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2-28-2007 We think it has been just plain miserable. And we can see no good reason for it to continue and are somewhat dismayed that we will have one more day of February this year than we do most years. We think the extra day, just like the weather, is quite unnecessary. Unfortunately, we have absolutely no control over either the weather or the extra day and thus will simply have to suffer through them in the best way possible, which we willingly admit is not as good as it probably should be. However, that extra February day has given us the opportunity to travel once more this month to Richfield Springs to visit with long time Cooperstonian, Dorothy Chase. Dorothy, who graduated from CCS in 1938, has spent a lot of years in Cooperstown, but this past fall found herself in the position of no longer being able to live by herself in Cooperstown. Thus last October we helped her make the big move to an adult home in Richfield Springs. Since then we have tried, weather permitting, to visit her faithfully each week to make certain that she is faring well. And part of that weekly visit includes a trip to the Tally-Ho restaurant for lunch. We must admit that before Dorothy moved to Richfield Springs, we had only eaten at the Tally-Ho for breakfast and had always found it to be good. But now we can report that it is also very good for lunch. Not only is the food delicious, but the prices are reasonable too. And we have quite come to enjoy the atmosphere as well. In fact, we are quite struck by the obvious sense of community one encounters at the Tally-Ho. Every week when we go, Dorothy asks if they have chocolate pie. And on occasion they do. But not nearly often enough to suit Dorothy, although she will admit that the chocolate pudding is a satisfactory substitute. One week when she inquired once again about the possibility of chocolate pie, the waitress shook her head and said, "Not this week. But I will ask if they can make it for you next week." The response from the powers that be was that chocolate pie could indeed be in the offering for the following week. This, of course, put a bit of pressure on us to make it, weather or not, to Richfield for the pie. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and we arrived on schedule with visions of the restaurant awash in chocolate pie. With great trepidation, Dorothy asked about the pie. And the answer was yes, there was chocolate pie. We pointed out that before she could have the pie, she needed to actually eat lunch first. And we must say that she polished it off rather more quickly than usual. And then the pie arrived. We were presented with two enormous pieces of chocolate pie. And while the pie was good, we thought the reaction of the other diners was even better. One woman, eyeing the size of the piece, asked us if we thought Dorothy was actually going to eat it all. We assured the woman that, if past experience was any indication, she would. Another diner appeared at our side and whispered to us that she had been there the preceding week, and she was so glad that we had gotten the pie which had been promised. We then realized that we were indeed correct that at the Tally-Ho there is a true sense of community and that we, the outsiders from Cooperstown, had managed to become a part of it. We felt truly blessed and thank the good citizens of Richfield for welcoming us to their community. Of course, we well realize that not everyone at the Tally- Ho is from Richfield. While there we have encountered people we know from all over the surrounding area. No doubt they, like us, enjoy a good lunch with friends. And of course, we know any number of people who journey to Richfield on Friday nights to take in the Tally-Ho's fish fry which we understand is excellent. Unfortunately, we have never had it, although we must admit we greatly enjoy the Friday fish sandwich special which comes with clam chowder and dessert. In closing, one of our faithful readers called us the other day having given a great deal of thought to our observation in a preceding column that many areas in New York State are known by their geographic features. We thought, as the search is on to find a "brand name" for our area, that consideration might be given to our geographic features although we were hard pressed to know exactly what they might be. Our reader suggested calling the area "The Foothills." Her point was that by going south one hit the Catskill Mountains and by going north one hit the Adirondack Mountains, and thus we must be in the foothills. Of course, since other states no doubt also have foothills, it might be necessary to avoid confusion to refer to the area as "The New York Foothills." We can just see the bumper stickers now proclaiming "The New York Foothills ... where it all begins!" With our luck, given our weather, someone would want to add "... and never ends." We remain, In these Otsego hills, The Ellsworths The Ellsworths may be reached by mail at 105 Pioneer St., Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326, by telephone at 547- 8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com. They look forward to hearing from you. |
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