Sept.14-21, 2006

Puff Balls! Loose Gravel, YELLOW & Julie Sundy

While cutting the lawn at my place, I noticed two
small Puff Balls in the lot next door. They are in the
mushroom family, but look like softballs without the
stitching. They are delicious when sliced and fried in
butter with salt and pepper. I love them in a
sandwich. They appear suddenly and sometimes grow to a
good size. My son, Andy introduced them to me years
ago and has given me several over the years. I did not
pick these as they could grow considerably in a day's
time. "Guess what?" Andy saw them the next day and he
and Laura stopped with half of one of the Puff Balls,
which had more then doubled in a day's time. Needless
to say, I sliced it up and fried them for Joe, who had
never had them. He will keep his eyes open for more. I
made a hit!

Laura did some research for me on the computer
and found a website-oregon-berries.com, from which she
printed off a bunch of recipes for berries. I'll be
busy trying them out. She put them in a neat manila
folder and dropped them off when she and Andy came
with the Puff Balls. Thanks, Laura.

Speaking of berries, Joe spied a huge patch of
blackberries while he and his son were sighting in a
gun that Joe had doctored. Joe was very happy with the
results and his son went home happy too. When he came
back, there was no question as to where we were going!
It was wonderful. The blackberries just fell into our
hands. There was enough for another pie and two quarts
more for the freezer. . .

While at Bassett for lab work, I ran into Mary
Ludwig, a dear friend whom I haven't seen for some
time. She was entering the elevator and I was leaving.
A quick hello and "How are you?" and she was gone.

Julie Sundy, a dear friend from of Abington, PA,
left a couple a messages for me. "The girls and I will
arrive at Gilbert Lake on Friday the 15th and we leave
for home on the 20th. Want to see you and Joe for
dinner at the cabin on Monday."

That evening I called and we chatted for some
time. We set up an evening together on Monday. Her
daughters, Julia and Audrey accompanied their Mom and
as usual, will have a great time togther. The girls
are not toddlers anymore, they are grown and have
grown families of their own. Julie sets up the
schedule and every minute is packed. Too bad Julie's
hubby was unable to come. It has been some time since
he has been able to come.

On the way home from work Wednesday, I made a
quick stop at the "Manor", where I have several
friends and old customers. I signed in I started for
Florence Rood's room, when I spied Ted Smith, a
retired Otsego County Judge well into his 90's. He
looks great. We got on the subject of computers and he
told me that he was not happy with the new EMachine he
bought. He said the old one was better. For a moment
Ted was quite and then he siad, "You know, it is
probably not the computer. It is probably me, as I
don't see as well as I did". . .

I hurried down the hall and there found Florence
watching a cooking station on the large TV screen.
"They have wonderful recipes on here," she said with a
smile. She was right. We watched and our mouths
watered. I tried to remember the recipes and hope I
can duplicate what I saw. Florence was a neighbor many
years ago(50's) She had a BIG family and worked in
Hartwick at Rose Leone's Nursing Home and she walked
there everyday from the top of Hemlock Hill in all
kinds of weather and carried groceries back after
work. I admire her. I promised that I would come
again. . .

My brother-in-law, Warren Curlis, of Salt Lake
City, Utah, called this week. He is feeling better and
is yearning to come for a visit. He loved Cooperstown
and usually comes in September to celebrate his
brother, Irwin's birthday, even when Irwin passed
away.. He won't make it this year, but hopefully in
the spring I can expect him. I haven't seen him since
his brother and I were married- August 30, 2003. . I
just know that he and Joe will hit it off. It will be
a fun time. It would be nice if Irwin's son's could
come at the same time.

Dolly Hunter now has help in the Otsego County
Personnel Dept.. Her name is Jennifer Carmen and she
is doing a good job, which is a big help to Dolly. It
is funny how the two of them seem to be wearing the
same color. Next week we made a pack to wear yellow.
Let's see if we remember.

Nature's Scene: Have you noticed all the Monarch
Butterflies? Joe was concerned that he may have killed
one while driving to Oneonta. There are a few stray
Robins, but we did see a female partridge with her
large family nearing the road. A grouping of young
male turkeys(Jakes)were in the road and one was
running along side of the car. . .

Special thanks to those of you who sent emails,
one in particular-Mary Bonczek of Westford,who
brightened my day with her comments. would like to
say "HI" to Ken Emerson too, who was the first to call
when my letter was dropped by the Crier.

There was an accident on Upper East St., shortly
after 4:00pm on Thursday. We came upon it shortly
after. We stopped to see if we could help, but it was
already on the way. A couple were standing by the road
and said they had lost control on the loose gravel and
ended up with the car upside down in a deep ditch.
There had been extensive work done on the road
recently and there was alot of loose gravel. There
were signs stating that there was loose gravel. GOD
was with the as they were not hurt.

GOD'S VOICE: "We need to talk. . . "

Thought for the Week: Where there is great love, there are always miracles-Willa Cather