April Fools' Day
Where in the World is JB?
On Sunday March 29th Jeff was strolling the grounds below. Click the link and view the beautiful Sarona Market images in Tel Aviv, Israel. For all you grocery shoppers out there, you shall be envious. If only the Lexington Market in Baltimore could be like this
Israel, The West Bank and Gaza Travel Warning
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| Am I feeling safe? |
Air raids reach Tel Aviv (From 2014)
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| A bit worried! |
Once Jeff completes his assignment in the above he will venture East to the lands of the Stan once again.
Pakistan and it's Food
http://www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan-to-South-Africa/Pakistan.htmlIslamabad Pakistan Travel Warning
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| What, to worry? |
Where in the Caribbean are the Newly Weds?
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| Mike and Barbara are in the Caribbean with the Wasik/Romspert clan on a cruise. |
Independence Of The Seas ship statistics
Independence Of The Seas is a Freedom-class cruise ship (sister-ships RCCL Freedom and RCCL Liberty).
• Passenger capacity 3,630 (max 4,900), Crew 1,360.
• Year built 2008 (by Kværner Masa, Aker Yards in Turku, Finland).
• Cost to build US $830 million, last refurbished/dry-dock (2013).
• Registry-Flag State (Bahamas)
• Propulsion – 6 Wartsila engines, 3 ABB Azipods, 4 bow thrusters
• Cruising speed – 25 mph, 40 km/h
• Dimensions – Weight-Tonnage 154,400GT, Length 1,112ft (339m), Width (hull 127ft – 39m, extreme 184ft – 56m), Draft (29ft, 9m).
See where they are today. @: http://www.seascanner.com/schiffsposition.php?schiff=Independence+of+the+Seas
All the info on the ship @: http://www.seascanner.com/schiff.php?schiff=Independence+of+the+Seas
Allen Spring Bazaar
March 28, 2015 was a busy Saturday in the tiny village of Allen. Of course there are some that call Allen, Eden. In a lot of ways this tiny village is, a "Garden of Eden." But the real Eden, Zip 21822, is a government entity that covers three separate counties on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland: Somerset, Worcester and Allen's own Wicomico County are the three. Totally confused? So was the U.S. Post Office ten years ago when Mary Agnes and I applied for our Passports, and it was their system. Big Government, Ha. They never heard of the old saying "KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid."
So, getting back to March 28 in the County of Wicomico and the Village of Allen in Zip 21822, there were three events going on.
We had a Church Bazaar, coordinated by the Women of the "Allen Asbury Methodist Church." Also the Wicomico Yacht Cub, "First Mates" were sponsoring a Turkey Shoot. (That's what we call "A good old boy thing)." Later that evening, the Allen Volunteer Fire Company # 15, would sponsor a "Casino Night" at the Yacht Club as a fund raising event. A few hardy folks would be known to attend all three events.
In order to dispense the word for upcoming events, We're better than the Pony Express. One such person is Agnes Culp. She calls herself "Maddjay" in the "electronic media world." I'm not sure how she arrive at that moniker, but I liken it to the “Cyanocitta cristata,” that would be the Blue Jay, like the one in my back yard. The bird is certainly heard by all when it comes around to speak it’s piece. Madjay has a sidekick "S" who gets the word out when filling in. I'm guessing the (S) just pluralizes the "Madd."
And don't forget, this has been going on for years. Some of the older women have shortened index fingers due to dialing phones prior to the IT age. Next time you're at one of these events, check out the hands of the women and you'll know whose been calling the shots for a long, long time. And please, if they say "that's how we've always done it," don't try to change it. That's how it's done, even if your way easier. As they say in Baltimore, Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Here's a sample of some of the AMW Army Planning Emails.
Well...you knew it was coming. Bet you thought someone else was doing it and that you'd get off scot- free this time. SORRY...not the case. Spring Bazaar is literally just around the corner, happening on Sat., March 28th, 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Community Hall (just in case any of you had forgotten). Once again, we are hoping to beat past attendance records, so please everyone help in some way if you possibly can. This year for the first time, other than the percentage that goes to Christian Shelter, proceeds will go into the paint fund. The Church is due to be painted this summer. So, my usual plea...we will send around the donation wish list in Church on Sunday for food items, etc. Please contribute if able. Chickens are in town, with some having been donated and all procured by Casher and Inge Hitchens. If anyone sees them around town, please thank them!!! We, of course, need helpers to cook chickens and cut up celery. Sign-up sheets in Church. We will once again be having Chickin Pickin night on Thursday, March 26th at the Hall at 6:00 PM, with dessert provided as an extra incentive to come out and join your neighbors and help get the Bazaar off to a good start. Soup preparation, etc. will commence at 9:00 AM at the Hall on Friday, March 27th. BAKE TABLE...if you haven't been to any of the Bazaars, you truly can't imagine how impressive this is. We really are becoming known for our bake table, I think. It is fabulous. Please help us keep it that way by contributing something! Everyone! Really, that's something everyone can do! We always need "staff" on the day - if you don't want to be on your feet all day stirring soup, how about coming in for clean-up? You have no idea how welcome you would be!! Lastly, financial donations are always welcome!
If anyone has ideas for the Bazaar, please let us know. We really do strive to improve the bazaars, as they are our only fund raisers, so please help us if you have thoughts on improvement.
Don't forget to get out your knives that need to be sharpened!
With thanks in advance…
Hi, Everyone. On my last note regarding the Bazaar, I said that Chickin Pickin on Thurs. night began at 6:00 which is incorrect. We will gather at 6:30 PM
at the Hall. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help or donated food items. If you signed up to donate, please don't forget to drop off items by Wed. Also, please remember the bake table! We already have advance orders coming in for that! Also, the chickens are in the refrigerator at the hall, so if you offered to cook or if you would still like to volunteer to cook chickens, please help yourself! Just please sign the list on the counter with the number of chickens you take, so that we will know who has taken chicken home. Sometimes chicken doesn't come in until Sat. and then we are short chopped celery. So...thank you all. Let's hope for pretty weather and a huge gathering!
Hello Celery Cutting Volunteers!
The celery is at the hall. The doors will be open by 8:00am and someone will be there throughout the morning. We will leave it open if you want to come in the afternoon. Take as many as you want and please try to cut it on the small side. If possible, please have all chopped celery at the hall Friday morning. If you can't have it there by then, please let us know so that we can plan accordingly. Thanks so much for your efforts!
More from "The Rooster" on the Preparation.
My wife and I are what the Allenites call "Come Here's." We moved here from Connecticut 27 years ago. No matter how much of their damn sand we get between our toes, we shall always be "Come Here's." Our grandchildren are "From Here's." Even if they move away, which a few have, and all the damn sand falls out from between their toes, they will always be "From Here's."
So a few past memories I wish to share. On Wednesday of this past week my wife's Fire Auxiliary comrade dropped off 4 huge chickens for us to roast, pick and cut up. This would be used for the making of chicken salad which is sold at the Bazaar. The baking took about four hours and then the picking began. While Mary Agnes was picking she remarked, "Mary Lee Kolb could really pick a chicken clean." I just smiled, this is an often repeated statement by those who have gone before whenever we pick chicken.
Mary Lee Kolb was the first person we met from Allen after buying our home here. She was the Post Master, an Organ Player in the Allen Asbury Methodist Church, an Institution unto herself who was admired by all and a "Chicken Picker" bar none. We miss you Mary Lee.
If you read the Mad emails, Friday was celery day. Bright and early Friday morning Mary Agnes took the picked and cut up chicken to the hall and picked up the celery the Logistician had directed. My goodness she brought home a lot of celery. There were special instructions you had to do with this celery, as I've said before, it's the way we've always done it. First you had to wash it in the sink, removing all their damn sand of course. After it was clean you cut off the leafs, no you don't discard. The leaves are used for the soup which will be sold, so this will be diced and bagged separately.
Now for the stalks, This is something I've been cutting up for a number of years, have been corrected numerous times in the past for indiscretions in the art of cutting and obviously have finally mastered. Why do I know that you may ask, you may ask? As I was slicing my stalks lengthwise in fours and then dicing into teeny tiny little squares, I was complemented. Mary Agnes says to me, " Ruth Keeler would be proud of you." You see, as Mary Lee Kolb was the adroit one for picking chicken, Ruth Keeler established the Bench Mark for dicing celery. I would just smile and knew I was doing well.
Much like Mary Lee, Ruth was an "Entity Unto Herself." I always likened Ruth to the character in "Auntie Mame." Ruth was always traveling somewhere, be it Europe, the islands or in the U.S. She was always on the go. Each year she would host a congregation in her home for a wonderful New Years Eve party. Mary Lee and Butch Kolb would pound the keys of her piano and the voices of the congregation could be heard throughout Allen. You are missed also Ruth and it's nice to know that finally after 27 years, this boy can dice celery.
So a few past memories I wish to share. On Wednesday of this past week my wife's Fire Auxiliary comrade dropped off 4 huge chickens for us to roast, pick and cut up. This would be used for the making of chicken salad which is sold at the Bazaar. The baking took about four hours and then the picking began. While Mary Agnes was picking she remarked, "Mary Lee Kolb could really pick a chicken clean." I just smiled, this is an often repeated statement by those who have gone before whenever we pick chicken.
Mary Lee Kolb was the first person we met from Allen after buying our home here. She was the Post Master, an Organ Player in the Allen Asbury Methodist Church, an Institution unto herself who was admired by all and a "Chicken Picker" bar none. We miss you Mary Lee.
If you read the Mad emails, Friday was celery day. Bright and early Friday morning Mary Agnes took the picked and cut up chicken to the hall and picked up the celery the Logistician had directed. My goodness she brought home a lot of celery. There were special instructions you had to do with this celery, as I've said before, it's the way we've always done it. First you had to wash it in the sink, removing all their damn sand of course. After it was clean you cut off the leafs, no you don't discard. The leaves are used for the soup which will be sold, so this will be diced and bagged separately.
Now for the stalks, This is something I've been cutting up for a number of years, have been corrected numerous times in the past for indiscretions in the art of cutting and obviously have finally mastered. Why do I know that you may ask, you may ask? As I was slicing my stalks lengthwise in fours and then dicing into teeny tiny little squares, I was complemented. Mary Agnes says to me, " Ruth Keeler would be proud of you." You see, as Mary Lee Kolb was the adroit one for picking chicken, Ruth Keeler established the Bench Mark for dicing celery. I would just smile and knew I was doing well.
Much like Mary Lee, Ruth was an "Entity Unto Herself." I always likened Ruth to the character in "Auntie Mame." Ruth was always traveling somewhere, be it Europe, the islands or in the U.S. She was always on the go. Each year she would host a congregation in her home for a wonderful New Years Eve party. Mary Lee and Butch Kolb would pound the keys of her piano and the voices of the congregation could be heard throughout Allen. You are missed also Ruth and it's nice to know that finally after 27 years, this boy can dice celery.
As is the custom, the Bazaar was well attended, the food was awesome, the sweet table was fantastic and there were crafts galore. We brought home, chicken salad, vegetable beef soup Rosalie's famous lemon cake, Joe's coconut egg .
We would skip the Turkey Shoot, Uconn Women were playing Texas in the Sweet 16, not to be missed by "The Rooster." Uconn would embarrass Texas with a 105 -54 victory.
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| Mrs, Fretz, Fiddler and Ford |
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| Maddjay (L) and "S"(Rear) with Army staff |
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| Karen Mitchell and Lucy Davis making chicken salad. |
We would skip the Turkey Shoot, Uconn Women were playing Texas in the Sweet 16, not to be missed by "The Rooster." Uconn would embarrass Texas with a 105 -54 victory.
In the evening we would venture off to the Wicomico Yacht Club for Casino Night and another fund raising event. God bless the people of Allen, as many of the same faces who have been working the Bazaar and Turkey Shoot were once again in attendance supporting this nighttime event. Some of them having risen at the crack of dawn to get the Bazaar started.
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| Maddjay and her Executive officer dealing cards. |
Hillary once said "It takes a village."This is the bond that holds Allen together, the glue, Semper Fidelis, always faithful. And from A Few Good Men, the ties that bind. To the "AMW Army," thank you all.
Good night all
I wish you all a good evening as I close another edition of 'The Rooster." It has been a busy week for the Allenites, for all who give so much of their time we thank you. Have a wonderful step forward into the month of April. Please let us end this blustery cold, 28f this morning and snow flurries yesterday. Thank you for taking a glance at this, be safe and
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