As Suzie Tells It . . .

OVER THE RAINBOW

2011-07-18T20:32:00.002-04:00

The gift of rain was enough for me, but we got a surprise, too.

ANOTHER USE FOR GARLIC

2011-06-21T15:15:00.003-04:00

With garlic harvest just around the corner, here is yet another unheard tip - at least I never heard it before! For your next manicure, try adding a teaspoon of finely chopped garlic to your base coat. It supposedly strengthens nails and some believe it helps them grow faster. With the already nasty smell of the polish, I don't think I'll be attempting this one. And, wouldn't it be bumpy? Let me know, if you are brave enough to do this.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE BUD!

2011-06-16T14:46:00.001-04:00

More Happy Birthday | Forward this Graphic

A JOKE

2011-06-03T21:41:00.000-04:00

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, "My friend is dead! What can I do?". The operator says "Calm down. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says "OK, now what?"

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!

2011-05-25T16:11:00.001-04:00

I suppose we should be grateful to have only rain rather than the more severe weather that has touched other parts of the country. Still, I wonder, should we be building an ark?

STRAWBERRIES

2011-05-19T19:21:00.001-04:00

BEETHOVEN

2011-05-19T01:29:00.001-04:00

When Beethoven passed away, he was buried in a churchyard. A couple days later, the town drunk was walking through the cemetery and heard some strange noise coming from the area where Beethoven was buried. Terrified, the drunk ran and got the priest to come and listen to it. The priest bent close to the grave and heard some faint, unrecognizable music coming from the grave. Frightened, the priest ran and got the town magistrate.

When the magistrate arrived, he bent his ear to the grave, listened for a moment, and said, "Ah, yes, that's Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, being played backwards."

He listened a while longer, and said, "There's the Eighth Symphony, and it's backwards, too. Most puzzling." So the magistrate kept listening; "There's the Seventh... the Sixth... the Fifth..."

Suddenly the realization of what was happening dawned on the magistrate; he stood up and announced to the crowd that had gathered in the cemetery, "My fellow citizens, there's nothing to worry about. It's just Beethoven decomposing."

IS THIS REAL?

2011-05-13T23:19:00.001-04:00

ANIMATED .GIF

2011-05-09T18:47:00.003-04:00

This is so cool. I don't know much about these .gifs, but you need to click on the photo to see the animation.

To view more like this, you can visit this site.

OH, HAIL!

2011-04-26T23:58:00.000-04:00

The parking lot at work in Camillus, New York.

EASTER IS A'COMIN'!

2011-04-01T16:57:00.003-04:00

MY GRANDDAUGHTER, THE ARTIST!

2011-03-25T14:45:00.004-04:00

This is a photograph of one of Cody's masterpieces and isn't very clear as I took the shot at night and had some glare issues since it's matted and framed under glass. A pair of Mandy's shoes. Isn't it good? Or am I just being a grandmother?

And this is Cody, our fifteen-year-old granddaughter.

MARDI GRAS

2011-03-08T14:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Fat Tuesday!

COLONOSCOPY

2011-03-03T16:28:00.007-05:00

The following was written by Dave Barry. I love his humor. That is not to say that this isn't a serious matter, but, if you've experienced this procedure, I'm sure you will, in some part, "relate."

Colonoscopy Journal:

I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy.

A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis .

Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manner.

I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn't really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, 'HE'S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!'

I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a product called 'MoviPrep,' which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America's enemies. I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation. In accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor.

Then, in the evening, I took the MoviPrep. You mix two packets of powder together in a one-liter plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32 gallons.) Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon.

The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after you drink it, 'a loose, watery bowel movement may result..' This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may experience contact with the ground..

MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic, here, but, have you ever seen a space-shuttle launch? This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience, with you as the shuttle. There are times when you wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another liter of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet. After an action-packed evening, I finally got to sleep.

The next morning my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of MoviPrep spurtage. I was thinking, 'What if I spurt on Andy?' How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough.

At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. Then they led me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked.

Then a nurse named Eddie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand. Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Eddie was very good, and I was already lying down. Eddie also told me that some people put vodka in their MoviPrep. At first I was ticked off that I hadn't thought of this, but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom, so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode. You would have no choice but to burn your house.

When everything was ready, Eddie wheeled me into the procedure room, where Andy was waiting with a nurse and an anesthesiologist. I did not see the 17,000-foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere.. I was seriously nervous at this point.

Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anesthesiologist began hooking something up to the needle in my hand. There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was 'Dancing Queen' by ABBA. I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, 'Dancing Queen' had to be the least appropriate.

'You want me to turn it up?' said Andy, from somewhere behind me.

'Ha ha,' I said. And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for more than a decade. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I'm going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.

I have no idea. Really. I slept through it. One moment, ABBA was yelling 'Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine,' and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood. Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that IT was all over, and that my colon had passed with flying colors. I have never been prouder of an internal organ.

On the subject of Colonoscopies... Colonoscopies are no joke, but these comments during the exam were quite humorous..... A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:

1. 'Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!'

2. 'Find Amelia Earhart yet?'

3. 'Can you hear me NOW?'

4. 'Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?'

5. 'You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married.'

6. 'Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?'

7. 'You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out...'

8. 'Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!'

9. 'If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!'

10. 'Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity.'

11. 'You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?'

12. 'God, now I know why I am not gay.'

And the best one of all:

13. 'Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?'

I LOVE WEGMANS!

2011-02-24T16:12:00.000-05:00

KITCHEN UPDATES 2011

2011-01-31T13:10:00.002-05:00

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Our ceramic tile in the kitchen has been really tough on our legs and, after battling the grout situation for some time now, we decided to replace the floor with a laminate flooring that snaps together with a tongue and groove system. It's a reddish slate and is lovely. Both sons - I'm so proud of them - worked on it together. A good team! And I managed to stay cool. Such a nice job. You can see that we removed the half wall of dark paneling with chair rail and have been whittling away at taking down the wallpaper. (That's a job and a HALF!) Bernie and Matt say NO MORE WALLPAPER so paint it will be. The cupboard paint job has held up well; that will remain the same. We need to decide on a wall color.

CHRISTMAS EVE 2010

2010-12-25T11:03:00.002-05:00

Christmas Eve with the Cawleys and Rockwells -

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THE LATEST CHIA SENSATION

2010-12-16T15:54:00.000-05:00

I sincerely hope that I don't find one of these under MY Christmas tree!

NOW THAT'S A GINGERBREAD MAN!

2010-12-11T11:18:00.000-05:00

On November 12, 2009, this gingerbread man, weighing 1,435 pounds, was unveiled by Sultan Kosen, the world's tallest man ( 8 ', 1") at an Ikea store in Oslo, Norway. Although this Guinness record may have been broken since, it was the largest at that time. Big? Yes! But not a very good-looking cookie, is it?

And, speaking of gingerbread. Again. I have to bite my tongue every morning when I grab my Dunkin Donuts coffee to avoid ordering one of their gingerbread muffins, too! They are deLISH!

GINGERBREAD

2010-12-09T09:58:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Read all about Gingerbread.

PLAYIN' HOOKEY?

2010-12-08T19:23:00.001-05:00

The weather here today was horrendous! Bernie and I both had doctor appointments that we canceled and I decided not to brave the "freak ass" hill to go into work. When Bernie went outside to plow and shovel (again), I decided that I had better make good use of the time at home. With the help of son Mark, we got the living room ceiling painted last weekend. Today I got one wall painted. The color doesn't look true to life in the first picture; it's more like what is shown in the last photo of the partly painted wall and mantel. That was all a yellowy color before. The mantel and the piece at the hearth will be nice and white when we're done (whenever that is). I think, done or not, we'll put up the Christmas tree over this coming weekend.

WEGMAN'S AND ALEC BALDWIN

2010-12-02T16:27:00.001-05:00

TITHING IN LAS VEGAS

2010-12-02T14:31:00.001-05:00

This may come as a surprise to those of you not living in Las Vegas, Nevada. The city boasts more Catholic churches than casinos. Not surprisingly, some worshipers will give casino chips when the basket is passed at Sunday services.

Since the churches get chips from many different casinos, they have devised a method of collecting the offerings. All collected chips are sent to a nearby Franciscan monastery where they are sorted and then taken to be cashed in at their originating casinos.

This task is performed by the chip monks.

GO, KELLY!

2010-11-30T18:54:00.001-05:00

THANKSGIVING AT MANDY'S

2010-11-29T19:54:00.002-05:00

BATH AND BODY WORKS OFFER

2010-11-29T16:24:00.000-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! A FREE item with any $10 purchase at Bath and Body Works!
Here is the link to this coupon.

GOMEZ ADDAMS/JOHN ASTIN

2010-11-24T18:03:00.000-05:00

GLORIA GOBBLER

2010-11-20T13:37:00.000-05:00

DO YOU RECALL SKOTCH ICE?

2010-11-20T10:07:00.002-05:00

I saw something red plaid in an advertisement today and had a flashback. Back in the 1950's, my mother stored several small cans of something called Skotch Ice in the small freezer section of our refrigerator. When she packed a cooler or picnic basket, she'd grab those cans and toss them in instead of ice. They could be refrozen and used multiple times. I don't remember if we had the actual Skotch cooler, but I do remember the cans. Today, these things (among a number of other items recalled from our youth) are collector items.

HO HO HO!

2010-11-18T16:26:00.002-05:00

SUNFLOWER PUZZLE

2010-10-21T19:18:00.000-04:00

KLEENEX OFFER

2010-10-17T19:55:00.000-04:00

Share the softness of Kleenex with someone you love! You can send a package of Kleenex tissues for FREE. Check out the offer at this link. Nice idea!

THE BIRDS

2010-10-16T17:07:00.001-04:00

I was awakened this morning by the sound of hundreds of birds. I'm not sure what kind of birds they were but it was almost scary. My guess is they are gathering together for their trip to warmer climes. After that, the sun graced us with her presence (following several days of drizzle) making for a perfect fall day!

BRINGING IN THE HAY AT VINNIE'S

2010-10-03T16:32:00.005-04:00

Khoa

Vinnie and Bernie

My hubby

Vinnie, who has a foot injury, needed to get a load of hay in his horse barn. It's almost impossible to keep him from doing things that he shouldn't be doing. Bernie went up with the tractor to move the hay elevator into place. Vinnie's son Nick, a couple of friends, a co-worker of Freddie's, Khoa, and Bernie made fast work of it. The younger ones were stacking, up in the mow in the dark. Between my trying to stay out of the way and the low light level inside, I wasn't able to get many shots of the process. But that's what we did yesterday. I believe he told us that it will hold another five loads and that's about what they'll need for winter use. It's a BIG barn. They all got fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies for helping.

Nick

Horse Barn

Bernie's Kubota

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PLANTING GARLIC BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!

2010-09-20T20:18:00.010-04:00

And so we begin the labor intensive process of producing a fine crop of garlic.

We start by working up the soil and letting it sit for a few days at least. Bernie has planted buckwheat twice since the last harvest and plowed it under before it 'went to seed.' This should help to replenish nutrients in the soil. He has added compost, too, from our pile of grass clippings, old horse manure, wood stove ashes, vegetable scraps, some wood chips and the like.

He chooses a three-day period during which we plant, based on the phases of the moon. The rule is to plant on the waning moon closest to the New Moon. This year, for October, that would be the 5th, 6th and 7th. The New Moon would be on the 8th. Sounds a little loony, but it's the 'old school' way that his father taught him. And, heaven forbid it should be rainy and miserable, making planting impossible, or you wait till the following month. You can probably use the less stringent plant date of "somewhere around Columbus Day" (which falls on October 11th this year) and you'll be just fine.

We plant all by hand, placing cloves about six inches apart, with the root end down, and at least 3 inches deep. He makes the rows and covers them with the use of a tractor. For each clove planted, you will yield one bulb.

The cold weather sets in. The snow falls. And, in the early spring, we see green poking up sometimes even through a little snow.

If you are planting a softneck variety, except for weeding, your work is mostly done until it's time to pick.

If you planted hardneck, you need to watch for scapes. Refer to my earlier post here for instruction on these.

Toward the end of June, we start checking a bulb here and there to mark its progress. Around the first to the mid part of July, it's ready to be picked - another arduous task. This, too, is done by hand, and when it's "ready" we have about three days to get it all harvested. One year, back when we grew a far greater amount, we used a potato digger, an old piece of farm machinery that is dragged along behind the tractor. It made easy work of the digging and we walked along after it, placing the garlic on wagons. Unfortunately, it caused bruising of some of the garlic. We never used it again after that.

From there, we snip off the roots and wash. Again, it's done piece by piece. Every year, we tell ourselves that there must be an easier way and every year we repeat the routine!

While some of us are cleaning, some of us are braiding. We braid for two reasons. First, we would never have enough space to store it without braiding and hanging it and, secondly, it will cure nicely with air moving around it. I probably shouldn't leave out a third reason, that being: my father-in-law always did it that way!

Our Italian garlic, a softneck type, seems to hold up very well. We've had it last us from one season to the next and we get customers who tell us the same. I'm sure, of course, that's not always the case.

MODERN FAMILY

2010-09-10T19:12:00.000-04:00

The season premiere of Modern Family will be on SOON! September 22, 2010, at 9 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.

ME AN' MOM

2010-08-28T20:46:00.002-04:00

WHAT D' YA THINK?

2010-08-18T17:59:00.001-04:00

MASALA VINO WINE TASTING

2010-08-09T01:50:00.000-04:00

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THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

2010-08-04T07:00:00.002-04:00

With the days of summer dwindling down to the last precious few, I think back to a time when that vacation from school seemed endless. Time sure does seem to fly by as we age!

Aunt Shirley would drive her three boys, when they were little, to school everyday for the first week or so, just to make sure that they knew where they should go. My mother didn't drive yet. That meant, on the first day of school, we had to take the bus. For my first two years of school, I boarded the bus alone. I had a nice bus driver, Ed B., but once the bus arrived at school, I was on my own. It was scary. As my sisters came of age, being the oldest of three, I had the job of making sure the younger ones got where they were supposed to be. It felt like an overwhelming responsibility, although, I'm sure I didn't relate that to my mom and dad. As summer vacation waned, I would worry and would even lose sleep thinking about this daunting task.

Years later, when my Amanda was ready to start school, I planned my vacation time around this event. I wanted to be able to ease any discomfort she might have about going to a strange, new place. My baby was going to school. I didn't want her to 'suffer' as I had. I intended to drive her to school and walk her into the building and show her where to go until she was comfortable.

When the big day arrived, Mandy ate a little breakfast, excitedly donned her new clothes and headed toward the door. I told her I would be just another few minutes. She looked at me as if I were crazy and announced that she would be riding the school bus with her friends. She did not WANT me to take her.

Perhaps I should have consulted with her on the matter. I spent the remainder of the week with nothing to do.

OUT OF THE HARBOR

2010-07-26T00:03:00.002-04:00

TODAY IN SACKETS HARBOR

2010-07-24T22:05:00.000-04:00

WORLD'S LONGEST DREADLOCKS

2010-07-16T10:09:00.004-04:00

I complain that my darn hair is so thin. Can you even imagine caring for this head of hair? Wow!

I'M NOT A BIG JEWEL FAN, BUT

2010-07-14T12:55:00.002-04:00

This was cute.

Undercover Karaoke with Jewel from Jewel

NO SIGH OF RELIEF JUST YET!

2010-07-11T13:07:00.001-04:00

This is what we like to see:

This is what we are actually seeing:

The rest of the gardens are in bad need of attention. So many weeds! But it will just have to wait until we're under control with the garlic. The deer are behaving and staying clear. That may be because we are outside late into the night, talking, playing our loud music and working our butts off. (I wish...)

And, still a half field of two more kinds of garlic to pick. :O(

We are making progress though. We have lots left to clean, but under cover.

We have a good amount cleaned and ready to braid.

And, although it's not the best crop we've had, it's hearty and beautiful!

GARLIC UPDATE

2010-07-09T09:40:00.000-04:00

After much stressing and back-breaking work yesterday, trying to pull the last few rows of softneck garlic and finding room to get it under cover, it appears that the rain predicted for late last night was another weatherman's mistake. The good news is: All of the Italian garlic is safely out of the ground. On the downside: It ain't over yet! Another half field of German and Spanish will need to be picked soon. And it all needs to be cleaned for braiding. (Sigh.)

WHAT'S GOIN' ON HERE?

2010-07-05T17:20:00.001-04:00

Saturday, after getting together our lists of things to do this weekend, Bernie and I headed out to "The Rez," short for the Onondaga Indian Reservation. Bernie needed to stock up on his cigarette-making supplies :O( and driving down through Nedrow, the back way, offers a picturesque view. The air-conditioned comfort of the car was going to be welcomed as well!

The smoke store's parking lot was a flurry of activity. Bernie pulled into a spot beside a black s.u.v. and hopped out to go make his purchases. Teddy and I waited in the car, observing patrons of all sizes, colors and ages streaming in and out of the building. I made a mental note that most of them were unhealthy-looking and nearly all took one last, long hit from a cigarette before dousing it and entering the store.

A black woman emerged from the neighboring s.u.v., raising up her hand which held both a cigarette and a green box (which may have been a cigarette case) and gave me a questioning look. Not understanding what she wanted, I sat there, looking stupid, with Teddy on my lap. She stepped closer still to our car and tapped on my window, motioning to open it. I did. Only a few inches though, since Teddy, given the slightest opportunity, was ready to take a bite out of her.

The woman asked, "Do you have a light?" I answered I didn't. Sorry. She hopped back into her vehicle. With all of the obvious smokers parading by, I wondered why she would ask me for a light.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her chatting on her cell phone. I noticed several people walked up to her car window. I was trying not to look directly at her, but this was odd. She seemed to know a lot of people.

A car pulled into the space next to us and a teenaged boy got out of the back seat, walked behind our car and up to the black s.u.v. This time, I saw he handed something to the black woman and she gave something to him, a fast exchange. He quickly returned to his ride and left! Nobody from that vehicle even went into the smoke store! Hmmm.

At this point, I was anxious to get the heck out of there. Here I was - you know me - sitting there with my camera around my neck with something strange taking place. I didn't feel safe or I would have snapped plenty of photos.

Finally, Bernie returned and we started back home. After relating the events to him, we decided that it very well could have been drug dealing and the black woman probably mistook me for a customer! A non-Indian selling drugs on a reservation probably has a lesser chance of being apprehended.

I think I'll pass on the next picturesque trip to "The Rez!" Too much excitement for me.

OUT IN THE COUNTRY

2010-06-30T12:38:00.004-04:00

"Before the breathin' air is gone, before the sun is just a bright spot in the nighttime, out where the rivers like to run, I stand alone and take back something worth remembering." Three Dog Night

A doe with her twin fawns

Our solar "watch dog" (Mother's Day gift from Mark and Heidi)

View North, the evening (June 28, 2010) of the tornado in Palermo

He loves me, he loves me not!

(P.S. Can you tell that I haven't had much time to devote to blogging??!!)

YES, DEER!

2010-06-22T21:10:00.000-04:00

We think we've seen this one before with a fawn. The baby was nowhere in sight this evening. :O(

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?

2010-06-22T20:55:00.004-04:00

Oddly enough, this video clip, taken through the screen of our living room window, looks quite clear.

A WORD FROM TRICIA ON FATHER’S DAY

2010-06-20T23:00:00.001-04:00

Tricia D., my cousin in Connecticut, is thinking of her dad today:

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO MY DAD

It's been 13 years but I think of you everyday.

The silly things you used to say. Like when the car in front of you didn't move, "It ain't gettin' any greener buddy."

Your favorite riddle, which I still don't get: What's the difference between a duck? One of its legs are both the same.

And when you used to tell Mom on hot summer days you'd rather have a bowl of ice for dinner. We dared Mom to do it but she never did.

And how you used to complain that you'd rather be fishing on Sunday mornings instead of being in Church, so you could be "nearer to God in nature." Mom never bought that one.

And at the end of Mass when the Priest said, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, and you replied with emphasis and glee, "THANKS BE TO GOD."

Love you Dad.

IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL!

2010-06-09T18:47:00.001-04:00

OUT IN THE COUNTRY

2010-06-07T14:23:00.007-04:00

"Green Acres is the place to be.

Farm livin' is the life for me.

Land spreadin' out so far and wide.

Keep Manhattan, just gimme that countryside"

It's such a beautiful day today! 66 degrees, bright and breezy.

Bernie has decided that it would be easier (?) to plant a few things where our last year's garden was, rather than to let it become grass and have to mow it. He planted, so far, a row and a half of tomato plants and a the other half row is pepper plants. And, he says he put in a couple of rows of potatoes, but since they are under the ground, I can't be sure what "a couple of rows" actually IS.

Cheryl: I keep forgetting to ask you this. We talked about a plant that you call Periwinkle. We have what is shown in a close up below growing all over the ditch in the front of our place (above) and we call it Myrtle. Do you think that this is the same thing? Your description sounded like it - thick, ground cover with waxy leaves and purple flowers, although, I suppose that could describe a hundred things!

And, although I don't believe National Geographic will be begging me to join their filming crew any time soon, here's my attempt at capturing our little, feathered friend on video.

NEIGHBORHOOD COOKOUT AT BABCOCKS, June 5th, 2010

2010-06-06T12:13:00.001-04:00

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TIFFANY HAS MOVED!

2010-06-01T22:49:00.001-04:00

And this is where she lives. She has a studio apartment with a tiny kitchen. Hers is on the bottom floor, to the right as you enter the front door. It includes a nice, screened-in porch which is hardly visible because of the greenery, but is all along the right side of the building.

MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL VISITOR

2010-06-01T07:38:00.001-04:00

We had a surprise visitor yesterday, a snapping turtle. He was in the area where Bernie splits wood and was digging in the wood chips. I say he. I think maybe he was a she, getting ready to lay some eggs? This morning, he/she's nowhere to be found.

THE YANKEES

2010-05-30T14:03:00.000-04:00

Tiffany and Gene are at the game today and this is their view!

BRIDGET SULLIVAN

2010-05-26T12:02:00.006-04:00

This is the daughter of Yvonne Brown Sullivan (who is one of "Cap" Brown's daughters from Sackets Harbor). Isn't she good? I wish I could go all the way to Alaska to see her perform in person!

DUNKIN' DONUTS OFFER

2010-05-25T13:23:00.000-04:00

FLAT SOPHIE'S VISIT

2010-05-18T19:26:00.002-04:00

Anybody interested in seeing what we did while Flat Sophie visited? I put together and ordered a little book telling about our experiences and will be sending it (and her!) back to Sackets Harbor as soon as I receive it. This was the first time I've used Blurb.com. Hopefully, it will be a nice keepsake for Sophie. The preview below is best when viewed "full screen."

Flat Sophie Visits Camillus by Suzie Buza | Make Your Own Book

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2010-05-08T15:16:00.000-04:00

I Learned From You

I learned about love from you,

Watching your caring ways.

I learned about joy from you

In fun-filled yesterdays.

From you I learned forgiving

Of faults both big and small.

I learned what I know about living

From you, as you gave life your all.

The example you set is still with me

I'd never want any other.

I'm thankful for all that you taught me,

And I'm blessed to call you "Mother."

By Joanna Fuchs

GOSSAMER FARMS

2010-05-08T14:42:00.001-04:00

Finally, we made a visit to the alpaca farm! Tiffany and I made the excursion with our Sackets Harbor visitor, Flat Sophie, this afternoon. These animals are SO cute. I'm disappointed that the strange little humming noise they make can't be heard above the sound of the wind.

And the smallest one of all!

KIM AND IAN PHILLIPS

2010-05-08T06:37:00.001-04:00

This is my nephew Ian (Patti's son) and his wife, Kim. They reside in York, PA.

YOU GUESSED IT!

2010-05-07T13:24:00.001-04:00

Angie is correct! The photo of the mystery person below is none other than the host of American Idol, Ryan Seacrest. I suppose if he weighed more, he might somewhat resemble Drew Carey.

HINT

2010-05-07T09:57:00.002-04:00

The mystery person pictured in a previous post is NOT Drew Carey, although in that photo, he does resemble him, doesn't he?

FROM KARYN THIS MORNING

2010-05-06T08:39:00.000-04:00

Karyn apparently has these scary encounters often when she's "on foot" and they look so out of place. Are they wild? What keeps these creatures from wandering right into the street?

RECOGNIZE THIS FELLA?

2010-05-05T08:31:00.002-04:00

HINT: I don't believe he is related to anyone I know.

MORNING STROLL

2010-05-04T07:33:00.005-04:00

A sound that made me think water was dripping somewhere woke me up this morning. When I got up to look out the bedroom window, I discovered a big ol' turkey walking along the back of the house. If the door had been open, he could have walked inside. I didn't catch him on camera that close to the house, or even close enough to hear his funny clicking or clucking noise, after stumbling to get the camera in my half-asleep state. He had made his way back toward the higher grass. Mick was sitting across the yard, just observing. Although Mick is a big strong cat, he must have realized he was no match for Tom. This guy was large. (Actually, I don't know how to determine a male turkey from a female so maybe he was a she.)

UPDATE: And, I guess they have turkeys lurking in Boston as well! Karyn was frightened by the one below this morning.

FLAT SOPHIE HAS ARRIVED!

2010-05-03T08:15:00.001-04:00

For anyone wondering, Flat Sophie arrived in Camillus on Saturday afternoon. (She was a little tired from her trip so we haven't done anything too exciting yet.)

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

2010-04-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

In 1970, the first Earth Day was organized to promote ideas focused on saving our planet from polution of soil, air and water. Celebrate our environment!

HOLLY, INSPIRATIONAL TEACHER OF THE MONTH

2010-04-17T11:21:00.000-04:00

This is Patti and Ken's daughter who resides in California. They must be so proud of her!

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/video.

OPENING DAY FOR SYRACUSE CHIEFS

2010-04-15T13:43:00.000-04:00

Kelly and Carol were in the Syracuse paper! This photo was taken April 8, 2010, at Alliance Bank Stadium.

BLEEDING HEARTS and HUMMINGBIRDS

2010-04-15T13:36:00.003-04:00

Ready and waiting for our teeny, feathered friends, the hummingbirds.

If you haven't already seen it, here's a short video clip that Debby sent to me.

MASALA VINO

2010-04-13T20:41:00.001-04:00

EASTER SUNDAY AND AN IMPORTANT NOTICE

2010-04-04T23:59:00.003-04:00

Tiffany and Mark and Heidi were here for ham dinner. Everyone's gone home, leaving us with a good deal of "leftovers" and sweets and the house is quiet again. We hope everyone had a great day today.

NOTE:

I'd like to mention that as of right now, when you make a comment to the blog, you'll have an extra step. It's 'word recognition' designed to stop spam. I've been getting spam comments containing links that I just don't want to deal with anymore, and, hopefully, this won't be too inconvenient to anybody who wants to add their voice to the blog. Let's try it.

FIRST COOKOUT OF THE SEASON

2010-04-03T23:00:00.000-04:00

Digital slideshow made with Smilebox

DECK WOES

2010-04-02T07:00:00.002-04:00

Bernie and I noticed that the left side of the deck was "sinking" and found out why. The post on that side is in the ground and has rotted. We have another project.

PROGRESS REPORT

2010-03-30T12:55:00.004-04:00

It's taking a long time to get that ol' wallpaper down, I know. This wall is paper-free now. The opposing wall needs a little more work, then patching and priming. In an attempt to rid the room of all the extra stuff that has accumulated, I get sidetracked. Still, we've made progress.

And, even though it's only been in the high thirties, the flowers are popping up.

This is my poor, bedraggled Christmas Rose.

Best of all, the garlic is three or four inches high!

LAST SUMMER

2010-03-28T17:56:00.003-04:00

My Uncle Bud

My Uncle Dave and Aunt Bunnie

TIM HAWKINS

2010-03-20T14:28:00.002-04:00

WHITE BIRCH TREE

2010-03-18T21:56:00.002-04:00

I love birch trees and this one is at the building that houses Tarolli & Tarolli law offices where I work.

Some information about the White Birch Tree:

"The bark is often used as a fire starter because it burns even when its wet. Native Americans often used the bark to cover their canoes. They also used it to make baskets, baby carriers, mats, torches and moose calls. Because the wood was strong and flexible it was made into spears, bows and arrows, snowshoes and sleds. The wood is now used for building lumber to make veneer, pulpwood and plywood. Syrup, wine, beer, and medicinal tonics are made from the sap."

Bibliography: Petrides, George A. (1972). A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs. Boston, MA, Houghton Mifflin Company.

And, that concludes our lesson for today!

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!

2010-03-17T06:00:00.001-04:00

ALBERTVILLE, MINNESOTA

2010-03-16T14:54:00.000-04:00

THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR

2010-03-16T11:04:00.004-04:00

While Tiffany is on break this week, our project will be wallpaper removal in our living room and hall. I believe I papered back in 1996. Time for a change! And, by posting this, we can't slow down or back out!

Last night, we started picking at a few spots, as you can tell on this wall below.We decided to get started to see how easy/difficult the job would be and we nearly finished the opposite hall wall. I am SO happy that, back when I did it, I applied that suggested sizing!

I'm thinking we might like a nice taupe paint, though not too dark. No firm decision on the color yet. We're hoping to buy some new living room furnishings, if the IRS is good to us this year so that will enter into the color choice.

CHICAGO RIVER TRADITION

2010-03-15T16:21:00.004-04:00

Each year, a few hours before the scheduled St. Paddy's Day Parade, plumbers of Local 130 in Chicago dump a secret ingredient into the Chicago River which turns the river green for a few hours, adding to the festivities along the parade route. The green dissipates about three hours later. What is used is not harmful but is a highly kept secret. To read more, go HERE.

DID YOU REMEMBER?

2010-03-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Set your clocks ahead one hour. Spring forward, fall back.

MOST VALUABLE PET PHOTO CONTEST

2010-03-13T20:43:00.007-05:00

Tiffany has entered Teddy in a photo contest. You can vote for him HERE until March 18th. I will forewarn you that, before voting, the site requires you to register your e-mail. They'll send a verification e-mail and then you can vote. (The poor little guy only had THREE votes when I checked it out!)

HOME-BAKED BREAD

2010-03-13T15:58:00.005-05:00

Our bread machine is so old that it seems to have developed a temperature problem and makes a very crispy outside crust around the entire loaf. For that reason, I generally only use its "dough" cycle to do the hard part, then rise the dough on the stove top or counter and bake it in the regular oven. Bernie loves it so much that I've been doing that every other day! Today, I decided to double the recipe and make TWO loaves. I read, too, that after that kneading process, the dough can be removed and placed in freezer bags to freeze, then defrost and bake later. I might take a day soon, when I'm feeling ambitious, and make up several batches. It is SO good.

DOG TRANSPORTATION

2010-03-12T06:45:00.000-05:00

This appeared in a 1936 Popular Mechanics magazine. I don't think the idea would be well-accepted in this day and age.

LINDSAY LOHAN?

2010-03-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

I thought this Super Bowl commercial was cute and funny but I did not catch any reference to Lindsay Lohan. Now, she's suing e-trade for $100 million for poking fun at her? I think that's a stretch, to say the least. What is WRONG with people?

KATE AND TONY

2010-03-10T15:28:00.003-05:00

Coming SOON! What do you think?

ALMOST SPRING

2010-03-10T10:46:00.003-05:00

I'm encouraged that spring is just around the corner! A few more days of 50-degree temperatures and this snow will be gone.

MY, HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

2010-03-09T12:21:00.003-05:00

Bernie found this bill and receipt in a box of odds and ends downstairs. It's the bill for his mother when he was born! $14.50 a day for the hospital room and $5.00 a day for the nursery! Wow! It looks like Blue Cross paid $40.00 of the total and his dad (also Bernard) paid the balance of $73.85. Unbelievable!

VISITORS

2010-03-08T11:02:00.003-05:00

I didn't realize that Teddy would follow me out the door which I had left open so as not to scare off the deer in our yard. It's evident that one of them saw the dog right away. Generally, we can speak softly to them without frightening them.

DID YOU KNOW? (DO YOU CARE?)

2010-03-05T12:49:00.005-05:00

Dancing With the Stars Season 10 premieres Monday, March 22nd, at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and one of the contestants will be KATE GOSSELIN of Jon & Kate Plus 8 fame. She'll be sporting her new hair extensions.

CODY!

2010-03-01T20:33:00.004-05:00

Thank God for facebook! I get to see and hear more from my grandchildren. Well. From ONE of them anyway. They sure are growing up!

NEW DOLLAR BILL

2010-02-26T23:00:00.000-05:00

GETTING READY FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY

2010-02-25T10:30:00.005-05:00

The annual green beer delivery will take place at noon on Sunday, February 28th, 2010, at Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub, corner of Tompkins Street and South Lowell Avenue on Tipperary Hill.

The Syracuse St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held downtown at noon on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

SNOW EFFECT

2010-02-17T13:21:00.004-05:00

Do you think that maybe it would cease snowing if I were to remove the "snow effect" from this blog?! I can't speak for anyone else but I've really had enough winter. What's it "doing" where you are? It's 28 degrees F. in Camillus, New York. I would guess that some of you are a tad bit warmer than that.

I KNOW

2010-02-15T10:38:00.002-05:00

It's out of season, but I just wanted to see their faces.