PRESIDENT & MRS. FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT

Can you believe it's August 1st already.

It won't be long and the kiddies will be back in school.
I know they just got out, didn't they?

Were you and your family able to get away on vacation this summer?

Many haven't been able to, because of the poor economy.

The usual perhaps one or two weeks away was just too expensive this year.
With the cost of everything escalating and many losing jobs or having hours cut back it just wasn't a prudent decision to spend the money this year.

Why not take a day-cation.

Yes, just a day trip somewhere close by, maybe a two or three hour jaunt.

May I suggest a trip to Hyde Park, NY.

From here in the Scranton - Wilkes Barre, PA area it's only a two and a half hour ride.

Hyde Park is a beautiful town along the Hudson River in NY.

Situated in the Hudson River Valley, the Franklin D. Roosevelt mansion and museum are a historic part of the National Park Service.

A tour of the home and museum and grounds takes you back to a time in our history when our nation was called to war.

The tour will also take you to the rose garden where the president and his wife are buried.

About two miles down the road from FDR's home is the Frederick Vanderbilt mansion and farm. This too is part of the National Park Service Historic Sites.

The story of this man's success differs in many ways from Roosevelt's.

You can see both places easily in a few hours.

Along the main road are quaint shops and restaurants.

The restaurants vary from fast food to a 1950's retro chrome diner to more upscale dining. Whatever you and your pocketbook choose you won't be disappointed.

There is admissions charged for both historic homes but at the Roosevelt site you can opt for as many or few sites you wish to see. There are several belonging to the FDR property.

The beautiful sculpture pictured above is the President and First Lady.
It is situated right outside the visitor's center and cafe.

When you first see it, they look as if they are sitting in the garden, welcoming guests to their home.

I highly recommend this day-cation destination.
Adults and children alike will enjoy it.

The children will have memories stored to write about when called upon for an essay, when they return to school in just a short month.

Have fun and don't forget your camera.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 2012

Yes, July 4th is Independence Day. The dictionary defines the word independence simply as freedom.

The Pilgrims sailed from England on a boat called the Mayflower. In the year 1620 they landed in Plymouth, MA. The reason they made that arduous journey was to seek a new land so they might have freedom of religion. Note the underlined word. It wasn't freedom from religion as many have completely forgotten.

Even though some believe there is no God or that our country wasn't founded on Judeo-Christian Biblical principles, denying the TRUTH doesn't change the facts.

Our country's foundation was built on the solid Biblical truths of God.
Just look around Washington DC, our nation's capitol, there are reminders of these truths. In the Capitol building itself, high atop the Washington Monument and many more places is evidence for all to see.

On July 4, 1776, just 156 years after the Pilgims landed on Plymouth Rock, God fearing men with great risk to their families and themselves, gathered in Philadelphia to create a document that would free the colonies from the tyrannical rule of the king of England.

This historical document, the Declaration of Independence was written after they prayed for divine guidance to write it according to God's will.

Through the years afterward, many lives were sacrificed to keep that freedom in place. We should not forget the lives and fortunes that were sacrificed to get to the point of creating that document in the first place.

Today it is all being thrown away. Our freedom is becoming more scarce by the day.

Does this co-incide with American citizens turning their backs on God?

Prayer taken out of school, prayer not allowed at public functions, even though Congress opens each session with prayer. I wonder how long that will last?

Unborn children murdered, because of inconvenience.

Church after church closing and shuttering their doors, and it isn't common to one denomination. Just yesterday St. Rocco's Catholic Church in Pittston, PA had its last mass and is now shuttered.

St. Rocco's is vivid in my memory. Whether Catholic or not, our entire nursing class attended mass there before traveling to Harrisburg for two grueling days of State Board of Nursing exams.

Why are the churches closing? It would seem their members don't have time or the inclination to attend or support their church. There are activities much more important in their lives, such as sports, gambling, entertainment, just to name a few.

I fear our citizens will awaken once it is too late.

This Independence Day take a moment and reflect on what is happening all around you.

Tell your children what Independence Day means. Do you remember? Can you explain it to them? Does their school still teach about Independence Day, I mean  the same way it was taught to you when you were in school, or is it slanted to the new way of thinking as in "politically correct"?

Read, study, take the time to think and reason why these things are happening.

A popular phrase says it all. "It's time to wake up and smell the coffee".

Enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.

Pray for America . . . while you still can.

God bless each one of you and I pray God will continue to bless America.

CELEBRITY

What is celebrity anyway?

Recently a city marker honoring Babe Ruth was dedicated at Kirby Park along the Susquehanna River in Kingston, PA.

On October 12, 1926, Babe Ruth played in an exhibition baseball game at Artillery Park, located next to Kirby Park.

The game was between Hughestown and Larksville. Babe Ruth was at bat and was thrown a pitch by Ernie Cochran. Ruth hit the ball deep and ran around the bases for a home run. After reaching home he asked that the distance the ball flew be measured as he thought it might just be the longest ball he ever hit.

It measured 650' many years corrected to just over 600'. His record of the longest home run remains intact today.

The pitcher that day, Ernie Cochran, was my uncle. I never got to meet him since he died before my birth.

Growing up I never heard the story of Uncle Ernie pitching the ball that became Babe Ruth's longest home run. I wondered why our family didn't tout that story?

My great-grandfather honorably served in the Civil War, another story I never heard growing up. Again, I wondered why?

All I can figure out is that people weren't concerned about celebrity and feats that people accomplished.

Maybe they just looked at it as doing their job or what was expected of them without fanfare.

Today it is a completely different mindset. Nowadays, people stand in line for hours to buy tickets to a concert of some "rock star" or a movie of some "Hollywood star".

Why, I wonder?
Are their performances so fantastic?
Do they really have talent?
Do they perform something so honorable?
Or do people escape into a fantasy to elude everyday life and it's problems?

PASSOVER AND EASTER

Passover and Easter reflect both sacrifice and obedience.

Passover is a remembrance of sacrificing a lamb.
Its blood then sprinkled on the doorposts.
Because the Jews were obedient to God's command, their eldest sons were spared when the Death Angel passed over.

Easter is also a remembrance of sacrifice and obedience.
A lamb again was sacrificed. This time it was Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
He was obedient to His Father and shed His blood on a cross at Calvary.

The reason for His death was His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
So that all who accept Him as Lord and Saviour will have eternal life.

In these tumultuous days we need to focus on Him.
God is always in control of our destiny, so long as we belong to Him.

This Easter consider focusing on a closer walk with Him.
He will never fail you.

HE IS RISEN   HALLELUJAH

I wish each of you a blessed, happy Easter and Passover.

LADIES OF SPRING

My Magnolia tree was awash with beautiful, large, pink blossoms.
Then the temperature dropped to 22' overnight.
The next morning poor Magnolia's pink dressing gown had turned to a freeze-dried, crispy, brown rag, ready for the compost heap.
Unfortunately, it couldn't be restored by adding water like coffee or MRE'S.

 Daffodil and her companions hung their heads in dismay for a few hours but then rose up to meet the new day.

Forsythia was hearty enough to weather the deep freeze and continued showing off her sunny beauty.

It is March in the northeast after all. She is a fickle lady and has such fun keeping everyone guessing.
In just two more days she will be on her way for another year. Her sister April will come on the scene.

April can usually surprise us, but she is more lady-like than rambunctious March.

So why don't you visit the local garden centers and take a walk through the myriad of Pansies.
Careful though, Pansy and her friends are quite flirtatious, winking at all the customers. They want you to take them home.
It will be safe to put them outside. They don't shrink like Violet.

Buy a few and brightened up your surroundings as you await the Easter holiday, when Lily trumpets her arrival.

FRUSTRATION

It's so frustrating. What is you ask?

I get used to, or like a product, such as one for hair care or makeup, then when I go to replace it the product is no longer available.

Has that ever happened to you?
How do you deal with it? Do you grumble and complain, like me or take it in stride and try something new and when you get it home you hate it.

My biggest peeve is shampoo. I can't believe how often they change formulas and labeling. It must cost them a fortune.

Oh, I get it. That's why the price keeps going up.

Now they've discontinued my favorite lipstick color.
In fact it's even hard to find normal lipstick tubes. Now it comes in liquid that you paint on.

I'm all for progress, but this much progress irks me.

On to a much nicer topic . . . SPRING.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring, but we've been enjoying spring weather for awhile now.

The trees and shrubs are bursting forth with their new spring foliage.
My daffodils seem to go from tight buds to open blooms over night.

The migrating birds have come to town and the hummingbirds are on the way.
The squirrels and rabbits are chasing each other around the yard. You know what that means? Yep, love is in the air.

Soon I'll be complaining about cutting the grass. Won't that be great?

 Enjoy, enjoy , it's a beautiful spring in Pennsylvania.

MARCH

It's March. A few things happen this month.
Most notably for me is March 1st. Meteorological Spring occurred on that date.
The date we usually associate with Spring is March 20.
For those that are fascinated with weather March 1st is more important.

March is known as a windy month. She is proving that today here in N.E. PA.
The gusts have been constant.

Early next Sunday morning, at 2 AM, Eastern Daylight Time arrives.
I gladly forego and hour of sleep for an extra hour of daylight.

March can also be a fickle month. Warm one day and a blizzard the next. When that happens, the snow doesn't last very long and that is a good thing.
Because this winter has been so mild, the daffodils are already popped through the surface in the city. Here, in the rural areas, it will take a bit longer.

There have been reports of huge flocks of geese flying north, and robins have been spotted as well.

Next weekend, St. Patrick's Day Parades will take place in Scranton and Wilkes Barre. These are always a big hit and well attended, no matter the weather.

This area of PA has a rich Irish heritage. Many Irish immigrants settled here. They came to work in the coal mines, along with the Welsh and English, and many other nationalities.

Hard working, loyal, patriotic, religious, family centered people, they believed in America and were grateful to have a new life here.

My great-grandparents came here from England and Switzerland. They brought their families and settled in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
I often wish I'd been able to talk with them about their homeland, but they passed on before I was born.

Unfortunately, March has proven to be deadly for residents in the Midwest and South, where tornadoes have pummeled those areas for several days.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones and property the last few days and pray the weather will calm down.

So as the month progresses, enjoy each day for what it brings. Hopefully it will be mostly sunshine in one form or another.

St. Patrick's Day is also known for corned beef and cabbage. Now that is something to look forward to, my mouth is watering already.

                   WILEY THE SQUIRREL

 One cold, winter day Wiley the Squirrel preened his gray coat, brushed his bushy tail and went out to search for breakfast.

 In his neighborhood he came upon some chocolate cupcakes. Wow, chocolate was Wiley's all time favorite treat. But he had a big problem. Jack and Joe Crow had also spied the delicious treats and were headed that way.

How was Wiley going to get there first? Two against one wasn't a good situation.

Wiley thought for a moment. What he had in his favor was speed and cleverness.

Focusing on the prize, he got a running start, and at the speed of light grabbed the cake right from under Jack and Joe's beaks. The crows were startled. They thought it was an incoming missile and scattered for cover.

Wiley with the cake in his mouth, ran up the dwarf dogwood tree. He placed it carefully in the Y- shaped branches, that were nothing more than twigs, at the upper part of the tree.
After his careful placement he ran back down to the ground and up another tree to watch what happened.

Jack and Joe saw Wiley run away and thought it safe to try for the treat once again.
Jack flew up into the tree to a branch that would support his weight.
The problem was he couldn't reach the prize. He could smell the delectable aroma of chocolate, in fact he could almost taste it, but couldn't get near it.
Dejected he descended to the ground and conferred with Joe and they conceded defeat.

Wiley was in the tree congratulating himself on his cunning move. He decided he had enough excitement for one day and went home to his nest for a nap.

The next morning Wiley headed back for his treat. It was still there. He climbed up and ate half of it. It tasted so good he wanted to savor the rich choclate taste. He decided to make it last and come back the next day for the second half. He was quite sure it would still be there.

After all his name is, WILEY THE SQUIRREL.