Dec. 1-8, 2005

     It was uncommonly warm last Monday evening, but the wind picked up as evening came. During the night the force of the wind was so strong, it woke me up as it howled around the house. The next morning, I found a few things that had gotten blown around during the night, one of which was a 4X4 bird feeder post, which is 6 feet above the ground! It had snapped off at the base, which was partially rotten. The force of the wind had to be very strong.
     Just days ago it was freezing. . . Although it was overcast the next morning, the temperature was reaching near 60 and made it great for trhe things we had planned to do outside. Just as we finished, droplets of rain began to fall. Thank you GOD.
     My little Subaru was a mess. Mud, salt and road spray had her looking pretty bad. On Tuesday, I gave her a good washing and she was smiling again. I took only one drive into Oneonta to have her looking abused again. Then, to top it off, I backed into a fence post crossbar, that had been designed into a point, at same height as my rear lights and I did not see it. A crunch signaled me that something was not right. To make a long story short, I went to Subaru and got a price quote to replace the section. Would you believe-$266.56 for the part, the labor at $65.00 an hour, would be added on! My insurance has a $500.00 deductible! Ouch!
     Hartwick lost three residents- Walter N.Dickison, 68; Joseph Paul Tedesco,78 and Ernestine Monroe, 90. They each touched many lives and will be missed. Pray for their souls and their families.
     I can’t be silent any more. I don’t know about you, but ever since I was a little girl I knew there was a GOD and I knew him personally. I believe in GOD and HE and I have been very close as long as I can remember. He has brought me through many hard times- my son’s head injury, my 1st husband’s struggle with ALS and my 2nd husband's ill health, caring for my 99 year-old Dad and the deaths of all three in a matter of a few years. I don’t know what I would have done without my maker. I truly disapprove of the people who are trying to get HIM out of our schools, colleges, our government and our lives in general. . .Christmas marked the day of the birth of JESUS. We can not take Christ out OF CHRISTMAS. . . I pray that you and your will help beat the War On Christmas by example.
     I talked to Barb Thomas, who is in the Delaware County Country Care Center in Delhi. She is doing well, but her voice continues to lose it volumn. On Dec.13, she will go to O'Connor Hospital to see a specialist. We will all pray that he will find the problem.
     Happy Birthday, Harry!. My brother, Harry just turned 75. He and my Richard were the same age and commented often on that fact. It is a miles stone and you made it. Happy Future!
     A few lost, dry maple leaves scappered across the dooryard like Chickadees searching for sunflower seeds. Every day the scene changes and I am more amazed with the world we live in. The tiny little birds I enjoy so much endure the bitter cold, LORD knows how. We have so much to be thankful for. The numbers of birds that come to my feeders to the pesty Bluejays and squirrels were all created by our maker and have their purpose. Thank you GOD!
    Val McAllister is doing GREAT! You may remember that she had decided to have to remove the fat that remained following the bypass surgery with which she lost a lot of weight. It is now 1 month following the surgery and she is doing fine. She promised me to keep me posted. Perhaps a trip south will happen and I will see for myself. Keep up the good work Val. . .
     While shopping in Aldi's, Joe spied a display of boxed Ameryllis bulbs..He summoned me to look and we soon picked out a Candy Striped one, which he immediately put in his cart. I had always thought they were beautiful and so we will be what it will do for us. We followed the directions and it grows so fast.. You can almost see it grow. We are hoping it will bloom for Christmas. . .
     The Tri-county Information and Resource Diectory is a free internet resource that contains information on how to locate hundreds of essential community resources in the Otsego, Delaware and Chenango county area. Information on child care providers; educational providers; churches; government offices; emplooyment agencies; human resource agencies; legal aid; hospitals; sports; recreation; transportation and much more. Log on www.tri-countyny.net
    Hunting in our immediate area seems to be slow and reports from hunters I knew say they are not seeing the deer, bucks are scarce. . They are seeing  evidence of coyotes. Flocks of wild turkeyes are feasting on fertilizer spreading. Rifle season will end the weekend and then muzzle loader and finally bow. New Jersey will have a 6 days hunting season on Bear! Lots of luck
    Thought for the Week: Common sense could prevent most divorces and most marriages-Author unknown