Fagbug

Syracuse Newspaper Article

Above photos taken at 2010 Westcott Fair

Week Forty-Four - 8 To Go

Your basic whodunit steeped in Navajo cultural information. While some reviewer judged that story line was a bit flat, Tony Hillerman does flesh out the complex relationships of the main characters, Jim, Joe, Louisa and Bernie.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2017

Week Forty-Three - 9 To Go

Quick, light read with a topical plot involving a sociopath. Can we expect Gerritsen to include Holly Devine in a future Rizzoli & Isles novel?

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2017

Shagbark Hickory Tree

In his weekly, Great Outdoors, columnist Rick Marsi suggests that the
shagbark hickory which provides nuts to both wildlife and people is his candidate for favorite Fall tree.

I located this tree just north behind the parking lot of Casey Park Elementary School during my morning walk.

Shagbark hickories are deciduous and provide excellent fall foliage color. In autumn their leaves turn a golden color - richer than the yellows displayed by the maples. "Shagbark" hickory trees derive their picturesque name from the interesting peeling bark they bear. This unusual bark juts out from one or both ends, curling outward. Even when the leaves are long gone from the deciduous trees in winter, this feature provides landscape interest.The fragrant nut the trees bear is said to be the tastiest from any of the hickory nut trees.

Harvesting Hickory Nuts

When we speak of the fruit (nut) from shagbark hickory nut trees, we are really dealing with three parts:

1. The husk.
2. The hard outer shell under the husk.
3. The meat of the nut within the hard outer shell.

Refrigerate or freeze the nut meat after you have removed it from the shells.
Do not try cracking the husk prematurely, unless you are a glutton for hard work. Rather, wait for ripening in autumn. Ripening begins in September and October. The green, leathery husk eventually turns brown and becomes more brittle. In fact, sometimes, when the nuts fall to the ground, the husks split open into four segments, allowing access to the nut within (of course, even then, you have still got the hard outer nutshell to crack). For this reason, some harvesters just wait until late autumn for all the nuts to fall.

Leaf-Peepin' 2017

The Edge - Lobby

The tradition of leaf-peeping has been one of our passions since we first got together. Fall is our favorite season. While it is pleasant to observe the leaves near home, nothing beats a trip to the Adirondacks.

On Wednesday (10/18/17) we left for Lowville. But first stopped at Panera’s (Joan - squash soup and a salad - me - Frontega sandwich) to get lunch. 

Ate our Panera lunch at the Dewitt service area on tables in courtyard - joined by a Japanese couple and two gentlemen.

 

Stopped at the Visitor’s Center at the Utica exit - Phyllis greeted us there. 

Arriving at The Edge Sarah checked us in. 

Went to The Pine Tree for dinner. Tammy was our waitress. Joan had the Haddock and I had a sausage patty with cole slaw. Then went to Jeb’s to get a gift certificate for Brian. Roger’s house was dark, today was his birthday perhaps they went out to celebrate. Melissa, The Edge night clerk, made us fresh decaf coffee at The Edge.

On Thursday (10/19/17) went to Stewart’s for the Watertown paper. Then had breakfast at The Pioneer Cafe (Joan had the Homestead & I had a Western omelet with home fires & an English muffin), Paula was are waitress. 

 

After refreshing at The Edge, we drove to Raquette Lake. Joan suggested to drive into Great Camp Sagamore. After a 3-mile drive on a stony, dusty road we reached the Great Camp only to be discouraged by the attendant (believe the resident caretaker) to leave immediately.

An out-building.

Back of the Main Building

Drove on to Durant Lake.

Near Durant Lake stopped to take a photo of a new dinner. 

Stopping at Blue Mt. Lake we took the usual photos.

Little Library at Blue Mt. Lake

We continued to Inlet. There just outside the village saw these Halloween mannequins.

Checked on the cache site in Arrowhead Park.

 
While using the rest rooms at Eagle Bay I wandered over to photograph the site of the former Half-way House, a teen and young adult night spot in the 1960s period. Now some kind of fix-it-up shop.

Went to The Pine Tree for dinner. Julie was our waitress. We both had the herbed Haddock. It was well prepared by Mike, the chef. Watched "It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", created by “Peanuts” mentor Charles M. Schulz, this long-beloved special was orginally televised in 1966 It featured the music of Vince Guaraldi. Michael, Emily and Lily spent the night at 88.

On Friday (10/20/17) we went to Stewart’s for the Watertown paper. Then had breakfast at The Pioneer Cafe (we both had the Homestead with home fires & I had the English muffin), Melissa was are waitress. Stopped at the Visitor’s Center at the Utica exit - Phyllis was there again. Actually the leaves were the most colorful on Deerfield Hill and along the Thruway. Arrived home safely. Bradley had taken in the mail and put out the garbage.

Previous Journeys:
Leaf-Peeping 2008
Leaf-Peeping - The Seaway Trail
Leaf-Peeping 2012
Leaf-Peeping 2013
Leaf-Peepin' 2014
Leaf-Peeping 2016

Week Forty-Two - 10 To Go

Encourage every Tony Hillerman reader to get and leaf through this extraordinary photography journal.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2017

Tim's Pumpkin Patch - 2017 Visit

Joan and I trekked out to Tim's Pumpkin Patch for our annual Fall visit.

 Near the entrance was the friendly Buffalo. The weather was ideal.

The ram was near the Harvest House.

Joan picked out some gourds and five $1 pumpkins.

The Wicked Witch of the Wet was still riding along the roof of the Harvest House.

The field across the road was filled with pumpkins.

One witch was impaled on a telephone pole.

After settling up with a clerk, Joan purchased three molasses cookie, one for me and two for Jim and Rita.

After stopping to deliver Jim and Rita's treats, Joan and I returned home.

Previous Visits:
2016
2014 
2013
2010

Cayuga College Nature Trail

Since I have not visited the Cayuga College Trail in quite awhile, decided to venture up there today. You can imagine my surprise when I found the former dragonfly-friendly pond filled in.

Also, the new daycare building on site.

The second and third ponds are now completely taken over by cattails.

Second Photo taken on iPhone 6

Continuing on the trail came upon a Red Maple tree that is part of the reforestation program.

To my delight there were a number of birds along the trail as well as this cute little fellow. Plus the Wolf Tree is still surviving.

Although the trail has been neglected, it is always a great day for a visit. The twenty-one other people (joggers, parents, college students, dog walkers) that I encountered during my travel around the trail seem to agree.

Previous walks on the Cayuga College Trail: 
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Monday, October 19, 2015

Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Monday, September 10, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Monday, June 01, 2009
Monday, October 20, 2008