As you would guess, the talk of the town is the bitterly cold temperatures. However, by the time you read this we are forecasted to be back to having average weather conditions for this time of year. Look at it this way, we could be having what's in Buffalo instead!
I made a trip to Roseville on Saturday for a haircut at my sister-inlaw's, and I couldn't believe it had been almost six months! I was most certainly the "shaggy dog".
I was surprised to see large clumps of snow and ice along Sopertown Road from a recent plowing. However, it was no surprise to see all the folks I saw on my journey out cutting/splitting firewood. Ron has been doing a lot of that lately, too.
Of course, it's impossible for me to keep him down to give it a rest, he's either cutting wood or tinkering out in the garage. It seems there is always a lot that needs to be done.
I talked to my niece Shannon from Lancaster County over the weekend, and she told me she's anxious for the five gallon crock of sauerkraut she made to be finally "worked' enough to be canned. That's a lot of "kraut."
Ron and I visited a local orchard last Saturday and picked up a peck of a new (to us, that is) apple It's called "Jonagold", a cross between a Jonathan and a Golden Delicious. It is very good, quite sweet, and can be used for cooking as well as eating.
It was so nice seeing those entire bushel baskets filled with beautiful apples, especially with the frigid temperatures outside reminding us that we had very little of that wonderful, warm autumn season to enjoy that type of harvesting.
I need to correct the number of shoeboxes our church donated to the Samaritan Purse project. The total came to 54, not 51, and it was NOT a record. We did 59 i 2012. However, all in all, a most worthy outreach indeed.
I haven't heard any success stories from our local hunters, but one party did comment on seeing a very large coyote in the area. I know that we'll be crawling with deer hunters on Monday, December 1 and I wish everyone luck, especially my husband.
The Alba Chancel Choir traveled to the Standing Stone Vesper Church on Sunday evening to take part in their annual Thanksgiving service. It was another enjoyable event, and many of us commented on remembering in days gone by when the temperatures had been in the single digits at that time, or we had to plow through several inches of snow to and from the church. That night it seemed almost balmy in the 40s, and a nice time of fun and fellowship to kick off the holiday season.
I truly hope you and yours enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday with good food, fun and fellowship. On November 29, 1814, in London, a steam-operated press for printing newspapers was used for the first time, replacing the hand press.
November 29, 1832, marks the birth date of Louisa May Alcott, who was born in Germantown, PA. November 30 is St. Andrew's Day. On this day 1753, for his work in electricity. Ben Franklin was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society of London. Samuel Langhorne Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, was born November 30, 1835.
And we welcome December, now known as "decorate" month. Full Cold Moon is the traditional name given, which recognizes that start of another winter season. Full long Nights Moon is another name given, acknowledging the dark time of year.
December 3 marks the birth anniversary of Charles Alfred Pillsbury (1842-1899), Pillsbury Company.
Quote and quip from Ben Franklin, which he wrote in his 1757 almanac: "Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances. To be content, look backward on those who possess less than yourself, not forward on those who possess more. If this does not make you content, you don't deserve to be happy."
Food for thought: Gratitude turns what we have into enough.