Ashland Speaks

By Lula Anderson

September is here and with it, the change to meteorological fall. The air has that nice crisp feel to it, even when the sun shines. The leaves are starting to show the change in seasons, and the birds seem to be stocking up on food for the cold weather. Many people have commented on how early the change has started, but when I think back 50 years, we are right on schedule. We always prepared for the first frost to be around September 9. We knew that it would get warmer, so blankets and plastic was stored out by the garden to cover the plants for the next warm spell. Bill Mead says that the first day of school would bring the men out to the garage to check the levels of antifreeze in the car radiators. Start bringing in your houseplants, repot them, segregate them for a while to make sure you don't bring critters in, remove fans and air conditioners, make windows easier to open during the day and close them at night. Hopefully we are done with mowing, maybe a last mow before the leaves fall. Start prepping for winter.

With the colder weather, the rodents are starting to come in homes where it is warm and dry. To alleviate your problem, get the best mouse trap ever---a cat. My David still has kittens to give away. They are litter trained, and ready to help you keep the mice population under control. Plus, they are a wonderful way to stay warm while watching tv at night as they love to cuddle in your lap. And they will help lower your blood pressure. A total win-win situation.

I finally got to go to Gardens by Trista in Jewett. It is located where Kern's greenhouses were, just after the first corner across from the new house being built on 23C. They will be open Thursday thru Saturday from 9 - 4 and Sunday from 10 - 4. Trista grew up in Gilboa and went to school for landscape design. She is a single mom of a 13 year old daughter and 9 year old son who will be helping out along with Buttercup, their dog, who is ever vigilantly protecting the property, when not sleeping and greeting customers. Right now there are fall displays of gourds, corn stalks, hay bales and fall blooming plants. After November they will be featuring wreaths and holiday decorations. Next spring Trista and staff will be transitioning their stock from Gilboa to the Jewett location. Stop in and visit with the very pleasant staff.

Johanna is up and running in my former office/ Andy's barbershop. I'm still finding it strange to adjust to someone being in my formerly empty room, but it's nice to hear people in there. Right now she is catching up on all of the customers that she had put on hold while moving, but you can make an appointment by calling her at 518-390-9164

Come eat and visit with your neighbors at an Italian Smorgasbord presented by the East Jewett UMC 2252 Rt 23C East Jewett, NY on Thursday, September 19. Seatings at 4, 5, and 6. Reservations ar suggested but not required. All you can eat lasagna, ziti and meatball. Free will offering. Call 518-589-5965 or 518-263-4887.

Thanks for the invite to New Baltimore's Senior Picnic. Charlene Mabey and I went together and had a wonderful time.

Please remember September 15th gathering/ fund raiser at the Mitchell Hollow Chapel at 2 PM. There will be lots of singing and I will tell the story of the Stone Giant (David). Proceeds are to help fund the repairs on the church.

Don't forget the vaccine clinic at the WAJPL meeting room on September 23 starting at 12:30. The vaccines administered will be Shingles, RSV and Tdap. Please bring Medicare and secondary insurance cards. This is a combined program from the Dept of Aging and Greene County Health Department. For additional information and to sign up, call the Department of Aging at 518-719-3555. If you have no insurance, or if your insurance will not cover these vaccines, Greene County has secured a grant insuring no Senior Citizen will be unvaccinated. Remember, these vaccines are not only for you, but to protect you from passing certain viruses to your loved ones. Your (great) grandchildren are especially vulnerable to RSV and pertussis (whooping cough). Make sure you can hold them and cuddle them by being protected.

Best wishes and be extra vigilant for all the little ones who are in school. Prayers for Becky Mower, Ken Krom and Paul Tompkins Jr.

AS I REMEMBER IT

Last week on Chanel 6 the daily feature was Sweet Shops in the area, with Scoops Ice Cream being in the center of it all. I love ice cream any time of the year. My good friends know that the best present for me is a pint of ice cream with all of the fixings for a sundae. Don't give me a quart or half gallon. I'll just sit down and eat it all. When I was little, we would have a special outing occasionally when we would go out for a treat. I'd watch the guy behind the counter start with a little silver boat into which he would put a large banana cut in half. Next would come the three scoops of ice cream-to your order, I always picked 3 different flavors. Next came the toppings: chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce and pineapple sauce. Of course, lots of whipped cream and nuts. Not a sprinkling of dry nuts. I always loved the wet nut: walnuts in a sweet sauce to add lovely sweetness to the mix. Now comes the crowning glory: the cherry on top! As they were making the same thing on television, I watched, drooled and wanted to be there. I felt like I was sitting with my family again. Picturing Avey's Drug Store in Windham, Leon's Luncheonette, Suttons in Prattsville and Warm's in Hunter. I thought of the many trips to Stewarts as we got older and had Make Your Own Sundae parties. I thought of my friend Rosie, who loved pineapple sundaes. When she was dating Marty, they would stop for ice cream and after perusing the menu, would always order a pineapple sundae. Why do you bother reading the menu Marty would ask? Well, it seems more grownup to pretend to make a choice than just blurt out my usual order she would reply. It's strange that such a small segment of the news would bring back so many pleasant memories.

Did I stir up your taste buds? Are you dying to go out for an ice cream sundae? I hope so, and please bring me back one. Lula