We're recuperating nicely in Arizona, thank you. How nice not to need a store-bought heavy jacket, nor a home-made scarf, nor the four layers of outdoor readiness (with the exception of the waning hours of our NY stay).
Things were just ducky during our last full day cruising the Northern border. At a pond at one of our breaks we saw 12-15 Mallards - drakes and hens - come skidding to a stop on the chilled water, shake themselves, and let the water roll . . . you know how water behaves with these creatures. Great sport! At first one walked (waddled) on the thin layer of ice near the edge of the small pond and soon many of the gang were attempting it - with expected results. It provided many solid digital shots.
Another break in the day was when we were alerted to a mink scurrying from the pond to the woods with a reward of some type in its mouth (nothing Mallard-like). We may or may not have a distinct pic - its under review at the moment.
Let's take a break from the breaks and dabble in an older word or two from our wonderful language. (No extra charge.) The question is - would you rather be an eggler or a flunkey?
As an eggler you would gather and sell not only eggs of all kinds for eating and hatching, but nests, snakes and other items for curious purchasers.
The eggler was outside in his travels, and the flunkey moreso. He was a 'servant of the livery'. When the coach left, the flunkey ran along with or ahead of the horses carrying a lantern or torch to light the way, pay tolls, or otherwise be ready to meet the needs of the coachman or passengers.
What a life those teens had - fresh air - exercise - entrepeneurship opportunities- travel and adventure - little, if any, homework. Rugged individualism at its best. Right!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Those are the breaks!
[Note: Recent inactivity on this blog will not be commented on until a thorough review of plausable explanations has been listed, field-tested and approved by the director.]
On this day, as in several previous, one finds oneself 20 miles from the Canadian border in Plattsburgh, NY. We had a break in the wind. (Do I need to reword that?) What had been a force of 15-25mph [c.25-40kph [for our bi-numeral acquaintances]] was down to three to five mph [five to eight kph] for today.
We also had a break regarding the temperature. Gone was the 25 F [Celcius on your own], here came 45 F.
The missus and I headed out to a sugar shack to surprise friends in the middle of boiling sap in the process of making maple syrup. Alas, there was no activity to benefit from our surprise. The preceding two nights and days had been too cold for the sap to flow at a good pace. They thought that tomorrow would be a good day for boiling. Earlier in the week, 150 gallons of syrup had been produced. That's dealing with about 6,000 gallons of sap, and I'm not going to try to figure that in liters (or is that litres). Sooooo we searched out other sugar shacks to bother, but none had weather different from our first stop. So. magically, our visit turned into a shopping tour in the gift shop of one of the sugar shacks. Maple cocoa, maple coffee, varieties of shapes of maple sugar items, 2009 syrup, maple cream, pervasive aroma. Just a bit heady. . . . (yes, they will ship).
Several years ago I became aware of birch syrup - from an inquiry about maple syrup in Alaska. I learned that it takes about double the amount of birch sap to develop one gallon of birch syrup - 80 gallons. The aroma and the flavor are somewhat medicinal in my judgement. It is not too distant from the soda Moxie - even the diet variety carries that flavor. It all works out O.K., as it tastes pretty good on Dairy Queen. Really.
So, the day was a break from some of the have-tos of the week and the resignation of sparing ourselves from the 'brisk' winter weather by being indoor people. During our tour of duty in the North Country, I recall the period we called the 'January thaw'. Around the third week or so of January, we would benefit from a warming period - the snow and ice would melt for a few days, and I would allow myself to think 'Ah, we're going to have an early Spring this year. Good for us!' The thoughts and hopes were shattered in not too many days by the return of belligerent Winter weather, freezing the tears on our cheeks.
Those were the breaks.
On this day, as in several previous, one finds oneself 20 miles from the Canadian border in Plattsburgh, NY. We had a break in the wind. (Do I need to reword that?) What had been a force of 15-25mph [c.25-40kph [for our bi-numeral acquaintances]] was down to three to five mph [five to eight kph] for today.
We also had a break regarding the temperature. Gone was the 25 F [Celcius on your own], here came 45 F.
The missus and I headed out to a sugar shack to surprise friends in the middle of boiling sap in the process of making maple syrup. Alas, there was no activity to benefit from our surprise. The preceding two nights and days had been too cold for the sap to flow at a good pace. They thought that tomorrow would be a good day for boiling. Earlier in the week, 150 gallons of syrup had been produced. That's dealing with about 6,000 gallons of sap, and I'm not going to try to figure that in liters (or is that litres). Sooooo we searched out other sugar shacks to bother, but none had weather different from our first stop. So. magically, our visit turned into a shopping tour in the gift shop of one of the sugar shacks. Maple cocoa, maple coffee, varieties of shapes of maple sugar items, 2009 syrup, maple cream, pervasive aroma. Just a bit heady. . . . (yes, they will ship).
Several years ago I became aware of birch syrup - from an inquiry about maple syrup in Alaska. I learned that it takes about double the amount of birch sap to develop one gallon of birch syrup - 80 gallons. The aroma and the flavor are somewhat medicinal in my judgement. It is not too distant from the soda Moxie - even the diet variety carries that flavor. It all works out O.K., as it tastes pretty good on Dairy Queen. Really.
So, the day was a break from some of the have-tos of the week and the resignation of sparing ourselves from the 'brisk' winter weather by being indoor people. During our tour of duty in the North Country, I recall the period we called the 'January thaw'. Around the third week or so of January, we would benefit from a warming period - the snow and ice would melt for a few days, and I would allow myself to think 'Ah, we're going to have an early Spring this year. Good for us!' The thoughts and hopes were shattered in not too many days by the return of belligerent Winter weather, freezing the tears on our cheeks.
Those were the breaks.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
That fruity flavor. . .
Just finished a delightful breakfast. On a greater percentage of the days I go with cold cereal. As a base. Many times I could say I go with cold cereals. As a base. I lean toward Life, as often as it can be arranged, supplemented with a compatible grain offering. Then comes the frosting on the cake, so to speak.
Occasionally the availability of various fruit yields a veritable feast such as occured this morning.
Banana (the more mature one of the group), berries of the blue-, rasp- and straw- persuasions and date logs plus peaches (plum size - from the farmer's market last week). Did I miss anything? Oh, nuts! That's it! The chopped pecans and walnuts. Almost forgot them.
Standing in the wings as sort of understudies we have dried fruit - cranberries, slab apricots and a berry mix - most of this by way of [not compliments of] Trader Joe's.
Tastes good enough to eat!
***
To look ahead, there may be more than one or two posts on our Land Cruise, during which we had a non-traditional Sunday morning service. Stay tuned. May have news of other breakfasts handed to us.
Occasionally the availability of various fruit yields a veritable feast such as occured this morning.
Banana (the more mature one of the group), berries of the blue-, rasp- and straw- persuasions and date logs plus peaches (plum size - from the farmer's market last week). Did I miss anything? Oh, nuts! That's it! The chopped pecans and walnuts. Almost forgot them.
Standing in the wings as sort of understudies we have dried fruit - cranberries, slab apricots and a berry mix - most of this by way of [not compliments of] Trader Joe's.
Tastes good enough to eat!
***
To look ahead, there may be more than one or two posts on our Land Cruise, during which we had a non-traditional Sunday morning service. Stay tuned. May have news of other breakfasts handed to us.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
A Day for and about Fathers
If Father's Day was to be considered a contest, it would end in a tie. Well, wouldn't it?
Some common taters, within this household as a matter of fact, bring forth the thought of having a Family's Day. The separated emphases have some plus aspects, but generally, as with the song, "you can't have one without the other". Recent and current attitudes toward family togetherness show some depletion in the numbers of 'full family' members.
What would happen if one all-inclusive day would happen vs. the current bifurcated approach? Flower shoppes and haberdasheries would have to realign their inventories,
greeting-card makers would use fewer trees perhaps. Higher unemployment - maybe for a time, and how about the lighter load for phone lines and cell towers - you'd have many of the celebratees in one location. It would be a great time for reminiscing - and genealogical interest and pursuits could be built up/expanded. Speakers of all ilk would need new sources and outlines for their presentations (so much for the gains in standing timber we had from the card-makers).
A new date would be considered - like the third Sunday in July or the second Sunday in August - helpful to round out a Summer schedule.
Now it's time for all the great thinkers of the world to weigh in on the great consideration before them.
There is probably enough space left to get in a word for my dad here. He'd have celebrated his 102nd birthday earlier this month - but he did celebrate 70 of them. He was somewhat 'playful' in his youth - driving a car 'round and 'round a traffic dummy in the center of town, to the disgust of the lone police officer. A traffic dummy in a small town? Yes, indeed; after all, it was the last stop on the main route from New York City to Montreal. He was bilingual, started work at Sheridan Iron Works at age 15 (after other jobs), and built the first radio in Champlain in the mid- to late-1920's.
He enjoyed electricity,but was conscientious in all he dealt with. I regard him as a craftsman. He talked me through many activities, and showed me the way to accomplish tasks, but not often would he provide a practice time.
Remind me to tell you about the 'mink house'. Maybe on Family's Day. . . . someday. . . .
Some common taters, within this household as a matter of fact, bring forth the thought of having a Family's Day. The separated emphases have some plus aspects, but generally, as with the song, "you can't have one without the other". Recent and current attitudes toward family togetherness show some depletion in the numbers of 'full family' members.
What would happen if one all-inclusive day would happen vs. the current bifurcated approach? Flower shoppes and haberdasheries would have to realign their inventories,
greeting-card makers would use fewer trees perhaps. Higher unemployment - maybe for a time, and how about the lighter load for phone lines and cell towers - you'd have many of the celebratees in one location. It would be a great time for reminiscing - and genealogical interest and pursuits could be built up/expanded. Speakers of all ilk would need new sources and outlines for their presentations (so much for the gains in standing timber we had from the card-makers).
A new date would be considered - like the third Sunday in July or the second Sunday in August - helpful to round out a Summer schedule.
Now it's time for all the great thinkers of the world to weigh in on the great consideration before them.
There is probably enough space left to get in a word for my dad here. He'd have celebrated his 102nd birthday earlier this month - but he did celebrate 70 of them. He was somewhat 'playful' in his youth - driving a car 'round and 'round a traffic dummy in the center of town, to the disgust of the lone police officer. A traffic dummy in a small town? Yes, indeed; after all, it was the last stop on the main route from New York City to Montreal. He was bilingual, started work at Sheridan Iron Works at age 15 (after other jobs), and built the first radio in Champlain in the mid- to late-1920's.
He enjoyed electricity,but was conscientious in all he dealt with. I regard him as a craftsman. He talked me through many activities, and showed me the way to accomplish tasks, but not often would he provide a practice time.
Remind me to tell you about the 'mink house'. Maybe on Family's Day. . . . someday. . . .
Friday, June 6, 2008
Once more, with feeling
It would seem I've been able to learn well the lesson of not rushing into matters, like posting blogs. A degree of insouciance seems to be the order of the day. Since our last meeting much water has gone under the bridge, over the dam and wherever else it has chosen to venture.
* Mary has received the official okey-dokey on her first knee replacement. Dr. Cohen is tops! Lower extremity #2 will be a Jan., '09 consideration.
* Our Sunday School class (25 strong) helped in several projects (painting, fountain, spackle and paint the laundry room, prepare the coolers for summer, etc.) at 'Hospitality House' - a USO-like setting for military personnel in our area. They don't do overnights, but when they do come they have plenty of snack items, books, walking areas, meals, Bible Studies and fellowship to busy themselves with. The host family is very gracious, and the Mr. and Mrs. have undergone considerable training prior to being accepted as setting Hosts. (All this accomplished on Armed Forces Day (May 17) to boot!)
*We attended a Retirement breakfast for those of Mary's associates from Johnston School on Ft. Huachuca. One couple is planning to head to Costa Rica to build and settle in for the next 20 or 30 years. Their setting will be in Nuevo Arenal. His brother is a builder and a long-time resident of the area. Sounds helpful to me. That same evening, we a attended a 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration for friends of ours. Both settings were similar in some aspects - each celebrated an achievement and was a pleasant atmosphere with the recognition from friends and family; as well, in both settings, we were able to renew acquaintances from a few to several years back. I like that in an activity.
*This brings to mind one aspect of one of my retirement activities __ years ago. This was with one of the Elementary schools I was associated with - knowing my feelings toward the brown vegetable, they purchased a pink cord jacket, added several pockets and stuffed each with a variety of candy bars. I viewed this as very thoughtful as I generally refer to them as 'Snowbank Supplies', emergency, readily available and completely adequate items for home or travel, in the event of . . . .
*Did I mention that the following January I received a diagnosis of Diabetes, Type 2? Another of life's mysteries. I must say that these events are viewed as examples of parallelism rather than as cause and effect. Or perhaps genetic predestination. . .
* Mary has received the official okey-dokey on her first knee replacement. Dr. Cohen is tops! Lower extremity #2 will be a Jan., '09 consideration.
* Our Sunday School class (25 strong) helped in several projects (painting, fountain, spackle and paint the laundry room, prepare the coolers for summer, etc.) at 'Hospitality House' - a USO-like setting for military personnel in our area. They don't do overnights, but when they do come they have plenty of snack items, books, walking areas, meals, Bible Studies and fellowship to busy themselves with. The host family is very gracious, and the Mr. and Mrs. have undergone considerable training prior to being accepted as setting Hosts. (All this accomplished on Armed Forces Day (May 17) to boot!)
*We attended a Retirement breakfast for those of Mary's associates from Johnston School on Ft. Huachuca. One couple is planning to head to Costa Rica to build and settle in for the next 20 or 30 years. Their setting will be in Nuevo Arenal. His brother is a builder and a long-time resident of the area. Sounds helpful to me. That same evening, we a attended a 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration for friends of ours. Both settings were similar in some aspects - each celebrated an achievement and was a pleasant atmosphere with the recognition from friends and family; as well, in both settings, we were able to renew acquaintances from a few to several years back. I like that in an activity.
*This brings to mind one aspect of one of my retirement activities __ years ago. This was with one of the Elementary schools I was associated with - knowing my feelings toward the brown vegetable, they purchased a pink cord jacket, added several pockets and stuffed each with a variety of candy bars. I viewed this as very thoughtful as I generally refer to them as 'Snowbank Supplies', emergency, readily available and completely adequate items for home or travel, in the event of . . . .
*Did I mention that the following January I received a diagnosis of Diabetes, Type 2? Another of life's mysteries. I must say that these events are viewed as examples of parallelism rather than as cause and effect. Or perhaps genetic predestination. . .
***
Renaming:
The polite snake you saw last week - could be called a civil serpent. Couldn't it?
________________
(Hope you had some pleasant moments with your dictionary, Doug!)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jer.29:13 has good contemplative qualities. Reading it in THE MESSAGE gives it a bit of urgency.
Adios
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
What to do... what to do?
Midst the gentle promptingsss of one's descendants there is at this moment an effort being made to add to the resume' of the writer. New descriptive terms seem to be 'composer', 'arranger', (of words primarily) and of course 'blogger'. Well, here goes....
If there happen to be additional writings they'll likely be an olio of considerations. Some likelihoods are humor (humour, for our guests from the Near North), language, languages, music, religion, travel...
Other interests may include genealogy, nutrition [euphemism for food - of any kind], history, computers, and such.
Fairness dictates clarity for some terms. The main one at this time is interest. Interest, to me, speaks of an acquaintance with and a desire to continue a degree of familiarity with an item or topic. To take myself off the hook, or put up some security fencing around possible hooks, I must state that, for me, interest does not demand nor imply any skill level beyond reasonably correct spelling and reasonably correct pronunciation (all modified by contact with people (often known as them))
As this contact progresses, I imagine it will become more decorative and perhaps include pictures, as the pros do. I'll have some more words on the name for this space as well.
Now, the introduction comes in the place of the benediction. George (named for my deliverer Dr. George Allen of Champlain, NY), C_ _ _ _ _ _ (for no reason I've heard of), Aubrey (elf ruler) was raised South of the Border (from the perspective of Canadians) and traveled to become one North of the Border (from the perspective of Mexicans).
More on this at another time.
Two items to wind up with -
1. a nutritional dream (as I haven't seen it before me - yet) is a spaghetti-flavored, raspberry-filled, chocolate-covered doughnut;
2. Have you had a chance to take a look at the Bible-study site e-sword.net yet? I count it a good site for comparison of a variety of versions - most are free and available in many languages, and some are for purchase; graphics, commentaries and dictionaries are available for free download. Take a look.
Excuse me for a while as I figure out what to do next. . . .
GA
If there happen to be additional writings they'll likely be an olio of considerations. Some likelihoods are humor (humour, for our guests from the Near North), language, languages, music, religion, travel...
Other interests may include genealogy, nutrition [euphemism for food - of any kind], history, computers, and such.
Fairness dictates clarity for some terms. The main one at this time is interest. Interest, to me, speaks of an acquaintance with and a desire to continue a degree of familiarity with an item or topic. To take myself off the hook, or put up some security fencing around possible hooks, I must state that, for me, interest does not demand nor imply any skill level beyond reasonably correct spelling and reasonably correct pronunciation (all modified by contact with people (often known as them))
As this contact progresses, I imagine it will become more decorative and perhaps include pictures, as the pros do. I'll have some more words on the name for this space as well.
Now, the introduction comes in the place of the benediction. George (named for my deliverer Dr. George Allen of Champlain, NY), C_ _ _ _ _ _ (for no reason I've heard of), Aubrey (elf ruler) was raised South of the Border (from the perspective of Canadians) and traveled to become one North of the Border (from the perspective of Mexicans).
More on this at another time.
Two items to wind up with -
1. a nutritional dream (as I haven't seen it before me - yet) is a spaghetti-flavored, raspberry-filled, chocolate-covered doughnut;
2. Have you had a chance to take a look at the Bible-study site e-sword.net yet? I count it a good site for comparison of a variety of versions - most are free and available in many languages, and some are for purchase; graphics, commentaries and dictionaries are available for free download. Take a look.
Excuse me for a while as I figure out what to do next. . . .
GA
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Made it to TN
We made it from Sunny AZ to Sunny TN today. Good to see #2 son and family. More later.
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