Thompsons Lake

Monday, Feb. 23, arrived with a temperature of minus eight. I talked on the phone a lot to Kathy and then Pat.

Kassi and I tried to coordinate our dates because birthdays come and we always celebrate them.

Brandon Clark, my grandson, came home from work, and we visited and then ate dinner together. We had pigs in the blankets, potato patties, and salad.

I watched my granddaughter, Danielle Ricketts, make pigs in the blankets by wrapping a hot dog in a crescent roll and baking them. They are very tasty and hot dogs makes me think of warmer weather.

Tuesday, Feb. 24, arrived even colder. I took the news to Altamont and mailed out bills and birthday cards.

I went to the hardware store in East Berne and moved my vehicle three times to avoid the ice in the parking lot. I finally found a spot with just snow.

I bought milk and I needed a special screwdriver for children’s toys. We misplaced the one we had.

I put a battery in the snake we have and it crawled along the kitchen floor. Reba, Danny’s dog, was really afraid of it and hid by me.

Then I cooked red and green peppers and onions and added Italian sweet sausage for Brandon and me to have a feast. This is another summer food usually done on the grill.

Fresh vegetables make a meal especially now that we can’t pick them out of the garden.

Brandon and Jenn Smith then went to visit her grandparents, Bob and Connie Hughes in Albany.

Wednesday, Feb. 25, was a little warmer. My daughter, Marcia Pangburn had a dentist appointment but talked to me on the phone.

I went on the dinner visit with Brandon, Samson, and Nichole. We ate at Burger King in Cobleskill. It was Samson’s choice of a place to eat this week.

We used to drive back to my house to eat but spent most of the three-hour visit on the road. Samson did his homework and then we played Pictionary. It’s an old game, and a little hard for Nichole as she got the word listen and had to draw something. One time Samson got nerve and then pulse but we did it. 

We met a former BKW teacher there, Betty Lockwood. She’s a great role mode. She’s 90-years-old and fit as a fiddle. She was with her husband. I forgot his first name but his last name is Van Wie. They even went to Maple on the Lake for New Year’s Eve, and most of us went to bed.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, the temperature dropped to minus two. I picked my daughter, Kathy Carnevale up and then she drove. We went to BJs and then enjoyed lunch at the A Frame Restaurant.

We then went to Boscov’s and found a lantern for Samson and Nichole to give to their dad, Brandon, for his birthday. Nichole asked me to please bake a cake and pick out a gift because she couldn’t be here to do it.

Birthdays

I went home and baked two Red Velvet cakes, one for Brandon and one for Jared Marin, whose birthday was Saturday.

Friday, Feb. 27, was another cold day, but it was Brandon’s birthday. I went to the chiropractor and then the grocery store. Brandon picked me up at 3:30 p.m. and we headed to Schoharie to pick up Samson and Nichole to celebrate his birthday.

He gets three hours on his birthday and Veronica gets the same on hers. We drove to Hubie’s in Middleburg for dinner. Jenn Smith met us there after she got out of work.

After dinner we sang “Happy Birthday” and Brandon opened his gift and liked the lantern. Nichole said it would be great for their camping trip.

They always set up a tent and slip out in the summer. Last year it was in Grandma Marcia Pangburn’s yard on Thompson’s Lake, but it’s camping and great fun.

We all read our cards to Brandon and Jenn ordered ice cream for him. We had a great evening celebrating.

Saturday, Feb. 28, slid in with a temperature of zero. My daughter, Kathy and son-in-law, Gary Carnevale, picked me up at 11 a.m., and we drove to Maple Inn on the Lake to make plans for Kassi and Jared’s upcoming wedding on May 15.

We then enjoyed lunch and celebrated Jared’s birthday with cake. We all read cards to him and gave him gifts.

In the evening, my sister, Pat Sykala, of Schenectady, came to visit me.

Sunday morning, March 1, arrived and it was two degrees outside. I went to church and then my daughter, Marcia, came to visit me.

Kyra Swan was in Niskayuna visiting her friend, Ella David.

At 3 p.m. Kassi and Jared picked me up and we went to Kathy and Gary’s house to celebrate Kassi’s birthday.

Kathy made chicken and cheese crepes and we enjoyed a salad. Kathy also made a delicious date nut cake with cream cheese frosting.

We read our cards to Kassi and gave her our gifts. Then we played three games of Wii bowling. That was a lot of fun. Can you imagine, I went to three birthday parties in three straight days.

It is the perfect way to enjoy the cold winter days.

Lenten worship

One of the most important spiritual happenings in the Hilltowns each year is the all-community Lenten worship service. Each week a different church hosts the people of the Hilltowns for a service of worship on Wednesday night.

This year’s theme is the “Tree of Life,” which will prepare us for our celebration of Easter.

This week’s service will be on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at the Helderberg Lutheran Church with Pastor Bob Hoffman being the preacher. The sermon will be based on Proverbs 3:13-18. We hold fast to wisdom, as if it were the very tree of life.

Following the service, there is a time of food and fellowship. Come and join in this spiritual experience of worship and community.

 

 

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