Kim's Thoughts
Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!
My 2017 Adventure Bucket List
Each year, about this time – like most people, I think about my goals for the coming year. I don’t do “resolutions”, cause, like most people, I don’t tend to keep them.
Yep……this is how most of my “resolutions” go! So, I avoid using that word……oh, sure, I do always think about how I plan to try and be healthier and add more joy to my life, but those can take on a lot of different meanings and are a constant, not really something I resolve to do in a particular calendar year. Instead, I focus on my adventure bucket list and my big bucket list…..which tend to intermingle most years! These are huge lists that can not possibly be achieved in totality in any given year. They are also ever changing and ever growing. Throughout the years I check some things off, add some things, only set targets that I’d like to try to do sooner rather than later…..unless it is something that HAS to be completed in a given time frame or it has to drop off the list. I am under no delusion that either of these lists will EVER be completely achieved and go away……someday I will die and the lists will still be floating out there in LaLa Land somewhere, but my only REAL goal – resolution, if you will – is to ensure there are no regrets about the things that DON’T get done because I will know I did everything I possibly could get done!
Most years I do manage to put a significant dent in the few I actually list here to try to prioritize for that year. Last year, almost nothing on my target list got done! Life got in the way……but, I did have several really cool opportunities come up that checked a bunch of stuff off the main lists and allowed me to do things I didn’t even know I wanted to do, so weren’t even on any lists! Woo Hoo!
So, this year, I have already evaluated and refocused how I spend my charitable time, which will help me get back on track to have time to do local volunteering in areas that make me happy and bring satisfaction in some key areas of interest for me. That was a great start and felt really good! I also have two trips planned – one fully booked and one still in the planning stages. So, I am well on my way to have a great Adventure year in 2017! And….I never minimize the importance and significant impact the wonderful little adventures – near or far – that pop up throughout the year!
So……here are the things I am targeting from my Adventure Bucket List for 2017-ish – my “sooner rather than later” items – some have been on there a while and are being prioritized, some are newly added:
- Color in at least FOUR more states on my “states I have visited” map
- Two will be colored in on my already booked trip
- Trip to Washington, DC
- This is in the planning stages, so chances are good it will get done
- Visit Niagara on the Lake
- Visit Lily Dale, NY
- Visit Chittenango, NY
- Visit NYC in December
- Visit Skaneateles, NY during their Dickens Christmas
- Drive the Seaway Trail and see as many Lake Ontario lighthouses as possible
And, here are some things I’m prioritizing on my Big Bucket List – bigger items that I hope to complete within the next 5 years-ish:
- Transatlantic Cruise with ports in Ireland, England, or other parts of Europe
- Color in ALL the states I have not yet visited – currently 13 (14 if you count DC) and soon to be 11 (after my booked trip and the trip to DC)
- Mediterranean Cruise
- Trip to Graceland
Let’s see how far I get this year…….and what other grand adventures I may get an opportunity to knock off (or add to) my lists!
Happy Adventuring……
Photos of the Day and a New Pub Review – January 11th
I feel like Spring has sprung, today…..I know – it hasn’t – but it sure felt like it! We’re experiencing a bit of a heat wave with temps in the low 40s, a bright sun, and a gorgeous blue sky. My friend, Cathy, and I took advantage of the beautiful day and went to Medina to check out a new restaurant….a Celtic Pub, to be more specific. They had a “soft” opening last week and it was so successful, they ran out of a lot of the key items on their menu and had to close on Sunday and Monday to restock! Well, they are open, now and we went for lunch this afternoon. I’ll leave my comments for the review that will come a little later in this post, but, suffice it to say that I highly recommend it! 🙂
But, first……here are the Photos of the Day for January 11, 2017:
# 11 Photo Prompt – Inside My Fridge:
“Funky Roll Out Drawer Hack”
When I saw today’s photo prompt, I panicked! While I love to cook and am actually a pretty good cook, I hate to cook for one person, so I eat out a lot or pop stuff in the microwave. So, my fridge is usually pretty bare – rarely is there ever anything interesting enough for a photo in there! But, I grabbed my camera and opened the door to see what might be worthy of a photo that wouldn’t be too embarrassing! This weird little slide out tray caught my eye! I never knew exactly what it is supposed to be used for — seemed fairly useless to me — but, I got the idea not long after I bought it to use it to chill wine bottles! It is the perfect depth and is slightly slanted, so the wine bottles are stored on their side in a way to keep the corks from drying out……just like it was made for the task! So, that’s my photo to fit the prompt “Inside My Fridge”! LOL Oh…..and, I know this makes me look like a wino, but I actually rarely open a bottle of wine unless I have guests, but like to have a nice selection available and chilled for when someone may stop by or so I don’t have to remember to do so when I have dinner guests! 🙂
# 11 Caught By My Lens:
“Celtic Pub Staircase”
This is an incredibly beautiful staircase that goes up to a loft that will be used for small parties in the new Medina eatery – Fitzgibbons Public House!
Pub Review:
Fitzgibbons Public House is a new Celtic-style Pub on Main Street in Medina, NY. It opened last week and, like I said above, the soft opening weekend was a huge success! My friend, Cathy and I had planned to go Sunday afternoon, but by the time they closed Saturday night, they were sold out of several key menu items, so they decided to close Sunday and Monday to take time to reevaluate their needs and restock! They are planning for Tuesdays to be their typical “closed” day, which means that today was their first day to be open since the opening weekend. We decided to go for lunch, today……and boy are we glad we did! They currently have a limited menu – just burgers, a few deli sandwiches, a couple appetizers, shepherd’s pie, and a steak and banger pie. They also fresh cut their own steak fries. I was leaning towards the corned beef sandwich, but we both decided to have the steak burger! OMG — it was the best burger I’ve had in a VERY long time! It was ample size, tender, juicy, well seasoned, cooked to perfection, and had the best char-broiled flavor!!! It was served on a delicious roll with lettuce and tomato (cheese, if you want it) and a side of chips. We were happy campers, for sure! And, the prices are reasonable for the pub-like setting and amazing food! Inside the pub is GORGEOUS – the ambiance and decor is amazing. It was a perfect lunch…..well, might have been a tad more perfect if we could have tried the fresh cut steak fries, but they were having an issue with their fryer…..that’s OK, though – I had PLENTY to eat and now can look forward to definitely trying them next time! I can not wait to see what they put on their expanded menu! Along with the food, there is a stunning bar and an impressive list of specialty brews to choose from, as well as other adult beverages. I plan to return…..again and again and again! This is sure to become a very popular regular eatery in the area – great food, good prices, excellent atmosphere (they were pretty busy on this Wednesday lunch period)…….check it out!!! I give Fitzgibbons Public House a solid 5 out of 5 stars and TWO thumbs up!!!
Here are some more photos from inside the pub:
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January 2017’s Photo Prompts:
Photos of the Day – January 10th
Well, hello, there…..thanks for stopping by! I had two crows and a squirrel clean me out of peanuts at the bird feeding station, this morning…..made for some good entertainment while I caught up on all the blogs I read each morning, the news of the day, and Facebook. We’re gonna have a bit of a heat wave over the next couple of days….that will be a welcome change!
Anyway…..here are the Photos of the Day for January 10, 2017:
# 10 Photo Prompt – Two Things:
“Two Old Crows Looking for Nuts”
# 10 Caught By My Lens:
“Just Cause There’s Snow on the Roof…..”
Alternate Title: “I Got The Gray Haired Blues”
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January 2017’s Photo Prompts:
Photos of the Day – January 9th
I was out and about with a friend, today, shopping and having lunch and having a grand ole time. So, I didn’t get a second photo – just the Photo of the Day Prompt pic! Oh, well……at least I got this one! 🙂
Here is today’s Photo of the Day for January 9th:
# 9 Photo Prompt – Mail:
“Mail’s In”
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January 2017’s Photo Prompts:
Photos of the Day – January 8th
Happy Sunday! Today is not only Sunday….it is also Elvis Presley’s 82nd Birthday! So, Happy Birthday, Elvis! (Yes, I know he is no longer with us…..I’m not one of those who expect to run into him at the 7/11 buying a donut or eating a peanut butter and banana sandwich at the local diner!) Don’t miss the bonus at the end of this post added to recognize this auspicious day!
Here are the Photos of the Day for January 8, 2017…..and, a couple extras to add some fun takes on the photo prompt of the day:
# 8 Photo Prompt – A Wall:
“Canal Side Mural”
“Canal Side Mural – II”
# 8 Caught By My Lens:
“Guarding the Hay”
I’m not sure why, but I got a real kick out of seeing these cows while I was out and about, today!
Alternate Ideas for “A Wall” Prompt:
“Rock Wall at Olcott Beach”
My first thought when I saw today’s photo prompt was this amazing rock wall at Olcott Beach…..but, it is about 17 degrees with a wind chill of -1…..not a good day to head to the beach! HAHAHA……but, I did want to share it cause it is awesome…..even if the photo was taken five years ago in 2012!
Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”
Then, I thought…..how fun would it be to also share this photo I took at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland of the display for Pink Floyd’s infamous album, “The Wall”!!!
Happy Birthday, Elvis:
My absolute favorite Elvis song……and, who doesn’t melt at the thought of “black leather 68 comeback Elvis”????
And another stunning song……this one always brings me to tears! Not only because it is a beautiful song with very emotional lyrics, but also because one of my dearest old friends used to sing this in his band…..he passed way too young and this song always makes me think of him and miss him so very much!
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January 2017’s Photo Prompts:
Photos of the Day – January 7th
Happy Saturday! It may be a VERY frigid day, but the sun is shining and the sky is a gorgeous shade of blue and it is shaping up to be a great day! My friends in the south are actually experiencing as cold or colder temps (depending on where they are) and more snow than we have here in Western NY…..which, I am ashamed to say makes me giggle just a little!
Anyway – I love the photo that came from today’s photo prompt – “time”. Check out both of today’s Photos of the Day for January 7, 2017:
# 7 Photo Prompt – Time”
“Grandpa’s Clock”
This photo represents the “time” photo prompt in more ways than just the obvious! The clock was one my Grandpa bought in NYC when he was there for an ABC bowling tournament when my Mom was just a little girl – he bought it at a jewelry store for $25 – a lot of money at the time! He loved to tell the story of how he carried it under his arm all around the streets of NYC before he got on the train to head back home. The dogs on either side are a family heirloom – they are passed down to the oldest daughter of each generation and started with my great, great grandmother Sarah Pullen, who brought them to America from England when she immigrated here – I believe the story was that they were a gift from HER mother, but we are not sure if her mother purchased them or if they passed on from previous generations and, if so, how far back they may go beyond Great, Great Grandma Pullen. She then passed them down to her oldest daughter, my great grandmother, Anna Pullen Miles. She, in turn, passed them on to her oldest daughter, my grandmother, Ada Miles Freeman. Grandma passed them on to her oldest (and only) daughter, my mother, Marilyn Freeman Wright. When Mom passed in April 2016, they became mine to cherish and hold till time for me to pass them on. Unfortunately, I do not have a daughter, so they will go to my niece, Brittany, who is my brother’s daughter and the oldest daughter within our next generation (changing the tradition of daughter to daughter). I hope she will hold them in the high regard that all the other daughters in our family have for generations before her! And, the THIRD way it represents “time” is that it sits on top of my Grandma’s china closet…..a gift to her from my Grandpa not long after they were married. From the time I was a little girl, Grandma would tell me that it would be mine, someday……and, now it is! 🙂
# 7 Caught By My Lens:
“Lines of Communication”
With all the satellites and cell towers and WiFi, we still need these tried and true lines of communication to carry phone lines, cable lines, and power lines. Guess the old ways aren’t necessarily totally obsolete!
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January 2017’s Photo Prompts:
Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017
Well, we’re a week in to the new year and so far, so good! 🙂 I know many commented on Facebook and Twitter that 2016 went down as one of the worst years in history and they were so glad to see it end and a new year start. Yeah – I was one that had something horrible happen in 2016 and there were definitely a lot of friends that went through extremely bad times and tough personal losses. It also seemed like there were a lot more than usual deaths of celebrities – especially there in the last month or so! And, we won’t even get into all the crap that was on the news around the world in 2016.
But, I’m not one to throw a wet blanket on the whole year because of it. Bad things happen. Good things happen that may or may not be great enough to balance out the bad. And, even if they don’t balance out, life goes on and, over time, things get better. Every year has its ups and downs. I don’t buy into the thought that just because some really smart person a million years ago discovered how time worked and decided that the years turn over every 365 days that that means that at 11:59 pm every December 31st, we get to say goodbye to all our troubles and get a clean slate to carry into the new year. And, we humans are a curious lot……we like to say goodbye to our troubles, but not our successes……how does that work and who decides what gets wiped clean and what gets to move on to the new year with us?
OK…..so, I’m getting a tad too philosophical for a Saturday morning, but you get my point! All that said, I do love the feeling of starting anew – I feel rejuvenated on January 1st and again when the first signs of Spring start to pop up! Can’t help it! So, even though I don’t blame 2016 for whatever went wrong during the year, I am still looking forward to discovering how wonderful 2017 can be……and hope that it will be truly wonderful!
And, there was a lot to say about the truly wonderful parts of 2016, too! Like, I spent a really wonderful month with my brother and sister-in-law on the road trip of a lifetime…..we saw and did things that probably would have taken me the rest of my life to get around to and some I didn’t even know I would want to do! I colored in almost the entire center section of the United States on my “States I’ve Visited” map and got down to just 13 continental states left to see before I kick that proverbial bucket! And……I got to see Alaska on an amazing cruise with a good friend – something I’ve wanted to do since I was a teenager. We won’t mention how many years that means it was on my bucket list…..let’s just say, it was there before there was actually a “list” for it to be on! And, I got to do it in 2016. So, the first half of 2016 really sucked, but the second half was really awesome!
I also took my amateur photography hobby to a whole new level…….I improved my “eye” for good photos and had a lot of fun with some goofy shots, too! I’ll end this blabbering with some of my very favorite photos of the ones I took in 2016. I hope you enjoy seeing them again as much as I do!
My very favorite shot from our Most Excellent Adventure……my brother and sister-in-law having a “moment” overlooking the Badlands in South Dakota!
The motley crew…….I swore I’d never buy or use a selfie-stick, but knew there’d be times we might want all of us in a photo during the trip, so I broke down and got one…..this was only one of two times we used it and I haven’t used it since, but this shot right here was worth having it in my bag!!!
A warm August evening at Point Breeze
One of many nice photos from my visit to Robin Hill Nature Preserve in Lyndonville
A rainbow that appears to end right on the dome of our County Courthouse
I got a LOT of great bird shots……especially ones of the wonderful hummingbirds that visited my feeders
I really enjoyed getting out there and taking photos at community events – like the Albion Sip and Stroll Through History Wine Walk
The squirrels gave me lots of photography fun…..but, this one will go down in history as the best!
I met a lot of interesting people through my lens……like this guy from Chicago who was one of about 750 cyclists who came through Albion on their ride from Buffalo to Albany on the canal….what a hoot this guy was!
One of my favorite shots from our Alaska trip…..the engine being switched from one end to the other of a train ride we took for the return trip
My favorite shot from the Albion Strawberry Festival parade – my nephew anxiously watching up the street for the parade to start
No secret – I love taking pictures of food to capture the feeling of a day…..this is of some hot dogs being served at the Albion Rotary booth at the Strawberry Festival……and I love that I also got a kids hands excitedly reaching for his bounty!
One of several great shots capturing the feel of the day at a Peony Tree Festival I attended
This sculpture caught my eye in the house at the Peony Festival and it turned out to be a really cool shot!
As a hat lover, I couldn’t resist this lovely display at a Bed and Breakfast a friend and I stayed at while visiting the NY Amish Trail
Birds and Squirrels were not ALL I caught at my bird feeding station!
I saw my very first Orioles at my feeders this year!
These turkey buzzards were an interesting group
I caught this shot of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard Duck in a flooded spot on the other side of my fence a couple days after my Mom passed……took it as a sign that she and my Dad came to visit and let me know they are together and OK!
First signs of spring on a hike in the Swallow Hollow Nature Walk
Bells from the amazing Bell Choir at our church!
One of my favorite spots in Mount Albion in the snow in January
Lake Ontario at Sunset Beach on a cold, windy October day
I entered this photo, among others, in a photo contest and it won an honorable mention and is included in the 2017 Orleans Tourism Calendar! I took it in October at Mount Albion.
I’ve taken a LOT of photos of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Mount Albion – one in particular has been my favorite for years, but this one I took in October took over the top spot as my favorite photo of the tower!
So, there you have it……2016 in pictures! Now, let’s move on and see what great photos I’ll post next January as my favorites to represent 2017!!!
Photos of the Day – Jan 6th
Semi-busy Friday……VERY cold outside, but just happy to have missed out on the heavy snow that some areas around us got! We made it through with just a slight dusting! As I finish this post and catch up on some of the news of the day, I’m trying to decide if I want to go out to get a Friday Fish Fry or not…..hhhmmm!!!
In the mean time……here are today’s Photos of the Day for January 6, 2017:
# 6 Photo Prompt – ME!:
“Guess Who?”
I tried to be more creative with this prompt, but I don’t know any Medical Examiners (Initials M.E.) and any photos I have taken of Maine (Abbr. ME) weren’t taken today, so that would be cheating……and I racked my brain, but couldn’t come up with anything else that would fit the prompt “ME!”…..so, I went with the obvious!
# 6 Caught By My Lens:
“When clouds look more like mountain ranges…”
Yes, I pulled over to take the photo!
So……I think that unless I hear back from the friend I left a message for about going for a fish fry, I think I’ll just stay in my nice warm, cozy house……but, if I get that call back, I’m outa here! hehehe
January 2017’s Photo Prompts:
Photos of the Day – Jan 5th
I was out for a drive this morning….it is a VERY cold day, today – my porch thermometer reads 22 and my weather app on my phone reads 23 – BBBRRR – and there have been faint snow flurries off and on most of the day!!! But, I went out, anyway, in search of the perfect shot to catch my eye for today’s Photo of the Day. I found it just as I turned the corner over the bridge onto the road that goes along the north side of Lake Alice in Waterport! There, on the hill across the road from the lake was the prettiest little seating area – obviously there so the owners may sit and watch boaters on the lake during the water recreational season is going strong. But…..what struck me was the colorful chairs against the dry, brown weeds AND the stacks and stacks of fire wood around the chairs! Maybe the chairs aren’t as “seasonal” as first thought!!!???
So, here are my Photos of the Day for January 5, 2017:
# 5 Photo Prompt – Fave Thing:
“Ben and Jerry”
I rarely say “no” to ice cream….no matter what the weather is outside!!!
# 5 Caught By My Lens:
“Come Sit a Spell”
Overlooking Lake Alice, Waterport, NY
Runner-Up: “Lonely, Odd Tree”
Then, a ways down Rt. 18 around Kendall, I had to stop to take a pic of this tree…….so odd looking……and so lonely – not another tree anywhere near it!!!
January 2017’s Photo of the Day Prompts:
Photos of the Day – Jan 4th
Today was a little crazy – weather-wise…..it started out super windy, but not terribly cold (actually felt warmer than I thought it was supposed to be). Then, as I was out and about running errands and meeting a friend for lunch, it got really cold and even windier and there was a light snow swirling around from time to time! But, it was a really nice day, regardless. Like I said, I met a friend for lunch and saw a ton of other friends as we sat there eating and chatting. I even ran into friends and family at the bank, in WalMart, and the grocery store! Yes, it was a lovely day. And……it was all topped off by coming home to find I had deliveries of things I ordered from Mary Kay and Amazon and the best thing to happen above all…….there was a gift bag left on my porch with a wonderful surprise inside! But, alas, there was no card, note, or tag telling me who left it…..if they included one, the strong winds took it off to La-La-Land somewhere!
So……today, my Photos of the Day reflect the fun side of the day! Here they are – January 4, 2017’s Photos of the Day:
# 4 Photo Prompt – Animal:
“Animal Crackers in My Soup”
When I saw today’s prompt, this is the very first thing I thought of…..so, while I was out shopping, I picked up a box!
# 4 Caught By My Lens:
“Wonderful Mystery Gift”
Thank you so much to whoever left this absolutely perfect gift for me!!!
We can not mention an adorable Shirley Temple song without a clip to celebrate it….
January 2017’s Photo of the Day Prompts:
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