Tuesday, August 19, 2008

And then it was croquet!

Just look at that court! (Admittedly, it's not putting green smooth, and we know it's a poor workman who blames it's tools, but, honestly, Murph really should invest in a better mower for Terry to borrow...)

At any rate the very first game of the season took place on Sunday (very fitting since Thousand Island Park was originally a church camp). The first six players were, from left to right, Terry (still practicing, not that it helped a whole lot...), John (still giving directions, not that it helped a whole lot...), Judy, Cousin John, Bruce and Leigh.

Needless to say there was a whole lot of discussion and a whole lot of fun on the new court. And who knew what to answer when someone walked up and wanted to know if they were playing roque or croquet? And don't forget backyard croquet with "poison".

It looked for a time as though John would be the winner when he became "poison" and was "killing" off balls right and left. With one ball left to go (Cousin John's) he took aim and sent his ball spiraling forward. It looked at first as though Cousin John was done for. Then John's ball veered slightly away, missing Cousin John's ball, and squarely hitting the end stake. (Those of you familiar with poison rules know this is instant death for a poison ball.) Winner of the first croquet game on the new court.... Cousin John!!!





Monday, August 18, 2008

Sail & Bail Regatta



Gee - another sailboat photo. How nice... However, this photo is downright amazing.



The blue Comet sailboat name "Have", circa 1939, was rotting in some one's backyard in Maryland before John "rescued" it. In fact, parts of the original boat may still be laying along the road as the boat tried to self destruct on the way to its new home. Let us say John put a LOT of new wood into "Have's" restoration. (John & Leigh are crewing that boat.)



The white Comet sailboat named "Have Not" , circa 1940, Terry bought for John to work on because he thought "Have" was a hopeless cause. It, too, needed work, just not as much. Those of you who have been reading this blog for some time might remember "Have Not" as the boat that tried to sink to the bottom when it was first launched 3 years ago. Lesson learned - old wooden boats need an "adjustment" period to allow the wood to swell so they don't leak. (Terry & Lloyd are crewing that boat.)



Last summer, "Have" made her debut in the water. Aside from a small drill hole in the hull that made her look like a whale before John plugged it with a twig, that launch was fairly normal. The only problem remaining - one set of sails, two boats.



This past winter another set of sails was secured and, walla, a regatta! If you're interested in a complete photo session (compliments of Bruce Moseley) go to the web album site

http://picasaweb.google.com/pattyjohng/FunInThePark

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Table nouveau...

New tables today are mostly made in factories. Occasionally, however, one gets created with a bit more history behind it. Take the table in the photo for example. The table and the story have many parts but hang it there and, just like the table, it will eventually come together.

Years and years (and, ok, years) ago, we met friend Terry (that's a looooong story in itself...).

Many years later we replaced some of the studs in our house with a bay window. The house was built in the early 1800's so these were manly studs (4"x7"x9.5'). Too good to throw away, they have been used here and there for various purposes and the rest moved hither and yon.

Then came the building of our grape arbor (a.k.a. Temple of Cynthia) when we found 6 old porch columns in a salvage yard. Some of the circular "bits" couldn't be used so, of course, got stored and moved hither and yon.

Several years later a BIG storm came through central NY. Friend Bruce, then director of the Oneida Community Mansion House, let us know one of the historic pines had come down in the storm. As a fundraiser they were selling the planks from it and thought we might be interested. Is the Pope Polish? (He was then...) At any rate we ended up with a couple a planks which, since then, have been moved hither and yon.

Along comes this spring and the "restoring" of the croquet court at TI Park. After a hard day of rototilling and raking, what's left but an evening of good food and drink around a table? And since we were all friends it was only natural that we discuss how absolutely pathetic Terry's table was. Hydrologist Fred (the chief waterer of the court) decreed that 33" was the correct width for a porch table. (Fred is also now known in some circles as 33" Fred.) John remembers "the plank" and a table project is born.

Friends visit in June who like to go antiquing and what did we find but a set of old pool table legs. Who knows what stories they might have to tell and of course they met the chief criteria of being sort of funky and having been moved hither and yon.

Here the project may have stalled but, thanks to the boys (Win, Maverick, Dillon & Peyton) who spent last week with us, it found new life. John suddenly "had" to spend many hours in the workshop working on the table. Wonder why? Of course, Oletta was also there and was able to add a bit of design element to the legs deciding on the proper curve to be cut out of stud and where to place the round column bit.

Our local lumberyard planed the plank and added on some local black walnut to make the top Fred's required 33". John rounded the edges and varnished it within an inch of its life. The rest (with a few modifications on site and perhaps a couple more to come) is now history. If only tables could talk, or perhaps it's best they don't...

If you've made it this far, any suggestions for chairs????



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Saturday, August 09, 2008

Croquet Olympics

So what's wrong with this year's Olympic games? They forgot to include our croquet team! Or any croquet team for that matter. In fact, if Wicked can be believed, croquet hasn't been played at the Olympics since 1900. (What's with that?!!!) Our team has practiced HARD too!!! Oh well. I can guarantee you the air in Earlville is a lot cleaner and cooler than Beijing at the moment.

Team Earlville left to right - Ace in the Hole Dillon; Out of my Way Win; Someone has to be Second Maverick; Move over Boys Oletta; It's my Court (and my Rules) John; Watch Out Kathleen; and Little Boy Peyton. And just in case you're wondering, the US is well represented - NY, NJ & Texas!

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Sweating at the beach...







Photo right - Ocean City in a heat wave... The photo was taken in early morning which explains the lack of people on the boardwalk that remains historic with businesses like Thrasher's french fries since 1929, Kohr Bros. frozen custard since 1919, Dolle's salt water taffy since 1910, and Dumser's Dairyland since 1939. These days you can also get their treats at other locations as well. Just our luck - there was a Dumser's about half a block from where we were staying (an easy walk even in the heat and well worth every ounce of sweat that was generated!)

The Keck/Grafer clan (brothers married sisters - photo is some of that clan) showed up in force for the softball game against the Berlinicke clan (no photo - they were the opposition after all...). In spite of the temperature and humidity vying for top billing (in the 90's) the game went on for two hours (11 - 1) and was finally called for lunch with the Keck/Grafer clan the winner! (They get to choose the location for the next game four years from now. Needless to say several are already petitioning for a cooler location!)

Rambo was still standing with all 4 tires inflated when we returned to NJ (miracles do happen!). Even more amazing he made it all the way back to NY with nary a complaint and even managed to keep his gas consumption in check (marginally better than an air craft carrier...). John wants the wood to be wet when he steam bends it, so Rambo also did his bit by continuing to leak in the intermittent rain storms. Wouldn't want the wood to get too dried out after all...