Everywhere a bargain

The Harrisburg ballpark is a sweet little stadium. We had no trouble getting seats behind homeplate, there were lots of kids on fieldtrips, a nursing home contingent, and next to Tom two high school boys who were skipping school—an enthusiastic crowd. The Senators won, Ryan Church hit two homers, the hotdogs were only $1. Would it be upstate New York without a fish fry on Friday? We lucked out, as Patricia and Lily were in Olean and despite the rain, we made it to Mickey's, where Lily colored like a real trooper, ate the chocolate chip cookie that came with her grilled cheese (not quite to her liking), and later a big piece of Fanny Farmer candy, gift of her grandfather. She had been to the library and stocked up on books. The rule is five books before bedtime. If there weren't a rule, it would probably be 20 books before bedtime. Books and chocolate. I am totally on her side.

Saturday Tom ran to Ellicottville, and I drove the truck over to meet him. Another lucky break. Ellicottville was having their weekend of garage sales, and we had the truck! 413 Fair Oaks now has an Adirondack chair on its front porch. It was marked $10, but Tom pointed out a spot where a little repair is needed, and the wife said $5. She probably could tell Tom was a tough customer.

My biggest bargains were four Benneton sweaters for $1 each. There is enough wool in them for a lot of felting projects. Another good find, a set of knives that were marked $25 but when I said that seemed a little high, the woman I was talking with got on the phone with Bill Burrell and came back to announce "He says $12!" Lord knows what I might have gotten them for if I had actually suggested a price. Time out for another picture of Tom working. The window in the barn that had a hole in it is now fixed. Just to prove we made it to the cemetery, here's a picture of the cardboard flag that was part of the ceremony. Look closely and you will see pictures and names of more than 1,000 soldiers who have been killed in Iraq. And the good news for anyone who thinks a walk makes a lot more sense when there's a dog involved? Meet Buddy.I tried to get a shot of his face, but he is one happy little dog as long as there is something to smell, and there are lots of smells. He can be borrowed at any time, appears to be afraid of the downtown bridge, will put anything into his mouth, and is more than willing to go from one end of town to the other with a perfect stranger.