Archive for June, 2014

It’s looking a lot like Christmas – In June?

Sunday, June 22nd, 2014

Living a “normal”  lifestyle you take a few things for granted like being able to run a load of laundry and dry your hair at the same time, 20 minute showers, leaving a puzzle on the diningroom table for a week, or shopping at Amazon and getting the package the next day delivered to your porch.  We can do all those things but it takes a little planning.  The most difficult is getting that item delivered to our doorstep since our doorstep often moves from day to day.

Last month we knew we would be arriving in Old Forge, NY around the 15th of June and we would have a physical address, or at least someone willing to collect our mail and save it for us.

Merry Christmas to ourselves!

Merry Christmas to ourselves!

Courtesy of Paul’s sister Judy and her family they collected all our packages and decided it was like Christmas so a few decorations were in order!  Paul and I did a bit of catch up in the online shopping arena!  13 packages, along with a couple of letters were waiting for us upon our arrival!  What fun,  I have a new pair of tennis shoes, Paul a pair of sandals, a new vacuum to keep the new home tidy, a couple of wires for who knows what,  Greenies for Duke as well as some cute little blue bags to pick up his daily gifts, a gift for someone special and an electic frying pan.

Our first test batch

Our first test batch

Paul somewhere along the way decided we were going to make funnel cakes for the family reunion and thought an electric fry pan would be the perfect vessel to cook these babies up!  We did a test run and the fry pan may be saved for another time as the oil cools to fast and they fry but come out greasy!  Although if you cover them in enough powdered sugar you will have a belly ache before you realize how much grease you just consumed!  We are going to do another test batch in an iron dutch oven over a gas burner, wish us luck.

We are having a wonderful time here so far and I think I have learned how to avoid some of the mosquitos.  I have bought many cans, wipes, etc of bug spray all with differing amounts of Deet – I may become poisoned but I wont be too bumpy!  I even bought several tiki torches which I am planning to surround my chair during dusk!  I won’t let them stop me from enjoying the Adirondacks.

We met the cutiest little guy and his family at the local ice cream hang out.

Marmosets love ice cream

Marmosets love ice cream

This little Marmoset was very comfortable on her shoulder and was very excited to get some ice cream.

Such a cute face

Such a cute face

Small towns sometimes don’t have all the ammenities of the big urban cities but we always find something unique.

Grandpa Musselman and His Syncopators

Grandpa Musselman and His Syncopators

Grandpa Musselman is a 28 year old very talented musician.  The group is from New York City and were in Old Forge for a one time performance.  It was a very small crowd as the summer residents won’t be in their camps until 4th of July week so we enjoyed an up close and very entertaining night for such a small price.  These guys are all very talented and do a great job of making music that I am not familiar with sound amazing.

Summertime in New York

Friday, June 20th, 2014

We arrived on Monday and immediately the last remaining black flies found my neck and face!  Tuesday I had several large bumbs that hurt but Wednesday am I wake up with my eye swollen shut!  Also Tuesday evening we had a horrific thunder and lightning storm with buckets of water!  That’s good news for the mosquito population but not for me!  Wednesday we were suppose to take a ride on the lakes but with the rain the mosquitos kept me indoors for the day!  Paul and his friend also decided that it wasn’t a good day for the boat.

Thursday morning was much nicer, my eye was swollen but not shut,  the sun was out so we got on the boat!

boating

A perfect day on the lake

A perfect day on the lake

It was a beautiful, warm day and I didn’t see one mosquito while we were on the water!

Camps dot the shoreline of the Fulton chain of Lakes

Camps dot the shoreline of the Fulton chain of Lakes

The Fulton Chain of Lakes start in Old Forge Pond and there are 8 lakes.  We have rented a camp on Fourth Lake, right next to the resort that Paul’s family owned for a while in the 70’s and 80’s.

4th of July home!

4th of July home!

A week on the lake with the kids and lots of family coming to the area for the week is going to be such a vacation!  I sure hope the weather was like today!  I am not sure we have ever been on the lake when it was so warm and beautiful.

A few small islands, most not inhabited!

A few small islands, most not inhabited!

After about 4 hours cruising the lake, Paul has to recharge!

After about 4 hours cruising the lake, Paul has to recharge!

One more photo!

One more photo!

Perfect weather,  a little sunburn, a stop at one of the lakefront bars and home before dinner!  It doesn’t get much better than this.  Thanks to Paul’s friend Fred  we had a awesome day on the lake and can’t wait for more!

I woke up this morning and the sun is out again!  And, I don’t see any mosquitos laying in wait!  I actually took a short walk around the campground!  I’m starting to fall in love with the area again!

 

If you have enough money….

Sunday, June 15th, 2014

You can buy an island and build your bride a dream summer home!  At least that is what George Boldt did in 1900.  He bought an island in the Thousand Island region of New York State, changed the name from Hart Island to Heart Island and commissioned a castle to be built as a summer home for his bride Louise called Boldt Castle.  Just before the home was completed tragedy struck and Louise died.  George was so distraught he abandoned the Castle and left the island never to return.  That seems crazy to me – how do you walk away?  Love is crazy and so is too much money!  This place is amazing or it could have been.  It is huge, but sat vacant for over 70 years until the Bridge Authority took it over and they have been working to rebuild some of it.  The stipulation when they took over was no one was to ever spend a night there so it is only for site seeing and of course they have weddings there because it is so beautiful.

We picked a freezing cold day to take a tour along with a boat tour of the USA and Canada 1000 Island region!  Have a look!

Boldt Castle from Alexandria Bay,   looking across

Boldt Castle from Alexandria Bay, looking across

The Boldt Boathouse!

The Boldt Boathouse!

The boathouse,  some of the bays are tall enough that the boats did not have to remove their masts

The boathouse, some of the bays are tall enough that the boats did not have to remove their masts

That just seems over the top to me!  The sleeping quarters for the boat caretaker is larger than most peoples homes.  I guess that is what you do when you have so much money you can’t spend it fast enough.

Nearest neighbor to Boldt Castle!  Their yacht is larger than my whole home!

Nearest neighbor to Boldt Castle! Their yacht is larger than my whole home!

One of the many antique boats that are on display in the boat house

One of the many antique boats that are on display in the boat house

Another view

Another view

This little boat was so cute,  I can just picture being taken for a ride in this in 1900.  Life was very comfortable for the rich during these times.

The power house

The power house

The front of the power house

The front of the power house

I had to change to my phone because the camera’s battery went dead.  The phone had a weird setting so this photo came out in black and white!  I thought it looked pretty cool!

This is where all the electricity was going to be generated.  There is a tunnel that goes from here into the castle that is not renovated and pretty crude.  It was going to be used to bring supplies to the main house without going through the grounds or home.  The place was very well planned out and was going to be a really spectacular place where the rich would go and have lavish parties and holidays.  I’m sure that they found other places to party!

Walking through the tunnel and the nonrenovated lower floor

Walking through the tunnel and the non-renovated lower floor

The clock tower

The clock tower

The main floor, entry and rooms have been renovated.  The stained glass is the center piece in the main entry!

The main floor, entry and rooms have been renovated. The stained glass is the center piece in the main entry!

From above the stained glass

From above the stained glass

The castle is huge and goes on forever it seems.  There is so much that is falling apart.  I thought it was really fun to be able to be above the stained glass and be able to see how it was lit!  They use light, so the glass is not outside and exposed to the elements.  It looks as though that was how it was built by the original workers.

Just walking along outside the castle

Just walking along outside the castle

The Thousand Island region is beautiful and our boat ride gave us a good look at the wealth from the early days as well as now!  These are not summer cottages,  there are a few but mostly these are huge beautiful estates.

Some of the islands

Some of the islands

Now that is a cottage!  More like a houseboat that isn't floating!  There isn't much land to walk around on

Now that is a cottage! More like a houseboat that isn’t floating! There isn’t much land to walk around on

We also found the perfect spot on Wellesley Island for a picnic

We had already eaten lunch, but it was still very inviting!

We had already eaten lunch, but it was still very inviting!

The next Pepsi model!

The next Pepsi model!

And of course every picnic area needs a family of Geese!

And of course every picnic area needs a family of Geese!

Or Two!

Or Two!

Make that Three!

Make that Three!

Three separate families of geese, all hanging out in the park!  I think they were all related and on their own picnic until we showed up!

 

 

Another state added to our map

Sunday, June 8th, 2014

Making our way north we spent several days in Ohio while Paul did some work.  We stayed right on a lake near Columbus Ohio and although it rained most of the day we did get out and see the lake before moving on to Akron.  East of Akron we spent the weekend at Green Acres Lake Park which is a great family park right off the interstate.  There are lots of people that have a camp there all summer because it is close to home and has so much  for the kids to do.  We got to see a Roy Orbison and Elvis acts!  Elvis wasn’t very good but it was a fun night, sitting out, enjoying the fresh air and mosquitoes and watching people just having simple fun.

Saturday I talked Paul into a round of golf and of course I beat him!

One of his good shots!

One of his good shots!

He is trying to convince me that he should be able to move his ball!  He had a great shot but it rolled too far and landed right in front of this oil rig!  We haven’t played in a while so I would say we played below average, although I did make par on my last hole with a chip shot into the hole!  Yippy for me.

Yesterday was beautiful but when we woke up this morning, the skies opened up and it has rained most of the day and today was a travel day.  We made it to New York and will be near Buffalo for a couple of nights before heading north and east for the weekend.  I sure hope the weather cooperates!

 

Another Deli Sandwich

Wednesday, June 4th, 2014

If you read my blog from Kentucky  in April you read about my sandwich story!  Today I have another.

Turkey, Lettuce & Tomatoe

Turkey, Lettuce & Tomato

Hunger was taking over again and we were far from a McDonalds, besides I won’t stop there.  Paul found another country store with a sign that said “Sandwiches”  This time they had a real area, the lady was again tired and middle aged (definitely not Togos) who took our order and this time she had wheat bread!  The bread had a little texture,  but the lettuce was iceberg and the turkey came right out of the Oscar Meyer package!   I asked for cheese and the choices were, Yellow!

The chips were good!

What comes to mind when you think about Virginia?

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014

Southern hospitality, Blueridge Parkway, sweet tea, holler,  and bluegrass.  Thats what I think about and we were able to enjoy most of that while staying at the Stony Fork Forest Service campground near Wytheville, VA.

Enjoying a walk

Enjoying a walk

Sunday we took a drive along the Big  Walker Mountain Scenic Byway and stopped at the Big Walker Lookout thinking we were just going to look at the view of 5 states and stumbled upon a 7 piece bluegrass band.  Tune Town Old Time String Band were just strummin on the front porch!

Toon Town

Toon Town

One of the guys in the band does Auctioneering and auctioned a Big Mountain hat out and for $14 Paul was the proud owner of the hat!

Paul gets into the band!

Paul gets into the band!

Bluegrass music on the porch is definitely something I think of when I think of these southern states, what a great afternoon.

Big Mountain Lookout

Big Mountain Lookout

100 feet into the air and you can see 5 states!  We didn’t make the climb because it is an attraction and they charge a fee, besides the view was pretty amazing from their deck.

Staying in the park which is near the Jefferson National Forest gave us a couple opportunities for some nature.  We took a 1 mile hike right in the park and disturbed a momma wild turkey and her brood!  I tried to get a photo but was so stunned when she rared up from behind a log only about 15 feet from the trail that I didn’t get my camera out in time!

What is this?

What is this?

I did have time to take a photo of this?  What is it?

One morning I was enjoying the quiet when a little squirrel, (yes it is a squirrel – I googled the difference between a squirrel and a chipmunk!)  anyway he was very brave and really wanted to get a tidbit from the drip tray of the barbeque.

squirrel

I tried to make some noise so he would leave and he just retreated into the tree and waited!  Yes, he did return.

I tried to make some noise so he would leave and he just retreated into the tree and waited! Yes, he did return.

America’s Interstates

Monday, June 2nd, 2014

We have seen our share of Interstates in the past 5 years and I love when we see flowers!

Along I77 in North Carolina

Along I77 in North Carolina

I also get a good sunset once in awhile

Near Columbus, Ohio

Near Columbus, Ohio