Katrinia

Matt Fox

 

Exploring Again

 We spent a wonderful afternoon trying to get lost on the country roads around us today. We started in Little Falls after lunch at McD's, heading south out of the city, then east on Rte 5S ending up in St. Johnsville. We drove along the Canal until the road became a seasonal dirt road with mud puddles and tall weeds on both sides. Jeff found a spot with boat launch accessible in both directions that he'd like to try. (Just has to remember where it is!!) We followed a County Highway up a hill and away from the canal and we were suddenly above the trees! There are so many beautiful sights around us!! I never realized how many 150+ year old brick houses there are in St Johnsville until today! We finally headed west into Manheim. Jeff had never heard of it, but I knew it was close to Little Falls. We even went past The Benefit Club where we had a great Thanksgiving dinner with my cousin Ed (and his cousin Carolyn) 2 years ago! Zoey enjoyed the ride, sitting on my lap with her nose out the open window. We were out exploring for about 4 hours. Zoey is already asleep, and Jeff just headed in that direction. I think I'll be joining them as soon as I finish writing this!! We don't do it very often but exploring our corner of NY State is a great way to spend a beautiful, sunny afternoon.

The Fiala branch of the Molinaro family

 

Matt Fox

 

Fanny

   Fanny left us this morning after almost 2 weeks of limited mobility.  Jeff and I took turns sitting with her and even Zoey sat with her for a while.  

   Fanny was an Australian Cattledog Mix that Jeff found at the Herkimer Country Humane Society for my mother. She was a good watch dog barking loudly when anyone drove into our yard.  Sometime in her first few months with us, she was frightened by somebody or something that she never got over.  After that, every unfamiliar person who came into our house was greeted by Zoey at the door and Fanny from under the kitchen table.  

   She was 15 years old with limited sight and hearing but still enjoyed living in our little woods.  When the weather was good, she would walk thru the woods, around Wally's house and back home, checking out the neighborhood.  Once in a while she would go over the hill into one of the cemeteries...just to see what all the fuss was about over there! When Jeff was offered a Beagle puppy, I said Fanny had final say so.  If she said no, then no puppy.  The day we picked out the puppy Fanny didn't know what to make of it or its' littermates!  She sniffed it end to end with a very confused look on her face before flipping her over and giving her a quick wash up!  Zoey was as much hers as she is ours!

   Fanny will be missed by the 3 of us but she is now free of pain, and she will be free forever walking thru our little woods.

Mine, at last!

 

   Here's my corner of the shop (Cooper Country Crafts, Doubleday Court, Cooperstown)!  The rabbits are based on Bilberry Bunnys by Pat Alinejed and 8-9" tall.  The little dolls are based on Izzy Dolls and Pocket Pals. All their accessories are firmly attached.  The shop is now open daily for its 51st season from 10am-5pm except for Easter.  More Bunnys and Pals as well as their accessories are on their way to Cooperstown!  Hope you are, too!