On Monday, Feb. 2, we woke up to 16-inches of snow that fell overnight. BKW was closed and my daughter, Marcia Pangburn, dropped her daughter, Kyra Swan, off at my house before going to work.

I told Marcia that my granddaughter, Danielle Ricketts, was going to stay home from work due to road conditions, but she only had a small amount of milk for Zoey. Marcia drove to the Mobil and picked up a gallon of milk for Zoey before going to work.

I made venison roast, boiled potatoes, gravy and corn for dinner. Marcia, Kyra, and grandson, Brandon Clark, ate with me.

Five-below zero on Tuesday morning, Feb. 3, I ate breakfast and then went on errands. I went to the bank, BJs for large bag of dog food and then shopping for Kristy Richardson Downes’ baby shower. I tried Target and their shelves were barren. I went to J.C. Penney and found a cute jeans outfit. Kristy says her baby will be a cowboy. I bought a book with all the popular songs we sing to children. I always need to refresh my memory on the words.

Danny always sang to Danielle, especially John Jacob Jinglehammer Smith or something like that.

Brandon loves blueberry pancakes, bacon, and real maple syrup. Jenn Smith prepared them and Brandon picked me up for dinner.

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, I made phone calls and learned that new customers to John Ray Oil are paying $3.29 per gallon. I signed a contract and am paying $3.449 a gallon and am obligated until May. BRR oil customers are paying $2.929 a gallon, but if they join the budget plan are paying $2.87 a gallon. Keeping our budget straight is a big job.

I went on the dinner visit with Brandon. We ate at Burger King and Samson had a large amount of science homework, and Nichole was reading a book about the brain.

Thursday, Feb. 5, we received two inches of snow overnight. I had an eye doctor appointment at 11 a.m. I was very fortunate as Gary Carnvevale, my son-in-law took the day off. He drove Kathy and me to the doctor, and then we all enjoyed lunch at D’Raymond’s Restaurant in Loudonville.

At 9 p.m. that night it was zero degrees outside. I woke up to minus nine degrees on Friday morning.

I went to the chiropractor and the grocery store. About 1:30 p.m. that afternoon I started getting wrenching pains in my stomach. Kathy calls it “can’t digest.”

She thought I ate too heavy a lunch at the restaurant. I ordered veal and eggplant. It was heavily breaded. I was in pain all through the night.

Kathy told me to put heat on my stomach and it seemed to help. I woke up feeling better.

Saturday, Feb. 7, was going to be a busy day. My nephew, Mike Richardson’s memorial service was at 1 p.m., at the Assembly of God Church in Cherry Valley. Gary Carnevale drove my SUV with Miles and Melissa Pangburn, Danielle Ricketts, Kassi Neal, and me. Marcia followed in her SUV with Kathy and Marcia’s daughter, Kyra.

The little church was packed. Many stood up and shared stories about Mike. They were Wendy Richardson, David’s wife; Teri Barton, Mike’s sister; Kathy Carnevale, my daughter; Linda Richardson, Mike’s mother; David, Mike’s brother; and a friend Lauren Smith.

Mike was only 53-years-old, a construction worker, friend to all, and taken to young by cancer.

My sister, Pat Sykala, her daughter Veronica Weigand, and daughter, Jenna Pleines attended.

Also my brother, Ken Richardson and friend Maré Badcock of Greenville were among the mourners.

On Sunday, Feb. 8 I went to church and had my little sidekick, Nichole Clark, with me. She spends her weekends with dad, Brandon. She’s a big help. She likes to feed the dogs, and let them out and in.

After church she went with dad and family. I prepared venison lasagna and Cheddar Bay biscuits for dinner. Brandon, Jenn, Samson, Nichole, and Iain ate with me, and then Samson and Nichole went back to their mother’s house. They meet at Dunkin’ Donuts in Schoharie so Brandon and Jenn usually buy them hot chocolate and a donut in this cold weather.

Children bring us love and joy.

Lenten worship service

One of the most important spiritual happenings in the Hilltowns each year is the all-community Lenten worship services. Each week a different church hosts the people of the Hilltowns for a service of worship on Wednesday night.

This year’s theme is the “Tree of Life” which will prepare us for our celebration of Easter.

The weekly services begin on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Helderberg Lutheran Church at 7 p.m. following the services, there is a time of food and fellowship.

Adult Bible study

The Bible study for all adults meets next on Thursday, Feb. 19, in the church hall at the Knox Reformed Church.

All are invited and the study begins at 7 p.m. Rev. Bob Hoffman leads the discussion, and this week focuses on Romans 7.