Wild Ginseng

When I was growing up my Dad would always take some of us Boys with him when he wandered the woods,  He showed us Herbs, wild plants and Nature!  1 such Item I use today is "Wild Ginseng" !
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The best time to find Ginseng was in the late summer when it went into Berry Mode which made it easier to spot as it looks like so many other green leaf plants, the berries are small, red berries.  The plant does grow in clumps of several plants but usually up here in the Mountains it is found on the South side of a Hard wood tree hill side so it gets sun in morning and at night!

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You can walk most of the day in the woods up here and be lucky to find one good sized root,  These 3 roots are about 8 to 10 years old,  If you can find enough you can sell it for about $100 to $150 dollars a pound, IF you buy it you will pay about $15.00 to $20.00 an OUNCE !!!

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My father during the depression grew Ginseng in Beds and sold it for extra Income, most of it went to Canada and was shipped overseas! 

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We always carried a small piece of it in our pocket about the size of a Peanut, you would shave off very small pieces of it if you had a sour stomach, headache, I have not carried any of it in many years and only bring this up as I was at the Funeral Home today and was talking to my cousins about it.

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We have had our second frost and we got about an inch of snow but it has melted and gone.   Tomorrow I have to travel back home to play and sing again at the Funeral Home for my Cousin who passed over !

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Don't Forget, Remember the Vet !!!

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Everyone stay Healthy and Happy !!!      Gary

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Time Flies !

I saw a post on Face Book about if you still have any friends from High School.  Well, Yes and No !!!  Probably my best friend from High School was Michael Jospeh Hart,  His mother was a Pat Teacher and his Father Joe ran the Hoist at the Talcville Mines.  We were close,  We all went down to the recruiters Office right after High School Graduation, 1965,  there was me, Mike Hart, Bob Watson, Ricky Uruburu, Alan Uruburu, Morley Goodale, Dick Taylor, Mike Duffy, Floyd Thornton,   We graduated June 25, and all received our Draft Notices , GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,  blah, blah, blah, Watson, Uruburus, Hart all went Air Force,  Thorton, Goodale, went Army,  Taylor and I went Navy.  Off we went !!!!   Some of us didn't come home, some of us found out years later we brought stuff home we didn't want, Time Marched on,   Mike Hart and I stayed friends for years and years.
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This was us 20 years after graduating High School in 1985 in Appling Georgia, Mike was working for the Telephone Company, I was a Policeman in New York State, we probably talked to each other weekly for years on the phone.

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Growing up I went to a country School, came from a family of 8 kids and mom and dad, we did not have inside plumbing, we had an "Outhouse, or Backhouse",  I had never seen a flush toilet till I went to the Central School in the 5 th Grade.  Mike showed me how to "Flush a Toilet" !   Mike is in an Urn in a closet in his house in Appling Georgia, his Widow is keeping him there.  She is nasty !!!!!!!!!   Said he will be buried with her when she passes!   

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I am number 14, my sister is number 9 and many cousins in this picture, this is Pond Settlement School which I walked to till the 5th Grade when they shut it down and sent us all to the Central School,  Grades 1 thru 8 went here !  My Job was to go out and Pump Water and carry it n and fill the big water pail,  In winter all boys stacked wood we carried in for the old wood stove in the center of the School room !

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Last Picture of Mike, I was recovering from Heart Surgery and in Rough Shape, He drove up from Georgia to New York State to see me while I was recovering in the Hospital as I was not doig good, he spent a week with me !

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Several years ago, (4)  I got a phone Call from Mike, He said, "Ya better sit down Woody"  he said I got Cancer!  His voice was raspy, he coughed, I said you want me to come to Georgia, I was ready to leave right then but he said, "NO" !  .

Mike had Cancer of the Throat,  He passed away !  

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The Only life long friend I have besides my Ex-Wife is my Friend Marlene.   She lives in Ocala Florida, She was married 3 times,  all 3 husbands passed way!   

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Marlene grew up in a house that was a Old School Bus made into a home,   This was our 50th High School Reunion !

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Wife says Bed Time,  I had Oral Surgery on Thursday and had to have a rear Molar that was a root canal dug out as it had split.    Lots of Bleeding !!!!!  Swollen cheek and teeth sore, all soft food for couple more days.

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Don't forget, remember our Vets !

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Counting down to Winter

Well, we are counting down now to Winter, we have had 1 little snowfall,  more expected.  I did notice that they are fewer acorns on the Oak Trees and also the Butternut and Beechnut trees have fewer nuts.   That's supposed to be a sign of an easy Winter.
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I did notice that the "Sunflowers" are huge !   That's a sign for lots of snow !!!

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Driving is a little tricky, going down the road with a little rain this is the view you can get so better be quick with turning on the wipers !

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Hope everyone is getting ready for Winter !

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Don't forget, remember our Vets !

Is WINTER COMING ?

We live near the Adirondack and the Tug Hill Plateau, both high elevations,  White Face Mountain is 4,687 feet high,   Tug Hill Although the region has traditionally been known as the Tug Hill plateau because its top is flat, it is not a plateau, but rather a cuesta, since it is composed of sedimentary rocks that tip up on one side, rising from about 350 feet on the west to over 2,000 feet in the east. .

. This picture is up in the Mountains in a meadow where there is some new Snow and the Wild Turkeys are flocked together feeding, we have an abundance of Turkey this year ! .

. We had visitors at our Bird Feeders, with Fall coming the deer are on the move as Hunting Season has started for the Bow Hunters

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. We are still Playing the Nursing Homes and Hospitals and Churches. Enjoy bringing a smile and laugh to the residents and Visitors. . .Well, it is time to go clean Instruments !. Don't forget, remember our Vets and Hope we don't get winter yet !

Guitar Upgrades

I have been involved with  groups of Musicians, One group, "Friends of God" was 2 guys who needed another Musician, I am a Fair Musician, I joined them and we played Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and Adult Care Homes.   We also did Festivals, Churches, and anywhere Music was needed.
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I also play with Mark Thompson, we also play some of the same places, we do Play at the Country Manor Nursing Home, Mark has played there for over 25 years playing once a week.

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I also play with a young lady who has a beautiful Voice, Patti !

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Here I am playing in some other groups !

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We played once at a Hotel up in the Mountains where we were brought back in in a truck and power was from a Generator!

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We have Played at almost every church social, gathering, sunday service or picnic or gathering.

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It has been interesting going from a Guitar when I was 12 years old to now playing the Banjo, Mandolin, Dobro and Guitar and Lap Steel!   I love it, The Good Book says, "Make A Joyful Noise To The Lord" ! and I think and hope we do !

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The hardest Part is cleaning, polishing and putting on new strings !

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The above was many Years Ago !

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I really did have Hair if you look above !!

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On a Trip south we went to Nashville, we were at the Grand Old Opera, The Guard was a retired Policeman from up where we live, He let me go on stage, pick up a guitar and I played 2 songs,  I didn't know there were maybe 20 people on a tour group that stopped and listened to me sing "The Great Speckled Bird"  and "I saw the Light" !!!    

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I have noticed one thing, No matter what shape, age, or condition, in Nursing Homes where the Patients have Dementia, or are not aware of things once the Music starts they come to life, I have seen them wheel patients into the room in a recliner, they look like they are sleeping, barely breathing, but once we start the Music, I have seen them tap a finger, move a foot in tempo with the music and some even sing along with some of the Old Hymns we play !    What a Blessing it is to me to see this !    After we play we always mingle with the people, getting hugs and kiss's, thank you and lots of Love !!!! 

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Don't forger, Remember our Vets !

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Here comes Fall !

Well, the Leaves have changed, today it was another 80+ degree day, shorts and T Shirt Weather !
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Enjoying the Season Change, it is now going to Start Cooling Down !

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It is pretty with the season change !

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Hundreds and Hundreds of Geese have darkened the Sky as they stop over here as they head north !!

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Hoping it is a mild winter !

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Remember our Vets !

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