends in Ireland have pasted away as I have had no answer for two years. I said a little prayer for them.

After church we stopped to see Andy and his Laura. He was on the phone with my brother, Terry, so I visited with Laura. She lost 23 pounds while battling the pain of her bad back. She looks good and is beginning to feels better. “Ma, Terry wants us to come for dinner today. What do you say?” he said. Joe said OK, so that’s what we did. Mark had left for home as he had plans to spend some time with friends. As always Terry puts on a great meal and we had a chance to visit. Maureen’s friends called and said they were in Kingston and had been on the road for four hours. Terry walked them through the trip up and before we left they arrived. It had been a long haul for them.

When December 31 came around, another eight inches of snow arrived. We decided not to go to Lumpy’s and Ellen New Year’s Eve party. The way it was coming down, we might have gotten stranded.

It is now nearly the end of January and we have experienced several snowfalls, which disappeared in a few days. We have had some bitter cold, starry nights. Joe has been able to keep his wood fire going and has saved much on his heating bill. The deliveryman laughed when he told Joe that he only put 27 gallons of fuel in the tank! The next time it was just 16 gallons. Joe has worked hard cutting and spitting wood and he is pleased with himself. I am too.

This weekend, Wendy has invited Joe, Andy and Laura and me to her home in Rome for an after holiday get together. She makes wonderful Lasagna. Laura will bring deviled eggs and I will bring an apple raisin pie. It is always a hit as is Laura’s deviled eggs.

I am bothered by the cost of fuel and gasoline. Both have gone up considerably. Gas is now $3.29 a gallon. A gallon does not go far when you live in the country miles from shopping places. I conserve as much as I can and do not buy gas from Exxon Mobil. If we all stop buying gas from just one suppler, it will hurt their pocketbook.

I am serviced by Suburban Energy Products and their prices have gone up terribly. Last year I paid $135.00 a month for propane. This year they raised it to $208.00, THEN, I got a notice that they raised it again to $310.00! I am giving this a lot of thought and I will be stopping in their office soon.

Joe has about a cord of wood left out of the stockpile he had and is looking for some more seasoned wood to carry him through till spring. My son, Andy called him and said he had some extra and would give him a cord or so. Joe was very happy and went down and they both loaded it in the truck. He will replace it when he gets a supply.

Patchy and Precious are a joy. They are so happy to see me, Patchy dances in circles. Precious jumps up on Joe’s chair and waits for me to pat her. Precious is now a year old and a beautiful cat. She goes outside now and comes back on her own unless something interests her. She chases leaves as the wind carries them across the dooryard. Patchy has gotten the scent of a good- sized rabbit and spends time sniffing about.

Thought for the Week: If you have already broken your New Year’s resolutions, try, try, and try again. This could be the year you win them all.