The geese and ducks stopped to visit down at the lakes on their way south. They must know fall started on Sept. 22. Actually, they were all swimming and diving for a couple of days before we had that wildly windy day. So they must also know what the weather forecast is and travel to have the easiest trip. It is such a beautiful thing to watch them. I can't wait until they come back in the spring.

Talk about windy, that was probably one of the windiest days I've seen. Don't you agree?

I left my home at 6 a.m. and driving down West Lake Road and then Lake Avenue. I was stunned. I bet everyone out that day was shocked at the huge broken branches in the driveways, on sidewalks, against porches and the thick trees that were split and broken. It was terrible.

The workers were already trying to clear the roads.

When I was coming home late in the afternoon there was a truck grinding up the branches. These workers must have been exhausted. They certainly did an amazing clean up job. NYSEG did a wonderful job.

Some streets didn't have lights or power. I was one of the lucky houses that did not lose power or have broken trees.

Two or three of my friends lost power at about 1 a.m. and didn't get it back until about 10 p.m. I went to Seneca Falls that day and there was not a broken branch all the way there. They said they did not get strong winds.

When I first moved out here many years ago, my mother was so upset that I was so far from the “city.” She could never imagine why people would live in the “country” as she called it. I have always loved living here.

Whoever invented garage sales was one smart thinker. I've always enjoyed driving by one and find cars parked all the way down the street and around the corner. Last week, I drove by one. It was three minutes before 8 a.m. It must have been scheduled to start at 8 a.m. The cars were parked bumper to bumper one and a half blocks from the sale, and there must have been 20 to 30 people already there.

A few blocks away there was another sale and that was just as crowded.

Last week, I noticed so many events scheduled in the paper for the weekend that out of curiosity I counted what was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

There were 34 events for those two days. There were barbecues, dinners, bands, shows and all were for the area. I think it's wonderful for us to be given so many choices to be entertained and a lot of them were benefits for people who need help.

I hope everyone has the nicest, healthiest and sun-shiniest fall.

My ethnic recipe this week is Russian. It was given to me by Julie Speck. It is a family recipe. My other recipe this week is for vegetable quiche.

Today's blooper

My blooper today is about a young man who decided to bake chocolate chip cookies. The recipe seemed easy enough, but they really didn't turn out like he expected. It called for a one 6-ounce package of chips.

Somehow he read it to say 16 ounces of chocolate chips.

I bet that was a messy batch of cookies.

Diana Sobus specializes in preparing ethnic dishes

Kulich

1 cup luke warm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

Mix above together

Then stir in

2 cakes dry yeast

2 eggs

1/2 cups shortening

4 1/2 to 5 cups sifted gold medal flour

Add and mix

1 1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup almonds, chopped

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Shape into loaf and bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-40 minutes (cooking it in a coffee can is easiest). While still warm, frost with confectioners sugar icing.

Confectioners Sugar Icing

1/2 cup sifted confectioners sugar

1/2 tablespoon warm water

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Bit of lemon rind

Vegetable Quiche

Makes 12 servings

10 eggs

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 cup melted butter

3 cups cottage cheese

10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/2 red pepper, chopped

1 bunch scallions, chopped

12 ounces grated swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a blender or food processor, combine eggs, flour, baking powder, onion powder, melted butter and 1 cup of cottage cheese.

Blend well.

Pour mixture into large bowl.

Add remaining cottage cheese, spinach, peppers, scallions and swiss cheese.

Mix thoroughly.

Divide mixture into two greased 10-inch pie pans.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until set.