Ashland Speaks: Beautiful Autumn Affair Weekend

What a beautiful Autumn Affair Weekend! The weather was simply gorgeous — crisp, chilly nights (to make the leaves burst with color) and sun filled, not too hot days. We were celebrating 25 years of the Autumn Affair and I had a great weekend talking and selling. I love being in the thick of things, renewing old friendships and making new. Now we can officially prepare for the coming season. Did you hear that we might have snow flurries this week? Right on schedule.

We made Channel 6 news again, but I wish it was for a good thing. Father Jay was interviewed after St. Theresa’s and Hope Restoration were broken into last week. A friend was worried about how God would judge the perpetrators. That’s the big problem today. Facebook posts are about putting prayer back in school, how about putting prayer back in the home. Ashland church has only 10-20 regular attendees, Windham around 35, Grand Gorge 10. Meetings and trainings are now being held on Sundays so working people can attend, but who thinks of getting up for church? Or even teaching your children their prayers. Sunday School attendance is nil..even St. Theresa’s couldn’t get anyone to sign up. It’s time to take inventory of our lives and decide to put God back in them.

The Circus Ole at the Orpheum Theater in Tannersville on Saturday Night was wonderful. The group is traveling the US, and we were lucky enough to get them here. I’m glad I was invited and went.

John and Lewis Giordano drove Mom, Dot, to Vermont to visit Patrick and family last weekend. It was their annual trek to celebrate Dot’s birthday on Oct. 15. Grandson Quinn, 15, attends the Woodstock school there, and recently returned from a trip to Africa, where they taught the people farming techniques and how to plant, and nurture trees. Patrick and family are entertaining an exchange student for two weeks, and in April, Quinn will be going to Spain for two weeks.

It’s time to drop off your donations for the Jewett Presbyterian Church Rummage Sale being held on Oct. 25 and 26. No furniture PLEASE. If you have furniture, you may display pictures and phone number and address where it can be picked up.

Mark your calendars for Hope Restoration’s Annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 1.

Don’t forget to go to East Jewett Fire Department’s Chili Fest which will be held 2-6 p.m. Nov. 3. Price is $10 for adults and $5 for children. All you can eat! The Fire House is located at 1277 Rte 23C.

What comes after death? In today’s society, we often avoid dealing with the inevitable reality of death. Coping with this reality is one of the life situations that mainstream religions can help us deal with. Come join the Interfaith Panel 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Greenville Public Library Community Room to find out what various religions believe about death and what comes after it. There will be representatives discussing the topic “What Comes After Death?” from the Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and The Church of the Latter Day Saints faith traditions, so it should be an enlightening evening. This will be the 10th annual Interfaith Panel Discussion sponsored by the Greenville Area Interfaith Council. There will be time for questions and responses. Light refreshments will be served. A free will donation for the charitable works of the GAIC will be welcomed.

The VFW Post 1545 and Windham Hose Co. 1 will be holding a Veterans Day Breakfast 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 10. Good will offering. Also, “Serve the Vet” in appreciation of your services, Lexington Mission invites all to dinner at the VFW Post 1545 starting at 4 p.m. Free Will offering. The Post is located on Route 23 just west of the village of Windham.

Greene County Senior Angels 4th Annual Thanksgiving on Nov. 28. All SENIORS are welcome. Check the Round Table (the official publication of Greene Co Human Resources ) for complete information.

COMING EVENTS

Oct. 20 Greene Co. Women’s League Tea Washington Irving Inn 2-5 p.m. $25 518-819-1249.

Oct. 25 Senior Angels Bake Sale Greene County Office Building donations requested.

Oct. 25 Jewett Presbyterian Church Rummage Sale 4-7 p.m.

Oct. 26 Jewett Rummage Sale bag sale 9 a.m.-noon.

Please help me advertise your activity by emailing me at lmgeand@yahoo.com or calling 518-734-5360.

PRAYERS AND CARES

Prayers to the families of Willie Mutzek and Don Falke who passed this past week. Also, Elaine Katt. Elaine was Home Demonstration Person for the Greene County Extension Service for many years. Mother of Irene Pough, grandmother of Virginia. Jim Bowle, husband of Candy Boyle, passed away suddenly. Jim was the former owner of the Lexington Store. Healing prayers for Fawn Jaeger, wife of Sean of Jewett, who has been hopitalized after the loss of her brother. Bill Roscoe, 60 years old, had an ATV accident in Jewett.

AS I REMEMBER IT

For many years we (the Holdridges) lived in the house which is now the Hammell home and offices of the Cave Mt. Motel. We were sandwiched between the Bump House and The Maples. Lucy Bump was half sister to Frank Holdridge. My sister, Florence, was Lucy’s favorite, while I was my Grandmother, Carrie’s.

We often could be found playing at the Bump House, pretending to be guests. Each bedroom was still set up, awaiting guests, that never showed. Every bed had a hand made quilt just waiting to be turned down. Every room had a wash bowl and pitcher waiting to be filled, sitting atop of a wash stand that was covered by a hand embroidered scarf. And the clothes! Hats, gloves, gowns! All set up and waiting for us to put them on. We dressed up and pretended we were from a big city. We pranced and preened as if we were going to be waited on. We clomped around in high heeled slippers that were way too big, but we felt so glamorous.

My Aunt was a very private person. To this day, I have no idea how she paid her bills, but, then again, she had no electricity and no indoor plumbing. Her son, Harold, had fallen from the milk wagon and died, then her husband, Frank, passed, so basically, she lived in one large room. She slept on the day couch, cooked on the kitchen range. The only other used room was the pantry. The water from the well pump (which is still there) was carried into the house for use. That was located outdoors, and for necessary, the outhouse was used.

With all of the unused rooms, you ask why? After her son died, she shut the door to his room and never reopened it. After her husband died, she did the same with that room.

She was a very proper woman. You never saw her without appropriate clothes. No robes during the day. You got up, and got dressed. Every night, she rinsed out her hair and pinned it up so it was always curled. When going out, she had her hat, gloves and matching bag. She had a dot of rouge on her cheeks and ear lobes. Always the lady. It was another sign of the times in which she lived.