Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Birthday pictures








I am trying to get the birthday pictures on this post. I thought I could download all the pictures at once last night and ended up with just the last picture of Laura and Carol. I have a lot to learn!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Birthday Surprise





I guess we are not into surprise birthdays on the tradition special year. It was 61 and it was a great surprise. Since the "girls" have busy lives on Sunday we decided that would be a great excuse to celebrate together in the morning (skipping Sunday School). That enabled Christian to come over for breakfast and Ethan, having driven up from Manhattan on Saturday in the pouring rain and sleeping at camp with no water, phone, food or warmth, to get the car cleaned up and over to the SLU barn next door. Unfortunately, the 8:30 breakfast was delayed an hour due to someone's appendicitis but he got home and we had a great time around the table. Strata, bacon, homemade applesauce, coffee on fall colored dishes. Carol and Laura gave Rob thoughtful gifts. Knowing that someone's cholesterol was a bit elevated they cleverly introduced the breakfast that I have been advocating. Thinking that they bought double stuffed oreos he suffered disappointment when noticing that the package was already opened he lifted the flap to discover the whole package was filled with oatmeal. Then to compensated for the disappointment they went to the freezer and got a quart of ice cream out. Only to discover the ice cream had been replaced with prunes!!!

After Laura had been receiving several text messages, (from Ethan getting the car in position with bows and cards in the driveway) she told Rob that someone had delivered a birthday gift out in the driveway. We all went out and there was the car in the driveway!! It was a lot of fun for all. Rob was shocked and elated. then the barn hatch was opened and there was Ethan. Ethan came down, after instructions not to jump and instructed Rob in the various workings of the car which he had mastered on the way up to Canton. We went for a quick spin around the block and then the girls and Rob and I drove to church in the new BMW with Shelia guiding us all the way.

After church it was back to the house for lovely stuffed shells that Laura had made the day before. We worked in the kitchen all day on Saturday, it was nice to have a buddy in the kitchen. We had to make 2 cakes since Roger ate one layer of the first cake. One of his not so great characteristics is jumping up and getting food off the counters, he's very tall now and can reach things put on the back of the counters too. Elizabeth and Jon called to wish the birthday boy a wonderful day and it was so nice chatting with them, although we missed them being with us for Dad's big surprise! The boys watched the Giants together and then we had the birthday cake. Ethan took a nap which lasted until 6:00pm so he had a late start back to NYC arriving at 3:00am at his apartment. Thanks Ethan, you did a great job in delivering a wonderful surprise!

The birthday continued through Monday. We got nice cards from Elizabeth and Christian and Alma. After a short work day and some yard work Rob and I went down to Mirror Lake Inn to have a delicious dinner at the View. I think we had the fastest trip home from Lake Placid that night, CP would be impressed with the driving. Rob had a lot of fun driving through the mountains with a car that really hugged the road.

And now we are starting the beginning of Rob's 62nd year. We are blessed of the Lord. And we continue to look for His unfolding plan and purpose for our lives here in Canton.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

TV Debut


I make my TV debut today on the 6:00pm news. Jon Friot called Bill this morning to see if we would do an interview about the Save Historic Canton/DOT issue. Initially I was hesitant to do the interview, I don't think I am good at extemporaneous speaking. And what I really want is to live a quiet and peaceable life in my home and backyard garden, not involved with controversial matters, at least in the public arena. However, as I have been thinking recently, we as Christians need to be the leaders in every sphere of society. We should be people of influence, isn't that really what a leader is? We should be involved in commerce, medicine, industry, environment, academia, science, government, politics, etc. to provide integrity, honesty and wisdom to our society. Why should the DOT have ultimate authority in the lives of our little residential community and the village shop keepers. Our lives should not be totally dedicated to commerce, how fast we, and the hundreds of 18 wheel trucks, can get through the village on our way to make more money to spend it on the latest "necessary" gaget. We appreciate the DOT coming into our community to make the necessary repairs on the roadbed and enabling the village to have an opportunity to repair and replace water and sewer lines. But we know, because we have lived here over decades, that a third lane will not help traffic but just increase fatalities and drastically change the character of the village. They need to realize that although US 11 is a federal highway it does go through a residential community. And the one size fits all approach that the DOT has for all it's road projects will just not fit this village. Over 1000 people signed out petition that we hastily established to present to Governor Spitzer when he visited our area last week. Given time, we could have had three times the amount of signatures. Anyway, I hope my interview went well, Mr. Friot seemed to be impressed. I pray that I represented my community and our ideas in a logical,concise and reasonable way. The board of trustees at Saint Lawrence University has endorsed our petition and the village of Canton board is drawing up a resolution of support.

On a much higher level, I am so proud, (hope that's okay), of how my children are being used of the Lord in their speres of influence. Ethan has become the face of JP Morgan on all the their brochures on the college campuses. And Christian S has flown General Casey, the chief of staff of the US Army, around while he was in Europe. Keep up the good work, always looking for opportunities from the Lord!!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Fall Unending

I came out of the house to go to church yesterday and was dazzled by the yellow leaves of the huge 100 year old trees sparkling in the sunlight. Even though I was a bit late I ran back into the house to get Rob's camera to document the beautiful sight. We have had a simply magnificient fall this year. The leaves are still on the trees and the colors have been breathtaking. Everyone has been noticing the foliage this year and it's longevity. We're all wondering if it is because we have had a relatively dry fall, or because we have experienced warm days and cool nights. Anyway, when we are sometimes experiencing snow in October, we are now still out in our shorts and tee shirts and enjoying our wonderful area we live in. Fall is my favorite time of the year so it is extra special this year because it has lasted so long. Hope I'm not raking leaves in December!!

Tonight is Carol's bridal shower at 42 East Main Street, for her friends in this area. I had so much fun decorating for it, with brown's and slate blues and all the lovely fall colors. We hollowed out a hubbard squash that Kathy Thomas brought me from her farm yesterday and I will fill it with squash dip that I made from Martha Stewart's fall issue. Rob tasted it yesterday and approved. We have lovely pumpkin roll, pecan bars, apple strudel and other goodies. Some of the ladies will be sharing personal insights into some areas that we all need to keep sharp on in our marriages. Laura and I are sad for Carol to leave our Canton residence but know that she is in really good hands with Andy, and I think they will be over frequently for dinner and games.

Elizabeth called this morning with an update on our extended family Christmas trip to Italy. I'm excited to spend this Christmas with her and Christian since we missed them terribly last year. Although we speak frequently on the phone, her Dad and I still miss the personal visits and having the family all together, especially at the holidays. Can hardly believe that we have a daughter and son-in-law living in Italy! Dad's excited to see their house and go to the base to see Christian's base of operations. Although he has flown in helicopeters before with life flights, the Blackhawk will be a bit different I'm sure.

The sun is shining and I'm off to sit for a few minutes on the back patio.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Omniscient and Omnipotent

This week I felt like Elisha must have felt when the Lord let him in on the secrets of the Syrian army, warring against the Israelites. Elisha found out the Syrian army's strategies and then communicated them to the king of Israel. God is interested in His own!!! Wow, the Lord is real, present, personal and able to protect us. He is our advocate, our defender. Rob and I were interested in getting into a new ventrue. We had researched, investigated, prayed for wisdom and then agreed to proceed. After some strange and unusual circumstances, it was revealed to us that there was a big disception and we were saved from a potentially negative situation. Proverbs 2:6-8, "For the Lord gives wisdom; out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous; he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keeps the paths of judgment, and perserves the way of his saints." We can trust our God! He preserves our way. In Proverbs 8 it tells us that wisdom cries at the gates. God is so anxious and interested to share in our lives; protect us and give us a good and expected end. He is for us and not against us- always wanting the best for us. Thank you, my Father, for always coming along side us in whatever situation we are in, to guide, protect and instruct us. We really appreciate the personal interest, I'm always amazed when his hand is seen in my reality. A P.S., I'm here and I love you. Rob also had a personal testimony of God's instruction and guidance in the OR but, I will let him share that experience. I will say that he had the opportunity to share with his OR team about the Lord.

Andy, Carol, Laura, Rob and I had dinner together last night and afterwards Laura and I taught Andy and Carol canasta. Another couple to join our Canasta ranks. We did clarify a rule that one Christian S had disputed with us on other occassions. And we have it in black and white from the rule book!

This coming week will be really busy here in Canton. Tonight is our coalition meeting in preparation for going to the Village Board meeting tomorrow. The Governors visit last week was successful and interesting. We got over 1000 signatures for our petition and people are still signing. Letters to the editor are being written every week. I understand that my friends and family in NYC are circulating petitions. The big green signs, SAVE HISTORIC CANTON, all up and down Main street were visually engaging and definately eye catching. One of the Village board members came while I was mowing the lawn on Saturday and we had a nice chat. Tuesday is the day my birthday friends group is having lunch at the Black Bird Cafe and then back here for cake. I'm making a new recipe, which Carol and Laura found, so I hope it is good! Tuesday night Mary and Henry are coming for instruction in English and the Book of Mark. Henry told me today he wants to get baptized next Sunday. I met a new Chinese couple in church today. He is a mathematics teacher at Canton College and they may join us for the evening. I've also discovered that one of my neighbors in the apartments next door is a single Chinese lady who would like to come over for some fellowship. What's going on Lord? And so the rest of the week evolves with appointments, preparations for Carol's shower on the 22 and for our Italy trip, winterizing the flower beds here in Canton and at camp, putting in storm windows, etc....

Laura and I had a great time with Aunt Joan and Laura's friends Steph and Mick. No pics yet but we went to the Duke gardens, (surprise, surprise. who would have thought gardens) and to the big mall X 3 but little shopping was done. Had great ribs for dinner one night and two nice meals with Joey and Laura's friends. We taught Steph, Mick, Joey and Joan speed scrabble, so the ever increasing circle of the Skoglunds speed scrabble goes on.

God is good and I trust everyone will have a great week.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Parties and Politics

This week has been the week of parties and politics. Monday we had a great 23rn birthday celebration for Laura. I had to laugh when aunt Joan told me what she had bought for Laura- all bling!! And I, on the other hand, gave her two turtle fur lined winter hats, wind and cold resistant gloves and a head lamp, for her next, predawn hike. We taught 4 more people speed scrabble and enjoyed the evening with two seperate games going on each end of the dining room table. Yesterday we had 17 people over for dinner because the Story's and Danica and Jameson were in town. We had so much fun catching up on each other's lives, even though it seemed like it was just yesterday that we were having their going away party. Brooks and Roger raced around the yard trying to catch each other. I think Brooks may be in better shape, Roger couldn't catch up. Diane got to see the Carol's dress and go over all the details of the event coming up in 44 days, The men all watched the Yankee's disappointing effort. And we were all amazed that an entire large roasting pan filled with apple crisp was devoured. A special person in our lives with the initials of CM just couldn't seem to get enough of the dessert.

The rest of the week was devoted to activities to save Historic Main Street Canton. I passed out resolutions and petitions, went to meetings, read and responded to the dozens of emails I get everyday now and read the articles about our efforts in all the various area newspapers. Picked up, assembled and delivered street signs that we ordered to be revealed on October 9th am, the day the governor comes to Canton. This staunch Republician family is sending a member to the Democratic fund raising event that Governor Spitzer will be attending, on the 9th. And I'm learning all the proper protocol involved in politics.

I know that I promised pictures, but Carol didn't download them yet so I'll have to post them seperately. Hope everyone has a great weekend.