July 15-22, 2006

Joe and I left for Cooperstown Lakewood Cemetery at about 3:00pm laden with gloves, axes, wedges, chain saws, gas, and lots of water. Oh, yes, sandwiches for everybody present. Joe's buddy, Doug, would help out when he finished work at 4:00pm. We all worked hard and put quite a dent in splitting the large logs left from the 75’ oak tree that was washed out during the flood. This was the third day that we had worked on this project, three loads of firewood so far and probably one or two more tomorrow. Joe’s CHEVY truck pulled the load home like a champ. It was now 7:00pm and hunger had now consumed Joe’s aching body. I had everything ready in no time, corn on the cob that I had soaked in cold salted water the night before, juicy burgers on the barbecue, which I dressed with lettuce from the garden and tomatoes and added a side of crab salad. His eyes lit up and before long, it was ALL GONE. The end of another day.. .

We would go in different directions the next day; Joe would go to Oneonta to replace his shoes and gloves that gave out over the last few days and then returned to continue to finish cut/splitting logs at the cemetery. I would work at my home doing chores.

I checked the Bluebirds, I think there are three and they are getting big and have their feathers. It might not be too long before their parents will coax them out into this big, wide wonderful world. I also have another nest on the top of my entrance light over the front door. There are eggs in there. I know not what they are as yet.

I had fans going in and out of the basement for several days to get the air circulating now that the water level has subsided. I opened all the windows and doors in the house to get the air circulating. The moisture in the cellar permeated through the house and it bothered my eyes and breathing. I went through the house like Mr. Clean and then headed outside.

It was hot and muggy. I did some badly needed weeding, filled the wheelbarrow twice. The rain really had things growing fast. Then on the lawnmower and I went to work. She was performing well and I thank GOD for that. I it took 1½ hours, which was interrupted by the FEMA inspector, who came right on time. He startled me when he came to me in the backyard.

He had a bandaged hand, which I inquired about. “I fell down into a cellar”, he said with a beautiful southern accent. He introduced himself as Dennis Brown from Pensacola, Florida and his company had sent him into my area to do the inspecting of flood damage. He added that he goes all over the country and some times he does get home for awhile. He was very efficient and came within less then a week of my phone call. It should be a week or so after I fill out the paper work before I go to the next step. I am worried about by furnace and drooping insulation. After he left, I went back to mowing, but not without a problem. I got too near the water, which was canceled by high grass and GOT STRUCK. The mud was like grease. At this point, I quit. I was angry at myself that this had happened. I covered the mower up till I can get help.

Nature’s Scene: We have a new visitor at Joe’s. It is the cutest little chipmunk. I believe that he is the one that Patchy, Joe’s Jack Russell dog, had discovered as she sniffs around. I saw Pee Wee (named after my Dad’s pet chipmunk) grooming himself on the top of the well pump. It could be that he lives in the stones, which surround the pump. I will keep watch.

Twin fawns showed up at my son, Mark’s new apartment last week, which is right in the center of Oneonta. Mark was showing us the back yard from a balcony and there, hidden in the flowerbed, were the fawns still with their spots. They lay perfectly still. How the fawns got there we didn’t know. Perhaps the doe brought them there and told them to stay put until she returned. Later in the afternoon they disappeared and the next day returned.

Joe was having trouble getting the truck into gear and feared the worse. He headed to Wally’s on Dutch Hill to see if he could figure out the problems. Joe watched as he checked it and noticed that that thick mat under the pedal was the culprit. Thank GOD. He didn’t need that expense, which could have been $200 to have.

The next day Joe came with me to see if we could get all the wet STUFF out of the cellar. Joe is too BIG to get down there so I was elected for the job. He backed up the pickup back the house and slowly I moved everything to the Billco doors and out; then Joe loaded the truck. Hartwick had two trailers set up by the town barn for refuse from the flood and I was happy to have had the opportunity to get to use it. I have much more to do, but not today.

Joe’s son, called with bad news. There had been a boating accident in Florida. Robert, son of Steve of Englewood, Florida, lost his girlfriend when she was thrown off a tube and into a parked boat. She was killed instantly. We do not know the particulars, but they will come. This set us back and we were not able to continue as planned that day.

I heard a scratching in the stovepipe and told Joe. He said it was probably a bird. They try to build a nest in the chimney and find themselves into stove, eight foot down. We rescued it and the next day it happened again. Joe said that last year it happened twelve times.

Thought for the Week: For every ending there is a new beginning; for every memory, there is a dream ahead.

PS- Dr. and Mrs. Alex Thomas are the proud parents of a little girl born on June 29. Polly went into labor as their cellar was being flooded with four foot of water in the recent flood...