The Finger Lakes, NY: Hiking Grimes Glen and an Airport Diner

Upstate New York is entirely underrated. In case you were wondering.

The region is associated with the three snowiest cities in the United States (Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, thank you very much), but very little is it associated with the summer months!

Let’s keep it that way, eh? I like driving on an empty highway.

It is beautiful – sunshine, blue skies, budding vineyards and lots of big yellow fields that reminded me of Scotland!

A month or so ago, we spent the weekend in the Finger Lakes and spent the morning in Naples, NY. It’s right next to Rome, NY and Italy, NY.

No, really.

We had breakfast at the Middlesex Airport Diner – a small building on a small meadow that small planes fly in and out of.

While our waiter informed us we were a bit late for the usual plane sightseeing (what? 11am is too late for breakfast?) we still managed to see a few of them.

After breakfast we drove to Grimes Glen.

Grimes Glen is a hiking path in a glen. No surprise there.

It has a one mile creek walk up to some beautiful waterfalls.

Go ahead and swallow that vanity. Put on a pair of ugly nature sandals and walk all the way up the creek! (Some currents are a bit strong, but most places weren’t deeper than 12 inches of water. I was carrying my SLR around my neck).

We went on a Saturday morning and there was a fair amount of hiking traffic.

via flickr debpaul2010

Next time I think I’ll leave my camera in the car and bring my swimsuit.

There were lots of kids playing in the water. We went over Memorial Day weekend, so the water was nippy, but enjoyable! We only hiked to the first waterfall, so we were only going for an hour or two.

We spent the rest of the beautiful Finger Lakes afternoon doing a little bit of fishing, dock sitting and boating.

And of course a little bit of this:

The lazy, hazy summer afternoon was made for me!

What’s your favorite lazy, summer activity?

Top 9: Farewell Party to Summer

I am protesting the end of summer.

While grocery shopping this week the stockboys were putting out Halloween candy. HALLOWEEN candy.

Then, I get home and start going through my (shamelessly overstocked) Google Reader. Bloggers are already blogging about fall projects.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, it’s been far too long since I’ve done a Top 9. Today my Top 9 is based on a theme for a Goodbye Summer party. Wahh.

The theme is sunset-based, because summer should be an eternal sunset. (So poetic. I know.) Why? Well, I only get to see sunsets during the summer. Otherwise I leave work when it’s dark. Sunsets happen at the end of the day, this party it happening at the end of summer. And if you want to get real scientific, the days are starting to get short again, thus a sunset theme.

I’m nothing if not well thought-out. Either that, or I am a champion of meager excuses for a party…

1. First you’d need awesome, summery invitations like these to invite your favorite peeps over.

2. I think it would be fun to decorate my deck with some of these lovely sunset-colored mobiles from LilSproutCreation. With the goldenrod, coral and tangerine hues of this beauty, I think you could even sneak this into your fall decor.

3. I would serve this refreshingly tasty looking Creamsicle trifile by Amy Atlas. The colors are beautiful! Is there anything more classically summer than a creamsicle popsicle?

4. This beautiful necklace by Alyssa’s Gems and Jewels would adorn my neck and add instant “summer celebration” to any outfit. (How is it that I’ve never heard of Maple Turquoise before? It’s lovely.)

5. Ahhh, the quintessential summer activity. Friendship bracelets. I’d love to sit around a campfire and make some chevron bracelets like these babies by LARaised. (I think it’s hilarious that these are a “style trend” right now. I think people just want to dress like they are 12 again and call it a “trend”. Not that I am opposed. I still have one.)

6. A kitschy patchwork tablecloth with hues of goldenrod and pink, like this one from CakeforBreakfast, would help set the tone.

7. I would also serve this Taste-a-Rainbow cupcakes from Family Fun magazine.

8. A pretty orange dress, like one this from AmandaArcher, would help soften the wardrobe blow in the transition from summer to fall.

9. Lastly, I’d thank my friends for coming with these “Cheerio” cards from TheDesignConspiracy. I love the yellow printing and custom screenprinted type.

Around this time of year I am grateful to live in New England. The leaves start turning and we can still go to the beach for at least another six weeks. (Yes! I have swam in the ocean in October before!)

Three cheers for an Indian Summer!

Summer Tuna Salad

1. Drain one can of tuna.

2. Mix in 1 tablespoon of poppyseed salad dressing.

3. Throw in one handful of (freshly picked!) blueberries.

4. Serve on cucumber slices.

Delicious and refreshing!

(Although my husband gave me the side-eye. Me thinks this is not a man-friendly meal.)

I think it would be a nice appetizer at a luncheon or a shower.

A Taste of Summer

I love the 4th of July.

I know it’s over and this is a little anti-climatic. But you’ll overlook that fact, won’t you?

The 4th of July is the real kick-off of summer. School and spring cleaning often drip into June. And June is already overrun with graduations and parties and bridal showers that summer celebration gets lost in the mix. But no longer.

It’s JULY friends. It is summertime.

Random note – We spent the weekend at my family lakehouse in the Finger Lakes. I must have had patriotic clothing on my mind for the holiday, because I packed red and white striped clothing for every day. Hah-hah!

These are my Mom’s blingy table decorations for the 4th. She’s got pizazz

Our  neighbors have a large farm area. They have a vineyard (Pinot Grigio to be exact, or so I learned) and also have lots of fruits and vegetables growing. We happened to be there at the peak of cherry picking season and they invited us up to pick a H-U-G-E bag of delicious cherries.

I had the best of intentions. Why, with these amazing cherries, surely I should make a cherry pie or tart or jam or something, right? But I can’t help just eating them all plain. They are so fresh and sweet they are like candy!

Random – our neighbors plant rosebushes at the end of each grapevine. Do you know why? Apparently the mildew properties are the same. So, if you see mildew on the roses you know how to take care of the vine. I wonder who figured that out and how.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”

- John Lubbock

And nothing can beat a summer night. I insist on campfires and s’mores everytime we are at the lake. It’s the best way to end any day spent in the sun.

And of course we watched the fireworks.

We watched from the very spot we got married (collective “aw”), although it was more due to last minute boat engine funkiness than planning. But it was beautiful. And all the boats on the water was an unexpected beautiful sight.

I think that is why I enjoy the 4th of July so much. It’s a quintessential summer weekend of celebrating with friends and family. Eating good food, enjoying the world we live in and some old fashion fun.

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What did you do for the 4th of July? Do you like cherries as much as I do right now?

Windowshop Wednesday with The Katie Chronicles

My immensely talented and hilarious friend Katie, of The Katie Chronicles, is starting up a new Link Up series and I am happy to join her! Especially when the first topic is the droolworthy Crate & Barrel.

Here’s a fun fact about me and my girl Katie. We’ve never actually met in person! We became friends about two years over The Knot while we were planning our weddings and have been friends since!

Today our mission is to share our Crate & Barrel shopping wishlist:

Dear Cucina dining table,

You are so pretty. I love your taupe gray neutrality and your pretty crossed legs. You are a cross between a picnic table and a Parsons desk, rustic yet modern. I would like to own you, but paired with rustic espresso wood benches, not with the chairs shown.

Love, Kat

Dear Jack table lamp,

I love your squatty bulbous of the base and the geometric pendant shade. The song “Fat Bottom Girls” must be written about you. Except your name is Jack, and not Jill. My mistake. You do, however, make my rockin’ world go round and you would look great in any room!

Love, Kat

Dear Belize striped napkin ring,

I am officially twitter patted with you. I love your chunkiness and bright striped colors. You are friends with everybody. Cinco de Mayo party? Check. Summer Picnic? Check. Use it with white dishes? Check. Use it with green dishes? Check. The beauty of bright multi-colored things like you that most people don’t realize is that you go with everything! Please be my friend.

Love, Kat

Dear Table-in-a-bag, picnic chairs and Carmen picnic tablecloth,

Don’t tell the others, but you are my favorites.  I’d love to take you to concerts in the park or a picnic on the beach. Your sunset yellow cushions on the chairs scream summer and you are bringin’ down the funk with those sexy multi-color stripes.

Love, Kat

….

The thing I love most about window shopping is it’s free!

Thanks for the link up Katie!! Be sure to check out The Katie Chronicles today!

Summer Nights

Today is the first day of summer. (Can I hear a collective YEAH BABY!!?)

Although today doesn’t hold as much ecstasy as it once did (is there really anything better than the feeling you got on the last day of school because you were starting summer break?), there is still plenty to look forward to. (Although I’d gladly welcome three months of popsicles, running outside and the pool club like the good ole days.)

The nights start getting shorter again starting today, and that’s okay because summer nights are a welcome sight.

While certain activities can commence throughout any seasons, in New England we really have to make the most of it and embrace the summer nights before they disappear again.

These are these nights for dinner parties with pretty strung-up lights.

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These are these nights for campfires and smoky-wood-smelling conversations.

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These are these nights for real s’mores.

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These are these nights for turning off the television and stargazing.

image (P.S. Isn’t this a beautiful painting? It’s by David Hayward.)

Now if only I could get come fireflies out here. Then I’d be all set.

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Summer, I deem thee welcome.

Summer 2011 Bucket List

I must be in some sort of weird time warp because my calendar says June on it today. JUNE!

June means cheering on the bus because it’s the end of school. June means popsicles and lawn chairs. June means it’s summer.

I think I left my brain somewhere in the middle of April. Somehow I wore my wellies and stomped my way through the April rain. Then I pulled out my sandals and smelled the blooming buds through the end of May without even knowing it.

Anyways, today is June 1. Six months ago was January 1 (I haz good math skillz), also known as New Year’s Day.

I made three resolutions for this year.

1. Have friends over for dinner parties more often.
2. Try one new recipe a week.
3. Get my bloggin’ booty to the gym. (Doesn’t everyone in the world make this resolution every year?)

I’ve got to say I’m doing a pretty good job at keeping my resolutions (for once). WOO HOO!! Celebration for Kat!

I’m feeling brave enough to add to that resolution list five things I’d like to accomplish this summer for pure F-U-N. Life can get so busy I want to make sure I have a rockin’ summer of 2011.

My Goals for the Summer of 2011:

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1. Invent a new ice cream flavor.

Moose and I got hooked on our new ice cream maker (hoorah wedding gift!) last fall and I can’t wait to bring it out again now that the days are getting warmer. What will it be… Nutella with chopped walnuts? Champagne raspberry? Who knows. Maybe it will be something wild and sickeningly delicious like Sour Patch Kid Sorbet. I have 3 months to ponder all the wondrous possibilities.

 

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2. Kick it Sandlot style.

Since the whole throwing/hitting/catching thing isn’t exactly my cup of tea, I want to hit (*pun intended) up the batting cages. I just need to find Benny “the Jet” Rodriguez and we’ll make some s’mores in an awesome treehouse after hitting rounds of home runs. We can leave Hercules out of the equation. Note to self: Find Wendy Peffercorn sunglasses.

 

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3. Camping.

I think my husband had to clean his ears out when I told him I wanted to go camping. I’m not talking this fancy Chevy Chase American Lampoon-style camping. I’m talking sleeping on pinecones camping. I want to make baked beans and roast hot dogs over a campfire. I want to make baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and eat it with a biodegradable spork. I want to tromp through streams and run away from skunks and spot deer (hopefully not bears) from a distance.

 

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4. Antiquing. Specifically at the Brimfield Antique Fair.

This fair has been on my summer to-do list for the last three summers. I miss it every year. One year it was pouring rain. Another I had a wedding. So on. It’s shameful. I first read about the fair in Good Housekeeping and couldn’t believe it was so close to my house! It’s the type of antique fair and people drive from states far away to attend. Seeing that it’s only about an hour away, I thought I could swing it. It sounds pretty amazing – a mile long, 6000 vendors and over 130,000 buyers like me.

 

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5. Master the grill.

One of the things I have missed most about living in my childhood home (besides not having to do laundry, pay bills and the ever-loving presence of the good old Alpo and Hottie Dottie of course) is grilled food. Since we just got a grill all my barbequing dreams can come true! I want to know how to grill a steak, make shishkabobs and cedar plank salmon. I want to know how to turn on the grill without feeling like I might make our house explode. Watch out Bobby Flay, here I come.

 

I am now just realizing most of my resolutions involve edible items. Soooo…. bonus points for every time I go kayaking, send a postcard old-school-snail-mail style or slap on the good ole SPF 45 (which, frankly, should be often).

I hereby give myself until Labor Day weekend to get all these things done in the name of living a summer life worthwhile.

Don’t leave me hanging here. What are your summer to-do resolutions? Parasailing? Catching turtle? Eating pie?