Not much time for blogging these day - volunteer work is keeping me busy and that is a better use of my time.

My friend Joanne sent me a note with a link to her daughter Kristen's very cool shop and a column she writes. I thought you might enjoy checking it out. I love her "If I had fourteen children" story...
http://www.juvieshop.com/blog/2009/03/if-i-had-fourteen-children/

Enjoy!

It's Friday!

Jokes were pretty lame today. I just wasn't inspired and didn't have much time to search so you get what you get - have better??? Send them to me for future use please.

Here's this week's message:
Happy Spring! Enjoy the weekend, hope you have a safe and restful weekend. Some random jokes this week... Enjoy every minute!

Q: What's the definition of diplomacy?
A: The ability to tell a person to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.

A French poodle and a collie were walking down the street. The poodle turned to the collie and complained, “My life is such a mess. My owner is mean, my girlfriend is having an affair with a German shepherd and I’m as nervous as a cat.”“Why don’t you go see a psychiatrist?” asked the collie. “I can’t,” replied the poodle. “I’m not allowed on the couch.”

Random Thought: Do you ever notice that when you’re driving, anyone going slower than you is an idiot and everyone driving faster than you is a maniac?

Yesterday I took my first walk of the year up the trail on the tiny mountain we live on. Coco and I walk it every day - she pulls me up most of the way. I got Coco to provide me with exercise and control my blood pressure without drugs. It has worked for me so far even though I was a slacker over the winter. Our walk yesterday was nice - the snow is gone but on the way down I fell - slipped on leaves with mud underneath. I did not get hurt thankfully but jarred my backbone and bruised my hip and leg a bit. Coco finally saw me lying on the trail and came running over just like Lassie. I got up finally and hobbled on home.

This morning I looked at the trail and knew we had to go again. No falls this time. I worked hard with Coco not to pull as we were coming down and held onto trees on the steep parts. My balance is not great so when I start to fall, I generally go down. But I will simply up my awareness of the trail and not give up. I need that trail. The exercise and the solitude of it is good for me.

Which brings me to this patch above. My dad worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps when he was a teenager at the Cross Clearing Camp near Tupper Lake. He was telling me on of the jobs they did was building a ranger cabin on Mt. Morris. They had a horse to bring the lumber up but it turned out the poor horse was too old and tired to carry the lumber so the workers carried it up the mountain on their shoulders. I had been thinking of taking him up our trail with me and Coco but I worry about him falling. But I would bet he would have an easier time of walking up the trail than I do.

We started watching the series Danger UXB the other night. We watched it around 1980 on PBS and I had always wanted to see it again. I searched amazon.com and found the entire 1979 series for around $25. A great deal. Anthony Andrews (Brideshead Revisted) stars as an officer who finds himself reporting for a bomb disposal unit in London during the Blitz. The series keep you on the edge of your seat as you watch him and his squad try to defuse the unexploded bombs.

We are watching it with my dad who was in England during WWII, stationed at an air base near London. He remembers the bombing well but says it doesn't bother him to watch this. He said at one point his barracks were near an ammunition dump. The bombers made them real nervous.

My only problem with the series is understanding the British accents with my hearing problem. I usually subtitle these programs but these DVDs are not captioned. So I miss a bit but get most of it at least.

The moon was shining just to left of our oak tree when I took this picture. My camera lost the moon!

Wow! This is my 100th post! I never thought I would keep this going this long. And who knows, I probably should have quit after 10 but on and on I go. Thanks for good feedback I get from readers. It is what keeps this going. I know you are here.

What a beautiful morning! I'm not real happy with the time change. I'm not fond of walking up in the dark but this morning the full moon was shining in the window when I woke up. I got up a little after six to start breakfast for David. We had some of the bacon he got at the turkey shoot the other day and I made my favorite apple, raisin, cinnamon pancakes to go with it. Yum. I took pictures, but only professionals can make food look good. But for what it's worth here's my pics. Enjoy the day! I'm happy it is Friday and tomorrow I can get up when it is light outside. Coco and I plan a roadtrip to Life Flight to volunteer for a while tomorrow. I have not been there since December so that will be a treat for both of us and hopefully a help to Life Flight.

My recipe is simple - Aunt Jemima Complete pancake mix - instructions on the box you just add water. I peel and slice up a nice Macintosh apple, add some raisins and a tablespoon of cinnamon, mix that together in a bowl then fold gently into the pancake mix. Yum. My cinnamon was given to me by friend Holly over 20 years ago. Her first year baking at Raquette Lake Supply Company ended and she figured - that's it - gave me a canning jar full of cinnamon. Little did she know she would not only be back baking next summer but has now been doing it over 20 years. I hope I got that right - I'm not good with timeframes but you get the idea. Thanks Hol, we have certainly enjoyed every bit of that cinnamon and it still tastes and smells great. I have about 1/8 of a cup left so I'll have to buy my own new supply soon.

Today I am joining the International Waldentrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation. Waldenstrom is a rare chronic blood cancer. Most people have never heard of this organization or the disease and that is why I feel the need to get involved (that busybody in me). I have a very dear friend with this disease and this is something I can do to help. I went to the IWMF website last week and learned more about this rare disease and probably should have just written a check and felt good about it. But after reading the patient stories (very similar to my friend's story) and learning the great need for increased awareness that can hopefully result in more research funding, I sent off an email telling them I want to help.

I don't have a lot of time. My plate is full with my volunteer work with North Country Life Flight, my 93 year old dad living with us, a hard-working husband to care for, a dog and then there is my disability that limits my activity (not complaining) but I've offered them 3 precious hour a week to see if I can help make a difference. It is not much but they seemed to appreciate the offer. Hopefully my writing and promotion background can make a difference for them.

Their goals are ambitious, much more than I've ever worked with but very necessary to funding the much needed research to bring about effective treatment and an ultimate cure for WM.

Consider joining me, if not with your time, perhaps you can write a check. Any amount will help.
Visit the IWMF website at:
http://www.iwmf.com/index.htm

Checks can be mailed to:

IWMF
3932D Swift Road
Sarasota, FL 34231

I was always a quiet, private person. Since my brain anuerysm that has changed. I've written yet another letter to the editor of the Press Republican - this one in support of the United Way and the services they support. It's a difficult time for not for profits. Giving to the United Way makes sense and helps our community. I dropped a check off to them in January at that time they were a little shy of their goal. Luckily they met it. It's an on-going campaign. The United Way supports so many organizations including North Country Life Flight. Give if you can - even a little will help.

Here's from the Sat. 3/7 Press Republican.


TO THE EDITOR: Let me start by saying I am not associated with the United Way. I'm just an ordinary citizen who has greatly benefitted from their support of local agencies. I guess in that respect I am "associated" with the United Way. Most of us are.I was so pleased to read the United Way of Clinton and Essex Counties had met their goal. They support agencies in our region that are more important than ever, given our current economic climate. The United Way provides critical financial support for health and human-services agencies — agencies that provide direct assistance to you and your neighbors when the need arises.Many employers do not participate in the payroll deduction campaign and that is unfortunate. It's such an easy way to help make your entire community a better and safer place to live in with small deductions from a paycheck. Writing a large check is not easy these days. But consider the impact of the agencies that receive support from the United Way and write the most generous check you can. Any size gift can make a difference.Thanks to all who gave to the United Way. I brought them a small, but hopefully meaningful, contribution in January. If you haven't given yet, it's not too late. You can still send your check to the United Way, 45 Tom Miller Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Jan Washburn
Keeseville

We had a lovely weekend with temperatures in the 40s and 50s - nice sunny day yesterday - mud season was in full swing. I sunk in over the tops of my muck boots while walking my crazy dog. She was knee deep walking gingerly in the mud puddles on a base of ice.

Today she was happy to be rolling in snow again. At least she likes it. It is good "sugar snow" and will disappear fairly quickly as temps hit 40s again tomorrow. The maple trees are starting to give up some sap and we'll have to order up some fresh maple syrup from our friend Scott. Perhaps a road trip to visit and pick it up.

David and Tom went to a turkey shoot in Willsboro yesterday. David was not feeing great, and it was windy and sunny and lots of other "excuses," but managed to come home with 3 lbs of slab bacon, a nice big roasting chicken and a beef roast. Not a bad take. We'll roast that big old chicken for tonight's supper.

I was going through some old pictures the other day and found one I believe to be my friend Holly's old pup Homer (left) back when he had all four of his legs. He lost one later on, I can't remember how, but still managed to get around pretty well with his 3 legs. In looking at Homer's pic it reminded me a lot of my little Coco (right). Homer was a much bigger dog than Coco - but there is definitely a resemblance of Homer in Coco.

Way to go Avalanches!!!!

Big weekend of basketball! Jeb's team won the state championship in Vt and my grandkid Bailey's team the Adirondack Avalanches finished their season on Saturday by defeating Dannemora to finish their season UNDEFEATED! Way to go Avalanches! Bailey (left) and her sister Jenna celebrate the win!

They had a whirlwind weekend! Friday night was Fun Night at school - swimming and tons of activities - Saturday the game, birthday parties - Sunday Bailey's basketball party at a bowling alley in the Forks and Girl Scout Cookie sales. If you want some Girl Scout cookies let me know. The sales help Bailey's troop and they are donating some of their profits to the local Food Shelf and North Country Life Flight. If you don't want the calories, you can buy a box ($3.50) each to donate to the Food Shelf.

I so much enjoy the view from our house of Poke-o-Moonshine and the valley in front of us. I've posted several pics in the past but here is one where you can actually see Poke-o-Moonshine as the sun hit it early one morning last week. Today I can't see much of it, a little haze and snow have moved in. Also, here's a pic of my dad in his rocker (in front of the woodstove in the kitchen) with his new best friend. When the dog is outside, Jesse that cat comes and takes Coco's place.

Congratulations to the Hazen Union High School Wildcats (Hardwick, VT) and especially #5 Jeb! They won the state championship last night. Jeb is the son of my pals Tim and Steph. Way to go Jeb and team!!!

Jeb's mom Steph (left) and Auntie Sheila at the big game!

Looks like Jeb has a nice fan base!