View of the Delaware Water Gap from John and Jean’s property. By Paul Goldfinger ©  Click  to see “simple gifts.”

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

Our old friends John and Jean live in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.   Their home is in Scotrun where, if you look at the sign quickly, you see “scrotum.”  I don’t know why, but that always makes me laugh.

They are up on 16 acres from where they can see the Delaware Water Gap. We have shown photos of their property  and their dogs on Blogfinger over the years.  When it’s winter up there, things can get difficult traveling on the historic road that winds uphill to their beautiful home, built  in the ’30’s and designed to be strong and to fit into that landscape. You drive past fields, woods, farms and a big old red barn.

John in their  kitchen. He has some specialties, including breakfast and leg of lamb for dinner. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

John is a fabulous cook as well as a hunter, a gun collector and a raconteur .  He invented the Okeefenokie nickname for the Poconos and he specializes in training German Short-hair hunting dogs.   Jeanie is a nurse and a medical innovator  who co-founded with me  the first freestanding pacemaker clinic  in Morris County at Dover General Medical Center.  She then went on to co-found the first pulmonary rehab center in the area.  Jean is an opera/music buff and a clog dancer.

 John and Jean have visited Ocean Grove many times. She  likes to go to classical concerts and church services in the Great Auditorium.  He discusses food and cooking with Eileen. He likes to sleep in our 3rd floor bedroom in the summer where he cranks up the ac until it is “as cold as a meat locker.”

John and Jean  in Ocean Grove. By Paul Goldfinger ©

Jean sent us a note today describing her emergence from hibernation.  It’s a lovely piece of writing—I can see her sitting there, looking out over her woods and fields—gazing at the Gap.

“I just came in from outdoors – the FIRST morning I have been able to sit outside with Dotzie and my coffee in weeks, probably months.  The little porch outside the front door faces directly into the early morning sun and captures the warmth and holds it there in a little pocket formed by the shape of the building.  It was glorious – I had to wear my visor and eventually had to remove my fleece coat.  Hallelujah!!!

“Of course, this reprieve is going to be short lived – the polar vortex is coming back this coming week but . . . whatever.  At least we are having this little break.  Also, some of the snow on the roof is disappearing which is a relief!”

AARON COPELAND      “Simple Gifts”–an excerpt from Appalachian Springs.