Kim's Thoughts
Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!
Expanding My Horizons
When you discover a way to combine something you enjoy doing with other interests in your life, it is only natural to take advantage of the opportunity. It is no secret that I enjoy writing stories about my thoughts, adventures, and any other topics that pique my interest. I have also come to enjoy being active in my church and participating in the many activities, fundraisers, and get togethers that the church has to offer. I found myself writing about certain adventures I’ve had with the church here on this blog, but gave a lot of thought to branching off and dedicating a blog to church related activities, news, and information. So, I have expanded my horizons and created the Albion First United Methodist Church Blog!
Look to the right hand column under “Blog Roll” to find the link!
No – I’m not abandoning this blog – Thoughts By Kim will continue to be devoted to my personal thoughts and adventures. The new blog will be an extension of my writings, but will also be more than that. I hope to grow the Albion FUMC Blog into a full-blown news and communication source for church related activities. We already have a web site and send info to the newspapers, so I am hoping that this blog will compliment those sources by being an additional communication option and a place to provide more details and photos than the other options allow for. I also plan to write about the history and occassionally highlight some of the people in an effort to gain more community interest in the church.
So, now you have not one, but TWO ways to follow me and my grand adventures, experiences, and thoughts! Lucky you! 🙂 I hope you enjoy both my blogs and visit often!
Adventures In Shopping
I always get excited when I find a great new place to shop or just wander around to gaze at pretty things. Today, I found the perfect place to get all worked up about!!!! From the minute I pulled in the parking lot and walked up to the inviting entrance, I was hooked! Where is this fabulous place, you ask? The Shops On West Ridge – located at 3200 West Ridge Road in Rochester, NY.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend on Facebook said she was going and the comments that resulted piqued my interest. So, I searched for their Facebook page and also checked out their website and was even more intrigued! The best way I can describe the Shops On West Ridge is that it is a vendor based / co-op type shop. I read that they had over 200 shops under one roof, but it didn’t really register with me how large that would be – I envisioned a good-sized room sectioned off with various mini-shops showcasing a sampling of what they have to offer (like many of the shops similar to this that I’ve visited in the past). Boy, was I surprised when I got there! This place is enormous – two floors with row after row after row and room after room of fully stocked vendor booth areas. I spent about two and a half hours there just wandering up and down the aisles and I’m sure I missed sections and I know I didn’t look closely at every booth – I just perused in total awe scanning as much as I could take in without allowing myself to spend too much time in any one area while kicking myself for not getting an earlier start so that I could devote more time there. I would recommend (and will myself, next time) that you plan on a full day or at least several hours to really experience the entire store.
So, what is there to shop for at The Shops On West Ridge……the better question is what ISN’T there to shop for at The Shops On West Ridge! It would be easier to come up with something you can’t find there than trying to list everything you can find there! But, I’ll try: handmade craft items, very unique gift and home decor items, vintage “stuff”, furniture, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, toys, holiday decor items, whimsical items, art……you name it, you’ll find it there – there’s even a quaint little cafe where you can have a nice lunch! You’re sure to find something for everyone on your gift list – even those hard to shop for people with unusual interests – you know the ones, we all have at least one of them on our lists – at just about any price point you may need! I found most items to be very reasonably priced.
My adventure, today, was totally enjoyable. Like I said – as soon as I walked up to the entrance, it was inviting and festive – I suddenly felt like Christmas shopping! Once I walked in, my eyes widened and I was overwhelmed by the sight of all the aisles and the sign that indicated there were another 100 or so vendors downstairs. I immediately noticed the holiday music that put a spring in my step as I proceeded to the right in hopes that I could find a good place to start. I decided to walk along the front edge of the store as far as I could go and weave my way around the aisles back to the left side and then go downstairs and do basically the same thing. Not far into my journey, I noticed that the vendors were all wearing Dickens style costumes to add to the festive feel of the store and they didn’t just hang out in their areas – they were wandering around greeting customers and helping wherever they could. For instance, twice someone offered to take what I had gathered to purchase up to the customer holding area so that I could shop more comfortably and brought me back an empty basket – that really impressed me. I saw a ton of things I’d love to have in my home, but I (mostly) resisted (I did get a couple of things for myself and my home) and tried to focus on my Christmas list. I saw so many things, but only purchased a couple of gifts – I want to think some more on some of the other possible gifts I saw and go back and look again – when I have more time! I spotted what I think might be a perfect small curio cabinet that would fit under my stained glass mirror in the hallway – it is short, narrow, and not too long with glass doors and shelves and an interior light – I need to measure that spot and check it out again next time I go (I wish I had measured the cabinet and taken a photo while I was there). I was also very surprised to see a full set of china that matches a covered casserole dish and platter that I have that belonged to my Grandmother! I was glancing around one area and spotted the exact same casserole dish way in the back on a table. I went back to check it out and saw other pieces, including a gravy boat and a couple of serving bowls, as well as a whole service set of dishes. I got so excited – I hoped there was individual prices on the gravy boat and serving bowls, but there wasn’t – it was for sale as a whole set of 121 (I think that was the piece count) pieces for only $79! I stood there for quite some time debating on purchasing the set, but reluctantly passed on it – I really don’t need more dishes! But, I’m still thinking about that set and really kick myself for not taking a photo of it! Another item I found and regret I didn’t snatch up was a great framed print of Elvis that would go perfectly in my den on the wall opposite the framed print of The Beatles of about the same size that I already have – may have to rethink passing that one up – unless I find they have one of James Dean, instead! I also had lunch at the cafe. I ordered the special – grilled BBQ meatloaf sandwich – and it was absolutely delicious! They even gave me the recipe when I told them how much I enjoyed it!
So — here are some photos I took along the way:
The entrance door – very festive and inviting – sets the perfect mood for shopping and gives a taste of what to expect inside!
Some of the friendly vendors in their Dickens-esque attire! I’ll list some of their websites at the end of this post – so, read on to get more info!
Two more vendors downstairs in front of a display of beautiful holiday dishes
The next few photos are just random shots of aisles showing how vast the space is and how much merchandise they have:
I found myself wishing I had someplace good to hang this wine bottle chandelier! 🙂
And, this was my lunch – Grilled BBQ Meatloaf Sandwich with Chips!
It actually was supposed to come with melted cheddar cheese on top, but those who know me know I’m allergic to cheese, so had to order it without that part…….
but, I think it was perfectly delicious as it was!!!
This is a scanned copy of the advertisement card they pass out that provides info about the hours and upcoming events – click on the photos to enlarge them, if you can’t read the printing
They have live holiday music on the weekends and there will be three live Christmas Concerts on Dec 19th by Irish Tenor Cahal Dunne!
So, if you’ve never been or don’t know about The Shops On West Ridge, I really encourage you to go – especially now for the holiday shopping season! It is a great shopping experience – a true adventure! You will find so many wonderful things! I can’t wait to go back and work through my Christmas list, again – this time with more determination and less hemming and hawing over things! 🙂
As promised, here are just a few websites that were passed on to me while I was chatting with some of the vendors that graciously allowed me to take their photos for this post:
The Shops On West Ridge – you can also find them on Facebook
My Favorite Toy Box – find James Eddy on Facebook, as well!
Rebecca’s Attic — find Laura and Debbie on Facebook and check out the tons of photos they have there!
Northwoods Alpacas – find this vendor on Facebook, too
Rose Petals and Butterflys – check out Sherry Wasala on Facebook and at booth # 68
(sorry if I missed a card – this is what I had in my bag)
One Year…
This week marks one full year since I moved back home to Albion! What a year it has been! I’ve written quite a bit in the past year commemorating my adventures and experiences. But, it is difficult to put into words what it has meant to me to be here and all that I’ve accomplished. So, here is the past year in a nutshell:
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First and foremost, I thank God every day that the opportunity came up to retire and move home when I did. Mom has been quite ill and had a rough year and it has been a blessing to be here to help her through it and be near her – just the peace of mind that I was not 800+ miles away when she needed me and the relief of not worrying from a distance has been a blessing.
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I’ve written about my experiences, so I won’t go into them all again in summary – if you don’t visit here often, scroll down and catch up! 🙂 But, a few highlights (aside from the joy of being close to my family again) are being near the lake that I love so much, rejoining the church I grew up in and becoming an active member, exploring and re-learning about my home town and surrounding areas, reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new friends.
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I have completed several major and minor projects on my home and have a couple more I want to accomplish before this year is over. It is a lovely home and I am enjoying it so much – I just love putting my personal touches and a little bit of me into it – all with love and joy!
I’ve had some ups and downs, but mostly ups. I am very blessed and life has been good to me and for me. I can’t ask for much more than good health for me and my family and ample opportunities to relax and enjoy them, my friends, and my life. So, for the coming year, I hope for a lot more adventures and the ability to share them with those I love.
Life is good – be sure to take time to smell the roses and enjoy the people and places you hold dear!
Autumn in WNY
There are some awesome places to view the beauty that Autumn brings to our lives…….most mountainous areas offer amazing scenery! I personally have enjoyed the changing leaves along the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC’s Blue Ridge Mountains, in the Adirondack Mountains of NY, and in the hills of West Virginia, among other places. I hope someday to spend some time enjoying the foliage in the upper New England states – Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. But, I’m here to tell you that right here in Western New York is right up there among the most beautiful color shows – and I don’t have to travel to see it! In fact, the fall colors are as close as my own neighborhood – the street and area around where I live is fairly abundant with trees, so I can sit at my desk and look out across the street or sit on my back patio and enjoy Mother Nature’s majesty as much as I want! Albion and the surrounding area is rather rural, so any drive outside the Village will result in viewing farmer’s fields framed with woods ablaze with reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and browns – all intertwined like paints on an artist’s palette. And, of course, just a little over an hour away is the incredible Letchworth State Park, which I recently visited, but was too early to see the leaves in full color! Yes, the scenery that accompanies the fall colors in the mountains adds to the beauty, but the beautiful rural settings of WNY are not to be dismissed when counting the locations perfect for leaf watching every autumn.
I took these shots from my back patio:
And these shots were taken at our historic Mt. Albion Cemetery, which is a gorgeous place any time of the year, but it comes alive with spectacular color in Autumn:
Aahh – God and Mother Nature make a great team! What amazing beauty for us to behold – and it is all right here to see every day of the season!
All Aboard……..
A couple of weeks ago, I took advantage of an opportunity to focus on enjoying the beauty of October in WNY. It was a gorgeous 70 degree October Sunday – perfect for a scenic train ride. The next town over from us is Medina and Medina has an impressive Railroad Museum full of railroad and other local memorabilia. The museum also has a working train of vintage 1947 Budd passenger coaches and offers excursions with various themes – they do a Thomas The Train ride, a Polar Express ride, Winery Tours, and other seasonal scenic tours – including a Foliage Tour, which is the one I took on Sunday, October 7th. The ride goes from Medina to Lockport along the historic Erie Barge Canal Corridor (note to self: I should write a post about the canal one day – what an amazing piece of history for our state that runs right through our town…….OK, that’s enough digressing) and takes two hours round trip.
I went after church and got there early, so I had time to tour the museum – that was a real treat! We boarded the train at 2:00, greeted by an uniformed conductor yelling “All aboard” – just like in the movies! I chose my seat next to a window that I could open – it was such a warm, sunny day, I thought having an open window would be nice – and it was! Not long after the train left the station, the conductors came through the coaches saying, “Tickets?” and they took each ticket and punched it. The trip to Lockport was a slow ride to allow easy viewing of the scenery and ample photo opportunities. The return trip was faster – just zoomed us on home! So, here are a sampling of the photos I took:
Let’s start with photos of the inside of the Railroad Museum. When you first enter the museum, you come on to a display of old telegraph, teletype, and typewriter equipment – very cool. The majority of the museum houses the largest HO scale train display in NY at approximately 200 feet long and 14 feet wide. The track winds around through various historical and geographical points of interest throughout Orleans County – fascinating – it shows a thriving area of familiar vintage and current sites and even a working carnival.
After the tour, I proceeded outside to wait for our boarding time.
I took this picture of a fabricated grill on the side deck of the station house because (1) it looked cool and (2) my grandfather’s name was Marlin!!!
This is the coach I rode on and that first window to the right is where my seat was!
And off we go……
Some shots of the scenery:
One of the best parts of the trip was going over the “upside down bridge” in Lockport. This is a VERY high bridge just big enough for the train tracks that goes over the canal near the locks. The first photo is actually taken from the Medina Railroad Museum web page (no way I could get a shot of the bridge from the train). The other photos following it (and the one just above this) are what I could see from the train.
So, that’s my train adventure. Probably should have waited another week to go and the leaves would have been out in fuller color, but then the weather wouldn’t have been so perfect! I really enjoyed it, though — I could feel the train movement for several hours after and I had a slight headache from the “chugga-chugga” for two hours, but it was a very pleasant ride and a relaxing afternoon!
The Final Chapter
I closed a book this week…..the final chapter was complete and the story has ended. As with all books you truly love reading, the ending came with mixed emotions – on one hand the story will always remain with you in memories, but on the other hand coming to that last page is usually so sad……and then comes the excitement about moving on to the next really good book. When I finish reading the last page of a great book, I usually sit there for a while holding the book and thinking through the story ensuring I won’t soon forget it. I felt that way on Monday. The book analogy is just that, though – an analogy – I didn’t literally finish reading a book. I did, however, close the book on a chapter in my life – cut the final physical ties – said goodbye to something I treasured.
Monday was the closing of the sale of my home in Sanford, NC. Last November, I retired, put my house on the market, and moved my life back to my hometown in Albion, NY. It was a good decision and a good move for me. But, I found that selling my home was not going to be as easy as I envisioned – physically or emotionally. It was an adorable, charming home with excellent curb appeal in a great neighborhood and perfect location at an affordable price – it was sure to sell before I could get settled in Albion, right? Wrong! One week shy of eleven months later, the sale officially closed. I assumed and hoped I wouldn’t have to manage mortgages and expenses on two houses for much more than 4-6 months, but also knew that this economy might dictate a longer duration. So, now it is done and from a financial perspective, I am over joyed! From an emotional perspective, it was sad to close that book.
Putting a solid period at the end of this chapter of my life was more than just selling a possession I no longer had a need for. I was selling a home that I put a lot of my love and personality into. I had every intention of it being the last home I ever lived in, so I put a lot of time and thought into making it my own. I purchased it in 2003 and every year I’d take my bonus and tax return and plan out the projects I wanted to accomplish that year. When all the stars were aligned perfectly to form my decision to retire and move back home, the house was almost exactly the way I wanted it — just a couple minor projects were left on my “to do” list. But, that’s OK — that’s the way life goes — just when you think you’ve made it to where you thought you wanted to be when you grew up, another goal, twist in the road, or exciting destination pops up and you take it from there!
It also means that I have no more physical ties to Sanford. I still have friends there, so I’ll have good reasons to visit occasionally, but the sale of my home was the last of the tangible ties I had to a community I enjoyed being a part of.
So, that is that! On Monday, I waited patiently all day to hear that the closing was finished and when I got the word, I felt relieved – a big financial weight was lifted off my shoulders, I felt excited – definitely cause for celebration, and then I cried – my lovely home was no longer mine!
And then I wandered through my home here in Albion and smiled at the work I’ve done, so far, to make THIS home my own. And I got the warm fuzzies when I thought about how so very happy I am here – in this new home so close to my family, childhood friends, and new friends. And the tears went away. And I felt good, comfortable, and content. And I put the book I just finished away on my memory shelf – it is done!
Goodbye, Sanford house……..I hope your new owner loves you as much as I did!!!!
Memories of Summer Camp
I’ll get right to the point – I only attended summer camp once when I was a young girl and I was NOT a happy camper!!! Twice this week I was reminded of my summer camp experience. The first was while driving to Letchworth this past Tuesday – I drove by a sign for Silver Lake (the location of my summer camp experience) and my immediate reaction was to tense up and think “oh, no – don’t turn down that road!” – I actually felt a wave of negative energy boil up through me! The second was while watching this week’s episode of Royal Pains (a really good doctor themed show on USA) on DVR – two of the characters – Dr. Hank and Boris – were talking and going to camp as a child came up in the conversation – Boris said he went, but he didn’t like it and Dr. Hank said “me, either” and I spoke right up and said “neither did I”!
So, that sets the stage. Now for the story.
I’m not really sure how old I was when I attended a two-week camp program at Silver Lake, but near as I can figure, I must have been about 8 or 10. It was the first time I was away from home for so long, but I remember I was looking forward to it. I packed all my camp type clothes – bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, jeans, etc. – and my Mom drove me to camp. It seemed like it took FOREVER to get there, so I imagined I was going to be a very long way from home. Up until this past week when I saw the sign for Silver Lake and it was only a little over an hour away, I still imagined that camp was a LONG way from home! Funny how things like that stick with you. Anyway, we got to the camp and did the orientation thing and found the cabin I was going to be staying in with (if memory serves) six other girls and a teenaged counselor – each cabin had the same number of girls and our own teenaged counselor. Then, the parents all left and we started our first week’s activities. The rule was no contact with anyone outside camp, so I wasn’t going to be able to call home or get calls, but we were encouraged to write letters every day to send home with details of what we did each day. Then, on the weekend between the two weeks, they had a parent’s picnic day when they could come visit and see what we were learning about.
So, we had lots of fun stuff to do — all of which make up the good memories that I have to really think about to bring forward from being over shadowed by the bad memories. There was canoeing, swimming, archery, crafts, nature walks, fishing, and lots more cool stuff. For the most part, the other girls were nice and fun and the counselors and staff were all dedicated to ensuring we all had fun and learned a lot. The food was good, too – I especially remember breakfast in the mess hall. I also remember church services on log benches in the woods – that was cool. All in all, it was a typical camp filled with fun and exciting things that should have made for a wonderful experience. But, it was, unfortunately, overshadowed by one incident that was, and remains, the standout memory of camp for me.
It happened a couple of days into the first week. I was walking down a hill and slipped. When I fell, I banged my elbow on a rock….HARD! It hurt – BAD!!! The counselors took me to the infirmary to have it checked out and the medical personnel there determined there was nothing broken – just badly bruised. They put ice on it, bandaged it to keep me from moving it too much, and sent me back out to the activities. I wanted to call my Mom, but they wouldn’t let me – they said it wasn’t a bad injury, so they would stick to the rule of no contact. They said I would see her on Sunday when she comes for Parent’s Day. That didn’t set well with me. I was hurt, a long way from home, and wanted to talk to my Mom! That night, my whole arm ached so bad — the elbow throbbed and throbbed and my shoulder hurt (probably from being jammed when I fell on the elbow) and my wrist hurt. I laid there crying because of the pain and because I couldn’t talk to my Mom. I cried for what seemed like hours until I finally fell asleep. Over the next day or two, my arm was so sore that I couldn’t do some of the activities – the counselors took me to the infirmary, again, and they did put it in a sling to help immobilize it some. After a couple of days, it was much better – so, it was just as minor as the medical personnel thought it was. But, by then, the damage was done. I was teased by some of the other girls who thought it was funny to make fun of the girl who couldn’t do everything they could and who cried herself to sleep. I felt like I was missing out on the fun. And, I was more homesick than I probably would have been if the accident hadn’t happened. By the time Sunday came around and Mom arrived for Parent’s Day, I was so happy to see her, but was all better. I told her what happened and she was FURIOUS that they didn’t call and let her know I was hurt! I believe she went in and gave them a huge piece of her mind over that one. But, I didn’t beg her to let me cut my camp time short and take me back home with her. I stayed the second week and all went well. But…….I never asked to go to camp again after that year and never agreed to go if it was brought up. That was my first and last summer camp.
It was only 2-3 days out of a full two weeks of camp, but those 2-3 days still, to this day, stand out as the defining days of Silver Lake Summer Camp for me. It is such a shame, cause when I get reminders about camp, like the two I had this week, I immediately think of how much I hated it and how horrible it was………then, I think for a minute or two and remember the fun stuff and the cool things I learned and how I won the highest awards for archery and target shooting and church in the woods and sleeping in a cabin with a bunch of other girls and singing around a campfire and jumping off the dock into the cool lake and so much more! After I get past the initial tense wave of negative energy I feel when the thought of summer camp comes up, I realize it wasn’t so bad and I feel a little sad that one bad experience and 2-3 not-so-good days ruined what should have been a great childhood memory and kept me from having more such memories.
Maybe I didn’t hate camp that much……..maybe I was a happy camper, after all — at least for 3/4 of the two weeks!
Exploring Letchworth
This month, the ladies group from my church decided to go to the Glen Iris Inn in Letchworth State Park for our monthly luncheon. I was soooooooooooo excited!!! I haven’t been to Letchworth since I was a teenager and have never been to the Glen Iris. When we made the decision at last month’s lunch, I rushed right home and googled the Glen Iris and the anticipation over the trip started to grow! I read just about every word on every page on their website – including the menus – and decided right then on that day what I was going to have for dessert!!! And, I thought about the Glen Iris and that dessert ALL MONTH LONG!!! I decided I would drive alone and go down early so I could do some exploring before and after lunch – make a whole day of it! I turned my calendar to write it down so that I wouldn’t schedule anything else for that day and found I already had TWO appts scheduled! Uugghh!!! But – not to worry, so I had to reschedule my dental cleaning and a hair appt – no problem! Nothing was going to get in the way of this day trip!
So, yesterday came – I got up and ready a little later than planned, but still hit the road early enough to find my way there (I had no idea how to get there – I always rode with parents or friends and never drove myself – not to mention the last time I went was forty-some years ago) and look around some before lunch. I arrived about 45 minutes before the others were set to arrive, so I parked and checked out the restaurant. I went through the gift shop and, of course, found a couple of things I chose to purchase – a pack of note cards with a pen and ink drawing of the Glen Iris on them, a Guardian Angel pin with my birthstone (Opal) on it, a bracelet, and a gift for my Mom. I walked across the way to an overlook to see the waterfall – spectacular view and spent some time sitting on the chairs on the porch of the Glen Iris waiting for my friends. The weather was perfect – low 70s, gorgeous blue sky, a gentle cool breeze – couldn’t have ordered a more perfect day!
While waiting, I took a few photos:
This is the Glen Iris Inn – stunning! It was the home of William Pryor Letchworth, an estate built in 1859, and is situated in the center of the park at the Middle Falls. Mr. Letchworth gifted his home and approximately 1000 acres to the State of New York in 1906. The park has since expanded to cover over 17 miles with over 14,000 acres along the Genesee River. The park is known as the Grand Canyon of the east – you’ll see why when you look at the photos I took while exploring the park after lunch.
The first of my exploring was before lunch – across the way from the Glen Iris is what is known as the Middle Falls – one of three large water falls in the park along the Genesee River. The overlook offered a spectacular view of the falls and the gorge – so incredible it brought tears to my eyes! These photos absolutely do not do it any justice at all, so you have to try to imagine the beauty in the photos multiplied by at least 1000% and you might come close to understanding the majesty of it! In the third photo, below, you can see the Portage Bridge in the distance – a better shot of it will come later in this story.
When my friends from church arrived, we were seated in a lovely room, impeccably decorated, all to ourselves. There were 16 of us seated four to a table in a cozy setting. We all had a fabulous meal — I had the Waldorf Chicken Salad sandwich on a croissant and it came with a fruit cup – DELICIOUS – the sandwich was packed with chicken, grapes, and walnuts with lettuce and tomato! Some of the other ladies had sandwiches that looked amazing, as well, and some had salads that I swear could have fed a small country – HUGE!!! Of course, I told you I already knew what I wanted for dessert and had been drooling over it for a month, so I only ate 1/2 my sandwich and got a box for the rest of it (I’m actually eating the other half while I’m writing this and it is STILL delicious) – I didn’t want to be too full for what I was sure was going to be the highlight of the day! I hoped that all that anticipation would cause it to not live up to the legend I created in my mind – I surely didn’t want to be disappointed. Well, I wasn’t!!! It was one of the most incredible desserts I have ever had. I savored it and enjoyed every single spoonful – I even came dangerously close to licking the bowl, but didn’t want to leave a bad impression of me with my new friends – I want them to let me go with them again! hehehe Although, the ladies sitting at my table did dare me to do it and even offered (threatened) to snap a photo of me doing it! (OK, I officially like these ladies!) The dessert was called Berry Hill – it was strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries sautéed in butter and brown sugar and flamed with triplesec, then served over three (count them – 3) scoops of vanilla ice cream!!! It was a truly spiritual experience!
This is the waitress preparing the berries in butter at our table:
And this is the flaming berries after she added the triplesec – the flames were exciting and pretty, but a little disappointing after seeing the Bananas Foster prepared at the next table — the dark rum flames on that dessert filled the entire pan and shot all the way up to the ceiling – now THAT was impressive and I’m sad I didn’t get a photo! But, my dessert preparation was entertaining, too!
And…….drum roll, please……..the finished product…….the most incredible dessert I’ve ever had…….the beautiful Berry Hill:
After almost two hours of great food, good conversation and company, and lots of fun, the ladies all left and I took off on my day of exploration. Before I get into this part of my story, let me just say that if you look up “Nature Girl” in an encyclopedia, dictionary, Wikipedia, or whatever way you use to get accurate definitions, you will NOT find my name – not in any stretch of the imagination! I love to view nature, but I do NOT want to be a part of it! But, yesterday, I became one with nature – sorta – but don’t expect to see it again! 🙂
My first stop after lunch was a return to the gift shop, where I gave in and bought a set of angels that I saw earlier and resisted purchasing. Then, I went across the street to the park museum to learn more about Mr. Letchworth and his amazing gift to our state. There were several displays of Seneca Indian artifacts found in the area and displays of Mr. Letchworth’s possessions and showing his love and support to the community. This next two photos are of the front of the museum building and a lovely square grand piano that was in his home:
The most fascinating artifact in the museum is a HUGE – and I do mean HUGE – mastodon skull that was found near Pike, NY in 1876! Mastodons were large elephant-like creatures that became extinct over 11,000 years ago – I’ll repeat that – 11,000 years ago – and here is proof that they are not just something made up for dinosaur movies – they actually existed and roamed around right here in Western New York!!! This is a photo of the skull in the museum and one I found on the internet of what a mastodon is thought to have looked like when they were in existence:
A shot from my car as I drove along the road through the park:
This is the Portage Bridge – an iron bridge that replaced the highest wooden bridge in the world, which burned in 1875:
The following photos are of the Upper Falls located near the Portage Bridge, the trails and gorge around the Upper Falls, and some other shots I took along my travels through the park:
Now, here comes the part about becoming one with nature. I saw the upper and middle falls and then I followed the signs for the lower falls. I got to the parking lot, but didn’t see an overlook. I read the sign and it said “trail to lower falls”. My first instinct was to get back in the car — two falls are enough, I didn’t really NEED to see the lower falls! But, I decided to give it a shot and just see what kind of a trail it was and if I could tell how far it would be. I walked for a while and the trail was fairly flat – some ruts and little ledge-like steps, but not difficult at all. I walked along the wall where I could look over into the gorge and sat now and then to rest and enjoy the scenery. I walked and walked and walked and walked — for what seemed like a very long time. I stopped and listened to see if I could hear the sounds of a water fall in close proximity – nothing! Then, the trail started to get steep and more ruts and tree roots and steps and my knee was really starting to bother me. So, I decided to give up and turn around and go back.
Along the trail, I heard and saw squirrels and chipmunks rustling through the leaves and some birds, but not another sound anywhere – just complete peace and quiet. And, I didn’t see another person – not one! I was all alone on this trail with nature and critters! On the way back to the car, my mind began to run wild and my imagination got the best of me! Realizing I was completely alone, far from the parking area, in the middle of nowhere, out of ear shot of any other human beings, I started to wonder what I would do if I can up on a bear or a snake or, worse, a crazed serial killer lurking in the woods waiting for some stupid woman to wander by all by herself!!! Just about that time, I caught sight of the parking area and knew I was home free – so to speak! And that is the end of my time communing with nature……like I said, don’t expect to read any similar stories any time soon!
Here are some shots I took along the trail to the lower falls — but, of course, no photos of the actual lower falls, cause I never made it that far!
So – that’s my day at Letchworth. The best part over all? Lunch at the Glen Iris Inn with the ladies! The best part of the park? The area around Glen Iris and the Middle Falls – definitely the prettiest section, for sure! But, the whole day was amazing and I’m so glad I went and made a day of it! I sure was tired when I got home about 6:00, though! I tried to catch up with emails, Facebook, Words With Friends, and write this post, but I pooped out quick! I went to bed early and slept like a log all night long! I loved it, though — well worth the time! Looking forward to the next adventure — wonder what it will be????
I love my GPS, but…
I think I’ve written a time or two about how directionally challenged I am and those who know me well, know I’d get lost in a small paper bag – even if someone is navigating for me! So, having a GPS has been a blessing for me – BIG TIME! But, even a GPS can’t save me from myself and my lack of an internal compass. I do much better now that I have one, but it would be even better if the lady inside the GPS would say things like: “turn towards your watch hand” (instead of “turn left”) or when I turn the wrong way, come back with “your OTHER right, dingbat”! But, that lady (no, I haven’t given her a name – I should, I suppose, we’ve become rather close friends) can be a little irritating, at times.
Case in point – I drove to Letchworth State Park yesterday (details of the day trip will be in a separate post) and used my GPS to help me get there. Letchworth is about an hour and a half drive from my home and I was meeting friends for lunch, so I didn’t want to get hopelessly lost and end up missing the outing. The first surprise was that I thought I remembered going to Letchworth by heading to Rochester and taking 390 south and going from there. But, both the GPS and mapquest took me through Batavia and over from there — a very pleasant rural drive — nice! Twice, I wasn’t paying much attention when she told me which way to turn and I turned the wrong way. The first time, she immediately directed me through three left turns to get me back on the original route and then told me to go the correct way – right, instead of left! We were back on track! The second time, there were no quick options for getting back in the right direction, so she started in with “when safe to do so, make a legal u-turn” and kept repeating it every few minutes until I found a driveway to turn around in! I said to her, “OK, already, shut up and give me a chance to do it!” Yes, I do talk back to her!
At one point, I saw something interesting and decided to turn around and go back for a closer look and to take a photo — after all, I left early enough to have plenty of time for a little exploring before lunch and it was my time to do with as I pleased – right? Wrong! She was not happy that I turned around and went into her rant about making a legal u-turn and getting back on track! She also didn’t like it when I went a little out-of-the-way to get a drink to take along on the drive, either. Which brings me to one of her little irritating habits. Sometimes, I know how to get to a general area and really only need her help when we get down to the nitty-gritty of the trip – getting to the specific final destination! If I decide to take a scenic route or a known shortcut or just a way I’m used to going and it isn’t the way SHE wants to go, she speaks up at every side road telling me to turn there to work our way to the road SHE wants me on! Bossy little booger, isn’t she? hehehe
Since it was a nice, leisurely drive, I did a lot of gawking around and daydreaming. I didn’t have the radio on, so it was quiet and peaceful. After driving some time on a long, straight road, she’d chime in with “turn right (or left, as the case may be) in 2 miles” and startle the crap out of me!!!! Jeez, she couldn’t give me a little warning before just talking out loud at me when I’m all alone in a quiet car? She never fails to startle me when I’m out driving and she speaks to me out of the blue! You’d think she’s know by now to do something to ease the shock a little!
But, the most confusing part of the drive came when I got in the general area of Letchworth. The park is HUGE and has three entrances. Apparently, the GPS signal for the restaurant I plugged in as my destination has a wide range to it. I was driving down a long country road with corn fields down one side and woods on the other and she kept telling me “you have arrived, destination on your left” — well, um, no – there was only WOODS on my left and nowhere to turn. She was adamant, though! She really wanted me to turn into the woods and rough it! Once I got past that section, she wanted me to make a legal u-turn and go back! I finally just turned her off and followed the signs to the nearest park entrance! I made it safe and sound and in plenty of time to wander around a little before the rest of my friends arrived for lunch.
One thing I’m thankful for with my GPS – it doesn’t say “recalculating” or “you have deviated from the planned route” whenever I get off track (deliberately or not) – that would drive me NUTS!!! She just politely (but, yes, sometimes irritatingly) tells me how to get back on track.
I love my GPS – little faults and all! I think I’ll call her “Sissy” – cause she’s the very helpful and sometimes irritating sister I never had! I don’t know what I’d do without her!
Recent Adventures
I’ve had some interesting adventures in the past week or so. One adventure took me by surprise and I learned about something I was totally unaware, while another adventure introduced me to a haunted mansion and delicious new wines, and yet another resulted in a peaceful outing, a great meal, and some lovely “finds”. All were interesting, fun, and left me with mementos of the experiences – in one form or another.
I’ll start with the first and, frankly, most memorable of the adventures. A few weeks ago I was checking out the website for a local winery I had heard a lot about – Leonard Oakes Estate Winery – I tasted some of their wines at the Lawn and Garden Show at the Fair Grounds this summer and really liked them. Their home page had an advertisement for an event they were having on September 1st – a Steampunk Festival. The poster listed features such as jewelry and craft vendors, live music, food trucks, and some odd, but fun, sounding competitions and games. I thought the name of the festival was odd, but it sounded interesting and a great way to check out the winery. So, on the first, I decided to pop in and wander around to see what it was all about. Well…….I quickly realized I had no idea what I was getting myself into! The people attending the festival were dressed in costumes – sort of like the old west or old England with a fantasy twist – top hats, faerie wings, pub wench outfits, Lewis and Clark type explorer garb, goggles, etc. And LOTS of big beards, artistic goatees, and handle bar mustaches!!! LOTS – even some of the women had them! I wondered what alternate universe I had stepped into! I wandered around and listened to the band play – they were very good, by the way – but, I felt about as out-of-place as a virgin in a whorehouse and I felt like everyone else was gawking at me more than I was gawking at them! haha So, I didn’t stay long. I realized that the term “Steampunk” must have had some specific meaning. Since I have never heard of it before, I did what I should have done before I went —- I googled it!!! Apparently, it is a futuristic/fantasy genre that became popular in the 80’s and 90’s and is still growing. The more I read about it, I realized I’ve seen previews of several movies with this type of theme – old steamer ships flying through the air with people dressed in old English attire – not generally my taste in films, but I know they were hugely popular. The Batavia Daily News Online did a story on the festival a few days later and one of the quotes was “Its the Victorian Era meets the future.” I guess that sums it up! I did enjoy wandering through the festival – even though I was definitely the odd duck there – and I was happy to experience and learn about something new. The following photos are: The event poster, a photo I found online that shows the typical Steampunk costume, and three photos that were included in the Batavia Daily News Online article – I didn’t take any photos, myself — I didn’t want to look any more out-of-place than I already felt – the odd duck taking pictures of the locals! {smile}
Leonard Oakes Estate Winery is just up the Ridge from here a little way — maybe 15 minutes or so from my house. So, I wasn’t too far away when I left. It was still early and it was a glorious evening – warm and sunny, so I had the top down on the pony. I decided to take a leisurely drive north through Lyndonville and pick up Route 18 to Point Breeze to watch the sun set over the lake. And what a gorgeous sunset it was — an amazing ending to the day! I sat there watching people fishing and the boats coming in and just enjoying the incredible sun set! What a treat!
My next adventure was yesterday and involved another local winery. One of the items on my “places to go and things to do” list was to visit The Winery at Marjim Manor. Marjim Manor is a historic home that has been a residence, a farm, a retreat and camp run by nuns, and now a winery, as well as the owner’s current residence. It is also famous for the spirits that reside there — and I don’t mean the wine! The house is haunted! It has been featured on the TV series Ghost Hunters and Most Terrifying Places in America, seen on the Travel Channel. Here is a short clip from Youtube and the photo I took of the front of the house while I was there.
So, I got up yesterday morning and decided to take a road trip to visit Marjim Manor, which is about a 45 minute drive from here. I also decided that, since I would be so close to Olcott Beach, my trip would include shopping on the boardwalk at Olcott. It was a dreary day, but I didn’t care – I would make my own sunshine, take an umbrella, and hope that it would clear up as the day progressed. Well……I got about 15 minutes or so down Route 18 and the wind started kicking up BAD and the rain turned into a driving rain that made it difficult to drive! I considered turning around and heading back home, but – you know me – I was determined, so I kept driving. The weather got scary – there were trees and limbs down, lots of debris in the road, and the wind had taken someone’s large trampoline and threw it against a telephone pole – I saw it wrapped around the pole a ways down the road from the nearest house! Just past where you would turn south to go to Lyndonville, there were firemen, police, and a bucket loader clearing a large tree and associated debris from the road. But, I kept going — I was sure it would clear up and all would be fine. I was right! By the time I reached Marjim Manor, the sun was peeking out and it had stopped raining. I went in and purchased the $5 tasting package – taste 4 wines, a keepsake wine glass, and 10% off any purchase. I listened intently as the fun and knowledgeable staff described each of their featured wines. I picked two that peaked my interest to taste and then asked the staff for two other recommendations. I thoroughly enjoyed all four wines I tasted and wished I could have tasted them all. I purchased three bottles – a sweet white wine called One Hundred Windows (named for the 100 windows in the house) , a medium red wine (with a blush color) called Spring Lake Stuben, and a red wine called A Gift From The Vine – all award-winning wines with amazing flavors. I also purchased tickets to an upcoming Ghost Hunt event being held at the manor in October. I hope to take my brother and his wife for my brother’s birthday — should be fun!
I left Marjim Manor and headed to Olcott Beach. Unfortunately, only one shop was open – I thought it was due to the weather, but later discovered it was because I was too early – the shoppes don’t open until noon. It was a little chilly and very damp, so I looked through the one shop, found a couple nice pins, and headed back home. I got home in time to whip up a batch of baked macaroni and cheese to take to the pot luck family dinner at the church to wrap up the day. Here are a couple of photos I took at Olcott showing how rough the lake was and how dark and damp the day was. But, I still enjoyed myself – it was a great day – I discovered a unique winery, tasted some amazing wines, and it is always a great pleasure to be near the lake, no matter what the weather is!
So, that brings us to today — the third of the big adventures! I got up and went to church – it was a lovely service – we had a farewell reception for a gentleman who has been a life long member of our church for almost 93 years and is moving away to be near his children. It was also the first day of Sunday School – the adult class I joined is reading and discussing 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. After church, I decided to go back to Olcott Beach to finish the shopping I had planned to do yesterday, but the weather kinda put a wrench in that plan. Today was a much nicer day! The warm sun mixed perfectly with the cool breeze coming off the lake. The lake was calm and the sky was beautiful! And the shoppes were all open!!! I strolled through the shoppes and found a gorgeous handmade necklace and earring set from VacantiArts and a pretty stone ring at another shop. I sat on the boardwalk looking out onto the lake and watching the boats for a while – just loving being near the water. Then, I went to Mariner’s Landing for a late lunch/early dinner. I had a shrimp cocktail, which was perfect – the shrimp were huge and plump and delicious! I also had a very nice salad and they brought me a small loaf of fresh, hot bread that was so dense and yeasty – YUM! For my entrée I chose the broiled scallops with mashed potatoes. If a chef is not careful, they can ruin scallops in a split second — just a hair too long on the heat and they can be rubbery and chewy! These were done to perfection — amazing and scrumptious!!! I strolled around a little longer and then headed back home, where I curled up with the girls for a little nap! Another absolutely perfect day! Here are some photos I took today to show the contrast of the two days – what a difference a day makes!
Next adventure on the horizon — this Tuesday I will be headed to Letchworth State Park to have lunch at the Glen Iris Inn with some ladies from the church. I can’t wait — I plan to go early so that I can explore a little and take in the beautiful Genessee River Gorge and maybe wander through the museum after lunch. I’ll write all about my experience afterwards – stay tuned!
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