Saturday, August 05, 2006

Shivery, Shiney Saturday Morning

Congratulations!
to the Selyuzhitsky Family

who became American Citizens, yesterday.
(Click for article from this morning's Utica O-D.)


It's wonderfully crisp this morning, starting out in the mid-fifties.



Baseball fans who didn't stay at home to watch television last night can catch up:



... and "outdoorsy" or "out-in-the-country" folks will be seeing plenty of Vervaine, Joe-Pye Weed



and





(Click to enlarge Snapz and Photographs. E-mail: Homeinthehuddle@AOL.com)

Friday, August 04, 2006

Friday Wrap-up

It's amazing what a little less humidity will do to speed everything up! Everyone must have been feeling perkier: lawnmowers hummed, flowerbeds got weeded, windows got washed and the pace of life in general went pleasantly faster.

Mexcon, Inc. zipped along Sanger Avenue: the sidewalk on the West side has been poured as far as Ms. McNamara's and forms are in place for a great distance farther north, just waiting for Monday. This has, however, left some people without driveway access over the weekend - some have it; some don't - but just as their East Side neighbors did a few weeks ago, they'll find plenty of parking available across the street.

The Exit and Entrances to the CVS parkinglot, to Stewart's and also Green Acres are limited: watch for the orange cones or you'll find yourself in a rough spot, indeed!

The final touches were put on the intricate pattern of brick pavers next to the hotel and much of the area between Stewart's and Karl Davis' garage has been covered.




Somewhere between Stafford Avenue and the shot of Fr. Tom's Tomato Farm and Main Street, the writer managed to put a huge thumbprint on the lens of her camera - not realizing it, of course, until a few minutes ago!

All I can tell you is that it has been a lovely Summer day - sunny and bright blue, as it was up on Hanover Hill - and we all hope it will be the same, tomorrow!

News Channel 2's Matt Lanza says: "Spectacular Weekend Ahead!"

Tonight: Clear and comfortable. Some valley fog possible after midnight. Low near 60, but cooler outside of Utica.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, warm and pleasant! High around 80.

Saturday night: Clear, cool and comfy. Patchy fog possible again. Lows in the mid 50s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. A few extra afternoon fair weather clouds. Warm and more humid. A few t-storms possible at night. High: 86, Low: 65


Have a good weekend, everyone.

Friday!

66 degrees. After several showers and a few rumbles throughout the night, the rain has ended and the sky's blue!

(Click to enlarge Photographs and ScreenSnapz).


The weekend looks fine!




It appears that the reign has ended in Boston, as well.







And before you do anything else,
please read this article
from the
Utica O-D!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!




- elsewhere,


Well-watered roadsides are crammed with wildflowers amongst which are Tansy and Yellow Coneflower.





Out on "Tour" ------ more to follow. E-mail: Homeinthehuddle@AOL.com

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Thursday afternoon Sweep

Somehow or other, it seemed to be alot cooler, today, or perhaps it was because I received this photograph of Todd Zirkle in Kuwait, looking as if he's dressed for Winter but saying it's a "nice sunny day" and 116 degrees outdoors! (What am I complaining about!)

Thank You to Todd's wife, Shary, and his mom on Sanger Avenue for the picture. And Thank You, Todd, for doing what you are - we know it's for all of us, and we appreciate it, and we're thinking of you - alot!

Yesterday and the day before really were beastly hot, and we all feel sorry for the construction crews even tho they say they're used to it.

Perhaps the crews at Curtis Lumber and Titan Homes are "used to it," too, but what a treat they had: between the managements of those two businesses, Foodking was "about cleaned out" of popsickles and cold drinks: special hot weather "Thank Yous" for the employees!

Brick pavingstones have been laid much of the way across the bridge over Big Creek and just about all the way around the Buell Avenue corner at the Hotel.

Sidewalk paving by Mexcon, Inc. moved rapidly from the village limits on the Western side of Sanger Avenue nearly to the Meszler residence. Sidewalk forms are in place all the way to Ms. Lurena McNamara's and the guy wire that had been blocking handicap access progress at the Park Place-Sanger Avenue corner of the Park has been removed.





The RedSox take on Cleveland tonight at 7:05.

Thursday a.m. tour

There was a brief traffic tie-up at the corner of Main Street and Stafford Avenue while the length of old sidewalk between the NW corner and the driveway of the Swanberg Home was torn up. This must indicate that there will be new sidewalk there, soon.





In front of the Woodman-Getman Law Offices, preparations procede for the installation of stairs leading from the curbing to the sidewalk.


Out near the Car Wash, Mexcon, Inc. was pouring the very last driveway on the E. Side of Sanger Avenue. A considerable length of sidewalk form has been laid on the W. side of the road -- that's where they'll be, next.




On South Babbott, the sun was just starting to strike Pat's purple and orange garden!




There were plenty of walkers and runners out - many following four-legged leaders - and, out on S. Bogan Road, Debby Lucas agreed to slow down for a minute and smile. She has a three-mile circuit that she walks every morning - just like all the others - early!

(Click to enlarge Photographs. E-mail: Homeinthehuddle@aol.com)

Mr. R.F. Brown suggests that you click here for an excellent weather map.

Thursday morning

It's Garbage Day, again. 70 degrees. Yesterday afternoon's forecast of possible "severe weather" never came to pass. It sprinkled a while - enough to keep the dust down - and to drop the temperature by several degrees, too. This morning's forecast is from Weather Underground.

(Click to enlarge.)
WKTV Channel 2's forecast:
"Today: Clouds and sun this moring. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing late this morning and beoming more numerous this afternoon. Some thunderstorms will contain heavy rain, high winds and hail. High in the mid 80's.
Tonight: A shower or thunderstorm followed by partly cloudy skies with fog late. Low 65."

I wasn't watching the Sox, but from scraps of reports and the Sox official site, it sounds as if it went like this: Boston was down one and also down to its very last out, but the bases were loaded and Mark Loretta pounded in a two-run homer that sent the score to 6-5 over Cleveland and kept them on a par with the Yankees.


Members of the Waterville Women's Club are giving rave reviews to their entire Tuesday Excursion and, especially, to the performance of "The Music Man" at the Merry-Go-Round Theater in Auburn. Should others wish to attend a performance in the historic carousel, Click Here to see the rest of the Summer schedule.
Another musically theatrical offering will take place at the Sherburne-Earlville Central School Auditorium on August 11th when the Sherburne Music Theater Society presents The "Wizard of Oz!"

It's not being billed as "Dinner Theater," but we have it from a few reliable sources that the Waterville Historical Society's September 10th 40th Anniversary Celebration at St. Bernard's Social Hall will also include a few "melodramatic vignettes" certain to provide amusement as well as the intended edification!

Tonight, in Waterville, the cool sounds of the
JOE FURLO QUARTET
from 7:00 - 10:00 at Michael's Fine Food & Spirits on Main Street.


If you're driving into town via Madison Street, this morning, take note of this speed monitor! (I tried to "speed" and take a picture at the same time: no luck - nor did another vehicle come along at the right time to help me out. I'd REALLY like to have it set up down here at the bottom of the hill on Buell Avenue!)

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Wednesday afternoon sweep


Late this morning some enterprising youngsters set up shop in front of the Fire Department! They were gone soon after noontime: SOLD OUT, we trust!

Everyone loves going to Foodking to cool off, but I learned something today about the cooling system, there, that amazed me: it's probably something everyone else knows about, but - in case you don't ------- there IS NO Air Conditioning system in the building! It's cooled by the air from all of the open refrigerated and freezer cases - dairy, meat, etc., etc. On some days, like today, when it really feels almost too cool, they turn the heat up!!

A natural cool-down is due to start outdoors pretty soon, now.




By 3:30 all of the construction crews had left and we began to hear rumbles of thunder......



...... which, by 3:45, sound threatening enough to warrant shutting down computers! (We learned - the hard way!)

Weary Wednesday A.M. updated

AccuWeather
has a newly-reformatted website: it's not being very user friendly, this morning;

WKTV Channel 2 Weather
has not updated their forecast since 6:45 last evening!

So we'll see what AOL Weather forecasts:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny early then scattered strong thunderstorms developing later in the day. Hot. High 94F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Wednesday night: Thunderstorms, especially before midnight. Low around 70F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.


SUPER HOT AND HUMID!



Remember all those times when we said, "We're not doing any more shovelling: we'll just wait til Summer!"
Great photo sent by a reader whose name we're not sure of - but I'll find out! Anyhow - Thanks for the memories!

One good thing about this weather: the Cardinal Flower blooms. Mrs. Davis spotted them first and sent word. Although not on the State's list of "Rare" wildflowers, it's scarce enough to cause excitement when it is seen. Actually, the best chance for viewing is along the banks of the Sangerfield River in Nine-Mile Swamp!





Click photographs to enlarge. E-mail: Homeinthehuddle@AOL.com



7:00 A/M. Update: Brick pavers are being laid right at the Buell Avenue corner of the Hotel and - at the other end of the block - the finicky trimming and edging work is going on in front of Stinkers.

Concrete was being poured on the East Side of Sanger Avenue just this side of the Car Wash, where Tommy's sign reads:

GOT WATER?


One good chance for a picture was across the street from the Woodman-Getman Law Offices where work is beginning on the PEDESTRIAN STAIRS.



The Sign on the road was to the left of the building's main doorway, but the actual steps - quite wide, it appears - will line up precisely with those of the building.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Tuesday wrap-up

AccuWeather saysthat the RealFeel is 107 degrees!

Having been forewarned, the pavingstone crew and the Mexcon, Inc. sidewalk and driveway paving crew started work at 6:00, this morning, and were able to call it a day earlier than usual. They're going to do the same thing, tomorrow.

Sidewalk forms have been put in place on the West side of Sanger Avenue starting at the village limits and working Northward.

We learned, today, that Mexcon usually goes through six truck-loads of concrete in a day and also that final surfacing of the highway is scheduled to begin on the 21st.



I'd love it if someone would send me some JPEGS of Winter! E-mail: Homeinthehuddle@aol.com.

Noontime and Ninety!

Great News for folks on the East side of Sanger Avenue ---it looks as if about a dozen driveways have been paved, this morning, all the way up to and including Bob Mayne's! The pavingstone crew has also been moving right along, despite hot sun and humidity.





No less steamy, but shaded by the new pergola behind the library, I watched Ed DeSanctis of Royal Landscape and his nephew put the finishing touches on a "pondless waterfall!" To the East of the building, stone masons have constructed a classic, curved stone wall bench.

Follow either of the winding walkways and see for yourselves how nice this is becoming!

Tuesday A.M. with Add-ons

We don't need to know the houly forecast, do we? It's sort-of like that joke, "Déjà vu, all over again!"

HOT!



WKTV Channel 2 Weather Today predicts:

Partly to mostly sunny and very hot. High humidity. Highs 93-98.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, warm, and very humid. Low in the mid 70's.
Wednesday: Sun and clouds, continued hot and humid with a late day thunderstorm. High in the mid 90's.


Above: Osborn Avenue in Winter. Below: Boston in Summer - Sox 9, Cleveland 8.








One photo left from yesterday: Mr. R. Brown spied the word "STAIRS" lettered next to the curbing at two locations on East Main Street: one nearly in front of the "Uptown" Beauty Parlor and one just to the East of the Woodman-Getman Law Offices front door.

He was on Main Street taking photographs from the same (or very close to the same) locations as pictures taken in April 2005 - before the D.O.T. project had commenced. It's going to be a time-consuming project to match them all up, but it is interesting to see how much we may have forgotten, already!




On a different note: Steven O'Dowd, his wife Rhonda and their children Caitlin, Fallon, Liam and Roisin spent several days visiting in Waterville. This is always a particularly special vacation treat for Peg and Bill because Steve and his family had come all the way from Israel. They live in TelAviv, but Steve's office is at the American Council in Jerusalem.
(For those whose geographic familiarity with that area is not as good as it might - or should - be, like ours, we add this map.)

High-temp Tuesday!

We don't need to know the houly forecast, do we? It's sort-of like that joke, "Déjà vu, all over again!"

HOT!



WKTV Channel 2 Weather Today predicts:

Partly to mostly sunny and very hot. High humidity. Highs 93-98.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, warm, and very humid. Low in the mid 70's.
Wednesday: Sun and clouds, continued hot and humid with a late day thunderstorm. High in the mid 90's.


Above: Osborn Avenue in Winter. Below: Boston in Summer - Sox 9, Cleveland 8.








One photo left from yesterday: Mr. R. Brown spied the word "STAIRS" lettered next to the curbing at two locations on East Main Street: one nearly in front of the "Uptown" Beauty Parlor and one just to the East of the Woodman-Getman Law Offices front door.

He was on Main Street taking photographs from the same (or very close to the same) locations as pictures taken in April 2005 - before the D.O.T. project had commenced. It's going to be a time-consuming project to match them all up, but it is interesting to see how much we may have forgotten, already!


Monday, July 31, 2006

Monday afternoon sweep

It didn't get quite as warm as was predicted - not quite 90 - but I'm sure that the men laying brick paving stones or installing sidewalk and driveway forms would say that it was quite hot enough! They made good progress: pavers - except for finishing touches - now reach from the Hotel nearly to Stinkers; driveways have been poured as far as the Bancroft residence and sidewalk pouring was taking place across from CVS.





All this time, I've been saying that "TIOGA was paving here or there or wherever..." and that's wrong! TIOGA does grading and prep work, but it is a company called Mexcon, Inc. that installs the sidewalk and driveway forms and pours the concrete. My apologies!




Out on Madison Street, the four big building blocks have been arranged in place and, Voilà! Instant House!







And on South Bogan Road, the Clapps' pond ---- a nice, cool view.

Click photographs to enlarge. E-mail: Homeinthehuddle@AOL.com

Update!

Finally - "Blogger" is now accepting photographs!


Yes - the brick-layers were on the job at 7:00 and more bundles of pavers were being delivered to assure them a huge supply for a full-day's work. Along Sanger Avenue, forms and grids are being prepared for the paving of more driveways and sidewalk forms were being put in place in the stretch across from from CVS.

Back in town, Hutchings Tree Service is working on the two old maple trees in front of the Swanberg Home at the corner of Stafford and E. Main Street and traffic is being controlled by a flag man - just short delays.

Although I had thought that they would probably both be removed because they were really in quite bad shape with lots of dead limbs and branches, only one is gone, and the other well-pruned.

Mr. Pesto and "K.C" were on their morning 'rounds; Jennifer Neff and several others were making good walking time on the new sidewalks and, outside the village, we passed several walkers and joggers and recognized the Campbells, up on S. Brothertown Road, and Bud McLaughline on S. Bogan.




Just at the junction of S. Bogan and Madison Street a new house is being built. Yesterday, it looked as if four large, plastic-wrapped building blocks lay on the ground but this morning a big crane has arrived - a giant "Erector Set" - and perhaps by evening there will be a house there, instead.