Woodland Valley's own Poet Laureate, Mike O'Neil, created this piece for his wife on their 44th anniversary. With all the weather we have been having I haven't had a chance to post it. Thanks for sharing Bo!!
Notes on the Eve of the 44th
We have reservations for the Mill on the River
For tomorrow night.
Our favorite local place to eat and drink,.
Though it is not the Poste Couche in Frankfurt.
The Poste Couche was a high tone
Restaurant on Rueter Wege,
Where on our first anniversary,
They treated us rather snottily.
That is, until I insisted on inspecting the cork.
My daddy’d taught me that,
And after I squeezed it and smelled it,
The staff treated us with a proper respect.
This will be our 44th official year together,
Though in Deutschland we were together,
In her B.O.Q. and in the countryside,
Before we tied the official knot.
How delicious were those days,
Before the children came,
When she would listen to me sing,
And I would stroke her hair and more.
She, nursing the sick and weary,
And me guarding the perimeter,
With a proper high powered .45 pistola,
And a billy club painted black.
Slim and muscled we were,
And surrounded by friends,
Dragooned into the service,
By the process of the draft.
But in the end, happy for it all.
As memory slides away, and
One forgets the inevitable ugly parts,
Happy for it all, after 44 years.
Boreegard
aka Mike O'Neil
Feb. 21, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Ulster County Mobile DMV
Being originally from an urban area sometimes it is the simplest things about living in a small town that really make me happy. One of those things is the Ulster County mobile DMV. Every Friday the DMV bus is parked in back of town hall. The town residents can then go and take care of any business they have with the DMV in a clean, friendly and efficient atmosphere. For any of us that have waited hours on line down in the city only to get to a surly teller, this seems quite amazing!! So next time you need to go to the DMV know that once a week the bus is conveniently located behind Town Hall. The hours of operation are 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM with an hour out (meaning they are closed) for lunch between 1:00 pm and 2:00 PM.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Weather for Weekenders - 03/05/10
The weather today is pretty good. It is a mostly sunny day here in the valley. The snow has been melting more and more everyday. There is a significant reduction in the big piles at my house. Of course, this is a relative statement, so if you are coming up for the weekend be prepared to deal with lots of remaining drifts which are very icy at this point. Again, make sure that the person who plows for you has done your driveway. It will be a lot of work at this point to hack through what the plows have left on the side of the road. If you are going to brave it alone, have a shovel and an ice chopper ready!
Drive slowly coming up WV road especially if you are coming all the way up. The road down by Grandview is not bad but it is narrower than usual farther up the valley and trying to pass another car coming in the opposite direction can be tight. There are also still a lot of fallen branches by the side of the road. So take it slow!!!
The forecast for the next week is good with highs in the mid-forties. Let hope the snow continues to melt rapidly!!
Drive slowly coming up WV road especially if you are coming all the way up. The road down by Grandview is not bad but it is narrower than usual farther up the valley and trying to pass another car coming in the opposite direction can be tight. There are also still a lot of fallen branches by the side of the road. So take it slow!!!
The forecast for the next week is good with highs in the mid-forties. Let hope the snow continues to melt rapidly!!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Light Snow Today
We are getting some more light snow today. Right now we have about 1-2 inches up here at the top of the valley. I can't believe that we are still be getting more powder! I would have thought that the heavens had run out by this time. The temperatures are in the high 20s right now but I think they will be reaching into the 30s later today. At least that is what is forecasted.
Yesterday was the first bright sunny day we have had in about 10 days. It was lovely and warm and put a dent in melting some of the snow we have lying around. It will be quite a while before it is gone though. So if you venture up the the valley this weekend expect to see some big piles. But the weather stations are calling for better conditions in the next ten days. I certainly hope that turns out to be true.
On another note, those of you who have noticed that the 'Woodland Valley' weather station on Weather Underground is down should not be concerned. The Botchfords are fine and their house is fine. I talked to Steuart last night and he told me that the station uses solar power and there is so much snow on top of it that the battery isn't recharging. But the situation is no more serious then that and 'Station Botchford' should be back in business in no time.
Yesterday was the first bright sunny day we have had in about 10 days. It was lovely and warm and put a dent in melting some of the snow we have lying around. It will be quite a while before it is gone though. So if you venture up the the valley this weekend expect to see some big piles. But the weather stations are calling for better conditions in the next ten days. I certainly hope that turns out to be true.
On another note, those of you who have noticed that the 'Woodland Valley' weather station on Weather Underground is down should not be concerned. The Botchfords are fine and their house is fine. I talked to Steuart last night and he told me that the station uses solar power and there is so much snow on top of it that the battery isn't recharging. But the situation is no more serious then that and 'Station Botchford' should be back in business in no time.
Alexander Mallon - Chain Saw Work
I got this message from Alexander Mallon the other day.
"I'm offering chainsaw work. Please call for rates. If folks truly have NO money but are in need I would be willing to help out - I know how that can be!
Please pass on the word if you can."
- Alexander Mallon
(845) 688-9751
"I'm offering chainsaw work. Please call for rates. If folks truly have NO money but are in need I would be willing to help out - I know how that can be!
Please pass on the word if you can."
- Alexander Mallon
(845) 688-9751
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
WV Ski History
The following was sent to me by Woodland Valley historian Rolf Reiss. Thanks for the great photos and information Rolf!!
"Its still winter so I thought I would pass along a couple of photos of what recreation looked like 70 years ago here in the Woodland Valley. Enclosed are two photos of the Simpsons Ski Slope . It was a wonderful Mom and Pop (or in this case Brother and Brother) ski area where many of us learned to ski in lace up boots on wooden skis with screwed in metal edges. I also cannot forget those leather "safety" straps that attached your ski to your ankle making sure that when you fell your skis would bang into you as you tumbled down the hill. As can be seen from the photo it operated early on with no tow or lift of any kind. I can't imagine today crowds of people taking a long train ride from New York City to Phoenicia to hike all the way up and then ski down. What enthusiasts they were! The other photo shows five happy gents atop the slope decked out in their woolens and leather boots. Most of them seem to be carrying satchels but the man on the left also appears to have an army blanket over his shoulder. Not something you often see today on the slopes. Here are a couple of links to websites with more photos and information on the Simpsons Ski Slope."
- Rolf
History of the Simpson Ski Slope
Ice Harvesting at the Simpson Ski Slope
The Daily Star - First Ski Slope in NY
Ski Areas in NY
Catskill Center - A Sense of Place
"Its still winter so I thought I would pass along a couple of photos of what recreation looked like 70 years ago here in the Woodland Valley. Enclosed are two photos of the Simpsons Ski Slope . It was a wonderful Mom and Pop (or in this case Brother and Brother) ski area where many of us learned to ski in lace up boots on wooden skis with screwed in metal edges. I also cannot forget those leather "safety" straps that attached your ski to your ankle making sure that when you fell your skis would bang into you as you tumbled down the hill. As can be seen from the photo it operated early on with no tow or lift of any kind. I can't imagine today crowds of people taking a long train ride from New York City to Phoenicia to hike all the way up and then ski down. What enthusiasts they were! The other photo shows five happy gents atop the slope decked out in their woolens and leather boots. Most of them seem to be carrying satchels but the man on the left also appears to have an army blanket over his shoulder. Not something you often see today on the slopes. Here are a couple of links to websites with more photos and information on the Simpsons Ski Slope."
- Rolf
History of the Simpson Ski Slope
Ice Harvesting at the Simpson Ski Slope
The Daily Star - First Ski Slope in NY
Ski Areas in NY
Catskill Center - A Sense of Place
Monday, March 1, 2010
Photos from Jim
Jim Frain sent me these photos. They are beautiful and really show how deep the snow was a few days ago. It is much better now. The bottom two are of the Woodland Valley Stream. In some places you couldn't even see where the water was located. Thanks for sending us these Jim!!
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
Dennis Havel sent me this photo. He wants us to remind us all to be happy in our work!!
Recovering from 'Snowmageddon'
The snow has finally stopped (at least for now). The valley is digging (and melting) out of this last storm. As far as I know everyone has power and phone again. The plow guys and gals have mostly caught up with their work. Most driveways are clear (but not all so remember to check before you come). Some people who have left cars on their properties while they are down in the city will have some work ahead of them digging themselves out. But maybe by next weekend it will have melted enough to be an easy job, let's hope so.
We are very, very fortunate that the temperatures have been in the 30s because the large piles of snow seem to be melting at a good rate.
Basically the valley is back to normal. The road is still much narrower than usual at the end of the valley but I would say that is only an issue in the last 2 miles. Drive slowly and carefully if you come up this end. There is not much room to pull over.
There are still a lot of broken tree limbs all over the road and on individual properties but once the snow is melted that won't be too hard to clean up.
Other than that I think we have survived. All in all, while it was inconvenient, it wasn't too bad. I look at it this way, I had water, a wood stove and plenty of food. Plenty of help was always in reach. It wasn't like we were the Donner Party (by the way, kudos to the WCA member who made the documentary about them, it is one of my favorites). We weren't stuck for months with nothing. I always find it helpful to retain my perspective. So all is well at this point but if I wasn't looking forward to spring before, I am now!!!!!
PS - If you can't get to your property to check on it yourself please do send someone else to make sure everything is OK. Most houses are fine but a couple of people have had problems.
We are very, very fortunate that the temperatures have been in the 30s because the large piles of snow seem to be melting at a good rate.
Basically the valley is back to normal. The road is still much narrower than usual at the end of the valley but I would say that is only an issue in the last 2 miles. Drive slowly and carefully if you come up this end. There is not much room to pull over.
There are still a lot of broken tree limbs all over the road and on individual properties but once the snow is melted that won't be too hard to clean up.
Other than that I think we have survived. All in all, while it was inconvenient, it wasn't too bad. I look at it this way, I had water, a wood stove and plenty of food. Plenty of help was always in reach. It wasn't like we were the Donner Party (by the way, kudos to the WCA member who made the documentary about them, it is one of my favorites). We weren't stuck for months with nothing. I always find it helpful to retain my perspective. So all is well at this point but if I wasn't looking forward to spring before, I am now!!!!!
PS - If you can't get to your property to check on it yourself please do send someone else to make sure everything is OK. Most houses are fine but a couple of people have had problems.
More on the Model T
Paul Misko sent me this information regarding the photos of the Model T that I posted previously.
Hi,
I can pin point the locations of the pics taken on the Model-T journey from Winnisook to Woodland, as I know this route well. The "Mile Post" was taken at the current Giant Ledge trail junction. The "Bridge" , which is no longer there, was located halfway between Winnisook Lake and the Giant Ledge trail junction. This was the perfect auto to take on this rough road, as it had a 10" ground clearance, and a frame built to "twist" on uneven ground without breaking. Note that the wheels had wooden spokes, and the windshield wiper was hand operated. Imagine trying to drive one of these in the rain while sipping a coffee, and text messaging. Still, one sweet ride.
- Paul Misko
Hi,
I can pin point the locations of the pics taken on the Model-T journey from Winnisook to Woodland, as I know this route well. The "Mile Post" was taken at the current Giant Ledge trail junction. The "Bridge" , which is no longer there, was located halfway between Winnisook Lake and the Giant Ledge trail junction. This was the perfect auto to take on this rough road, as it had a 10" ground clearance, and a frame built to "twist" on uneven ground without breaking. Note that the wheels had wooden spokes, and the windshield wiper was hand operated. Imagine trying to drive one of these in the rain while sipping a coffee, and text messaging. Still, one sweet ride.
- Paul Misko
