The Jolley's in Upstate New York

 It's that time of year when we gather together for parties for everything.  This week was our Branch Halloween party and we were in charge.  In fact, we did most of it- planning, setting up, decorating, cooking, executing, clean up, and fall into bed.  I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining because we loved every minute.  I had an epiphany one day, though, that I am not doing anyone any favors if we don't delegate it out and let people have ownership.  So, that being said, if we get to have another party as the Oneida Branch, we will make sure there are assignments and follow up. The thing that is so great about parties, there is something fun, informal, and non threatening that we can invite less active members and non members to and boy did we have a great turn out.  Now remember, we have been getting anywhere from 8-22 people at church on Sundays.  So when we counted 48 people at the party, and almost half of them were less active and non ...

What a wonderful world we live in.  I am amazed, all the time, at the glory of the Master Creator.  This week was breathtaking.  We started out with a drive to the Erie Canal to just grab a photo- sadly the color isn't quite what we thought it would be but hey look at the beauty anyway! We continued on to our planned destination- a place by Ithaca called Watkins Glen.  We drove North and then took off the Thruway and headed toward Seneca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes.  It was scattered with quaint little towns and miles and miles of vineyards and wineries. We stopped in a little town called Geneva, a  beautiful college town, but I had to get a photo of the rows of I guess you would call them townhouses, or maybe like a brownstone.  They were huge and they had character oozing out of them.  I love stuff like this and Mike is just so patient with me.   We arrived in Watkins Glen the town but there is a State Park right in the middle o...

To say that this state is showing it's colors is an understatement.  I can't tell you how completely beautiful it is everywhere I look.  So if I can't tell you, I will show you. We had the chance to go back to Old Forge in the Adirondacks on Monday.  Old Forge is actually in our Zone, about an hour away,  so we can go there anytime we want to go.  I will tell you about our miracles that took place on Monday.  Yes, I said miracles-plural. I woke up with a darkness over my heart. I tried to shake it off from Sunday but it was still there.  We were planning to go back to Old Forge and ride the chair lift up.  We walked for a little over a mile and then we got ready to leave.  As we headed up the road there were several places that I got some most incredible shots.  After about three stops and pictures, Mike pointed out that this little trip was lifting my spirits all ready.  He was right.  I am obsessed with the Autumn color and m...