Ashland Speaks

By Lula Anderson

Thoughts on the week past, what did I do to keep busy? I have been sorting boxes of stuff. I find many "treasures" but also amass a lot of garbage bags. I guess that's progress. Thursday a large group met at the Jewett Nutrition Center for turkey dinner. The county nutritionist was there for her monthly visit and gave us info to prepare our diets for the upcoming Holiday Season. She also brought yummy cake for us to take home for our evening snack. Onward to the Mountain Top Golden Age Club meeting in Tannersville and more cake and coffee. What a way to prepare for the season! The best advice on the list is sit and eat and try not to eat alone. I know that is the hard part as I sit in front of my TV nightly and fill up with whatever is available. When the boys were young, I often wished for peace and quiet, and not having to make a big meal every evening. Now, I wish I had those days back again.

A big week coming up. Friday night's Harvest Dinner at Hope Restoration starting at 4:30, Turn the clocks back on Saturday night, Election Day on Tuesday along with our Soup and Bake Sale at the Ashland Fire House. We have been working hard filling jars with cookie mixes for gifts, or just to have all the ingredients mixed together for you to bake your own fresh, hot out of the oven goodness. Go from there to Lexington for their annual Turkey Dinner. Take outs only start at 1. Last year they sold out really early, so be prepared.

Support your local veterans by going to the VFW Veteran's Day Breakfast at the VFW Hall 5565 NY 23 on November 10 starting at 8 am. Free will donation.

Come to the WAJPL Craft day on Monday November 11 from 10 - 2 and find out how talented our Senior Citizens really are. Then on November 16th, we will be holding a Holiday Bazaar complete with a bake sale and lunch for sale. Many people have been signing up to display their wares, plus a White Elephant table. How can you possibly miss it? Hours are from 10 - 4.

I mentioned eating alone, and also the Jewett Nutrition Center. Did you know that anyone 60 and older are welcome to attend meals at the congregate centers in Greene County? They are located in Acra (518) 622-9898. Athens (518)945-2700, Catskill (518)943-1343. Coxsakie (518)731-8901 and Jewett (518) 263-4392. Reservations must be made at least a day in advance, but the food and community spirit is wonderful. If you're taking the shopping bus to Catskill, you can make a reservation to eat at the Catskill center, or you can go to any, or all of them. Meet a friend and have a meal. Tannersville UMC also has Soup Tuesday on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 12 - 3. The fourth Friday of the month, the Mountain Top UMC churches have Dinner - Church which is a potluck gathering with old fashioned singing and interesting topics to discuss. If you drive, consider taking a friend who doesn't drive to one or more of these activities.

Prayers and sympathy to the family of Sara Soule who passed this week. Prayers for Joyce and Art Rood.

AS I REMEMBER IT

By the time you read this, Halloween will be just a memory and November will be here. Now we start the mad rush to prepare for the winter season. All outdoor furniture has to be cleaned and placed inside. Well, you probably have to clean your shed or garage to make room for it. Seriously, how did we accumulate so much stuff during the summer? Well, just dig out the shovels, snowblower, plow and salt and we can just squeeze in the summer stuff. Wildlife has been looking for a warm spot to hide during the cold weather, and we clean out nests of mice and squirrels. Birds' nests are in the rafters, left over from the summer. Mud wasps have left their telltale signs in the peaks and eaves.

Those who burn wood are calling their supplies for their yearly delivery, or the younger ones are busy cutting, splitting and stacking. You know that wood warms you in many ways. Once when you cut it, once when you split it, once when you stack it and then again when you burn it. It's also a very good cardio workout. I don't burn wood, but I enjoyed going to Rosie's on a cold winter day. We'd sit warm and comfy in the living room with a fire burning in the fireplace, a good story on her reader, a cup of tea and nap companionably.

The bears have been looking for their winter home. We don't see them as often now, only on bright sunny days when they amble along looking for something to tide them over for the winter. Squirrels have gathered up all the acorns and seeds that they could find and are starting to snuggle in for the cold weather. Mice and moles are moving into houses and garages where they will be warm. The snowbirds have flown the coop, including the human ones who have retreated to their winter abodes.

November first. Now is the time to think about Thanksgiving. Deep clean the house for company, plan a menu, do the shopping. Another season about to start. I think I'll just sit here and think about what I have to do. It's a lot easier than actually doing it.

Happy Halloween!