At Home in the Huddle 2009: 47 and overcast

TO "NURSE DONNA"

(it's a day late - but you can still remind her!)

It's Garbage Day!

TOMORROW IS "BIG TRASH"

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MORNING NEWS

The O-D: "Fire Damages Paris Hill Cat Hospital"

WKTV: "Firefighters Extinguish Fire at Paris Hill Cat Hospital"

"Hamilton Officially Opens the New Chenango Canal Trail"
from the Madison County Courier and Google.

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VILLAGE BOARD MEETING TONIGHT

If you haven't checked the blog for a couple of days,
scroll down for several items that I posted as they came along.

The WKTV forecast: "A generally quiet start to Monday morning. A few lake effect rain showers continue across the north country this morning, with plenty of clouds elsewhere. Take the light jacket and umbrella heading out the door this morning.

Lake effect rain showers will slowly push south through the day, as wind shift slightly into the northwest. We expect scattered showers for Oneida County and into the Mohawk Valley today. It will be a very changeable weather day with mostly cloudy skies, some sunshine, along with those showers. The breeze will pick up in those rain showers, with gusts up to 20mph today.

Lake effect rain showers come to an end tonight. Mostly cloudy with overnight lows in the mid 40s.

A break for Tuesday, with mainly dry weather. Our next storm system will bring a steady rain by Tuesday night. Cooler weather to follow by Wednesday with a breezy, showery afternoon. A break on Thursday again, with more rain and cooler weather Friday afternoon. Columbus Day weekend looks likely to be chilly."

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The Hot Air Balloon pilot's map must have a large circle on it indicating Forge Hollow!

Barely two weeks after the VanDenberghs played hosts to a similar (or, possibly, the same) aircraft, I received a 'phone call from Jerry Burdick just a bit before 6:00 p.m. last evening telling me that yet another balloon had landed - this time in the old orchard next to his yard in Forge Hollow. And just a few minutes later, these photographs arrived: thanks to Val Schenk, who interrupted her dinner to grab her camera and snap these pictures!

Thanks, Val !

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On Barton Avenue

On Sanger Avenue

On Barker Road

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OUT IN THE COUNTRY

Soybeans

With more and more acreage being given over to soybeans, and knowing that I'm not the only (city) person who didn't know, I asked Jack Brouillette to tell me"Why?"

And here's his answer!

"There are several reasons that soybean acreage has increased:

1. Soybeans are a good quality protein source in dairy rations and growing them on the farm helps offset the cost of purchasing soy. Farms raising SB's are either feeding them "raw" in a few instances, or as in most cases are having them "roasted" at local mills like Gale's Feed or by a custom roasting service. Heat treating the soybeans makes them more nutritionally stable to animals and helps enhance shelf life of the bean. They are high in fat as well, so they can go rancid after time, just like peanuts.

2. Soybeans are a good cash crop and can be planted and harvested with existing equipment on the farm Soybeans fit well into crop rotations and do a nice job of conditioning the soil and enhancing fertility. They are a legume, so they "fix nitrogen" and provide good fertility for subsequent crops like corn and small grains. Many local farmers sell extra soybeans as a source of additional income. They are sold either directly to local mills or done via commodity brokers in which they lock prices for a delivery date on the Chicago Board of Trade in 1000 bushel increments. These beans often go to a processor where the soy oil and fat is extracted for human food use and the leftover " soybean meal" is also used for feeding animals.

3. In the last 10 years they have been many new soybean varieties that are fit well in our climate here in CNY. In addition, CNY has been able keep free of major fungal and insect challenges that effect soybeans, hence they grow well for us, especially with our good soils around Waterville and CNY."

Thank you!!

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THINGS TO DO

The Waterville Historical Society's Annual 'Victorian Tea" won't take place for two months -- December 5th -- but there are only eleven tickets left! Call the Falks at 841-4018 to reserve yours, now!

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