A Hike Through History

This past Sunday was spent with family doing what has become a yearly hike. Just outside of Albany and not far from Altamont is Thatcher Park. The park has a wonderful hike along it's limestone cliffs. The history here dates back to the late 1500's. The trail is called the Indian Ladder trail and it was used by the Mohawk/Iroquois Indians to reach Henry Hudson's Trading Post.

In 1777, Jacob Salsbury, a spy during the Burgoyne Invasion was found hiding in the caves along here. The Battle of Bemis Heights, is the 2nd Battle of Saratoga. It was the second and last major engagement in the Battle of Saratoga. Burgoyne's expedition had failed in its attempt to gather supplies, previously at the Battle of Bennington in August. Burgoyne later surrendered at the final Battle of Saratoga.

Finally, the Helderberg War, was a tenants' revolt in upstate New York during the early 19th century. Dutch settlers were brought here by Patroons. They paid heavy rents until they freed themselves. It began with the death of Stephan Van Rensselaer III in 1839. Stephen, was a landowner and a patroon of the region at the time. The patroons owned all the land on which the tenants in the Hudson Valley lived. They used feudal leases to maintain control of the region. This Anti-Rent War led to the creation of the Antirenter Party and influenced New York politics from 1846 to 1851.

This weekend, it was a wonderful hike of about 3 1/2 miles and A LOT of stairs. The history makes it even more interesting to think that you are walking the same path as so many of our ancestors. The limestone cliffs are as beautiful as the view across the valley to the Adirondacks and Green Mountains. If only I had worn my heels, I probably could have seen Granville!

A Simple Wish....Answered

In '96 I saw my dream come true. Our little family moved up on the hill into a little house near woodlands, with a view of the Green Mountains. There was a little brook that babbled in the back yard during the spring and we saw rabbits,turkeys, deer and even a moose. As a girl I would read Mother Earth magazines while other girls read teen magazines. I had grown up living with my Grandparents between the moves that are part of a military family. I learned how to cook and can because, in an Italian family, the kitchen is the heart and everyone pitches in. I took all of this with me up on the hill, with visions of a small vegetable garden and a wonderful yard perfect for flowers.

Five years later I came down the hill. Dreams shattered, a broken marriage and wondering if I was making the right decision for all of us. The girls would come with me and we would live 10 miles away with my parents, both of which had serious health issues and needed me. As I drove down the hill and I could see from the main road, the only flowers that I was allowed to plant. My beloved sunflowers and burgundy Hollyhocks. I left that day with tears in my eyes and a wish that someday I would have at least the hollyhocks to I would know that everything was going to be OK, I would be on the right path.

This Spring Tim watched as a plant grew in an odd place. It was growing in a crack of concrete as one walked out the back door and onto the stone patio. A bird must have dropped a seed he said.. at first he was sure it was a pumpkin, but nixed that within a couple weeks. He decided to wait and see what it was~ "probably, I'm waiting on a weed." During the spring Tim made some big changes in the patio area. I was planting sunflowers. They are a symbol to me, of giving back by feeding the birds and the squirrels.

The plant by the door continued to grow and suddenly I knew.. it was a hollyhock! "Amazing!", I thought , the neighbor had yellow ones, and surely that was it! As you can see, it wasn't yellow. The pictures came out a little brighter, but they are indeed burgundy. I have gone around the neighborhood and haven't seen any hollyhocks except for the yellow ones. I know now that all is answered. I made the right decisions and my path is the right one for my daughters and I. He answered and I knew He was listening that day.

Looking Forward

So much to share with all of you! I decided to wait until Crow Soup opened and share all the goode happenings here at once. First and most importantly is a little angel banner off to the left of the blog. It may be little, but it is of utmost importance. A posted link will take you to see a wee angel that needs our help. I'm very honored to be a part of this auction that holds the biggest of hearts and prayers for this little one!

Next is the above banner. I have been a part of this forum since it's beginning and I can't tell you how much I enjoy the ladies there. Thank you Donna of Cameo Moon! It is her vision and dream to start an online magazine for those that love Halloween. Artist, Verlene Brooks will be making this happen. As most of you know, I just sell my patterns over the Internet, except for a rare occasion. My finished goods go to select stores and trade shows, other than a small local show. That keeps me quite busy in itself, but this called to me and I'm excited to be a part of it all. Please visit on September 10th.

Life is full of goode things and goode news. As some of you know, Netty and I did a couple of local shows last year. After several years of The Gallery and Trade Shows, we wanted to come back home a bit. The big shows are very big and amazing, but also exhausting. The local shows were very well received and we will do more. In September, we will be at the Eagle Mills Show in Broadalbin, NY. http://www.eaglemillsfun.com/cidermill/ This is perfect! Several had asked us about doing this show and we listened. The show coordinator, Sandy is very tough about making sure that the work is all artist made. Exactly what we were looking for. Netty and I will be there on the 15th & 16th from 9-5. Unfortunately we won't have enough inventory to sell on both weekends, but perhaps next year. If you are near, please do stop by and say hello~ we love to see you. As dates approach for other shows, I will post the information here. It is really goode to be back, I must say.

Tag~ I'm It!

Now who would do such a nice thing??? Angie Kuether of Love The Prim Look. Angie's Link is on my page. She is certainly one of the nicest people that I know on here and is dear to me. I think she has one of the biggest hearts I know! Sigh.. but alas, I can't tag her back. And so as the morning continues 5-7 of the nicest and dearest Goode wifes you shall see~~

1. Katie of Home Keeping Hearts ~ it's like you always know what is my heart on so many things!
2. Emily Franz~ of Hootin'Annies and also Blonde and Blithe. You have so much fun just being YOU and are never afraid to embrace it all!
3. Cassie~ of Mockingbird Hill~ A very new friend but how I enjoy the lively spirit that is you! You always make me smile and what could be nicer?
4. Lauren~ of Alice Lands~ A very nice friend and a wonderful artist. You are my eyecandy in all that you create! A new friend too and so very nice. The joy of nice friends is welcoming new and sharing all the goode with old and new!
5. Christe', Netty, Kat , June, Jane, Cheryl & Emily ~ Although you have already been tagged or don't have blogs, I do want you to see that you ARE the nicest ladies I know.

I am very much honored to know all of these ladies~I hope I have not forgotten anyone! The banner and the tag have given goode reason to let each of you know that you do touch my life and I enjoy each and every one of you. Not only for who you are but for all that you do. You rock!

Thank you Angie and a high five back at ya!

psssst~

"Pssst" whispered Mr. Mouse to his beloved Ms. Mousie, "The Goode Wife is fast at work making the models for the new Crow Soup magazine on the 15th. It is said that she will share not only goode patterns but some goode news as well."

"ahh" replied Ms. Mousie ,"how exciting!"

"In the meantime my dear, perhaps a bit of heart shaped cheese to help pass the time away....", whispered Mr. Mouse.

All Goode Things

I wanted to share with everyone a little more about what I do and what I love. I have been selling my art for over 30 years now. These are a few of my favorite things~.The Graphics will all be available soon as notepads. Drawing is my very first love of all the arts.I also love very old tintypes and enlarge them. This is Francine, one of my favorite paper people that surround me as I work at the Goode Comfort Cottage. The chalk ware is from various sculptings that I did for Netty. She is always kind enough to share a piece with me. I didn't have any of my chalk ware with me to photograph, but I will do that for you soon. And finally, a bit of what I do here in the evenings to relax right before the stars appear. Knit! There are so many wonderful yarns and ribbons, and I decided to try making a simple scarf from a beautiful ribbon I found. As the sun sets here, we light the candles outside and enjoy the beauty of the flower gardens. There are areas strung with fairy lights and little candle lanterns so that perhaps if we are very, very quiet... we will spot the fairies coming out to dance. I am very blessed to have so much Goode!

Berry Booty!

Best Berry Cobbler

1C margarine, 1/3 C Milk room temp
1C sugar, 2 C berries
1 C water, 1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 C flour, 2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp baking powder

melt 1/2 cup margarine in baking dish. heat sugar & water until sugar melts, set aside. mix flour, salt and baking powder in bowl, cut 1/2 cup margarine into flour mixture, add milk. turn out onto floured surface knead slightly. roll out to 11" x 9" size, 1/4 " thick. spread berries onto dough, sprinkle cinnamon on top of berries roll and slice. place in pan on top of melted butter and pour sugar syrup around slices, crust will absorb syrup. bake 45 minutes at 350F sprinkle 2 Tbsp of sugar on top bake an additional 15 minutes, will thicken as it cools.

I wanted to share this recipe with all of you. You can use any berry and mixed berries are wonderful. I've been up at my Parent's home for a couple days to help them out and we decided tonight to go visit my Aunt Iva and Doc. They live just over the border in Vermont. They own Liebig's Strawberries and have been growing strawberries along with other fruits and vegetables for over 40 years. In our family, once you reached age 12, you worked in the strawberry fields during the summer. It was my first summer job and I've worked nearly every stage of the strawberry operation and picked nearly every fruit. I worked there even when I was pregnant with Bailey. As Doc would say...."its a family business".

I took my Dad and Jessie tonight to pick blueberries.. there are rows and rows just bursting with the best fruit in the world! In June, there are 50 miles of strawberries. They also have 12 miles of raspberries and 10 miles of blueberries. Jess hasn't picked blueberries in a couple years, but tonight she realized just what hot and hard work it is in the summer. We only picked for an hour, but she had a difficult time thinking about picking every day for hours. This was the way that I earned my money every summer to buy my school clothes. I know she has a new found respect hiding under her wish for a piece of warm cobbler later this evening.

Peggy Sue Got Married

She married Brutus , the rooster and now they have a start on their family! It is with great joy that Bailey and Jessie introduce "Miss July" She's a couple weeks old now and enjoying her star status.....well, we hope that it's a "her".

A Word of Thanks~

To not acknowledge the outpouring from so many of you would be remiss of me. Some of you posted on the blog , others picked up the phone, and amazingly so very many of you filled my inbox with mail! I want all of you to know, that you do very much touch my heart! I did not realize that when I spoke out, I was speaking for so many. I also did not realize just how many of you knew the truth and have watched this for years. I am truly blessed to have so many dear to me! I do continue to pray that the two who started this whole thing, conduct themselves in a more positive and honest manner. I'm sure with their talents they will reap wonderful rewards. There is nothing better than goode friends and goode Karma!