tag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368547701142010-03-08T06:41:16-07:00<![CDATA[Finger Lakes Living]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.DMeridian One Technologies Inc.tag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546534912010-03-08T06:41:15-07:002010-03-08T06:41:15-07:00<![CDATA[Family Farms in the Finger Lakes]]>
My book signing went well at the Gorham Free Library Yesterday. There were 17 people in attendance as I relived what it was like to have grown up on a family farm out in Ohio (click here). Many who attended had either grown up on family farms or are still actively engaged in agriculture.
I spoke with a man who had to round up the cows in the pasture for milking just like I used to do when I was a boy. Or the man who bought some chickens which turned out to be roosters, and they can be mighty mean to a young boy coming into their coop! Another man asked if the cows on our family farm were serviced with a bull. And yes, we had a bull but now the technology has far surpassed anything that I have experienced. He was a Cornell graduate and through diet, genetic DNA matching, and artificial insemination, milk production has increased ten fold. I met another man who is a member of the Bloomfield Rotary and he invited me to speak at one of their meetings.
One lady asked everyone if there was just one word which would best describe the experience of growing up on a farm, what would it be? Some of the words that were expressed: community, work, family, church, and freedom.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546543882010-03-03T18:54:06-07:002010-03-03T19:13:40-07:00<![CDATA[Book Signing at the Gorham Free Library in the Finger Lakes]]>
My thanks to Diane Hovey for inviting me to the Gorham Free Library to have a book signing on Sunday the 7th of March at 2:00 pm. I’ll be talking about my book, “The Last of the Family Farms” in which I recount my childhood experiences of growing up on a family farm near Wooster, Ohio.
I am excited to meet my neighbors and friends who live in the Town of Gorham. A few who come to the book signing will understand what it’s like to raise your own animals and vegetables for food and that chicken for Sunday dinner started with the beheading of a chicken on Saturday. And some will only know their Sunday chicken dinner by the pieces of cut up chicken which was purchased in a blister pack. And if any children attend the signing, they might only understand their Sunday chicken dinner as warmed up pieces of frozen chicken nuggets, animal shaped chicken parts, or boneless chicken wings!
Nothing would please me more than to have a couple of horse and buggies parked outside by the library. The family farms of the Mennonites in the area remind me so much of our family farm and the way of life that I knew when I was a boy. And since I have completed my book, I have learned much about the Old Order and Conservative Mennonites that live near Gorham, NY. Come find out which one of our Gorham neighbors found several errors in my book - and helped me understand what is going on in our Finger Lakes neighborhood!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546551512010-02-28T17:48:52-07:002010-02-28T18:27:05-07:00<![CDATA[Time for a Finger Lakes Vacation ]]>
To all of my readers who live along the East Coast of the United States, I am dedicating this blog to you. All winter long you have been sending me pictures of the record snow falls around Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and Washington, and I have been very unsympathetic as Mother Nature has been very kind to us here in the Finger Lakes this winter.
Now the “shoe is on the other foot” so to speak and Rochester, NY has now caught up to and exceeded our normal 77.4 inches of snow for this date of the season. In fact, Rochester’s snow fall this season to date stands at 88.5 inches. This week we were beneficiaries of one of your famous “northeasters” which came up along the coast. While we received only 12 inches of snow over the course of several days, the winds that the storm brought with it were a stiff 40 miles per hour and it kept the snow on a constant move. The schools were out of session on Thursday and it was time for a Finger Lakes vacation.
I like the attitude of Jeanette’s daughter Susan when they were recently struck with a heavy snow fall in Venetia, Pennsylvania. The neighborhood began an outdoors party to celebrate the occasion. After parking the snow blowers, lots of spirits were brought forth from the neighbor’s cellars and wine racks. When life sends us a challenge, it is indeed “time to start a party!”
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546555022010-02-25T18:24:46-07:002010-02-25T18:24:46-07:00<![CDATA[Federally Funded Projects in the Finger Lakes - Part II]]>
In a recent post, I noted that Ontario County in Canandaigua received a grant of $12,000 in 1856 from the Federal government to provide for a new post office and a Federal court room. The old Ontario County court house built nearby in 1824 had outlived its usefulness, and it was time to build a new facility. The Ontario County Board of Supervisors sold the old court house to the town and village of Canandaigua for $4000 and raised and additional $40,000 for the new court house.
I then raised the following question: What would the Finger Lakes look like today if there were no Federal funds? Immediately I thought of the build out of New York’s Eire Canal System, the railroads that run through the Finger Lakes, and the New York Thruway. Upon further investigation, it appears that the state of NY funded the Erie Canal, the railroads were privately built, and the NY Thruway was built with bonds bought by NY taxpayers.
In yesterday’s Canandaigua Daily Messenger, John Baun of Naples, NY got a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (funded by 10 million dollars in Federal money) to install a $45,000 solar electric system on his family farm property for $23,000. His electric bill is now $200 per year. Do you remember the recent “cash of clunkers” program where you traded in your old car or truck for a new more energy efficient one? Or how about trading in your old appliances for new ones and get a cash rebate? These new Federal grants are directed to help us spend our money to save on energy costs. I’m all for saving on our energy bills but I am much more concerned with how folks who live in the Finger Lakes are going to make their living in the future.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546561602010-02-22T18:14:24-07:002010-02-22T18:14:24-07:00<![CDATA[Federally Funded Projects in the Finger Lakes]]>
I walked along Main Street in Canandaigua and took a few pictures of the Ontario County Courthouse. This magnificent building date’s back to 1857-1858 when it was first constructed and then extensively rebuilt in 1908-1909. Restoration work was begun in 1981 and completed in March of 1988.
The streets around the Courthouse and the offices in the Courthouse were mostly deserted due to the President’s Day Holiday. The present building is impressive as the dome with its statue of “justice” stands out as a landmark when one drives into Canandaigua from the east along routes 5 and 20.
In 1856, County officials obtained a $12,000 Federal appropriation in return for providing a Federal courtroom and post office in the new building. And so construction of the new building began shortly afterward. Today, all of the States and local governments are clamoring for Federal funds. One has to wonder what our county or more precisely, the Finger Lakes, would look like if there were no Federal funds released for such projects? Now that’s an interesting question!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546569452010-02-17T06:40:33-07:002010-02-17T14:42:54-07:00<![CDATA[Sunshine and Ice in the Finger Lakes]]>
With the local schools on winter break, a few people ventured outside to enjoy an afternoon of sunshine in the Finger Lakes. I’m sure that it was the warmth of the beautiful February sun that drew these youngsters and their mother out onto the Canandaigua Lake ice. I’m amazed at how well these youngsters can skate. Note the small boy who is "skating" in his boots.
Nearby, a few teenagers were playing hockey on another snow cleared section behind Kershaw Park. They were using a couple of plastic milk baskets for the goals.
We used to play ice hockey on the neighbor’s pond just down the road. We didn’t have any ice skates. We would clear the snow from a section of the pond and just “skate” on the ice in our shoes. Shoes were different then – they had stiff leather soles. A couple of fallen crooked willow branches served as hockey sticks and a small chunk of wood became the puck. It didn’t matter to us if we had any hockey equipment or not. It was the game and the competition that mattered.
Even with all of the sports equipment and insulated clothing available today, I see few and fewer children playing outside and enjoying the winter or winter sports. Too bad as it’s the game that counts, not the equipment!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546574252010-02-14T07:38:50-07:002010-02-14T07:38:50-07:00<![CDATA[Time to Plan This Year's Cookout in North Carolina]]>
This picture might be a typical Finger Lakes picture taken in February, but no, this is a recent picture of the patio and backyard of Aaron and Michele Clarke who live in Gastonia, North Carolina. None my grandchildren are playing outside in the snow and I’m thinking that they probably don’t have snow pants nor have they ever seen snow before!
I moved my daughter to Hillsborough, North Carolina in 1997. She headed south to North Carolina to escape the cold winters of Syracuse, NY and to begin her working career as a medical technologist at Duke University in Durham. Most of the time it is very hot and humid in North Carolina, but this year, the Carolinas have not escaped the huge record setting snow storms that have traveled along the east side of the Appalachian Mountains.
Today is Valentine’s Day, and I miss my daughter, son- in- law, and two grandchildren in North Carolina. Perhaps this summer we will go for another visit, but not before the patio is free and clear of snow!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546583882010-02-08T06:48:00-07:002010-02-08T17:37:56-07:00<![CDATA[The Heat's On At Wilhelmus Estate Winery in the Finger Lakes ]]>
While February’s cold still grips the Finger Lakes, there’s one place that you can find a little heat – The Wilhelmus Estate Winery (click here) in Canandiagua. Owners Boud and Karen Kuenen are pretty proud of their new outdoor furnace which supplies heat to Boud’s new production facility as well as to the Winery. The fuel for the furnace is harvested right there on the Wilhelmus property.
And speaking of heat, Valentine’s Day is coming this weekend so why not start your celebration with a visit to some of the Finger Lakes wineries starting at the Wilhelmus Estate Winery (winter hours apply). Karen is warming up the fondue pot and planning to dip some strawberries into her melted dark chocolate and Cabernet Franc mixture. Yummy! The chocolate strawberries will be sampled along with Wilhelmus’s fine wines. Now that’s a combination which is sure to chase away February’s cold and put a romantic arrow into anyone’s heart!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546589982010-02-03T07:40:36-07:002010-02-03T07:40:36-07:00<![CDATA[No Groundhogs in Sight in the Finger Lakes]]>
The sun was shinning brightly but the winds were steady with the temperatures hovering around 25 degrees on February 1. No animals in sight. The ducks were gone, the geese were gone, and I didn’t see a single groundhog! I often wonder how the geese can fly when it is so cold. Do they do Yoga exercises before they take off so they don‘t get a cramp in their wings? And what about their eyes? My eyes tear up when the cold wind hits them. Imagine flying along at 35 miles per hour into the wind without any goggles!
Down in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Groundhog Day and according to the legend, there will be 6 more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil’s forecasting record has been petty dismal: he’s been correct only 40% of the time! The sun didn’t shine in Canandaigua on Groundhog Day, so if there were any groundhogs out of their dens, they would not have seen their shadow. Therefore, our spring here in the Finger lakes must be just around the corner!
One last note, there is no Groundhog Day in Alaska (groundhogs are very scarce in Alaska) as then Alaska Governor Sarah Palin signed a bill declaring February 2nd as Marmot Day. Groundhogs, Marmots, or any other Varmints, I’m going on record to predict that here in the Finger Lakes, there will be 6 more weeks of winter anyway!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546595692010-01-31T06:57:54-07:002010-01-31T07:10:51-07:00<![CDATA[A Delayed Christmas Gift in the Finger Lakes ]]>
The Amaryllis bulbs that my brother Sylvan and sister-in-law Nancy from Modesto California sent for Christmas are in full bloom now and brightening up our living room. The bulbs were sent from whiteflowerfarm.com (click here) and all you have to do is open the box and begin watering the bulbs once a week. The first one to bloom is called ‘Splash’ which has double red flowers with a white star in the center.
The next Amaryllis to bloom was ‘Amigo’ with Carmine-rose flowers. And finally, the double white flowers of the ‘Nymph' Amaryllis bulb appeared. These flowers surely add to the color of our finger lakes living at this time of the year and remind us that while there is cold and snow outside now, soon there will be green grass and spring flowers here in the finger lakes.
February 2nd is Groundhog Day. It doesn’t much matter much whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not, there’s going to be another six weeks of winter in the finger lakes!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546608522010-01-24T18:38:23-07:002010-01-25T06:12:49-07:00<![CDATA[Still Fighting the Virus in the Finger Lakes]]> Isn’t it amazing how dependent we have become on our little electronic friends - computers, cell phones, ipods, etc. To my way of thinking, television died a long time ago - perhaps in the 60’s when I watched the tonight show with Johnny Carson, or the Sonny and Cher show. I still buy the Canandaigua Daily Messinger and enjoy reading the comics and a few local articles that appear there. The paper is delivered to my house in the afternoon on the day that it is printed, so looking at the national news articles is like reading yesterday’s internet news headlines two days late as I save the paper to read when I have my breakfast in the morning.
Speaking of viruses, remember last fall when we were continually bombarded with the news of the approaching flu season and the H1N1 swine flu virus? The President of the United States rolled up his sleeve and had a swine flu shot but there wasn’t any vaccine for the rest of us. The H1N1 vaccine is finally available at the place where I work, so I will get my shot in February just to be on the safe side. My computer had anti-virus software too but those software cures are developed after the disease hits! I am hoping that all of these human viruses and computer viruses will just vanish with the winter blahs so we can get on with Finger Lakes Living like it was intended!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546621452010-01-19T07:19:54-07:002010-01-19T08:12:34-07:00<![CDATA[A Silent Attack in the Finger Lakes]]> I took my computer to the PC & Wireless Shop in the old Wegmans Plaza on South Main Street in Canandaigua. I described to them my difficulties and they asked if I gave out my credit card number. I said no. Now that was a good move on my part as “Internet Security 2010” is a virus which not only locks up your computer but if you give them your credit card information, it will take your money too!
Until my computer is repaired, I can use my laptop to publish my blog. So I ask for your patience and I really look forward to writing more articles about Finger Lakes Living. I visited Winery Dog Duke on Sunday at the Wilhelmus Estate Winery (click here) and he is doing well. He doesn’t like the cold damp weather as his arthritis bothers him but it’s to be expected. After a nice glass of Chamborcin wine, Winery Dog Duke and I felt a whole lot better. Hopefully, all this nonsense about computer viruses will soon be a thing of the past!
James R. Bupp ]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546632772010-01-14T06:10:36-07:002010-01-14T06:10:36-07:00<![CDATA[A Brief Moment of Sun in the Finger Lakes ]]>
It was late in the afternoon when the sun made a brief appearance in the Finger Lakes so I went for a walk along Canandaigua Lake. The little Ontario Country Park along East Lake Road was deserted but the sun brightened the snow and ice and made for a sharp contrast against the cold blue waters of Canandaigua Lake. This small county park has a few picnic tables and some willow trees along the bank which offer a bit of shade in the summer. But, as the sign says – no swimming!
As I drove down to the City Pier in Canandaigua, the sun disappeared and the winds began to pick up. The waters around the pier are covered with ice and the ice now extends perhaps a quarter of a mile out into the lake.
Near the end of City Pier, there was a large collection of ducks and Canadian Geese which were swimming in a small open water area surrounded by ice. Obviously, they had missed the “no swimming sign” posted along the lake but as I watched they swam back and forth, back and forth. No, they weren’t there to cool off – they were protecting their only open source of drinking water as their movement keeps the water from freezing. I’m thinking that keeping the water from freezing takes a lot less energy than flying south for the winter!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546639252010-01-11T06:41:37-07:002010-01-11T06:41:37-07:00<![CDATA[It's What We Expect in the Finger Lakes]]>
Morning of the second week in January breaks in the Finger Lakes. It’s a crisp 18 degrees here in Canandaigua but it’s supposed to warm up to 25 degrees today. The weatherman says to expect abut an inch of snow this afternoon and one to three inches of snow overnight. And by the beautiful sunrise that that we saw this morning, I would say that he is correct! It’s the moisture in the clouds that bends the red rays of the morning sun.
Our January cold in the Finger Lakes has finally driven me to make March reservations for a couple of weeks of vacation in Tarpon Springs, Florida. But wait, they have 32 degrees this morning and clear skies! Charlotte, North Carolina which is near my daughter’s home in Gastonia has 17 degrees this morning! It’s easy to see how our southern neighbors are really feeling the cold as their homes, citrus fruit farms, strawberry farms, vegetable farms, and market farms are not very well equipped to handle such low temperatures.
But for those of us who live in the Finger Lakes, this is winter and it’s what we expect.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546652712010-01-06T07:24:02-07:002010-01-06T17:17:47-07:00<![CDATA[Celebrating another Birthday in the Finger Lakes]]>
Since Friday is my birthday, it’s time to step back and think about what another year in the Finger Lakes might bring. My parents never did celebrate birthdays. Nor did they pay much attention to what happened in the past. As my mother taught me, “what is past is over and done with” and “don’t cry over spilt milk!” As for myself, I am looking forward to another year in the Finger Lakes.
I have already shared with you one of my New Year’s resolutions: to make the best use of the time that has been given to me – even if it means taking a nap first! In our race to keep up with our ever changing environment, we tend to wear ourselves out before we ever get started! My second New Year’s Resolution is to begin writing another book. I have already outlined the book; so much of the hard work has been done. Have you ever watched how people scan a book before they buy it? Some look only at the covers, some look at the table of contents or read the reviews, others flip through the pages. As for myself, I start on the last page first to see if there is anything interesting in the conclusion section!
The New Year in the Finger Lakes and everywhere else will be reveled to us one day at a time – just like reading a book. And as the New Year unfolds, each page will bring new adventures and challenges. But one thing is for certain, you can only go forward one day at a time. Last year can never be revisited or relived, it can only be remembered. And don't even try to page forward to read about the future. It can't be done. Best wishes to all!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546659112010-01-02T18:23:28-07:002010-01-02T18:28:52-07:00<![CDATA[Family Farming in the Finger Lakes]]>
How about some fresh carrots on New Years Day? On the Bupp family farm, my mother used to store carrots in the basement of our old farm house over the winter. She would fill an old wash tub with dirt, and then in the fall, she would replant the carrots in the moist dirt. Since the cellar floor of our old farm house was just dirt and unheated, the carrots would keep till spring.
I developed an alternate technique here in the Finger Lakes that seems to work very well. When freezing cold weather comes, I cover the remaining carrots in my organic garden with a couple of sacks of leaves. The deer had already eaten most of the leaves off the carrots, but this doesn’t affect the roots! The purpose of the leaves is to keep the ground from freezing around the carrots. A rock or two holds the sacks in place when the winter winds come.
Carrots preserved this way are the sweetest, juiciest carrots that you ever have tasted! After scrubbing them in water to remove the dirt, we like them cut up and boiled in a little water. And for soups, my organic beef vegetable soup can’t be beat with fresh carrots, red potatoes, and onions from last summer’s garden. I’m sure that the family farms, market farms, vegetable farms, and dairy farms in the area use similar techniques to store their winter root crops. But my technique doesn’t require any electricity for refrigeration and very little effort on my part!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546664312009-12-30T07:10:00-07:002009-12-31T05:39:11-07:00<![CDATA[Winter Has Finally Arrived in the Finger Lakes]]>
In a strange sort of way, the blast of ice cold Arctic air that arrived on Monday night and Tuesday morning of this week was a relief. I had been waiting for the cold and snow to arrive before Christmas, but all Santa brought was rain. Now that has changed.
The drift of snow that always piles up in front of my garage doors arrived with the swirling winds and 9 degree temperatures. Fortunately, most of the driveway was bare and I soon dispatched the drifted snow on the sidewalk and in front of the garage with the snow blower.
The arrival of wintry weather conditions in the Finger Lakes was a relief in that it’s what we usually expect to happen this time of the year. And when you don’t get what you expect to get, you start to feel uneasy. Now that winter has arrived, it's time to start looking at the seed catalogs which come in the mail (I have my first one already) and to begin planning next year’s garden. Or maybe get busy and make reservations for a winter vacation to Florida or Arizona. There’s a whole lot of planning to do before spring arrives and just thinking about all of those warmer weather projects is sometimes more fun that actually doing them!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546671072009-12-26T08:28:13-07:002009-12-26T09:11:31-07:00<![CDATA[Making the Best of Time in the Finger Lakes]]>
With everyone exhausted and worn out from all of the shopping and Christmas festivities, it’s time to step back, and reflect on all of the people, events, and places that we have visited this year in the Finger Lakes and to look forward to a new year.
Someone recently posed the following question, “If you could be granted just one Christmas wish, what would you wish for?” Now that’s a harder question to answer than it first seems. What would you wish for: wealth, friends, happiness, feeding and clothing those who don’t have enough, comforting the sick, getting along with your neighbors, family, and friends? All of these things came to my mind. But, as humans, we can achieve all of these things if given enough time. Time, that’s what I want! More time!
Time has always intrigued me and my life has been driven by it: time to get up in the morning, time to go to school, time to go to work, time to have some fun, time to go to church, time to go on a vacation, time to go to bed. One thing is for sure –whether you are rich or poor, sick or well, happy or sad, awake or asleep - all of us have the same amount of time! Just 24 hours each day. No more, no less. The only thing that we can control is what we do with the time that has been given to us. So, that’s going to be my resolution for the New Year – to make the best of the time that I have been given! And if that means taking some time off to rest – so be it. Happy New Year!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546675122009-12-22T18:48:56-07:002009-12-22T18:48:56-07:00<![CDATA[Visited By An Angel in the Finger Lakes]]>
I was mowing the church’s lawn one hot day this summer and wondering to myself what was I doing there when I could have been at home taking care of my own yard. A lady in an SUV stopped by the church and asked for directions to some road that I had never heard of. She showed me her map with some directions written down and I instantly recognized that she had traveled too far off the Thruway exit and needed to go back in the direction that she came from. She was one of those “traveling nurses” who go to people’s homes to help out in time of sickness or extended illness.
She asked if I was the “groundskeeper” of the church and I replied, “Yes, but I don’t know what I am doing here today!” Then she said to me, “I’m sure that you will be rewarded!” Now I am not looking to be rewarded for a job that I volunteer to do, but maybe just a little recognition for all of the work that it does take to care for the church’s property.
As she drove off and I returned to my yard work, it became apparent to me that she had been sent there to deliver a message. Now I am powerless to help you with what you have been struggling with this year, but I can offer you my encouragement and tell you that some day you too will be rewarded for all of the good deeds that you have done this year. And with that said, I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546680082009-12-20T14:52:36-07:002009-12-20T14:52:36-07:00<![CDATA[A Thank You Note to Finger Lakes Winery Dog Duke ]]>
Well Winery Dog Duke old buddy, another year in the Finger Lakes has come and gone. Where has the time gone? I hope that you enjoyed the organic dog cookies that we brought to your birthday party. We “old dogs” have to be careful with what we eat. It didn’t used to be that way, you know. Anyway, it was a great party and the Winery Dog Duke Christmas tree ornament will grace our Finger Lakes Christmas tree for many years to come.
We especially liked the Traminette Champagne that Boud served up at the party. It has a distinctive taste and stands out from the other two Champagnes which Boud served. A lot of hard work went into making the three Wilhelmus Champagnes and tasting them was such a treat!
Duke, you are fortunate to have a good family, Boud, Karen, Mara, and Oma, at the Wilhelmus Estate Winery (click here) to take care of you. Same here Duke, Jeanette takes good care of me too. Oh, there are times when I feel like howling a little like I used to, but after I take a nap, things seem to go better. We hope that you will be able to get a little rest after partying all weekend as we look forward to celebrating a New Year in the Finger Lakes!
