IF A TREE FALLS...

     THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1st, 2020
              IF A TREE FALLS....

    You've all heard the question. If a tree
falls and there's nobody around does it make
a sound? Well I can't speak to trees in the
forest but I can tell you if a tree falls in your
backyard it makes a heck of a sound!
     About the time we got married 51 years
ago my wife planted a number of tiny Pine
trees in our yards from her own home in
Mountaintop.
      I remembered the lyrics of the song as
I watched them over the years.."See the tree,
how big it's grown." Well her trees shot up like
rockets waiting to be launched!
      One windy day we actually saw the ground
around one heaving as a strong breeze blew
through. Recognizing the potential danger to
our and other nearby homes we hired a man
to cut them down. In two cases, however, we
simply had all the limbs cut and left half a tree
standing. Both were dead.
       On Wednesday morning a heard a loud
crash in the front yard. One of those two "half
trees" had come down somehow missing both
of the sheds it stood between. Some decorations
we had affixed to the trunk were damaged but,
otherwise, no harm, no foul!
        A local handy man will be here shortly to
remove the trunk and to cut down the other
tree trunk we had left standing. It's right next
to our neighbor's house and, if it fell, it couldn't
miss!
        Maybe we'll plant something smaller
next time!
        Hope you're well and that all your NEWS
is good!

PUMPED UP FOR OUR TRIP!

   WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th, 2020
         PUMPED UP FOR OUR TRIP!
   I've been writing a lot about our trip to New
England last week. The Autumn leaves were
fantastic. But there was another great sight!
Lower gas prices! Lower than Pennsylvania
anyway! On the average we found ourselves
spending about $2,19 for a gallon of regular.
At one stop, however, we filled up at a dollar
eighty nine cents  a gallon! Of course there was
the usual sneaky little 9 at the end. We haven't
seen gas prices below Two dollars a gallon for
many a year here in the Keystone State. Of
course our gas tax is higher, so we can fix
all the pot holes. How's that been working out?
Has me wishing New England were closer so I
could tank up there! Hope you're running on Full
and that all your NEWS is good!

THE GOLD RUSH!

       TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th, 2020
                    THE GOLD RUSH!

    A lot of people are searching for gold right
now. And bright reds and orange as well. If
you live in the northeast this is gold rush season.
It doesn't last very long so you've got to do your
prospecting while you can! Fall foliage brings
thousands of people to the northeast each
autumn but most of them limit their travels to
the major north/south or east/west routes. Often
the most impressive colors are found along
the back roads where you've actually got time
to slow down and enjoy them. And you don't
even need a car to enjoy the view. There are
beautiful colors to be found around town in
most communities so a casual walk will lead
you to treasure as well. One other note, the
colored leaves sometimes hide out treasures,
Things that can't be seen when the trees are
full. But don't miss the colors. Stake your claim
\now. Hope you enjoy the view and that all your
NEWS is good!

QUESTION TIME!

 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th, 2020
             QUESTION TIME!
    September 28th marks one of those
"unusual holidays" we should all know
about. It is "Ask A Stupid Question Day!"
Whle we've all probably heard that old
saying "There's no such thing as a stupid, or
dumb question," I can assure you I've heard
plenty come from the lips of my fellow
reporters. Asked a few myself from time to
time I'm sure. But this is an actual observance!
A number of teachers came up with the idea in
the 1980's. They wanted a day when students
could be encouraged to ask anything they
wanted without being made to feel stupid.
It's always celebrated on September 28th IF
the date falls on a school day. Otherwise it's
moved to the last school day of the month.
Reminds me of my days in school when I'd
ask "Did I get an "A" on that test"? 
Hope you're well and that all your NEWS
is good!

WE'RE HERE! (WHERE EVER THAT IS!)

      SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th, 2020
WE'RE HERE! (WHERE EVER THAT IS!)

  I'm writing today's blog from a town in
New Hampshire just across the border, I
mean a couple blocks from Vermont. We
started in Maine today (or was in Massachusetts)
to begin working our way home from our
vacation on Vinalhaven Island. Unlike our
trip there, however, we didn't have specific
return plans except to enjoy the fall leaves.
WSe have a GPS. But it helps to know where
you're going if you want to program the
thing. On this day, that GPS took us on and
off the same Interstate 3 times! Each time directing
us to the same entrance and exit ramps. It was
like a pretzel! Add to that the fact we got on a
right hand lane and had to exit a left one across
4 lanes of 70 mph traffic on a sunny Saturday
in Autumn! Mike Cefalo would have been
proud of me (he races Miatas!)
    Then there were the round abouts! I dislike
them in Pennsylvania where I know how they
work. It was murder here.
     So, exhausted from a day of technicolor
leaves and race like traffic on the Interstate
we finally found a motel for the night. The
first one we checked was already full.
     I kind of know where we are (sort of)
and expect to be home tomorrow. Hope
I'm right and that all your NEWS is good!

THAT GILLIGAN FEELING!

 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th, 2020

      THAT GILLIGAN FEELING!

      If you remember Gilligan and the

Skipper headed out for a 3 hour cruise and

ended up on an island. We, on the other hand,

were already on an island waiting to take the

10:30 Ferry Boat cruise back to the mainland.

We had made reservations, had tickets in hand,

and pulled up to the first boarding spot.....only

to be told there was no 10:30 Ferry! Seems a 

crew member was suspected of having the virus!

Turns out he didn't but the entire ship had to

be sanitized so that voyage was cancelled. We

got on the 1pm boat which would have damaged

our schedule, if we had one! I got to thinking

that Vinalhaven would not be such a bad place

to be stranded. In fact, maybe we all need to he

"held back" somewhere from time to time to

force us to talk a little down time whether he think

we need it or not! Anyhow, the journey home has

begin. Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good!

 

CHANGING TIMES!

 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 2020
           CHANGING TIMES!

   My wife and I spent our last full
vacation day on Vinalhaven Island
off the coast of Maine Thursday.
Life doesn't change very much around
the place. It's quiet and peaceful.
But there are changes. The leaves, for
instance. And even history!
 I've learned some interesting things about
this community while we've
been here. Including a thing or two
many island residents don't know about.
    That's the case with "Murder Rock."
The boulder, on a small island in what
is known as "Old Harbor" was the place
where 20 Vinalhaven settlers were
killed by Indians in 1724.
     To the settlers it was a massacre!
To the Indians, of course, is was a
victory. And now, in a sense, they've
won again! Maine, as of last year, no
longer recognizes Christopher Columbus
Day. The state now celebrates "Native
American Day.
      History, for good or bad, is changing
month by month and year by year, right
before our eyes.
       I wonder what the History books will
look like ten years from now?
       Hope we're all around to read them
and that all your NEWS is good!