I'm back

After working diligently to complete the blog class offered I exhaled. This is the first time I've blog inhaled since. I tend to work on my computer for the serious things in the evening. This often turns out to be a bad decision because if I stop to proof read etc. I tend to fall asleep. This has become worse since I've been banned from caffeine products. AH the Golden Years!!!!!!!

In my absence a trip to visit family in Granite Quarry, NC was made. A very nice and interesting area. There are large deposits of Granite stone there. Even a house built on the stone or so it appears. I have a picture of it but don't think it is filed where I can retrieve it easily. A good excuse to post again soon and include the picture.

While there a health issue arose and I spent an overnight in the hospital. I will say that health care there was as good as I receive locally. That got me a chance to see my Grand Kids in Quarryville as we took three days to get home. I drove all the way for other health reasons.

June and July were filled with graduation parties, birthday parties along with other busyness to attend to. All of a sudden August arrived.

The August highlight for me was attending the 150 th anniversary of the Zapf family in America. They emigrated here from Bavaria, Germany settling in the Watertown, NY area. I am in the 5 th generation in America my Mother being a Zapf. They were expert cheese makers and that is what they worked at after arriving in America.

Reading some of the family history I discovered that my Grandfather, F. Casper Zapf, received the first degree in Chemical Engineering given by Clarkson College. The year was 1924. Grandpa took that degree and used it his entire working life at General Electric in Schenectady, NY.

Being of German descent and cheese makers there was Limburger at the reunion. It has been way back when I tried Limburger. I've aged, mellowed or other things are failing. I tried it and actually like it. I'm sure it was high quality Limburger but even so it "smells." I was told the key is to get it past your nose and you are good to go. For me that was not a problem as I put a slice on a cracker and went for it. It is very smooth, almost soothing to the pallete. We also had homemade German potato salad. Store bought can't hold a candle to that.

Regarding the smell of the cheese. My son Paul and his wife were with us. On his own he tried the Limburger a couple times. While standing there he remarked that there must be a farm nearby. Amy replied "Paul you're holding it in your hand." As Paul took a whiff he said "oh I guess I am." It was good for a hearty laugh from all of us.

It really was a great day in Watertown. I met lots of new people and learned lots of family history. As I look forward to another Zapf gathering I'm looking forward to the rest of summer and the fun that can be had.

TAFN, Gene