Thanks Zeffy. I always have my father & his brothers & brothers-in-law, the whole generation really, on my mind at this time of year & again on Veteran's Day, Pearl Harbor Day... Daddy was in the US Army, serving at Anzio & North Africa. He never talked seriously about it, always made jokes about laying telephone line & his buddies playing jokes on each other. I never even knew he was at Anzio until I got a copy of his records, too late, long after he was gone.

There were 23 FEMA lots in New Hartford after the flood of 2008 ... people in these homes could either not afford to rebuild or have enough insurance to rebuild or just gave up on another flooded home...it means they took a 'buy-out' from FEMA ...so those lots can never be built on again...this was a 500-yr flood & affected many homes that never ever have flooded...but many of those that took the buy-out had flooded before ...but not on the main levels like this 2008 flood! So, when FEMA buys you out ...say like $25,000 or something I think may have been an avg (I don't know for sure)...then it becomes property of the city but cannot be built on to live in or have a business. The lots we are restoring have been this Vets Memorial, 4 Season Perennial Garden, Town Square Gazebo lot & a Community Gardens lot. We have written grants, raised money ...many of it donations & that's how we are doing it...we are wearing down as it is many retired people working long & hard...but we promised our community that we would have the 3 lots done by 1st week of June for the local yearly 'Beaver Creek Days.' It's all very worthwhile to all of us & brings a sense of pride back into the community. Thanks for asking, luvs & I appreciate all the comments from you 'Holiday-ers!' Jeanne S.

Happy Memorial Day Nana and Everyone! Since I won't be setting a table this year, I'll share a picture of one from a couple years ago. This table had ornaments that say 'We Love Our Soldiers,' as Nana said 'Thanks to all who serve to keep us safe.' We haven't decided what we'll be doing. Please share your plans. Punk

Woo Hoo! La Reine on Memorial Day! Mine all just finished. Those foggy mornings are better than heat waves. Just a little pm here, nothing awful. Wish we could see these cool temps last a few more months. I got an accidental red white and blue. Florentine finally maturedintosomething grand. I have some potted 5 gallon lions roses in front of that and a nice blue native something I got at a plant sale. They all bloomed together in patriotic style. I did try earlier to time some French lace roses with a big daffodils planting. Nope..daffs went off and roses started opening as they were fading. Ah well....see what next year brings. The yellow iris are open for the second flush so not a total loss. These crazy times... ill be thankful for whatever looks good. Happy beginning of summer to all the warm season folks and enjoy your spring time everyone up north.