Across the River

Caladiums, cupboards crashing, old York tennis stories

There was another birthday celebration, this past Sunday.

It was my granddaughter Lydia’s birthday and, although I had planned to go, I was sidetracked by one of my gardening injuries when I hurt my back. (I think it happened when I was fertilizing all of my plants-carrying and lifting heavy containers.)

So not only did I not attend her party, I had to forego mass at St. Patrick’s this past Sunday.

I have discovered a new plant for my garden — called a caladium.

I came across this plant a couple of years ago but I could never find any of them around here. The caladium is a most beautiful plant. It originates from the Amazon, so it prefers a warm climate. This plant has no flowers but its leaves are most beautiful — they turn into different colors and some will have pink, white and some are variegated in color.

I finally discovered a place that sold them in Florida called “Happiness Farms.” I can appreciate that name for I can imagine how beautiful all of these plants are on that farm. I called them on the phone and ordered the plants and they arrived in just a few days. They are all “in bloom” now and I have put them into containers for I have discovered that the downside to these plants are they cannot endure any cold-when the temperature goes down to 65, the plants must be moved inside.

I will bring them in and dry them out (for they are bulbs) and keep them in my basement to plant next year.

Saturday evening, as I was watching TV, I suddenly heard this very loud crash.

Cupboards crashing

I was very frightened and called my daughter Julie (who lives a few houses away). She offered to come and get me but I told her I thought it might be a deer crashing on my patio, (deer come by the back of my house, just about every night, and sometimes come up on the patio) so I looked outside and turned the lights on but saw nothing and decided to stay at home.

A couple of hours later, when I went into the kitchen, I saw what caused the crash. One of the cupboards, adjacent to my refrigerator, had lost its moorings, on one side and the whole thing had tipped and fallen on the counter top. I was sure all of the china in it was broken, but when I opened the door, I could see that none of the china was affected. So, my grandsons or one of my sons-in-law will be relegated to fix the cupboard. How lucky can they get?

Coming home soon, hopefully

When I spoke with both Bob and Dick Christiano, they told me their father is much better and they believe he may be coming home pretty soon. I was also happy to learn that Toni Moore is much better. This is all very good news. Also, Joe Krysica is coming along much better-he is, of course, at home where he is under the care of his wife who is taking good care of him.

Heading to Morgan Estates

John Masonis is contemplating moving to Morgan Estates in Geneseo. When I was speaking with John, I told him that all of the people, whom I know, who live at Morgan Estates they all love it there and I assured him he would like it there, also.

Morgan Estates is a beautiful place and John will probably know many of the people who live there. John’s wife, Helen, is up at Murray Hill where she is being cared for.

Visit from Steven

My son, Steven, stopped by to visit me this past week. He told me that Matthew, my grandson, who attended a St. John Fisher basketball camp this past month received a top award. Out of 150 children who attended the camp, Matthew received the top award for basketball.Matthew was the youngest child there. Matthew also excels at baseball-he won an award this summer for baseball.

Grandchildren report

My son, Bo, stopped by to visit me and gave me a rundown on my grandchildren. It appears that Joe was offered a job with a company, with whom he had been an intern, this past summer (that is after he graduates, in a year, from the University of Rochester). Joe is involved with finance. Also Zack has two more years to