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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.
For some reason she was not into ripping the wrapping paper off as quickly as possible in order to get to the gift underneath. Instead, she spent a great deal of time with each present carefully shredding the paper into tiny pieces. She was also into shredding any tissue paper she encountered. However, in spite of her fascination with the paper, we do think that as her visit went on, she was much more into the presents, with the possible exception of the socks she found in her stocking. Trust us, she found the Kit Kat bars, which Santa left for her, much more to her liking.
And we must say that what we received for Christmas was much to our liking. And forsome unknown reason, we took to making note of where each gift was produced. We found that only three of our gifts originated in China, an iHome Bluetooth keyboard, a Jeweltone Aztec scarf and a Hallmark notepad and pen ensemble.
We did receive a very interesting Oriental Carpet Bookmark which was woven in Istanbul and based on a rug made in “Tashkent” (Turkmenistan) circa 1825. We received a tin of Walkers Pure Butter Assorted Shortbread which is a product of Scotland and a Kenyon College Christmas tree ornament of unknown origin.
But the rest of our gifts lay claim to origins much closer to home. Our Toddy ColdBrew System, which brews coffee with 67 percent less acid, “...is proudly made in Fort Collins, Colorada, 80524.” Thefruitcake our sister sent us was made in Corsicana, Texas, by the Collin Street Bakery, while the Hot Apple Cider Tea came from The Republic of Tea in Novata, Calif.
And both our subscription to Cooking Light and the winter 2012 edition of National Parks Magazine are USA publications.
Likewise the books we received, “The Killing Stone” by P.J. Parrish, “The Rich and the Dead” edited by Nelson Demille, “Eva Coo Murderess” by Niles Eggleston, “The Litigators” by John Grisham, “Destiny of the Republic” by Candice Millard, “The Affair” by Lee Child and “Cold Vengeance” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child were either printed in or manufactured in the USA. Since we did not understand the difference in these two identifications we asked two people with associations to the publishing industry about them. Both of them seemed to say that it is a distinction of little difference.
And we are reasonably certain we will enjoy the books no matter whether they were printed in the USA or manufactured in the USA. And while we know that Abby’s baby school picture was taken in Gambier, Ohio, we are somewhat dubious of the origin of the picture frame in which it was framed.
Its origin is unknown but it is made of composite wood which “... complies with Phase 2 of CA ATCM 93120 for Formaldehyde.” And while we are also clueless about the meaning of that, we do know that all of the Christmas goodies we received from the Otsego County kitchens of Betty, Darlene, Jane, Katie and Sandy were made locally.
And lucky for us the goodies included cookies, candy, shortbread, brownies, sticky buns and Christmas bread. Needless to say, our Christmas celebration included a good deal of delicious eating.
Of course, figuring out the origin of our Christmas gifts this year was not our only learning experience during the holiday. We also learned that, unlike our granddaughter, we are definitely not a digital native. But then, we did not grow up surrounded by current technology as she has. We were stunned at her understanding of how to turn on an iPhone and flip through the seemingly endless number of possibilities to find the Itsy Bitsy Spider video she wanted to watch. We were also stunned, that once we figured out how to record a video of her on our iPad, she knew exactly what to push in order to view herself in the video.
So even though we tend to think the world of technology is passing us by, we suspect that is not the case for Abby. And just as soon as she realizes that the alphabet does not go A, B, C, D, E, I, we are certain she will be off and running.
And fortunately, even though she is thoroughly enmeshed in the digital world, we are happy to report that she is also firmly grounded in the concept of reading. In fact, we think the only time she is not the busiest child we have ever seen, is when she has her little nose in a book.
And so we think that bodes well for her carrying on the Ellsworth tradition of reading. However, we do not think we yet need to inform her of the next meeting of the Literary Discussion Group, sponsored by the Women’s Club of Cooperstown.
However, for those who might be interested, the next meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, in the village of Cooperstown Library.
The book for discussion will be “Milkweed” by Jerry Spinelli. Grace Kull will be the discussion leader for the book. The meeting is open to the public and anyone wishing more information about either the Literary Discussion Group in general or the meeting in particular should contact us by telephone or e-mail as listed below.
PLEASE NOTE: Comments regarding this column may be made by mail at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 547-8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com.
Columns
In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
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From Fly Creek: Revving up for spring
Time to bring you up to date on Fly Creek’s happy clambering into Spring. First, the eatery scene. “Is Jerry’s open yet?” The answer is, “Oh, yes!” The porches are freshly stained; the lawns a uniform green, and the hop vines are already climbing the posts on the covered side deck. Blue and I went up there to lunch earlier this week, and I celebrated spring with my traditional bacon, onion and Swiss cheese hamburger. We two sat on the deck, enjoying the broad view and some spectacular clouds marching across, up toward Schuyler Lake.
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In These Otsego Hills: More from 1986 ...
This week we continue with the discussion of telephone service from the pre-dial days. On March 12 we noted that: “No one has yet produced a telephone directory from pre-dial days, but Doug Preston of New Hartford recalls that some business (which one?) in the village had the phone number 7.”
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Home Notes: Celebrations abound at the Thanksgiving Home
April was a month of celebrations and much to appreciate. We had a 90th birthday celebration for Wanda Noyes on April 4 including her family and friends. Personal care staff Dee Bouck worked with residents to hand paint Easter eggs for the tree in the activity room.
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In These Otsego Hills: 1986 continues ...
This week we continue our journey through the columns of 1986 with the answer to the question “for whom, according to tradition, was Hannah’s Hill named?”
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Book Notes: Baseball book features local contributors
Baseball is part of the nation’s fabric. Most kids have a memory of the game either from playing Little League, attending a major league contest or meeting a favorite player. In Cooperstown that feeling is magnified since we are the official home of baseball. We get to see firsthand what has made the sport the national pastime.
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From Fly Creek: Ya really wanna know?
SETTING: Fly Creek General Store. CAST: Assorted seated geezers, drinking coffee. [Door opens, enter heavy-set geezer; walking slowly with wide stance, maybe prostatitis.]
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In These Otsego Hills: Returning to 1986 ...
For the past several years now we have undertaken sharing some of the area’s oral history we have collected over the years that we have written this column. Therefore, this year, we would like to go back to 1986 to share that rather unusual year. Those who were here then no doubt remember that it was that year that the village celebrated the bicentennial of its founding.
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From Fly Creek: For reasons unknowable
[Jim’s reached back to 2002 to share one of his favorite columns.] My father was born as the last century began into a river village in tidewater Maryland. He told me once of a man there in his boyhood who, like so many, made a thin living tonging for oysters in the cold months and, in the hot and humid ones, crabbing and raising vegetables.
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In These Otsego Hills: CCS balancing act ... side two
Last week we shared a number of activities in which students at CCS can participate. We thought it was an impressive, if not overwhelming, list. And we are indeed pleased that the young people of our area have these opportunities. However, we think it is also important to keep in mind that these undertakings do have a cost associated with them. They are not free. In fact there are, no doubt, those who would say they do not come cheap.
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From Fly Creek: A graceful crowd
Make of this what you will, friends. I feel I’m really meant to share it with you. Despite good medication for my Parkinsonism, every four or five weeks I can sensethe symptoms building up on me, giving me more than ordinary trouble. Lately it’s been falls, and last week brought a typical one. I’d gone out to get the paper, moving along with penguin steps on the snowcoved ice patches, and usingmy spike-tipped cane the waya climber uses an ice axe. But circumstances overcame me. Parkinson’s wipes out the possibility of multi-tasking.
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In These Otsego Hills: This and that and the other side ...
We note that the CCS Class of 2012 is presenting its senior class play, “Snow White” by Tim Kelly, this week with performances 7:30 p.m Thursday and Friday, March 29 and 30, and at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31. All performances will be at the Nicolas J. Sterling Auditorium at the Middle/High School.
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In These Otsego Hills: That green thing ...
Of late we have noticed that our email inbox has been much busier than usual. In fact, we find ourselves hard pressed to keep up with all the various messages we receive. As a result we suspect we have not answered some in as timely a fashion as might be thought appropriate.
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From Fly Creek: What you need to know
In their last Sunday’s bulletins, all 84 churches of Otsego County were to have carried announcements of an important meeting; most of them did. But because the announcement is so important, and not just to the churched, here it is again.
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Book Notes: Living the magic of ‘Hoosier’
A lot of people consider “Hoosiers” the best sports film of all time. The 1986 classic follows the exploits of a fictional small town Indiana high school basketball team in 1952 as it attempts to achieve the impossible dream of a state championship. The story is inspired by the true life achievement of the 1954 Milan team, who with an enrollment of only 161 students shocked big city power Muncie Central on a last second shot to win the state title. It’s the kind of sports story that represents something that is hard to grasp unless you live in a small town.
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In These Otsego Hills: The most perfect village... home to heavy industry?
We suspect we would get a whole lot more accomplished if we spent less time thinking, pondering and musing about things. In fact, there is a good possibility we might actually have completed our goal of cleaning the basement if we only focused on the task at hand, instead of trying to figure out the world around us. It almost makes us wonder if it is possible to think too much about things. We certainly hope not because should that be the case, we are in deep trouble.
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Up On Hawthorn Hill: The past in the present
Clichés abound about the value of photographs. Most are probably true at least to a certain extent. What I do know about an image is that it represents something of the past that is not the pastitself. But that is the power of any image. It represents something that once was. The beauty of an image, revisited, is that it functions as a catalystfor reliving in the present a past experience. My own view, one that I thank the Spanish writer Jorge Luis Borges for, is that all we ever can experience is the present.
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Home Notes: Workshops held for Thanksgiving Home residents
We welcomed Linda Keller, Ph.D. of the Bassett Research Institute and Ida Baker of NYCAMH who presented a six-week workshop for residents and staff.
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From Fly Creek: Late-winter hamlet news
Well, at least I’m “guessing” it’s late winter now — in the winter that wasn’t. But, if not snow, I can provide a flurry of Fly Creek news to share with you, scooping Associated Press, Reuter’s, and United Press International, not to mention all local news services except our General Store.
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In These Otsego Hills: Waiting for spring to have sprung ...
Difficult as it to believe, both January and February seem to have flown by and we find ourselves turning the calendar over to the month of March, which we have long thought is one of the more dreary months of the year. Of course, as in the pastthere are signs of spring as reflected by the tapping of the maple trees. For many years, the trees sprouted buckets to capture their all important sap. However, we now know to look for the sap collection lines that are strung from tree to tree.
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Book Notes: Kennedy: a unique individual
It’s been almost 50 years since the Kennedy assassination shocked the nation. Since then much has been written about President John F. Kennedy and whether he would have achieved his destiny (whatever that may have been) if he had lived. It is said he inspired young people in a way that has never been equaled. And there is the notion of Camelot, espoused by his widow Jackie, that there will never be a time of hope and promise like that again.
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From Fly Creek: Revving up for spring
