Nov.3-10, 2005
    
      An early morning call on Friday from Andy brought a surprise! He and Laura had invited Joe and I to join them at the China Buffet. Joe had been talking about going as they feature seafood. I accepted the invite and we meet them there and ENJOYED. It was great getting together.
      I spent the morning pealing apples that Joe and I picked last week. I filled a good sized pot with them and let them simmer. It was beautiful out and a great time to wash the car and vacumn it. The scent of the apples simmering on the stove filled the house with the wonderful aroma. I didn’t get them all done, but what we jointly prepared, make delicious HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE! The apples were sweet and needed little sweetening. Just a touch of SPlENDA, kept within Joe’s diabetic needs. After tasting it periodically, I decided that it would add to dinner that night. We put quite a dent in what I had made. It was sooo good! The next day I made a deep 12" apple pie with raisens and that was good too and lasted several days.
      The sudden death of Harold F. Bollarman, Joe's long time friend on Long Island, prompted us to return to there, just days after our return. We had just a day to get things in order, and I apologize for not including writing-What’s Cookin’? during the rush to get ready.
     I packed coffee, orange juice, yogarts and ham salad and egg salad sandwiches to eat along the way. It worked out well as Joe's sugar began to drop and we were ready when we made a pit stop.  It was a beautiful day and the trip went well. We went straight to Patrick's (Joe's son) home, in Lake Ronkonkoma. There we meet his daughter, Missy, and her twin two year old girls. They are beautiful, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She would be watching the children while the family attended the services. It was a ways to the funeral parlor in Patchoque, and it was milling with cars and people for four separate funerals services. Joe manageed to see a number of folks he knew and hadn't seen for some time.
     Our visit was short, less then an hour as, we had to leave for home. We wanted to miss the heavy traffic and get most of the daylight that we could. We went over bridges and under bypasses and saw several accidents that haulted the traffic some. Soon we were on a roll and had no further trouble; however, there was continued lightning all the way home that lighted the sky. There was no rain until we got to Hancock and then it poured buckets. We took refuge at a McDonald's and had one of their salads, which hit the spot. The closer to home we got, the worse it was. Tree limbs and leaves were everywhere. We sure were glad to pull in the driveway and so was Patches, who was patiently waiting for our return.
     It was dark when a knock on the door caught my attention. It was Steve Fournier, who was running for County Representative for Hartwick/Milford and New Lisbon. Wearing a big smile, he extended his hand. He related that he was visiting every household, a little at a time. As Joe is an avid hunter, he talked about related issues. Steve mentioned that he had gotten a nice big doe with a bow and now he had venison for the winter. He is sharp and  I think he has a good chance. By now we should know because the race was close.....
     We met at the Wilber Bank parking lot in Milford to catch the Vet's van to Albany, where Joe would finally get his Cortizone shot, for his shoulder. We didn't want to miss that! He immediately had relief. The doctor was sharp and young and very much on the ball. There were two other veterans who rode with us and we all made their appropriate appointments and then headed home. If you are a Vet and need to go to the VA Hospital in Albany, just call Gary Allen at 607-638-5584 and he will set you up for a ride.
     Tuesday was a rough day for me, because I missplaced my keys and looked frantically with no luck. They were finally found in my dungaree's pocket that I was wearing at the time. I looked everywhere but there. I did'nt get to vote until later in the afternoon and found the pollng place in the Hartwick Town Hall had just survived a busy spell. I was the only one there. Attendants were ready for me when I walked in. After some chat with them and neighbor, Tom Miller, who came in as I finished, my privilege was done.
     With all the four-wheeling and shooting going on, you would think the deer would be long gone. I am told that the hunters are just sighting in their guns. I have seen more deer in the last few days then ever. I went to Oneonta over the hill and down East St. and there, right at the edge of the street, was a beautiful three pointer with his girlfriend! My friend, Mrs. Anderson, at Wilber Bank said that there are alot of deer up there that she wishes would GO AWAY, as they eat everything in sight....There is no hunting in Oneonta....    
     The wind was so strong that it blew the Milkweed seed pods open and released thousands uponn thousands of seed parachutes. When I got home, the lawn was full of them. They covered the area as if it had snowed. Needless to say, the leaves and pine needles joined them to form a blankets of protection till Spring. If you would like to make an attraactive holiday ceneterpiece, dry the empty milkweed pods and spray them with gold or silver and add pinecones and red berries. They are beautiful.
     Depite poor weather Veteran's Day programs were held. Just like our veterans who are in the thick of it whatever the weather, we need to continually pray for their safety and bring them home.
     I am not sure what I did, but my back gave me a warning to be careful. I caught it just in time and for a day or two was VERY CAREFUL I am almost back to normal.
    I have been to see Barb Thomas at the Delhi Countryside Care Center facility and she is doing well. Sends thanks to all for their prayers and cards.. 
    Thought for the Week: There can be no sickness like hate aand no joy like peace.