Robert was sick yesterday.

Still sick today.

Lisa telephoned around 11 last night. I have babysitting duty again today.

Poor Robert. He slept most of the day. Wiped out. At one point he woke, got up off the couch and went into his bed. He wanted to sleep there.

It is amazing how frequently kids pick up a bug.

Robert has to get better soon. His 6th birthday is Saturday. Big party Sunday at Fort Zacharey Taylor Beach with his friends.

Lisa came home early. In the afternoon. My time was done. I hung around about an hour and then left.

What to do? Decided it was time for a pedicure. So it was off to Tammy. My toes are lovely!

I wrote yesterday about Drums Along the Mohawk. A 1939 film about the American Revolution.

I received a comment that thought the film was a government propoganda type film. Especially the ending when the characters become aware that the Americans had won. The film ends with everyone looking proudly upon a waving American flag.

I do not see it the way the commentator did. Definitely many Workld War II films had a propaganda line to them. But not this pre World War II film. To me the closing scene was merely an expression of American pride. The Americans had defeated the British. The people in the film had every reason to portray that pride. I felt proud watching the ending!

There is nothing wrong with pride in one’s country.

I spoke yesterday about the author of the book Drums Along the Mohawk which had been written in 1936. By Walter G. Edmonds. Edmonds lived in the Mohawk Valley area and made it the setting for the novel.

The Edmonds family home became a summer home at some point. A magnificent property set on several hundred acres of land. With a dam, streams and great fishing. Hunting. A lovely home and attendant buildings.

The property was sold about 20 some odd years ago. To Don Carbone.

A fitting person to have purchased the property.

The Edmonds family were what might be described as original settlers in the United States. The Carbone family had its beginnings as part of the massive Italian wave which immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Joseph Carbone is the Carbone patriarch. Or at least the first Carbone I recall.

Whether born here or in Italy, I do not know.

Joseph started a car selling dynasty.

It began in 1929. He opened an 8 stall garage. To repair cars, not sell them. His investment was all of $40. A lot of money back then. Joseph was 19 years old at the time.

In 1931 he expanded and started selling used cars. In 1933 he graduated to new cars. His first franchise was to sell Graham-Page vehicles. Even I do not know what a Graham-Page was. Too far back.

By 1938 he was also selling Studebakers and International Trucks.

A Studebaker I know. I recall that after World War II they looked the same from the front and back. You could not immediately tell which end you were viewing.

Joseph’s car selling business was first located on Bleecker Street in Utica. In the heart of what might be described as the Italian ghetto.

His sons Don and Al followed him in the business. Service was always foremost. Good people. I know. I bought new cars from them for over 40 years.

The business blossomed under Don and Al. Today the car dealerships include just about every make and are located in New York, Vermont and Massachusetts.

Don and Al’s children are now running the business. In the same fashion as their fathers and grandfather.

Don became very active in the civic life of the Utica community. Gave of himself and his fortune. A quiet person. Solid as a rock.

He and his brother Al had an interesting relationship in their later years. Al ran the business and Don did the community thing. That is not to say Don did not continue to have his hand in the business. He did. But they had this unique working arrangement. Don always commented on it. How Al made it possible for him to participate more fully in Utica’s life.

Which brings us to the Edmonds home in Boonville which Don Carbone purchased some 20 odd years ago.

That is how I got the opportunity to see and visit the property on several occasions.

Don fixed up the home. Kept the original flavor however.

One of the unique features of the house was the manner in which it was constructed. The house was built over a creek. Maybe 20 feet wide. Visualize a catamaran. A two hulled boat. Two legs of the house sat on the banks of the creek. The center of the house was 15-20 above the creek.

The creek ran beneath the house and was clearly visible as so doing.

Cool! Different! Beautiful!

It is amazing where things lead me with this blog. I saw Drums Along the Mohawk. Wrote about it and Walter G. Edmonds. And arrived at the Carbone family and the Boonville property.

All I hope you have found interesting.

Bocce tonight.

My radio show tomorrow morning a 10. KONK 1500 AM radio. See and hear on the internet worldwide at www.konkam.com.

Interesting hard hitting topics. Including how to protect yourself legally from the impending Gulf oil spill damage, Elizabeth Kagan, Dixie, Wisconsin weird dumb laws, New York’s expansion of gay parental rights, a comedian who won a mother in law lawsuit, the gospel and Thomas Jefferson and many other interesting matters.

Since so many enjoy the weird dumb law section, I am adding a new segment. The weird dumb lawsuit of the week. Hope you enjoy!

And enjoy your day also!

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