By Lula Anderson
Labor Day Weekend is here; unofficial end to summer and the atmosphere is definitely reflecting that. As I drive down Jewett mountain I see the trees have taken on a decidedly yellowish hue. They look tired. The flowers have changed from daisies and buttercup to Queen Anne's Lace, milkweed, wild asters and Indian Paintbrush or Hawkweed. Goldenrod abounds, as well as bees gathering its healthy pollen to make fall honey. My butterfly bush has attracted the Hummingbird hawk-moth which is the strangest looking flying bug with its extra long proboscis. I feel it's time to bump up the sugar content of my hummingbird feeders to get them ready for the commute back to winter homes. Tomatoes are finally starting to ripen, cucumbers this year are quite prolific. There are herbs to dry, sauces and pickles to make. Summer is over.
The Jewett Fire Department members wish to thank all who attended their annual Chicken BBQ. You make it a success! The Ashland Community Church sold out of baked goods and wish to thank all who enjoyed the goodies. It's a successful partnership. The Mitchell Hollow Church had a fruitful turnout with several sponsoring shade replacements. Thank you. Time has taken a toll on all of our local, historic churches and sites, and without help, we are in danger of losing them.
With summer over, and fall being soup time, don't forget that Kaaterskill UMC offers free soup and sandwich meals on alternate Tuesdays throughout the year. It's a good place to meet with friends.
Craft classes at WAJPL are over, and was very well attended this year. Many of the members took advantage of all three mediums, moving from table to table to explore their talents. Two of Ingrid's garden gnomes were refurbished this year with more to come next year. Albin has been expanding on his stained glass/resin projects. Beautiful results without the leading process. Lori has been making gifts for her family in stained glass. Amy had a lesson on pottery and throwing it on her potter's wheel. Now we're waiting for it to be fired. Lisa is taking signups for her beading class. Active minds and bodies encorage a long and healthy life. Join us and help prove it.
Continuing prayer for Eric Towse, Sandy Ebsen, Greg Beckmann, Paul Rappleyea, Lenore Radelich, and the family of Janet Post.
AS I REMEMBER IT
I watch television to create white noise, and the commercials so often feature food. On of my most favorite foods is pizza. I see the blurb for BarnWood in Catskill which shows a hot pizza coming out of the oven. There are ads for Dominos, Pizza Hut and more. Most feature delivery service with the hot pizza coming right to you when you need it. Yummy, gooey cheesy. Frozen pizza ads look so tempting. Hot out of your very own oven. Just like delivery but homemade. How come when I make frozen pizza it just isn't the same?
Sigrid brings Price Chopper pizza to many of our WAJPL meetings. It's good, but still doesn't meet the standards of when pizza first came to the mountains.
How many still remember a special night out going to Frank's Pizza at the bottom of East Windham Mountain? The family would pile into the car with great anticipation and head down the mountain. It wasn't the three-laned highway that we know, it was a windy, rutted, just barely paved road. It was a special trip to go there, usually someone's birthday, and we all looked forward to going. We'd park the car and go up the three or four steps to get in. Open the wooden screen door, and inhale the most wonderful aroma ever. The mix of tomato and oregano is something I still look for when I go into an Italian restaurant,but find sadly lacking. Could it be years of that aroma permeating the wooden floors, tables and chairs? The smell of the parmesan cheese on each table with the shakers of hot pepper and garlic? Father and mother would order a pitcher of beer and a pitcher of Coke for the kids. Yes, we were allowed to drink soda on pizza night. Father loved anchovy, so that was his and the boys pizza. The girls got either plain or maybe pepperoni , not many choices back then. Pizza was all about the simplicity of the fragrant sauce. Gooey cheese and crispy crust. We couldn't wait until that pie was brought out to our table. We were tortured watching the other customers get theirs first. Don't make the mistake of trying to put a hot piece on your plate. You'd lose half the cheese as it stretched from pan to plate. Don't bite into it yet! OOOOO mouth blister.
Soon a Pizza Parlor came to the Mountain Top. In the late '60's, Eva's Pizza opened. It was a great date place as it was one of the only "fast food" places in Windham. It was conveniently located out of town and close to Ashland and Jewett. I have fond memories of Eva's, but not the deep seated ones that come from Frank's. The atmosphere was too sterile. The smell just wasn't the same. Maybe it was because it was a place to go with friends, not family. Maybe it was too accessable. For a long time I had even forgotten the name of the place. Not like Frank's that will always remain ingrained in my brain.
We now have many places to get pizza in the area. We compare prices and quality. We use pizza as a "I don't know what to cook tonight" meal. It's no longer a special occasion trip.
I long for the pizza of my younger days. The excitement that came from getting pizza. But I'd give it all up if I had a place that would deliver to me when I want one.
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