Today we have our first snow of the year. Other places in the Adirondacks, not far from us, have already had a foot or more. I'm not fond of snow anymore, I can't ski or skate given my balance issues so I'll just put on my yak trax and keep on walking my dog the best I can.

Here's Coco with her walking stick! My husband David built the stone wall on one of his summer vacations. Coco loves the snow and likes to lay on her side and slide down hills. We have just a dusting today so not enough for her to do that yet. She had to amuse herself with tree branches on our walk today. She gets me outside on days like this when I normally would probably just stay inside where it's warm and cozy.

Also, here's a view of the mountains across from us. Well they are there, you just can't see them given the snow and clouds, but trust me Poko Moonshine is over there. I like that our view changes with the weather.

Next weekend - November 22 and 23 - my friends Sue and Terry Young are having a holiday sale at their gallery on Route 86 in Jay, NY. If you want to spend your money wisely and buy work from local artists, their gallery would be a great place. Sue does pottery, sculpture, silk painting; Terry does etchings, drawings, paintings, book art and more. They also have a fine selection of work from other local artisans.

The photos above are Sue's "swirling mug"and one of Terry's hand bound drawing tablets.

You can visit their website to see more.

http://www.youngsgallery.com/index.html

Always remember

Today is November 11th, the 11th day of the eleventh month; a day to pay tribute to our veterans. Those who have served this country to make it a better place for you and me deserve our thanks, admiration and remembrance. Their sacrifices make our everyday freedoms a reality.

You can say thank you to a veteran anytime, not just on Veteran's Day. We are losing our World War II veterans...it is estimated that 1,000 die each day. More than 16 million served in WW2 - experts say around 2 million survive at this time.

To all our veterans, thank you for your sacrifice and helping to make this country the best.

It was quite a weekend for me! Sunday found me at another benefit - this one for North Country Life Flight.
WSLP/93.3 in Saranac Lake sponsored "Wing Wars" at Wise Guys sports bar in Lake Placid. Eight area eateries each brought 500 of their best wings to Wise Guys to be eaten and judged by attendees. I was thinking that I would be eating different varieties of Buffalo wings but was I wrong. The restaurants brought tasty and imaginative flavored wings, many served with a special sauce. It made voting very difficult as they were all great!
Over 100 people attended - each paying $10 at the door to eat all the wings they wanted and the first 100 got a free t-shirt. Half of the money collected at the door was donated to North Country Life Flight, our region's air medical rescue team. I'm a former patient. I was flown in May 2005 after a ruptured brain aneurysm. Not only did they save my life and minimize my disabilities - their service is free. No bill to pay! Definitely the best deal of my life. I'm happy to be part of the "ground team" now, volunteering when I can, to help them be available for the next patient who needs them.
North Country Life Flight was presented with a check for $595 at the end of "Wing Wars," and we also received the great news that WSLP, Wise Guys and the other eateries want to do "Wing Wars 2009" to benefit Life Flight again next year!
Many thanks to WSLP, Wise Guys (the people spoke and voted Wise Guys' wings the best!), The Dinner Bell Restaurant, Lisa G’s, The Cottage, The Dancing Bears Restaurant, Romano’s, Eat-N-Meet Grill and Station Street Bar and Grill.
Jim Williams, Vice President and Sales Manager, WSLP (left) presents $595.00 check to North Country Life Flight flight nurse, Steve Hann, RN, CFRN, NREMTP.

I apologize to all who tried to leave a comment previously. I'm still learning and today learned that I had settings set so that those who wanted to leave a comment had to be a blogger member. I believe I have now updated that so you should more easily be able to comment w/o becoming a member of blogger. Just click on the comments icon below the post - you can also have "a reaction" to my posts now - hopefully not hives! I look forward to more feedback. Because, if a tree falls in the forest...

Photos: above Three Doug Knight, from left to right Doug Knight, Speedy Arnold and Alice Knight; right Doug Knight on banjo with Joan Crane, Rod Driscoll and other musician friends. (photos courtesy David Bradford)

Saturday, November 8 I had the privilege of sharing the evening with Doug Knight and over 700 of his friends at a benefit concert for Doug at Ausable Valley Central School. I was just thrilled to be there, enjoying some of the finest talent this region has to offer. Doug Knight is a greatly talented man and his equally talented pals came out in full force out to lend their musical abilities to make the evening one of the finest events I've ever seen and heard.

I remember thinking at one point, "It's like the being at the Grand Ole Opry," as talented musicians came out to play about four songs each and then another group would take the stage. Doug later made reference to the Grand Old Opry as well - we were thinking alike.

I felt like my life was flashing before my eyes (and ears) as bands and musicians I have enjoyed for decades came out to entertain the packed auditorium and the overflow crowd in the school's cafeteria. The cafeteria people were able to see the concert thanks to a video feed that was piped in there, thanks to a team headed up by my pal Allison Arnold.

Doug has been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. To my ear (I only have one I can hear in) and the other 1400 plus ears in the school, it has not affected his ability to entertain and enthrall an audience. Doug, Alice (Doug's wife) and Speedy (Arnold) received more than one standing ovation and they were in fine tune as they delivered great music with their usual humorous commentary (my favorites were "Iko, Iko" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (yes from the "Wizard of Oz"). Doug was a pillar of strength and greatly inspiring as he spoke of how he greatly misses the kids on his bus run since he has had to resign from driving to focus on his recovery; he spoke of his Dad and other family members he has lost to ALS and how he will focus on finding a cure for ALS to make the world better for others, especially his own two sons. His voice cracked a few times but as he said, "I'm surprised I'm not a blubbering idiot up here." His strength and character was awe inspiring as was that of Alice and Speedy and all his close friends.

Other musicians included Joan Crane, the acoustic group Crossing North, country-folk trio Bear Tracks, Eric Gibson of the fabulous Gibson Brothers (Eric's son joined him on stage and did a fine job on mandolin - the Gibson musical future is secure), the Two Tall String Band, harper Martha Gallagher, as well as Skip Smithson, Jeff Rendanaro, and Steve Light. It was great to see Junior Barber again. I remember seeing him decades ago playing his dobro at Channel 57. My old pal and former radio colleague Charlie Stone shared the emcee duties with Speedy Arnold. Charlie and I were both volunteers at Mountain Lake Public Radio in Plattsburgh for a great five year run.

The evening was a successful fundraiser as well. Well done everyone and thank you for the music. Godspeed on your recovery Doug!

Above photo Doug and friends in the concert finale, they performed "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" in joyous fashion! (Photo by David Bradford)

COME TO A NORTH COUNTRY LIFE FLIGHT BENEFIT!!!!

IT'S TIME TO VOTE AGAIN!

COME TO WISE GUY'S IN LAKE PLACID ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 FROM NOON TILL 4 (OR AS LONG AS THE WINGS LAST). EIGHT OF THE BEST EATERIES IN THE AREA WILL EACH BRING 500 OF THEIR BEST CHICKEN WINGS TO "WING WARS." FOR $10 ADMISSION YOU GET TO EAT ALL THE WINGS YOU WANT AND VOTE FOR THE BEST.

HALF OF THE DOOR ADMISSION WITH BE DONATED TO NORTH COUNTRY LIFE FLIGHT, THE REGION'S AIR MEDICAL RESCUE TEAM (THE ONE THAT SAVED MY LIFE).
I'LL BE THERE AND HOPE TO SEE YOU TOO!