State Lecturer

Sharon Kimmel
State Lecturer
1036 Lindenhurst Road
Yardley, PA 19067
(215) 968-3348
(215) 860-6162
cell: (215) 801-6843

Greetings from Yardley!

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday and I wish everyone a wonderful New Year! Of course as of this writing since our articles need to be handed in quite early this time (thank you Carl,) Christmas is still 2 weeks away and even though I must think and write “in the future” my mind and body are still “stuck” in the past and immediate present (speaking of presents is everyone finished wrapping yet?) As we all try to reflect on our experiences in 2007 and make New Year’s resolutions for 2008, how many things are each of us willing to give up and change in the New Year? How many positive things have happened to anyone one of us that we are truly thankful for?

I am not quite sure that I want to remember all that has happened to me in 2007! Frankly I am looking forward to a New Year (a healthier one!) I am running out of the super glue that has been holding me together this past year.

I am very thankful for Mom and all that she does for me and probably do not tell her enough. I am thankful for my committee that has been there for me all year and kept the Lecturer's Department running so smoothly in my absence and for acting as my right and left hands during the times I was present at Grange functions but not as mobile as I would have liked to have been. I am also thankful for the many friends that Mom and I have including friends that we do not see often but know that we are there for each other in time of need. One such story of friendship comes to mind:
Last Saturday one of our horses fell into the creek that runs through our pasture and hit his head on a rock. It was our dear friends that came to the rescue of this 1400 pound animal named “Zeus Almighty” who became powerless from the head trauma. His rescue relied on teamwork and a wonderful neighbor whom we do not see often that was on the scene within minutes with a backhoe large enough to lift him out of the frigid water. I can’t say enough about all the friends who braved the cold water and maintained a 7 hour vigil in the winter weather to help this horse. Thank you so much for your help. Unfortunately as we all prepared to camp out in the pasture all night and take care of him in hopes that by morning he would have recovered enough to get him into the barn to convalesce, Zeus decided on this cold clear winter night that it was his time to leave us and died before midnight. Dean Shoop #1888 Our hearts are with the Norris family. We are all thankful that we have so many wonderful memories of this magnificent horse.

I’m preparing myself for snow, sleet and the freezing rain of winter. Aren’t you? I love wearing a heavy coat, scarf, woolen hat and gloves and those oversized galoshes. (Only kidding, most of you who know me see me in a no sleeve shirt all winter long.) Not to mention putting away the gardening and lawn care tools and digging out the snow shovels, ice picks, hooking up the snow plow and snow blower to the tractors, stocking up on the urea or magnesium (it’s much better than rock salt you know, it doesn’t ruin concrete or black top and it’s good for the grass and I feel works better), hooking up the livestock water tub heaters and heat tapes on the faucets and hydrants (don’t believe that those drain back water hydrants don’t freeze), check or change the anti freeze in your car, trucks and tractors (dispose of the old anti freeze properly because dogs and cats like the taste and it will kill them in a matter of hours), make sure any animals that live outside have good shelter from the elements and plenty of bedding, if you have been feeding the birds, now is not the time to stop (they have learned to depend on you for food) and don’t forget to “batten down the hatches” against “Mr. Wind.” “Are you tired of winter yet?”

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Planning Meeting in State College in January. Please drop me a line if you have any ideas and wishes for me to discuss at this meeting. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Fraternally

Sharon