I woke up Monday morning, Nov. 17, to 3-inches of snow on the ground. I talked on the phone to my sister, Pat Sykala, and then to my daughter, Kathy Carnevale, who got rained out at her job in Schaghticoke. Then I wrote my news and took it to Altamont.

I called my granddaughter, Kassi Neal, when I got home and then my grandson, Brandon Clark, and I enjoyed eating dinner together. It had been a real dreary rainy day except for all the visits with family.

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, my daughter, Marcia Pangburn had the day off and we enjoyed breakfast together.

I did some house cleaning and then at 4:30 p.m. I went to court with Marcia.

Now her lawyer has a special hearing taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m. It will be like a trial. The judges will make the decision.

Then I went to the East Berne Fire Company’s auxiliary meeting and it was election of officers. The president for 2015 will be Becky Gross; the vice president will be Heather Murray; the secretary will be Tina Meehan; and the new treasurer is Tammy Houck. The historian will be Marge Capuano, the color bearer will be Peppie Harnett; the trustees will be Becky Gross, Frances O’Malley, and Joanne Wright; sunshine will be Joanne Wright and I’m the new chaplain.

The installation banquet will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Best Western in Albany. Reservations are due by Jan. 3.

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, I wrote out bills for the month. Then I spent the rest of the day looking at photographs that I could use to make the family calendar. This is a project that I do every year.

At 3:30 p.m. I went with my grandson, Brandon Clark, on his dinner visit with his children, Samson and Nichole, in Cobleskill. We went to McCarthy’s Tire Store and Brandon bought four new winter tires for his car, and had them installed.

Samson did his homework and Nichole and I played games. It only took an hour and then Samson chose Burger King for us to eat at.

On Thursday, Nov. 20, I decided to go order my calendars. I went to WalMart on Washington Ave. and found that the girl who has helped me for the last three years had resigned two months earlier.

The girl in the photo department said she had no time to help me. I went to the front office and asked for help, and they called the same girl.

I hung around her department for an hour and she ignored me. I left in tears and thought, “now what will I do?”

Ray’s two elderly sisters in Washington County tell me the calendar is the best Christmas gift they receive. My own family looks forward to receiving a calendar. I decided to drive to the WalMart in Glenmont.

I went to the photo department and the girl there said, “We can help you!” She led me to a young man named Jamiel and he gladly helped me. We started at 3:30 p.m. and finished at 5:45 p.m.

I was able to put in my order for 12 calendars. I was very relieved and have another part of my Christmas shopping done.

On Friday, Nov. 21, I was able to pick up my order of calendars and they are beautiful.

On Saturday, Nov. 22, I went shopping with my granddaughter, Danielle Rickets and baby, Zoey Raye.

Then in the evening, my grandson, Brandon and Jenn Smith took me to the Hilltown Players presentation of “When in Rome...”

It was very entertaining and I got to see many friends and neighbors.

On Sunday, Nov. 23, my daughter, Marcia took me to see the progress on her son, Miles and wife, Melissa’s new home being built on Joslyn School Road.

Then my daughter, Kathy and her husband Gary, came to my house and cooked taco cupcakes for the family, and then prepared a roast pork dinner with squash, turnips, and onions. My granddaughter, Kassi Neal baked angel food cake. Her fiancé, Jared Martin, came for the afternoon. Other family members coming to attend the dinner were Danielle and Zoey, Miles and Melissa, Brandon and Jenn, and Marcia and Kyra. Friends Tommy Ryan and Paul Ginter also joined us. Love abound and we had a good time.

Community sadness

 Berne is sad with the loss of Ellen Yarmchuk. Ellen was a charter member of the Berne Historical Society and a long time home economics teacher at Berne-Knox-Westerlo. Ellen’s funeral will be at 2 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Berne Reformed Church and burial will follow the service at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Greening of the church

Decorating the Thompson’s Lake Reformed Church will follow the worship service on Sunday, Nov. 30. The “Greening of the Church” is for all ages and is the beginning of our Advent celebrations.