Yesterday Fred's Inn in Norwich NY was the scene of a fire. They are still investigating.
Fred's was a favorite of ours on Tuesday evenings after an evening at court.
Parties of people: sometimes we'd have as many as 12 people meet us at Fred's for a birthday gathering (of course, on a Tuesday), friends from across the pond, "regulars" that would meet us weekly. But mostly just us. We were back on the two of us lately, but it was always fun and comfortable to be at Fred's. Michelle knew our order at the bar, and we had fine tuned the kitchen to accommodate us as we sometimes chose our own menu selection (could I have this without that? No garnishes, please). Steph is our little lighthouse with her bubbly charm. A new waitress? "We're here every Tuesday...this is how we dine...no garnishes, please, no onions, no, no, don't even let them pass over the plate...)"
Fred's will be missed, not only by us but by the community. I hope it's back up and running soon.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Trash!
It's at least 56, because I am. Visiting my parents this weekend I removed the liner from this vintage bucket that has contained trash for 50+ years. I wonder how many tissues, q-tips, and hair it has collected. A ton? Does it have stories from the farm? The house on Albany Street? Route 12 living. The move to Schroon Lake and finally Pennsylvania. I told mom I'm going to buy her a new can and take this one home with me. Who would ever think to do that but a sentimental old woman such as I?
Friday, October 12, 2012
Cast Iron Complement
Thursday night's dinner was leftovers from previous meals. Leftover mashed potatoes, fried in the small easy-to-clean pan. The rather large heel from the ham hand diced and cheddar cheese for an enormous omelet. Farm fresh eggs. All mixed together in my large cast iron skillet. Casting both fry pans aside after serving the meal, I look upon them this Friday morning with a deep sigh. They would be forever soaking! I ran the hot water into my dishpan and worked on the easy stuff while brewing my pour over coffee, grabbed the fry pans and put them in the second sink and let the hot water fill them. The few dishes one can make were done quickly and I grabbed the small easy-to-clean pan. Yes, it was indeed easy to clean. I grabbed my metal spatula. Ready? Start with the bottom of the skillet. Yes, yes, yes!!! It came off like a charm! And then I remembered how easy clean up was supposed to be with these cast iron skillets, and with just hot water. And a health benefit, they give you iron benefits by cooking with them.
I love my cast iron skillet! Life is easy!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Autumn Lanes
use the code FANS at checkout and receive 20% off a print book from now until October 23, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
The Soldier
Today was the dedication ceremony of 175 years of our county courthouse. I have no idea how many judges there were there, but judges from every section in the court system of New York State were there, town and village, county, appellate and supreme. Patriotism chokes me up. The power that moves nations. All of the justices stood on the courthouse steps during the ceremony. They went to raise the flag and the military veterans raised their hands in salute and Charlie did too. The reverence of a soldier for his country was overwhelming. I was so proud at that moment that I have had the privilege of knowing him and working with him. When I told him later of that feeling of pride, he simply stated, "I'm a soldier." And that said it all.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
On being "fluffy"...
Everyone is trying to lose weight these days, including me. Some of the best successes are through Weight Watchers. Others include the South Beach Diet, the Atkins Diet, just to name a few.
The problem with these fad diets, you are trying to fix one malady and lo, and behold! Another surfaces due to the "fix." So far, the best advice I ever got was "moderation in everything." The concept was out there, oh--quite a few years ago under a diet fad called "The Weighdown Diet." The woman that wrote the book claimed that all you had to do was follow your body signals, eat what your body wanted, but stop when full. Do not eat when stressed or bored. I had followed that pattern and lost 25 lbs in 6 months. I analyzed in my brain every bite I took into my mouth and ended up with the following lifestyle: after my early morning walk with a girlfriend we would have a single cup of coffee at her place (a foreigner, she had the best coffee ever), I would go home and meet my day and when the hunger pangs began, would have my juice and complementary medication that went with it (thyroid in my case, haha). Showering and dressing, I would find that by 8 I needed a little something so would make a decision on exactly what my body was requiring at the moment, cereal or toast or eggs, then off to work I would go. I discovered that I would get hungry by 11 for lunch, but my body was only really interested in that half sandwich (oh, and I'm sure I had coffee in there somewhere mid morning again). I was hungry again around 3 so would start making dinner. I would eat by 5. If the family wasn't around, I'd hang out with them while they ate. Dessert, if it happened at all, occurred around 7. But I didn't give up anything. I ate at McDonalds, their big Mac. I didn't eat the fries. Why? I wasn't interested in the fries. I had the coke, but it was DIET. I have since given up aspartame, so any soda is rare indeed since it is made from corn syrup as opposed to sugar. Hey, is any of it REALLY good for you? The downfall on this diet came from my gut telling me it was time to STOP. I started having dry heaves because I was overanalyzing everything and not eating until I was so dead sure of what my body wanted that I wasn't eating at all. How did I feel on this diet? I felt GREAT. So I would love to try it again, but without the negatives effects I experienced at the end.
The bottom line is "lifestyle" and change for the good. All things in moderation so you don't end up binging (but also keeping it out of your cupboard is a good guideline to utilize).
The problem with these fad diets, you are trying to fix one malady and lo, and behold! Another surfaces due to the "fix." So far, the best advice I ever got was "moderation in everything." The concept was out there, oh--quite a few years ago under a diet fad called "The Weighdown Diet." The woman that wrote the book claimed that all you had to do was follow your body signals, eat what your body wanted, but stop when full. Do not eat when stressed or bored. I had followed that pattern and lost 25 lbs in 6 months. I analyzed in my brain every bite I took into my mouth and ended up with the following lifestyle: after my early morning walk with a girlfriend we would have a single cup of coffee at her place (a foreigner, she had the best coffee ever), I would go home and meet my day and when the hunger pangs began, would have my juice and complementary medication that went with it (thyroid in my case, haha). Showering and dressing, I would find that by 8 I needed a little something so would make a decision on exactly what my body was requiring at the moment, cereal or toast or eggs, then off to work I would go. I discovered that I would get hungry by 11 for lunch, but my body was only really interested in that half sandwich (oh, and I'm sure I had coffee in there somewhere mid morning again). I was hungry again around 3 so would start making dinner. I would eat by 5. If the family wasn't around, I'd hang out with them while they ate. Dessert, if it happened at all, occurred around 7. But I didn't give up anything. I ate at McDonalds, their big Mac. I didn't eat the fries. Why? I wasn't interested in the fries. I had the coke, but it was DIET. I have since given up aspartame, so any soda is rare indeed since it is made from corn syrup as opposed to sugar. Hey, is any of it REALLY good for you? The downfall on this diet came from my gut telling me it was time to STOP. I started having dry heaves because I was overanalyzing everything and not eating until I was so dead sure of what my body wanted that I wasn't eating at all. How did I feel on this diet? I felt GREAT. So I would love to try it again, but without the negatives effects I experienced at the end.
The bottom line is "lifestyle" and change for the good. All things in moderation so you don't end up binging (but also keeping it out of your cupboard is a good guideline to utilize).
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Ramblings
I rise at 4:30 a.m. I don't mind rising at this hour, it was yesterday's that I minded! It helps me get things done by being this early morning person. By 9 a.m. half of my day is over! I think and play at the computer, write, check out my facebook and other social networks. I write (like now).
I found out Tuesday that Bill Stratton passed on. Bill. Let me talk about Bill. Memories flood me. Bill was the neighbor across the meadow. My sister and I played with his kids, grew up with his kids, right here in Oxford. Bill had a dairy farm. I remember helping his kids pick the corn that grew in the meadow, and "helping" them sell it for 50 cents a bakers dozen, on the Route 12 roadside. My Dad helped Bill out a little bit in his barn. I can remember me and Terri going to the fields and calling the cows in "Ca Bossy, ca bossy!" I remember Bill losing his arm in an farming accident. I remember him not giving up. He went on to school and got a degree in law. The memories are sketchy, but they are there. I remember coming back to Oxford 35 years later and him coming into my coffee shop. I didn't recognize him at first, but then saw a man with one arm. Shame on me for that handicap having to point out who he was. I went around the counter to hug him, he who had been a dad, however remotely, yet very distinctly. A man whose respect had been earned by me just by being there. A man whom I came to asking for support to run for town judge, a man who gave me support and nominated me for that position (I did not win, it went to another, but nevertheless, it meant a great deal to me that Bill would do this for me). My sympathies go out to his children, who are my brothers and sisters as well, his ex Ruth, who is like a mother to me as well. I will never forget you Bill Stratton.
I found out Tuesday that Bill Stratton passed on. Bill. Let me talk about Bill. Memories flood me. Bill was the neighbor across the meadow. My sister and I played with his kids, grew up with his kids, right here in Oxford. Bill had a dairy farm. I remember helping his kids pick the corn that grew in the meadow, and "helping" them sell it for 50 cents a bakers dozen, on the Route 12 roadside. My Dad helped Bill out a little bit in his barn. I can remember me and Terri going to the fields and calling the cows in "Ca Bossy, ca bossy!" I remember Bill losing his arm in an farming accident. I remember him not giving up. He went on to school and got a degree in law. The memories are sketchy, but they are there. I remember coming back to Oxford 35 years later and him coming into my coffee shop. I didn't recognize him at first, but then saw a man with one arm. Shame on me for that handicap having to point out who he was. I went around the counter to hug him, he who had been a dad, however remotely, yet very distinctly. A man whose respect had been earned by me just by being there. A man whom I came to asking for support to run for town judge, a man who gave me support and nominated me for that position (I did not win, it went to another, but nevertheless, it meant a great deal to me that Bill would do this for me). My sympathies go out to his children, who are my brothers and sisters as well, his ex Ruth, who is like a mother to me as well. I will never forget you Bill Stratton.
I think about myself, my future. Yes, there is alot of living still to do over the next 20 years, I figure I will have that long to be able to remain active, so I might as well plot it out and hope for the best.
Jobwise, I went to the job fair yesterday in Norwich. It was okay. I did hand out my resume to a few companies, but was in and out in about half an hour. Then I went to work and enhanced photography at home.
The headcold is winding it's way down. Zicam really works! Great stuff!
I'm rambling.
What I really meant to say this morning is this: never ever give up. When you least expect it, the wind hears your voice and your intentions and takes them and, like magic, can make them happen. Things come your way and if you can recognize them you can take great joy in them, knowing that life is working for you. And if life changes? Unemployment, divorce (by your hand or your partner's), kids gone crazy, economic tough times, a death in the family...remember...like the sunset resting on your shoulder, that life is a mere shadow of that which is to come. For what is eternity? Life is about the journey, every day, that 24 hour period, is your eternity. Live it for that day. It's our only choice.
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