Just Gorgeous....Everywhere

Well, we are back.
It was a very long day on the road Friday.
We left The Cabins in Hope at 9:00am
and after picking up Chelsea in New Paltz we
arrived at our door around 8:00pm.

Then we took Jonathan to dinner and
to his overnight shift.
Finally about 10:30pm we were able
to get home to unpack and get some sleep.

It was so good to see Chelsea again and to hear
about her week.
We were more than impressed by the things she
had to share.
We would have no hesitations about letting her attend
this event again in the future.
However, next year, when it happens she is supposed to
be in Australia.
So...maybe in two years.

Now, back to the review of our days in New York.
Some of these adventures were just too fun
and have to be documented.

One of the first places our Inn host, Dave, mentioned was this water fall. 

The directions were a bit vague. 

You know, the kind given by someone who knows 

exactly where it is and can see it in their mind's eye. 

But for us, 

who had never driven those roads we were 

going a bit by the seat of our pants. 

Nonetheless, we eventually found it. 

Back a road which had a bit of a washboard effect.

This wasn't it.

We hiked in and looked....

Back in the car and a quick drive back up the road 

led us to to this.

The falls area.

We loved the sounds of rushing water.

Pretty soon an elderly couple with Florida plates

pulled up and kind of waited around for us to leave so

we headed back out to our car.

I was a bit concerned about whether they might trip and 

fall as they came in.....

all I could see was two heads of white hair.

Well, I need not have feared...

apparently they were quite capable because in no 

time at all they were at the falls and they let out 

a yee-haw.

We got such a kick out of that.

Thanks to my brother I now notice 

fungi.

He and Bev are amateur mushroom hunters.

They are very good at it.

Pleasure Lake
This little beach was just along the highway.
We made a brief stop and then kept heading North.

 We stopped for lunch at Logan's Bar and Grill.

These Morning Glories were in the neighbor's yard

just beside the parking lot.

Next we were on to Lewey Lake.

I had this crazy idea that we should rent a canoe.

I am not a water person so this was not exactly the brightest idea 

I had while on this vacation.

I did, however, want to participate in the usual lake activities 

for the area.

Maybe it will work out better next time.

 Here is the proof that I finally did get into the canoe.

Poor Warren had to be very insistent that I get in and sit down 

while I blathered on about how I just knew he would take me 

to the middle of the lake and it would be a disaster.

 Once we headed out

 I began panicking because I had insisted on bringing the camera.

I was terrified that we would tip over and I would lose it.

Next time....the camera stays in the car.

 The lake was very shallow.

I wanted to stay close to the shoreline but 

we kept getting stuck.

Then there were swimmers that Warren wanted to go around...

not unreasonable....

unless your scaredycat wife is freaking out.

 So we returned.

Some people who had heard me refusing to get into the canoe

were still loading up their canoe after their day of fun

on the lake. 

They came out and pulled us in.....

but Warren didn't want to come in yet so he 

went back out for just a tiny bit 

which would have been fine if the water had been deeper

so that he would have gotten out before

 those very helpful

folks

 tried again to pull him in.

LOL

It was a disaster.

But, hey!, I tried.

We sat for a while down by the beach and watched some kayakers having a ball.

One of the little boys was fishing from his kayak.

When he came back in to get a new worm for his hook

he yelled, 

"Hey Mom! I'm happy!!

Do you thiink I am too happy?"

Ahhh....childhood memories made at the lake.

Good for him!

This little chipmunk was very entertaining.

It kept coming right up under the table at our feet.

Then I would wiggle my toes and it would shoot out the other side toward

the camping area. 

Crazy rodent.

Well, this post is very, very long.  

I think I'll stop here and pick up the rest of this last day in the mountains

in my next post.

For today I have to get back to work.

Baby shower favors to be made, 

supplies to be picked up

and 

some details to take care of thanks to the 

thieves who stole "my name".

Thankfully it is just with the candles 

but that is quite enough.

On the upside,
I will soon be providing candles for 

Fab Fashion in Lancaster.

You know my friends, the Rabes, own this 

amazingly adorable shop.

I can't wait to provide some of their 

fav's to offer their customers.

Miss Rachel has requested

 Blueberry Muffin and Fresh Baked Apple Pie candles 

so they will 

be there for sure.

Off to work.....

Have a wonderful day!

To My Dear Candle Customers

 I have been informed that 

my candles have now been knocked-off!

What's worse is that they are in California Dollar Stores.

No way can someone make a quality soy candle for a dollar.

If you happen to notice candles with my name and label

out there in stores

it is very likely that they are not real.

You can find Good Neighbors Candles in

Lancaster County salons and cafes but

not outside the county at this point.

The only way to purchase authentic ones 

are through my website,

goodneighborscandleco.com

or

www.etsy.com/shop/goodneighborscandle

Please feel free to let me know if you happen 

to see any imposters out there.

I will be making some changes to the 

labels when I get back to work next week.

In the meantime....

buyer beware.

And HUGE thanks to my new friend, 

Tanza, 

For letting me know!!

I love you, friend!!

 

 

Where I Was NOT Born

 Here it is!

Gloversville's finest (and only) hospital.

I was born in the old one...one year before this one was built.

Sure enough!

The lady at the gift shop remembered it well.

She had enjoyed seeing the old one go down.

With glee she recounted it.

I'm not sure I want to know why this brought such joy to her.

But, we enjoyed the stop anyway.

This little garden right at the entrance is quite pretty.

The day was cloudy so I commented on the coincidence

that on the day I was born there was a huge storm and the power went out 

leaving my parents to see me by flashlight the first time.

Warren, commented back that he had heard that story a few times.

*smile*

 

And then we were off to find our next accommodations.

We are North of Northville.

Sounds pretty far North if you ask me.

I rushed in to take a quick snapshot of the interior of the 

cabin before we mucked it up with our bags.

 

The view from the front door!

 

 The cabin in all of its cuteness.

It didn't take us long to make our way down to the river.

 

 There's a fungi among us.

My fearless leader leads the way.

The brown on the ground are inches deep pine needles.

The aroma is breathtaking.

 

The sap...

not so charming.

 

 We arrive at the river.....

So tranquil.

 Ahhh...this is the life!

More to come tomorrow.

The Train to North Creek

We nearly missed the train.

I blame the GPS....Warren blames the man at the station.

He was moving so slowly all the while assuring us 

that they would not leave us behind.

 

Whatever the case the train was beginning to pull out 

as we got someone's attention and they stopped for us.

We spoke with the conductor later and he said he

left on time.....

the first time.  

LOL

But at 10:02 am we were officially on our way to 

North Creek.

It would be a two hour ride through gorgeous scenery 

along the Hudson River.

We hadn't been at all sure whether we would be able to 

get tickets in the Dome car and therefore had breakfast 

before we got there.

However, after seeing the menu and smelling the other 

travelers food we were kind of wishing we had waited.

The prices weren't terrible either.

For captives on a train.

I did get some cranberry juice.

Served in a glass with lots of ice.

Yum!

So refreshing on this very hot day.

Temps were supposed to approach

one hundred degrees and I believe they got very close.

On the way we observed some wildlife.

I made a note of it.

We confirmed that bear sighting with the folks

across the aisle from us. 

We were all pretty incredulous!

My photos out of the train windows did not come out well.

The windows were just too dirty. 

Not so much that it bothered you to look out 

but the camera picked up on it.

Bummer.

The little town of North Creek is interesting.

I wasn't sure what to expect but it wasn't as polished 

as I thought it would be.

I guess I'm used to Lancaster County style of

tourism.  This is mountain hospitality.

The train station and museum.

The museum was closed.

 

 Soooo much potential!

There were a couple of well put together stores....

but over all it was an experience in frustration for me.

So many pieces of advice for them....

if they wanted them.

But I'll never know because I didn't 

volunteer and they didn't ask.

The ice cream parlor was the worst for this.

Here it was in this huge Victorian structure.

The place was soooo underutilized.

I could envision it brought back to its glory.

Perhaps I would have put away the can of air freshener from the 

counter and not had my great Dane corralled by couches and chairs 

in a section of the shop.

(sigh)

However, the butter pecan ice cream was good and Warren

wouldn't go along with making an offer on the place so 

I just have to shake it off.

LOL

I'll have to forget about the vision I have of a huge coffee bar

and lovely seating arrangements.  

I'll put aside the imaginary bubble gum machine 

and the servers in uniforms.

Oh well.

Our lunch was good. 

We ate at Andie's Restaurant at Smiths.

Weird name but that is what happens when a 

restaurant gets passed down for three generations.

They each add their own spin.

If you want to know more about that story you'll just 

have to go there and read the back of the menu.

But be aware that there are no free drink refills.

This came as a bit of a shock to us on this very hot 

day......when we received our check.

Oops!

Upon entering one shop we were blasted in the face

with the definite and overpowering smell of homemade soap.

I was a bit concerned that this shopkeeper might think

this was an attractive smell.

However, after meeting her we discovered that she was in the 

process of making some soap....so all was well.

she was wonderful and we greatly enjoyed meeting her.

I may hear from her again as she is going to check out my

Etsy shop.

I would welcome that.

We observed something that all business owners need to 

take very seriously.

While at the ice cream shop the two ladies in front of us

asked the young man at the counter what was in the store 

across the street.

He said in a very disdainful voice, 

"Oh!  That is a very expensive art store!"

I just looked and Warren and nearly lost it.

We had just come from there and had enjoyed the store 

and its owner very much.

She could not understand why she wasn't getting much 

traffic into her store.

I think we now know part of the reason.

I suspect the others in this town are not supportive

of what she is doing as a consignment craft store.

It is large and beautiful.

Hmmmm........

If you are the "new kid" in town make sure to make 

friends with the locals.

They can make or break you!

The flip side of this was a shop at the far end of our walk.

We likely would not have gone there if a shop owner had

not encouraged us to do so.

You couldn't see it and the weather was soooo hot we 

probably would have just headed back to 

food and drink.

Did I mention the heat? 

It was there that we met and chatted with the fellow passengers

from the train.

After that it seemed we kept running into them.

Delightful people.

(By the way, I pulled those two ladies over

at the ice cream shop

and told them that they had to check out the 

store across the street. 

They did and made at least one purchase 

which they showed others on the train.

They loved the store as I knew they would.

Good Grief!)

The entire day I think I had a perpetual grin on my face....

except when Warren took my picture as 

I attempted to concentrate on my book.

Reading with bifocals is still a challenge for me.

 I look mad.

I wasn't, though. 

It was a very, very delightful day and I would do it 

again in a heartbeat.

Around 6pm we rolled into the station in 

Saratoga Springs where we had left the car that morning.

Relaxed and happy after our day's adventures.

I highly recommend this day trip to you.

And do go with the dome cars if you can.

They are well worth the extra expense!

Warren thanks Georgia for this, 

his birthday present!