Events

~ Home Again, Home Again ~

December 3, 2013 by Patricia Fisher

From cool northern air to warm southern sun and back again. Again this year my sister and I made the trip with our Dad to Florida, where he stays to keep warm while we head back north to ~~endure~~ enjoy the seasons. The transition as we (they) drove (while I crocheted in the backseat) from cold to slowly warming up temperatures was one thing, but hopping a plane in T-shirt weather and being picked up by your Hubby holding a winter coat….well let’s just say it takes a while to adjust!

There wasn’t time to complain, I hit the floor running. I had three days till Thanksgiving, and family dinner was at our house this year. I decided to add to the fun by getting our Christmas tree early and having the house decorated for the event (so early I might add that no one around us was set up selling trees yet. The perk was that our friendly, local tree farmer escorted us into the woods, helped us pick out our tree, and then gave it to us! Gotta love favor!). Let me just say…I have NEVER had my tree up for Thanksgiving, even when the kids were little! My oldest son reminded me that it was two days before Christmas when we put up a tree last year. So WHY, do you ask, did I decide this was the year to surprise everyone with being ahead of the game? I’m blaming it on the temperature drop between Florida and home, maybe shock. But in hind sight…I’m now relaxing by a warm fire as I write this, sitting next to a beautifully decorated tree in the warm glow of its lights. So that’s one thing crossed off the December to do list. Here are some highlights from the trip…

First and foremost- I got to spend a week with my girls (my youngest daughter and her now 9 month old baby girl)-highlight for sure!

Of course there are never any complaints about having to spend time at my brother and sister-in-law’s place.

He even popped the cork on some bubbly while we celebrated some much needed sibling fellowship time on the dock.

Not to mention their 35th wedding anniversary!

I’m oh, so grateful for both of them!

We took the baby girl to the beach…..

...and we visited one of our favorite places in St. Pete, Mazzaros Italian Market. All that goodness under one roof! LOVE this place! It would be dangerous to live close to.

So I took some pretty pictures…

and ate some good food.

Unfortunately the neighbors were away, so no fun visits with them. (They were sorely missed!) I took this photo for you, Bob & Pat, hope you are having a great time!

We did get to meet the neighbors on the other side and it seems they are Mazzaro fans also. So lots of great “foodie” talk.

We shopped a little.

I found this sign, which made me think of the Beekeeper. So…

…I said a tearful good-bye to this little cutie…

…and headed back to the “Not So Little Brown House” on Main ST. EB, to another cutie.

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Filed Under: Events, Family, Grandchildren, Photography Tagged With: Florida

~ Beginning Again ~

November 10, 2013 by Patricia Fisher

Here I am, beginning again. I’ve moved my blog to a self-hosted spot in the blogosphere and I’m facing the new challenges of learning a new, much more complex theme. There have been frustrations along the way, but also a satisfaction of seeing it through. So, I’m here, lots more to learn, lots of room to grow and very eager to make this space mine. It’s kinda like building a new garden bed and deciding just what you want to plant and where. I’m picking out my seeds in anticipation of great things to come. So come follow along and watch things grow!

Filed Under: Events, My Potager, Nature, Photography

~ The Mountains Were Calling ~

September 12, 2013 by Patricia Fisher

…or maybe the lake! Whichever, it had been over a year since we had been to the lake (“our” lake in the mountains) camping and it was time, we needed a break. Funny when you live in the Catskill Mountains that your (our) idea of a peaceful getaway is to go deeper into bigger mountains, the Adirondack Mountains. But there’s the lake, ahh the wonderful, peaceful Sacandaga Lake (not the Great Sacandaga). This is where the Beekeeper proposed to me, and it holds very fond memories for us. So with much effort we prepared the truck and camper for the escape. The truck, the camper, the canoe, two kayaks, all the fishing gear, all the cooking gear, tarps, tools, bedding, clothes ( warm and cold weather, it is the Adirondacks after all, the weather is a little unpredictable), sun screen, bug spray, (we’ll buy food on the way), The Beekeeper, Riley (our Golden Retriever) and Me, my books, magazines, paints and camera in tow, bound for a good time! Now that’s called “laboring to rest”! I didn’t take a picture of the truck and camper loaded down, so you will have to use your imagination. But as for the rest…here’s a peek at our vacation.

The Beekeeper fixing the new shades we bought for the camper…he seems to have a project wherever we go!

Riley has to be on a leash when we go camping. The only time she ever is. She may look sad, but really she loves camping.

Fires in the morning with coffee….

fires at night with wine.

Great foggy mornings.

Beautiful evening sunsets!

The Beekeeper’s next project, building something to hold his trolling motor on his kayak.

Riley enjoying the lake.

Fishing brings a smile…or maybe it was something I said.

My hook didn’t see too much action…..but my camera lens did.

I love the sunsets!

Did I mention this trip was planned around our anniversary?

I have to admit this was a tricky feat to accomplish….making good use of the beaver’s hard work.

Cheers to “friendship in marriage”!

We had snack too, fresh salsa from our garden tomatoes, but we’ll talk about that in another post.

As a side note… this is the spot out on the lake where the Beekeeper proposed to me 7 years ago.

And the island that we like to fish around.

Sometimes with success!

And it’s a good day for me when I get a chance for a shot like this….I’m in love with the loons!

I don’t think the feeling is mutual!

My treat for this year’s trip…

a glimpse (and about 25 shots) of a young loon. Thanks to the Beekeeper for a keen eye, and a fast trip back to the campsite to get me and my Nikon!

“All good things must come to an end”….who came up with that!?!

Actually, it was Chaucer, but I don’t really like it.

Good things should go on and on!

Filed Under: Events, Nature, Photography Tagged With: Adirondack Mountains, Camping, fishing, Golden Retriever, Lake

~ Catchin’ Up ~

June 14, 2013 by pafisher

WOW! I can’t believe I let so much time go by since my last post….never again! (I hope!) A lot has been going on. I’ll back-pedal a little. Our sister did come to Florida (see last post), our brother went to Germany with their oldest son for the Nurburgring race, so that left us 3 girls (or We Three Graces) on our own. We ate out, we went to the beach (of course at Pass-A-Grille), we had mimosas on the dock and we talked girl/mom stuff. It was great…much needed “sister time”.

Then it was time to come home…

which wasn’t too difficult since we were all heading back to NY, and because the Beekeeper and I were patiently awaiting the arrival of our little “Brit”. We call her Spice Girl (because she’s spice orange, not at all a reflection of our musical taste, just thought I’d make that clear) and you can’t help but smile when you drive her. I’m sure you’ll be seeing her in future posts.

My youngest daughter and her little family came to NY for a visit. This meant that I finally got my two granddaughters together. I’ve realized how difficult it is to get 2 babies looking and smiling at the same time, but you get it …they’re both the most beautiful little girls ever! At least through Nana’s eyes. Lots of holding and kisses, and a big family dinner.

Then it was time for gardening, which is still going on. We’ve had quite a bit of rain this spring, so it isn’t going fast.

Now that we have our Mini Cooper we’ve found ourselves part of a fun group.

Can you find “Spice Girl”?

Yep, there she is!!! Little cutie!

And there’s the Beekeeper on the “big screen”.

It was a fun night. The best part was after they fed us all barbecue at the dealership, we caravaned over some hilly back roads to the drive in. Picture dozens of Minis lined up and racing over the countryside at sunset….FUN!

Then a family wedding on the hubby’s side at an old country inn.

Here we are..Woo Hoo!

And lastly, the Country Living Fair has finely come to NY!

And we went, and I loved it!

It was just like the pictures in the magazine, only more fun.

We shopped….

and wandered…

and ate

and brought home a few treasures.

We met a great couple from the area that just happened to have honeybees living in the back of their house. So we ended up going back a few days later for a bee removal. But I’ll save that for another post.

They did point us in the direction of Walkway Over the Hudson, which we did. Here are a few pictures…

… they also suggested this restaurant, which we also did. Great day, and long ride back home…but we drove Spice Girl so that was fun too!

Filed Under: Events, Grandchildren, We Three Graces Tagged With: Country Living Fair, Hudson River, Mini Cooper, Nürburgring, Walkway Over the Hudson

~ Florida Fun ~

May 14, 2013 by pafisher

Back in Florida….My sister-in-law picked me up at the airport and drove me to downtown St. Pete for a surprise….my brother and their wonderful neighbors had a place reserved for us at the park for movie night. Chairs, snacks, wine, the trees lit up with little white lights and Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in “Sleepless in Seattle”. What a great, “welcome to town”!

Next morning I get to see my granddaughter, who’s now almost 3 months old!

Bob and Pat (the neighbors), took us out on their boat for a great tour of Pass-a-Grille (my favorite) and back up to Treasure Island for lunch. It was a beautiful sunshiny day, perfect for a boat ride….we were even entertained by some dolphins who decided to follow the boat for awhile….it was so awesome to see them up close! We’ve had dock time and yummy dinners, great conversation, lots of baby cuddling and still days left to enjoy with our sister, who arrives tomorrow night. What fun things will we find to do next?

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: Florida, grandchildren, Pass-A-Grille, St.Petersburgh

~ Sun, Sand and the Sea ~

March 7, 2013 by pafisher

A stroll on the beach

Filed Under: Events, Family, Nature, Photography Tagged With: Florida, Pass-A-Grille, The Beach

~ Sibling Love ~

March 3, 2013 by pafisher

Great start: Breakfast with my big brother…..I do love chick-fil-A chicken biscuits! (sadly, we don’t have these in NY)

Then…one of my favorite places….Pass-a-Grille Florida (ahhhhh…deep breath)….there’s a little art show at the beach today.

I found this vintage brooch and it’s going back to New York with me!

And I finish the day with a great dinner with my sister…… Vacation is a great thing!

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: Florida, Pass-A-Grille, The Beach

~ What to Do in Case of a Storm ~

February 28, 2013 by pafisher

Rain on my Florida vacation!

What to do now!

PERFECT!

The sun goes down on another great day!

Filed Under: Events, Family Tagged With: Florida

~ Change of Plans ~

February 24, 2013 by Patricia Fisher

On our way to JFK

I was supposed to be arriving in Florida today to wait out the last two weeks of my daughter’s pregnancy. Due date for my first granddaughter, March 4th. Excitement was in the air. Ticket was purchased….Newark to Tampa on Sunday afternoon…. baby shower Sunday night….then shopping for the finishing touches for the nursery…and wait …wait…wait!

So, Wednesday I’m in the middle of lunch with two of my “horsey” girlfriends and I get a call from Florida, my daughter saying, ” Mom, don’t cry, but I’m at the hospital. I’m in labor”. So my girlfriends helped me pack, cleaned my kitchen and proceeded out to the barn to feed my little herd while the “beekeeper” rushes home. I buy a second ticket because it cost more to change my ticket than to buy a new one!!! We’re off to JFK, which was the only place I could find a flight to get me there as fast as possible. While sitting in NYC traffic…my granddaughter is born!

~ Delilah Ruth ~

I arrive within hours…to this precious face…. and now I am spending the next several days holding this sweet little gift from God….Happy Nana!

Filed Under: Events, Family Tagged With: Florida, grandchildren