Sept.30-Oct.5, 2006

Martha Improves/New York City & a Double Rainbow!

Otsego County Living: It rained all night and I woke up to heavy fog. I thought for sure we would have a frost, but the fog saved us. Joe and I picked all the tomatoes and peppers and my, did we have a lot. I divided them up for friends and family and everyone will benefit from our bounty. I also picked some Brussels Sprouts, which are comin’ nicely and were they good. Next week we will clean up the garden and, with luck it will be ready for next year.

Last week I was working in the flowerbeds at Joe’s when I heard the sound of a chainsaw, but could see no one. All of a sudden a lady appeared across the road along side of an old run down building. I had wondered for a long time who owned the property and now was a chance to meet them. I walked over and called out to her and she responded, walking to me. I introduced myself and she did too. ”I am Debra Blue, like in blue skies and this is my son, Asa. We have owned this property for 19 years and camp put at our pond down there, pointing in the direction. After we tear down this old building, we hope to build a cabin and later a house down below.” Asa was cutting saplings down and piling the wood as his Mom told him what to do. It sure was nice to meet them.

Do you remember my mentioning a bicycle accident on Dutch Hill Road a week or so ago? Well, I learned that Martha Clavoe, 55, of Hartwick was coming down the hill on her new bike following her hubby, who was on his. She had just adjusted her helmet. The road in bad shape and she was bounced around until the front wheel turned and flipped over with Martha’s feet tangled in pedal. By chance, Mike Brightman, the gentleman who had sold her the bike, and his girlfriend, Corrine Zummo, were coming up on the other side and stopped to help. In no time Mike called 911 and help was on the way. Martha suffered from a separated shoulder, broken ribs and collarbone and collapsed lung, but head was not injured because of an excellent helmet. Martha wanted everyone to know that it is very important to wear proper head protection. It broke but not her head. She was in the hospital for more then a week and is now having physical therapy to regain full use of her arms and decrease the pain.

Nature’s Scene: “Boy, we are gonna have plenty of apples”, Joe said pointing to his apple tree, which was bursting with growing apples. Yesterday he announced that there weren’t any more apples. “I watched the crows come in numbers and peek on them, causing them to fall to the ground and then eat them,” he added disappointingly. It is hard to believe, but it is true. There was not one apple left. Pee Wee the chipmunk and her four babies are gone too. The little ones were just beginning to explore, when all of a sudden they all disappeared. I guess we will have to wait until next year to see them and the apples. Don’t worry we’ll find some apples.

Joe and I took off for Staten Island early for the beginning of a series of tests at the NYU Cochlear Implant Center on 23 St. and 1 Ave., NYC. We would stay the night at his brother, Robert’s and take the bus in the morning. Little did we know that there would be roadwork, three accidents and a detour, which left us off at a different place. We did get there in plenty of time. We met a delightful senior citizen lady, who has been wearing an implant for a long time and is very happy with the results. We also meet the parents of twins, one of which was wearing two small implants and yet another 9 year old who was getting hers soon-three age groups all of which were experiencing this wonderful technology.

All the tests proved that Joe was deaf and that makes him a good candidate for implants. We go to Albany on Tuesday for a Cat Scan and the results will go to NYU and an appointment will be make to meet the surgeon in October. The coming months will be a whirlwind, but the benefits will be great. I’ll keep you posted. If anyone is interested in info, let me know-Corinne Pollak, Hartwick, NY 13348.

Although there were many restaurants, our budget permitted low-key food. We would sit in the park and eat and watch the people go by. It rested our feet and minds.

As we were not familiar with the transportation system there, we walked a lot more then we needed, but there is relief is sight. My good friend, Natalie Fisher, whose hubby took buses throughout his career in research at the VA and NYU, and Natalie, who typed all the reports, has come forth with a solution. She was on the computer and printed out a schedule for the Peter Cooper Bus, which travels 1st Ave. Hallelujah!

Martha and Elliot Hefland of Schuyler Lake and Florida, are leaving for Florida tomorrow. We never got a chance to get together. They had company all summer and then they had new cabinets put in the kitchen Martha is so happy. We will keep in touch through email and then look forward to next summer.

We stopped to see our friends Bill and Gretchen Monser in Otego and what a surprise we got. Their home had a lot of flood damage plus Bill lost his pickup! They have their work cut out for them. Wish I had a Magic Wand to make it all better.

Thought for the Week: Sometimes a little change in direction can make life more interesting.

PS-We saw a double rainbow after the sun shower tonight. GOD is in control. . .