Norwich and more: October 11, 2017

Carol and I headed to Oxford this morning to drop off her son Nick's mail to him.  Before getting there we stopped in WHITE STORE, NY and found a geocache at the cemetery.   On the way to his house, we saw his truck at a place he was working, so we stopped and gave his mail to his partner.  As we were pulling away, Nick pulled in and suggested we stay so we could go inside and look at the house which is THE OLDEST HOUSE IN OXFORD, built around 1750.

Then we headed into Norwich to go to the ARTIST'S PALETTE, which is owned by Carol's former daughter in law, Jill.

We were there about a half hour or maybe more.  We looked for a couple of geocaches in Norwich and found one of them.

Then we went back to Carol's for lunch.

And then we went to ROSA MYSTICA. Father Cyril introduced himself to us.

This is the large chapel.

Carol wanted to show me YODER's GREENHOUSE, but when we got there, it appeared that they were closed for the season. Carol bought a  pumpkin across the road.  Then we called it a day and headed back to her place.  Carol prepared breaded pork chops for supper.  They were very good.  

FALL COLOR drive with Carol (and a lot more)

when we got to somewhere near Richfield Springs, we saw a sign for the HOLY TRINITY
MONASTERY.  We stopped and took a few pictures from the outside.

There was a sign saying
women with shorts or even slacks were not permitted entry, but a monk crossed the road and
suggested we go to the gift shop.  We did not find it at first, so we explored a cemetery
and crypts, then another monk pointed us in the right direction.
In the gift shop we met Father Teacan (sp?), who spoke with us for a while and gave each of
us a free booklet.  He invited us to come back (properly dressed) for a tour and even for lunch. 
We have his phone number and I hope to return on Thursday, but Carol is not sure
Then we headed to Caroga Lake, to explore the abandoned SHERMAN'S AMUSEMENT PARK.  There was road contruction
going on and we were escorted past it.

We did find the abandoned park and explored it a bit.............there are only two rides: a carousel
(inside a round building) and the ferris wheel.  I took a lot of pictures of the park

a beautiful carousel resides in this round house!

and of a few places in
the village. 
We decided to continue heading north a bit (mostly to try to find a convenience store
with a rest room.  We saw some GLORIOUS fall foliage on Route 29A

and stopped at a shop that looked interesting
in Stratford, NY.

After that we headed south. We stopped at this place
But it was closed, and then I saw a sign that indicated
am Amish sawmill, so we headed towards that and saw a sign
for a bulk food store.  We stopped at the sawmill to ask
directions to the bulk food store and it turned out it was
right next door.

  I purchased some brown sugar.
We continued driving west on 29 and turned south to get on
28, which took us through the Herkimer diamond area.  We
stopped at the Herkimer Diamond Mine (a tourist attraction)
and went through the museum and the gift shop.

Very interesting
and actually going to the mining area and looking for diamonds
might be a fun activity on a cool day.
We accidentally took a scenic hilly route back towards Carols
place, arriving there shortly after four p.m.

Oneonta Day

Carol and I met Connie at Panera's and she treated us to a great breakfast
then Leslie joined us.  Leslie, Carol and I did some geocaching in Oneonta.
and we found four out of six.
THE UNKNOWN SCOUT
MASAHARU  MORIMOTO
JUDGE JOSEPH WAPNER and
PETTICOAT JUNCTION

dnf DONALD TRUMP and SI ROBERTSON. One of the DNF's was
near this wetland area on Oneida Street.

Leslie treated us to DAIRY QUEEN with a gift certificate she had won.

Most of the day had passed by the time we finished geocaching, so Carol and I headed back to her place.  She prepared pork chops and mashed potatoes and gravy for supper and it was a delicious meal.  

Drive to Carol's on Sunday, October 8, 2017

I left Lockport at about 9:15 a.m. and I got on the thruway near Pembroke.  I continued to Exit 41 where I got off in order to get on Route 20.   I  came upon THREE situations that held up my journey:  HOLDUP #1, as soon as I found 20, there was an accident up ahead.  Traffic heading east was stopped for several minutes and then we were directed to turn around.  I stopped in a nearby parking lot and had a light lunch and looked at the map and figured out a different way to get to 20.

HOLDUP #2, As I was passing Navarino's Orchards, I noticed that there were a LOT of people there, and that the APPLE FRITTER building was open and doing business. The line was long and slow, but since it was the first time I ever saw it open and I really wanted to try the fritters, I waited............

It was well worth the wait!  You get three for three dollars and tlhey are hot and fresh.  

I noticed a lot of people at other Apple Orchards along the way, HOLDUP #3 was when I got close to Lafayette, traffic stopped (for about twenty minutes, I think) because of the crowds coming and going.  I called Carol while I was waiting but I could not hear her.  I spoke anyways, explaining that I was stuck in traffic.  

After getting out of that traffic, I punched New Berlin into my GPS and it took me on some backroads where I saw some nice color. 

I am not sure where I was.  

I arrived at Carols house a bit before 4:30.  She was ready to leave to go to her friend Janes house for supper, but I told her I needed to rest a bit, which I did.

We had supper with Jane

and her husband Rich and their friend Chris.  Jane and Rich have a beautiful log home that they built themselves.  Supper was amazing...........baked ziti and salad and garlic bread.  Apple pie and apple strudel for desert.  

It was a good, but tiring day. .

10th Annual Western New York HEART TO HEART Women's Conference

I met up with Peggy and several women from church at 7:45 this morning (UGH!!!) to head to Leroy for this conference.

which was held at Living Waters Church 

  Our Pastors wife,  Jenny Campbell was the special guest speaker.

When Peggy said that she would drive the van and take a group, I decided to go.  It was a bit hard getting up and ready by 7:30 a.m.  I had not gotten up when it was still dark in a while.

Jenny spoke twice in the morning, and there was some good worship.
We all drove to the LeRoy Country Club

where we were given a very good buffet lunch.

We were treated to a very interesting skit

and a dance

before Jenny spoke again.  And the last event was the opportunity to participate in prophetic ministry.  

Oct. 4, 2017

My adventures this week are kind of tame because I am getting ready for a trip to Otsego County to visit some friends.  But last night I went to ADULT COLORING at the library with Marlene.  We colored note cards with Einstein quotes on them.  It was a nice, relaxing time.

Today, I met up with the Class of '67 girls at Aquagates for lunch.  Pretty large group today:  Mary Ann, Barb, Janice, Liz and Vern, Lynette, Shiela, Bonnie Illig and me.  Most of us had the chimichangas which were very good.

I went to Dollar Tree to look for a few Fall decorations and decided to place a painted rock.  I found one in the spot where I left mine.

painted on both sides!!!!

It is a windy day here in Lockport.  I have spent well over an hour picking up the black walnuts that fell of the trees in the back yard.

Cambria Corn Maze 10/1/17

I wanted to go to the corn maze last year but it was rainy and wet on the days that I could have gone, so I missed it.  This fall is much drier.  I called Marlene yesterday and asked her if she wanted to go to it and she said yes.  We met up after church today at my house for lunch and then headed out.

The big orange sign seems to have disappeared so I drove by the right road and had to turn around.

We were given a map of the maze, but it was not very much help.We walked the maze and looked around the area before heading back to my house.  I think the ten dollar per person charge is a bit high, but I am glad I did it.  I won't feel compelled to return next year.