...blink...blink...

   Last evening around 8:20pm I was hankered down next to the glowing wood stove with a new book, all comfy and warm, Jeff was stretched out on his bed, Fanny was snoring in the power chair and Zoey was curled up on the loveseat when every thing went quiet and black.  The power was out!  I stood up and checked Wally's house...totally dark down there...and the highway...just blackness.  It took me a couple of minutes to slowly edge my way to the kitchen trying not to trip over any of the dog toys on the floor.  Once I got to the kitchen I continued my slow progress to the door...still just blackness...even the street light on the highway was out!  I managed to feel my way to the hall and got the small penlight we keep under the thermostat.  Once I turned that on I could walk at a normal speed back to the kitchen and look for the new flashlight Jeff's sister Sherry had given him for Christmas.  It's a small but powerful  tactical collapsible lantern (the commercial says you can see the beam for a mile!) and it does makes it seems as if the lights were on. The fire really needed more wood but since the fan wasn't working I didn't want to put any in.  I just put my book away and snuggled in my chair with an afghan. 
   I figured the power outage was caused by the ice jam under the Rte. 5 bridge over the West Canada Creek.  Telephone, cable and electrical lines all go thru conduits along the underside of that bridge and the ice jams probably had caused a problem.  The ice jam was also causing flooding along the creek.  You'd think someone would just break up the ice the way they do in other places (Ilion and Whitesboro come to mind). 
   After about half an hour the power came back on and I put more wood in the stove.  The furnace kicked on and Jeff got up and asked if I ever baked the frozen pizza I had bought.  Between the wood fire, the furnace and the oven the house warmed up quickly and I went back to reading my book.  I read for a couple of hours and ended up going to bed around midnight.  Around 1:30am the power cut out again...but this time for just 10-15 minutes...just enough time to make everything that blinks when the power is cut start blinking! 
   This was the 2nd time this month that we had a middle of the night power outage...both during a relative 'warm spell' so the ice jams had to have something to do with it.  And you just don't realize how dark it is at night until you have a power outage out here in the 'little woods'.

Let's Fill That Stock Bag!

    I finally got my first sweater of the season finished last night...all except the buttons and some ends worked in.  It's based on a design I found on Ravelry.com called 'Frost Princess' but mine is a raglan cardigan worked from the neck down.  It's a size 4 done in Red Heart acrylic Minty and White on my new interchangeable rosewood circular needles from Knit Picks.  I complained most of the time I was working on it because it seemed to take so long to work around the sweater (what a change from a baby raglan!).  Anyway, it's done and now I can't wait to do another size 4...or maybe a size 6!  

Norfolk Pine Update

  The Norfolk Pine Jeff brought home from The Barrack a couple of weeks ago hasn't been doing so well.  It's been in the big south-facing window in the parlor getting plenty of sun but there's not much heat in that room any more...at least not enough for that tropical plant!  I've been watering it every other day and at first the branches stayed straight and there wasn't much needle shedding but the last week or so the tips of the branches curled up and Zoey was shaking needles off of it.  Theresa and George from our shop came to the rescue and offered to take the tree.  They came for it yesterday afternoon.  George says it's still alive and if he can't keep it that way then he'll use the trunk to make pen casings.  George is one of the woodworkers in the shop.  He makes turned casings for salt and pepper grinders, pens and other neat things out of wood.  It will be interesting to see pens with a Norfolk pine label if the tree doesn't survive!  I promise to come back and post a photo of a pen if he uses the trunk to make one.
   Zoey loved having Theresa and George stop over yesterday.  She nearly wiggled out of her skin trying to get George to pet her!  Fanny hid under the kitchen table after first checking them at the door. It was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

Fanny's Turn

   Yesterday was Fanny's turn with the new vet.  Zoey went with us to offer moral support (actually I didn't want to leave her alone at home or in the car, afraid of what she would do/destroy!). The girls at the office were surprised to see Zoey so soon but even more surprised to see Fanny (all 89#'s of her) crawl under the chair Jeff sat on and hide!  When it was Fanny's turn we all trooped into the exam room and while Fanny crawled under the chair in that room, too, Zoey happily greeted the tech who came in to exam Fanny.  We reminded the tech that Fanny needed to be muzzled because she was a reflex biter and once Jeff put it on her she looked so pathetic!  She was taken into the back hall and  the vet examined her front feet.  He found that she did have a problem...a rash/infection between the toes that she had been gnawing at.  Her gave her a Dexamethasone shot (a steroid) for that and gave me some Cefpodoxime tablets(antibiotic) to give her every day.  He also gave me some Chlorhexidine (anti-inflammatory)treated wipes to use on her feet but that's going to be a problem.  I think we'll have to buy her a muzzle.  I like/need my fingers in the condition they're in and since my INR is out of range again (high) and I'm bleeding from the slightest scratch, I don't want her biting me!  It's easy to give her the pills...just break one into pieces and put them in a glob of peanut butter.  It gets gobbled up in record time. No problem!  (Meatballs, frosting and cream cheese also work with Fanny.)  Of course, Zoey was right there demanding her fair share of peanut butter!  Once we get the infection cleared up, Fanny's got to have some booster shots.  Yesterday's little trip cost me $119.  (Jeff never said how much Zoey's pre-op visit cost but it probably was in the same range.)  Hopefully, our next visit to the vet will be Zoey's spaying on 2/7.
   After our vet visit we went to the new coffee shop on Main St in Herkimer, The Java Shop by Cucina Berto.  I saw their ad on Facebook and it said they used Utica Coffee and since Jeff had mentioned more than once he'd like to try Utica Coffee some time, I suggested it.  The coffee shop had just opened the day before, and unfortunately, they weren't using Utica Coffee yesterday.  But the coffee we did have was pretty good.  Jeff had a scone and I had a delicious muffin!  We also have a delightful conversation with the owner, Rob Fiorentino.  My mother grew up with Rob's grandfather and had told plenty of stories about the times and fun they had. And I spent many Sunday mornings after church at Rob's grandparent's house while I was growing up, too.  Rob runs the kitchen at the Herkimer Elk's on Friday's. Jeff and Rob seemed to get along well and Jeff enjoyed the coffee and scone!  Now Jeff wants to try a Friday night dinner at the Elk's.  Just hearing Rob's menu, it's definitely something to look forward to! 

Hall of Fame

      I found the following letter on my email yesterday.  It was sent to the shop's CEO by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce Director.   I believe it was in response to the amount of support that she, Judy, has given the Chamber in the  past. While I'm one of those who feel the honor is in the nomination (like they say about being nominated for an Oscar or Emmy), I would sure like the shop to be elected so I posted something on Facebook about it, and was really surprised by the number of congratulations I received from family and friends.  When it was explained to me that everyone is eligible to vote (I thought you had to be a member of the Chamber to vote) I sent out over 20 Personal Messages on Facebook to those folks with the link to the ballot and with a request to please vote for Cooper Country Crafts and to ask their friends to support us, too.   I sent email to all the shop members reminding them of all the work Judy has done and asked them to vote for the shop...and to ask family and friends to vote, too.  (Nothing like stuffing the ballot box, huh?)  I don't know if this primitive politicking will get the shop elected to the Hall of Fame but I don't think it can hurt.  So if I haven't asked you already, how about supporting Cooper Country Crafts in this?  Remember, we're a co-op producing some of the finest, locally handmade items and offering them to the public without a middleman to raise prices. We've been around since the mid-1970's (making us a bunch of aging hippies) and we enjoy what we do and we enjoy talking about it.  Stop at the shop when we reopen for our 45th season in April and see for yourself!  

         "On behalf of the entire Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, it is my pleasure to inform you that Cooper Country Crafts has been named one of the Finalists for the 2018 Cooperstown Chamber Business Hall of Fame.  We hope you take pride in the fact that the community has chosen to recognize your organization and nominate you for this award.

Earlier today, the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce published the final ballot and voting will be open until February 1, 2018.  Below you will find the link to the ballot and the Hall of Fame logo has been attached to this email.  We encourage you to use this unique opportunity to market your organization and get your supporters to vote for your business for this year’s Hall of Fame!  Post the link on your social media channels, send emails, etc., just get the word out!  (Limit of one ballot per person)  Winners will be recognized at the Chamber’s Hall of Fame Gala on Thursday, May 31 and receive additional marketing throughout the year.

Ballot Link: https://cooperstown.typeform.com/to/UXmMhN

Congratulations once again on being nominated!  Best of luck in the voting and look forward to working with you soon!

Thank you,

Matthew K. Hazzard
Executive Director

Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce

(607) 547-9983 (o)

(607) 227-9497 (c)

www.cooperstownchamber.org

#wearecooperstown"

1/9/18:  This year's inductees are Ommegang Brewery, the Graduate Program at the Fenimore House, the Farmer's Museum, Spurbeck's Grocery and the SPCA.  Congratulations to all.  Thank you to all who voted for Cooper Country Crafts. 

Attachments area

New Vet

   Yesterday we took Zoey for her pre-op physical with the vet Jeff had picked, Herkimer Veterinary Associates, across the road from Denny's in Herkimer.  He had talked with them, and the people at Mohawk Valley Vets, where I have taken my dogs, and decided he preferred Herkimer Vets.  Herkimer is a much larger practice with 5 vets and we have heard good things about them.  Neither of us has been totally pleased with the care Fanny's gotten at Mohawk Valley...she had a reoccurring ear infection that they couldn't clear up but a monthly trip to the groomers has made that a thing of the past.  Everyone at Herkimer made us feel at home and made a fuss over Zoey!  Of course, she loved that!
   Zoey was found to be in good general health with a 'trick knee' that might be a genetic problem or a result of a dislocation when she was quite young. (No sense saying 'small', Zoey is small and will remain small!)  She weighs 19.5 lbs. and because of the knee the vet suggested we keep her under 25 lbs. if possible.  Zoey is an eating machine and is quite active...even in winter...but we'll have to watch her calorie intake as she gets older.  Her lungs, eyes and ears are clear (she gets her ears cleaned monthly at the groomers, too).  She was given 2 booster shots and scheduled for her spaying on Feb. 7th.  It will be 'day surgery', checking in between 7:30 and 8am and if all goes without complications, Zoey will be home for supper.  Her stitches will be internal and self-dissolving.  They will send her home with a light sedative and some pain pills to help keep her quite for a couple of days.
   Jeff and I were both impressed with the staff and I made an appointment for Fanny to be seen next week.  She keeps gnawing at her left front foot, really digging between 2 of the toes and has been doing this for some time.  Her current vet calls it an allergy but Fanny has caused the foot to bleed and I don't like that.  I think it's time for a second opinion.  And besides, why have 2 vets?
   After Jeff recovered and paid Zoey's bill, I took pity on him and suggested stopping for coffee at the N Main St Greek Diner.  Teddy had made carrot cake yesterday so we both had some...very good...but next time I think I'll stick with cheesecake.  Teddy's is great!  I'm hoping he surprises me someday and 
makes Galaktoboureko  or custard pie.  My cousin Fran's wife, Irene, use to make that for special occasions  and it was out of this world!! I'm sure Teddy would do just as good a job with the recipe as Irene always did!

A Christmas Tree

     Jeff came home with a full decorated Christmas tree last night.  Actually, Michelle from The Barracks had asked him a couple of days ago if I'd take their live Christmas tree.  Being a reasonably intelligent man, Jeff asked me if I'd take the tree...without mentioning that it was over 4 ft. tall and fully decorated. (I thought I was getting a 1 ft. tree in a gallon bucket!)  Zoey went crazy went she saw it and wanted to wrestle the ornaments off the branches.  Jeff left the poor tree on the kitchen counter and after a couple of hours I moved it to in front of the parlor windows and gave it a couple cups of warm water.  This morning I took the decorations off of it after I caught Zoey doing it for me...and having a ball playing and destroying one of the metal balls!  I gave it another couple of cups of warm water and the branches have started to straighten out.  It's a Norfolk pine and I've never had one of those before.  Just got to decide where to plant it in the spring.  Michelle's husband, Stoney, and Jeff both thought throwing out the tree was the best way to get rid of it but wiser minds prevailed.  It's too big and nice a tree to just but in the garbage! 
   Just learned that a Norfolk Pine is a tropical pine from Hawaii and Florida and will not survive our winters outside.  Jeff, pleased that he will not have to plant it, suggested giving it to the library so I asked but Herkimer refused saying they didn't have room for a 4ft potted tree.  Jeff thinks we can find a doctor's office where it might be welcome but I think we may be stuck with it.  Wonder if it can summer outside and winter inside?