RECIPE FOR FUN!

       FRIDAY, MARCH 8TH., 2019
              RECIPE FOR FUN!

   My three-year-old grandson usually has
a lot of fun when he visits each week. Much
of that fun involves playing with our stock
pile of old toys originally used by our kids
and now, their kids.
    Lately, however, the little guy has come
up with another recipe for fun.
    Last week when I was called out
unexpectedly my 17-year-old granddaughter
stayed home with her little cousin.
    I told her to let him do whatever he likes.
    Later, when I checked in by phone she,
and he, informed me they had made pudding!
     My wife let our grandson help a time or
two as she whipped up a bowl of Instant
pudding and it seems he was paying pretty
close attention!
      He told our granddaughter where she
could find the pudding, the bowl, the hand
mixer, and the milk!
      She was visiting again yesterday when
my wife suggested it might be time to start
making dinner. The grandson had a better
idea! Yep! They all got together and made
pudding!
       To be completely fair I helped too. I
helped eat it!
        Hope our supply holds up for awhile
and that all your NEWS is good.

JUST FOLLOW THE SIGNS?

   THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH., 2019
      JUST FOLLOW THE SIGNS!

   Maybe it's just me but traveling doesn't
seem quite as easy as it used to be.
    Take "Roundabouts." Please!
    I remember seeing a lot of them many
years ago when my Dad used to drive us
to the seashore in New Jersey. Back then
we called them "Traffic Circles" and, back
then, everybody hated them.
     They are now the trend here in
Pennsylvania but they're still getting a lot
of heat. The latest comes from truckers
who claim the newest roundabout is too
narrow for large trucks to navigate.
     As for us regular motorists we're just
told to follow the signs.
     Signs are great...usually.
     Yesterday, however, my wife and I
started out for Tunkhannock. Route 92
is the closest way for us to get there are
we always enjoy the scenery along the
Susquehanna River.
      There are no roundabouts on our
route. But there is a detour. Damage
to a bridge in West Pittston has forced
PennDOT to detour traffic around the
span.
      I figured that would involve a mile
or two. But I didn't realize the detour
would take us all the way down to 8th
Street in Wyoming ,then up the mountain
in the area of the Francis Slocum Park.
     I know the area so I could easily
figure my own new route to Tunkhannock.
I feel sorry, however, to people unfamiliar
to the area as they follow those detour
signs to the top of 8th Street!
     The arrow on that sign points left.
But the word "detour" is upside down!
So, are you really suppose to turn right?
      Maybe a roundabout would fit there?
Then you could go right by turning left.
      Maybe they could just get the Army
Corps of Engineers to erect a "Baily Bridge"
to replace the one that's closed. They seem
to be able to put up bridges in a day rather
than months.
      Hope nobody gets lost, and that all
your NEWS is good!

      

     
          

FORGETTING TO REMEMBER!

   WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6TH., 2019
     FORGETTING TO REMEMBER!

   I've touched on this story before but, in
my mind, this reminder is warranted.
   On this date 183 years ago just over
180 freedom fighters died defending a
small mission-turned fort against an
army of some 5,000 Mexican soldiers.
   Their fight ultimately lead to the
birth of what is now the state of Texas.
It also produced a battle cry and
admonition to "Remember The Alamo!" 
     Kids who had never heard about the
Alamo were reminded to remember
when Walt Disney made a TV series
about Davy Crockett, one of the heroes
of that battle. John Wayne produced his
own epic on the story which has been
told in several films and TV specials.
     What many folks around her might
not know is that some 15 Pennsylvanians
were among the defenders who perished
at the Alamo.
      Three were from one community
in and around Lewistown Pennsylvania
where a monument to them and the
other defenders still stands.
        Up until about 2009  local
recreators held a ceremony at the
monument to honor the memory of all
of those who died at the Alamo.
        Unfortunately those annual
ceremonies ceased likely because of
a shortage of organizers and volunteers.
Now I'm afraid many people, especially
the younger crowd, are forgetting to
remember.
         So, today, I'm remembering for
those who forgot or those who don't
even know about the Alamo.
           Hope you remember and that
all your NEWS is good.

ROLLING IN DOUGH!

    TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH., 2019
          ROLLING IN DOUGH!

    Just what you needed! An excuse to
pig out on doughnuts!
    Yep! It's "Fat Tuesday!"
    Doughnut sales go through the roof
today as people indulge in pastries and
the like to get their fill before the
beginning of lent.
      It is the custom of many Christians
to give up something for lent and
sweet treats are often at the top of the
sacrifice list!
       I still favor the tradition of one
of our former pastors who used to
encourage members of his congregation
to take on rather than give up something
for lent.
       Perhaps donating some time to a
local charity or lending assistance to
a neighbor who could use a hand.
       But whether you're giving up or
taking on feel free to enjoy "Fat Tuesday."
You'll certainly have the bakers rolling
in dough!
       Hope there's a Jelly doughnut in
there somewhere and that all your
NEWS is good!      

THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS!

             MONDAY, MARCH 4TH., 2019
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS!

   It's always interesting to hear people complain
about the weather. That's especially true when it
comes to snow.
   When I think back over the past few years there
have been approximately two days each winter
where travel was almost impossible. Even then I
say "almost." And who couldn't use a couple days
off anyway?
     Cold is usually more prevalent than snow. At
our house we have this think called a furnace
capable of providing inside temperatures in the
80's which, by Florida standards, would require
an air conditioner to be running most of the time.
       Our vehicles, usually 4 or all wheel drive
around here, are also equipped with very good
heating systems. Between house and car we've
developed these items called hats, and coats, and
gloves that have proved quite efficient. Customized
versions have even been designed for those who
like to stay out in the coal and snow for things
like skiing, snow tubing, and ice skating.
         The Grocery stores are jammed when a snow
storm's been predicted much like they are several
times each year down south when there's word of
an approaching hurricane! Weather means
business!
           Beyond the groceries, typically bread and
milk, there's the rock salt and snow shovels.
           I contributed to the snow related economy
on Sunday when my wife and I stumbled upon
an electric snow blower in a Flea Market. Usually
a purchase like that would guarantee we'd see no
snow for the rest of the winter! Since it seems to
be coming anyway my new toy is on the front
porch ready for its inaugural run.
            Hope I've got enough extension cord and
that all your NEWS is good.

   

SOUPY SALES!

    SUNDAY, MARCH 3RD., 2019
              SOUPY SALES!

     Some of the family went to church
Saturday night. Not for a service. It was
for the soup!
     One of the ministries offered by the
Plains United Methodist Church is a
"Soup Supper."
     Seems a lot of members of this
congregation happen to be pretty good
soup makers. So, on this particular
evening, folks were invited in to sample
soups. As many soups as they wanted!
      And what a choice!
      21 home made soups including
chicken noodle, onion soup, taco soup,
ham and bean, pasta fagioli, and zyppa
tuccana just to name a half dozen!
       I favored the chili and some white
clam chowder.
       My grandson pigged out on the
piggy soup and the rest of my gang
easily handled 5 or 6 samples to make
sure they were filled.
        The price? A donation. Whatever
you thought was fair. So it wasn't even
actually a "Soupy Sale!"
        Good soup, and good company.
A recipe for a great night of fellowship.
Hope you'll try it next time and that all
your NEWS is good!

NO ROOM AT THE INN!

  SATURDAY, MARCH 2ND., 2019
        NO ROOM AT THE INN!

    I was back in my hometown for a
quick visit Friday.
    The Snape's Pizza and Jimmy's
hot dogs were as good as I remembered.
But another memory only prompted
dismay.
     I remember a day when all of our
proud cities boosted a grand hotel.
In Scranton it was the Casey. In
Wilkes-Barre is was the Sterling.
In Hazleton we had the Altamont!
     The Altamont was the place to
go for a good meal. Local Civic
clubs held their meetings there.
      The first dance I ever attended,
under duress as I recall, was in the
huge Ballroom in the Altamont.
       Long after its days as a hotel
came to an end the building was
converted into apartments. First
as a sort of Care Home and later as
a Half Way House for inmates
hoping for a chance to reenter
society.
       There were also active store
fronts at ground level offering
proof their was still live in the
old landmark Hotel.
        When I passed Friday,
however, I found the store front
closed, the building empty, and a
large fence surrounding the
property.
         There is no room at the
Inn and soon, I fear, there will be
no Inn.
          There are probably a million
memories within those walls
including those of a kid who went
to his first dance there.
            I haven't been inside for many
years but I'll still be sorry to see it
go.
           Hope it's remembered fondly
and that all your NEWS is good!