Last week it was a woman's outing to Longwood Gardens. This week it was John's turn for a man's outing - a baseball game. (To my way of thinking I got a MUCH better deal.) It was NOT a Yankee's game (their stadium is usually full) but the Syracuse Chiefs (to our north). Fans John & Karol are being photographed by fan Bruce. If YOU are into baseball, the minor leagues are a fun way to enjoy the sport (I'm told).
Karol and a couple of other guys from Maine were around most of the week working on a barn nearby. Boys baseball night was followed the next night by dinner at Matthews on Main in Callacoon on the Delaware (to our south). Absolutely wonderful food (the women were HAPPY to join in that event). And a new trick was added to our repertoire. Put a cork in a bottle and then a toothpick in the cork. Hook the tines of a fork over the bowl of a spoon, then poke another toothpick through the tines of the fork. Now put the toothpick points together to suspend the fork/spoon in perfect balance. It's easier than you think (but comes increasingly harder with each glass of wine consumed).
Saying goodbye to friends and barn reconstruction we headed towards Jefferson County on the St. Lawrence (back to our north). In Watertown we just happened to park in front of the Museum. "Free" & "Open" the sign said so of course we had to take a peek. Thanks to someone named Kinne, it has the largest collection in the world of cast iron turbines. (The "pointer" in the photo found the exhibit much more interesting than the photographer...)Most of you owe many a good night's sleep to a Watertown invention. Turns out that in 1853 the wife of James Liddy wanted him to take her to town. While she was shopping he decided to take a nap on the buggy seat - best nap he'd ever had. He decided it was because of the springs in the seat. The next day when he went to work in the carriage shop in Watertown he devised springs to replace the planks or ropes in beds and thus became the inventor of bedsprings. Unfortunately he neglected to get a patent so only his dreams, not his wallet, benefited from the invention.
The St. Lawrence is home to the Thousand Islands and thousands of different things - far too many for this blog. However, the Wooden Boat Museum in Clayton is a must visit anytime in you are in the area. They also host special events including weddings. The Zipper just "delivered" the bride and groom (NOT John & Terry).
While Terry was at the wedding reception, John & I wandered off to the NYS Food & Wine Festival where we sampled FAR too many "products". In the food line there were LOTS of different cheddar cheeses, a few salsas & barbecue sauces, maple syrup products, honey. And then there was the wine........
