By CAROL BRODIE
It looks as though the phoebe’s
are returning to various areas since
disappearing after last year’s April
snowstorm. We have a pair of them
that came earlier this spring, and I
believe they are nesting down back
in the barn. My sister, Barb, who
lives outside of Mohawk, emailed
last Tuesday to say their phoebe is
back and building its annual nest
underneath their deck.
I’ve been enjoying watching our
pair of northern orioles as they now
spend quite a bit of time in our
backyard, apparently eating bugs
in the fruit trees. We also have at
least two pairs, maybe more, of
rose-breasted grosbeaks. Last
week, I went to put more sunflower
seeds out for them in the feeders,
and decided I had better wait because
there were two females busily
eating. This is the first time I
have ever noticed the grosbeaks
eating the suet cakes, but they
seem to really enjoy them. It’s neat
to watch them holding on to the
suet cage as they swing around in
the wind pecking on the suet!
Our gorgeous pair of cardinals
seem to be at the feeder all the time
lately. One day last week, as I went
to put more food out, the female sat
patiently in the lilac bush singing
until I finished and then she came
to eat.
I haven’t seen our cute little brilliant
blue indigo bunting since that
first time, but I believe he must be
visiting Pat and Zeke Mabie, as Pat
said they have one at their feeder.
As I was writing this week’s column,
Sharon Thompson phoned to
say they now have two pairs of
rose-breasted grosbeaks.
My brother, Sonny, phoned from
Summerfield, Fla., on Saturday
night, May 17. He was pretty proud
of his two grandsons, Nick and
Chase, as their soccer team won
the championship as they beat two
teams, back to back, in the playoffs
that day.
What a great surprise we received
on Wednesday, May 21,
when Rene and Nancy Foote, of Accomac,
Va., stopped in to visit Dad,
Mom and me. We hadn’t seen them
in at least eight years, so it was
neat to be able to visit and catch up
on each other’s families. They’ve
been spending some time visiting
Nancy’s parents in Saratoga and
had a big surprise 80th birthday
party for her mom on Saturday,
May 17.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthday wishes go out to Bill
Hayes, Taylor Hayes who turns 14
years old, Les Chase, Tim Hotaling,
Harry Kineke, Denise Lundgren
who will be 22, Mark Mabie,
Kristine Warchola, Regina Bateman,
Bradley Bateman who turns
five, and Matthew Moore.
Anniversary wishes go to Bill
and Marsha Mabie and Scott and
Regina Bateman.
Bits and Pieces
John and Stacy Mabie and children,
Tiffany, Brent, and Miranda,
enjoyed spending the weekend of
May 9 to 11 in Jonestown, Pa.,
which is near Hershey. Tiffany is a
member of the Cheerdome Cobleskill
Angels Cheerleading
Squad, and the reason for this trip
was so she and her team members
could take part in the cheerleading
competition. Stacy says they didn’t
do as well as they had hoped. She
said that out of the 12 teams that
played in their division, the Angels
took 10th place. As disappointing
as that was, however, Tiffany and
her brother and sister still had a
great time, as this was their very
first time to go on an out-of-state
trip. They especially enjoyed, and
took advantage of, the pool at the
hotel where they stayed.
They had also planned to visit
nearby Hershey Park on Sunday,
but were called home on an emergency
instead as Cocoa, their dog,
had gotten into a tangle with a porcupine
and needed their attention.
Annie Anderson was one of the
26 sixth-graders from Cherry Valley-
Springfield Central School to go
on the Safety Patrol Trip, along
with other students from area
schools. Their teachers went along
as chaperones. They left on Saturday
morning, May 10, and went to
Washington D.C., where they enjoyed
visiting the Lincoln Memorial,
World War II Memorial, Vietnam
Memorial, and the Washington,
Jefferson, and Roosevelt memorials.
They also visited Arlington National
Cemetery, several of the
Smithsonian Museums, and the
Capitol Building. En route home,
they visited Philadelphia, Pa. After
a tiring but enjoyable four days,
they arrived home Tuesday night,
May 13.
Approximately 50 people attended
the Otsego County Farm
Bureau Rural Urban Event dinner
at the Baptist Church in Middlefield
on Tuesday night, May 13. A
brief board meeting was held prior
to the dinner. Guest speakers at
the dinner included Jeff Decker,
from the Coalition Connection, and
James Ward, who is the lawyer for
the Coalition Connection group.
Don Barber also spoke for a few
minutes on his agricultural background.
Sandie Prokop, who is the
managing director for the New
York Farm Bureau Foundation for
Agricultural Education, spoke and
did a presentation. Bambi Baehrel,
senior field advisor for District 9,
spoke briefly to thank everyone for
the support, prayers and cards,
both before and following, her
mom’s March 18 death.
Local attendees included Frank
Brodie, Elliot Brodie, Sue Schaffer,
Geoffrey Schaffer, Jim and September
Amspacher, Les and Dorothy
Rathbun, Peter Rathbun, Warren
and Mary Stannard, Julie
Stannard, Werner and Beverly
Weigel, Larry Roseboom and Alma
Szeliga, John and Gail Walrath,
and Steve Sinniger, who is the Otsego
County Farm Bureau president.
Annie Anderson and Kaitlyn
Webster went to Norwich to compete
as part of NYSSMA on Friday
afternoon and evening, May 16.
The South Valley Women’s Club
did very well at their first dinner of
the year at the Community Hall on
Saturday, May 17. Everyone thoroughly
enjoyed the chicken and biscuit
meal, and the ladies thank all
of you for your generous donations.
Elliot Brodie attended Sunday
morning worship services at the
Little Falls First Baptist Church
on May 18, and later enjoyed dinner
with Keith and Esther Lesmeister
and family at their Little
Falls home. That night, he attended
the AWANA “end of the season”
banquet, for the kids and their parents,
at the church, where he also
assisted with the meal. Then, during
the evening worship service
which followed, the Double Edge
youth group took charge of the entire
service, including the preaching.
Marjorie French and friend
Doug Hamilton, both of Schenevus,
called on her brother and sister-inlaw,
Leland and Pat Mabie, on
Sunday, May 18.
Nancy Prill, Margaret Mabie,
Marion Schneegas, Betty Brown,
Becky Brown, Jean Roy, Marie
VanSpanjie, and Kristi, Heather,
and Holly Worden attended the
Cooperstown Area Christian Women’s
Club Brunch at the Tally Ho in
Richfield Springs on Monday, May
19. This month’s brunch, “Opportunity
Knocks,” featured guest speaker
Darlene Clark, of Delmar, who
told how she got involved in sign
language. The special feature was
also Darlene as she sang and
signed.
Frank Brodie attended the Schoharie
County Maple Festival meeting
at the Cobleskill Firehouse on
Tuesday night, May 20. Frank also
attended the 4-H Issue Committee
meeting at the Milford Central
School on Wednesday night.
Have a great week, and phone
me at 264-3225 with news.
Columns
South Valley
- Columns
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
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In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
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Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
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Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
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In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
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In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
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Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
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From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
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In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
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Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
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From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
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In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
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In These Otsego Hills: Dear Santa ...
Although we tend to think Christmas is for children and thus rarely think about what we might like to have, this year we have decided to let Santa know what might be left under the tree with our name on it. Of course, we fully understand if our list is a bit long, a bit expensive and a bitlate. However, we have just finished reading our November issue of Health and so have just realized what we need that we do not currently have.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Irony abounds
These are querulous times. Dissent and disagreement, as uncomfortable as they sometimes are, are essential components of a viable democracy. Democracies are always messy because everyone has a right to speak his mind and because whenever a majority is able to gain the numerical upper hand it pretty much runs the show. Several political philosophers have written quite persuasively of what they characterize as the “tyranny of the majority.” Get enough people on your side and you have the opportunity to get your way so long as you are able to maintain power. I suspect that most thoughtful people would agree that wisdom is hard to come by.
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
