Friday again

A week ago today we set off for our days on the Finger Lakes.  Today it's windy and chilly.
I will have to bring Matthew to a soccer game.  I'll have to dig up a blanket, since I will have to stay, as per Matthew's request.

My friend Linda sent me a few more pictures from our time upstate.  Not that I needed them.  I took them with her camera, after having a hard time figuring out how it worked.  I even took a very decent little video without knowing I was taking it - if I had done that on purpose, it couldn't have been better, no shaky camera.

Anyway, this is from our Sunday up there.  We explored Lake Canandaigua, which has a little more hilly surroundings then the rest of the lakes.  

 My new shoes, which gave me such a blister only on the left foot!

 I wasn't fast enough, the steam boat left....

 A late lunch by the lake

More upstate New York

The weekend was just gorgeous.  We had great weather, and enjoyed each others company.

I took so many photos of the beautiful gorge in Watkins Glen.  We met other walkers there, some who were walking it for the first time, others photographers who even stepped out into the water to be closer to the falls. I considered briefly doing the same, but then decided the view from the walking path was good enough.

So I am sharing more photos from out walk.  I took one or the other camera with me every day, thinking maybe the light will be different, maybe I'll get the million dollar shot...  and who can resist a place like that!

And we stopped here, at Taughannock Falls, just amazing.  Last year we walked from the bottom to the bottom of the falls, but somehow one of us (not me) didn't have the energy (hurting feet) to walk the distance.

 Some of the wine country

 We had a great lunch there.

 Skaneateles (funny story, my daughter came home years ago and announced she was going to upstate NY for the w/end.  Where, I asked?  Upstate is as big as some countries in Europe, after all.  Don't know - but I'll find out, she said.  And came back saying, I know, I'm going where Pres. Clinton is going for Labor Day w/end - Skinny Atlas!  I googled Skinny Atlas - nothing.  Took me quite a bit of digging to find out how it's spelled!)  Anyway, a gorgeous little town, picturebook perfect with big old houses set on big lawns, the lake in the background....

 Yup, for real.  Good wine, too.  The favorite of one of my girlfriends!

 And we visited the grape pie ladies again.  They run a bed-and-breakfast from their parents old home, called Tall Pines, and we chatted and laughed like we were old friends again.

No, I don't have a recipe for grape pie.  I know they use the local grapes, which have flavor, unlike the store-bought ones.
I bought 1/2 bushel (about 9 fairly large) butternut squash and 1/2 bushel of buttercup squash.  So reasonable, I will wish to have bought more in a couple of months.  We ate one of the spaghetti squashes I bought also last night, and it was delicious.  It was big, and between the three of us (the children politely declined and ate broccoli), we just about polished it off, just baked, then salt, pepper and a bit of butter added.  Good!

Back from the ladies weekend

We just had a thunderstorm with hail.  

I am hoping my friends, who are driving back to Connecticut, have a save trip.

We had a wonderful time.  

The weather was perfect.

The rooms were great, as usual, the food we had was terrific.

The wine tastings were fun and we enjoyed them.

Being together with old friends is the best.

We laughed, we teased each other,

we talked about our families, 

and the things that worry us.

But mostly we were happy to be together.

And we started every morning with a walk through the Glen.

That's sort of a misnomer, it's a gorge with 19 waterfalls.

And simply amazing.  Very, very loud in places, with stairs going up, and up.

Up and up

at least 800 steps up to the end of the trail

 We walked it right after getting up, had a cup of coffee and walked about 1 mile to the start of the trail through the gorge

 I just couldn't make the trek without one of the cameras, trying yet again for the perfect shot.

 and it is like a mystery - what is around the corner?

 one of my favorite spots, the water coming over the path, a veil of water

 and it gets more quiet toward the top.

and the way back....

Watkins Glen

I'm off to the Finger Lakes. 

 The sisters and their friend are here, and in about an hour or so, we'll be off.

Fire Houses and Limos

We had the opportunity to see a very special limousine, and admire it.

And then check out a fire station and a bunch of fire trucks and the equipment.
(Note: Firemen are softies when it comes to showing little boys the trucks and the tools that go with it)

And a little (big) boy who was so proud to see it all and touch it all and play with it all.

 how cool is that?!

and a vintage fire engine, which is being lovingly restored by the volunteers in the fire house
and has all original parts
except for the pump
and they proudly show it off in parades

 and the other little boy, who said when asked what the best part of the evening was:
'Seeing the fire trucks and holding Matthew's hand'
Two things!

 And another little guy who couldn't care less where he was.

And a little guy looking through the end of an antique pipe - happy.