Happy New Year

Christmas is over and it was wonderful. On my birthday, the 29th, we had 8 for a simple dinner, but on Sunday the 3rd we will have 28 for a "before and after" party, just hors d'oeuvres and desserts-that is my idea of heaven.

Then, when I get my bathroom scale fixed, I will weigh myself-now it says I weigh 101 and that is about 40 pounds light!!! I love it though. So, in reality, I won't be able to tell how much I gained over the holidays-yippee!!

It is snowing right now and so lovely-we are not going out tonight so it does not matter to us. The big blizzard is supposed to pass us by, only dumping about 2 inches on us. Just enough to be beautiful.

Happy New Year to you all. Talk to you next year.

Christmas is almost here

Can't believe my last blog was a month ago. We has just tagged our tree. Well it is set up and beautiful in our front hallway. We can see it from both our dining /family room and the parlor. We love the new spot for the tree!!

Our plan to drive to NYC in our 1929 Model A has been cancelled. Richard finally realized that it would be too dangerous after a close call the other day in it. So my annual birthday party on the 29th which was moved to Jan 3, will still remain on the 3rd. Not quite the same, but will be fun anyway. Richard makes eggnog from his mother's recipe and it is out of this world. I can't wait to drink some.

That huge snowstorm that blanketed the East coast missed us-and I can't say I am sad about that. We can get out and don't have to shovel first!! It missed both of my sister's too, one in Connecticut and one in Vermont. But our kids in NYC and LI got it.

Probably the last communication you will get from me before Christmas, so Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Holiday activities

We are gearing up for the holidays-as are all of you. We tagged our tree yesterday and are going to put it in a different spot in the house this year. It was very warm yesterday, so we did our outside lights-to be turned on in early December. At least my fingers didn't freeze this year. I am getting smarter in my old age.

We have filled numerous bird feeders and they empty out almost daily. It is so much fun to watch the birds from the dining room window.

Grandma Moses' birthplace is just a short walk from our house and her grandson, Will, is painting in her style. His studio is less than 20 minutes from here and it is a very interesting spot to visit. A great diner is across the street for a lunch or early dinner.

Winter has come

We are expecting our first snow tonight-just a dusting, but snow nonetheless. I guess all that firewood will finally be put to good use. We will have our first fire tomorrow to welcome our guests from Paris back to our B&B. Richard and I stacked three cords of wood in the past three days-it was fun to do-but the final mess has to be raked and put in a container for kindling-that is the worse part.

We also made lots of apple sauce from our apple trees-got a hint from a guest to do it in the crock pot. Worked so much faster, but not as much quantity. Sure is good though-we serve it all winter long when fresh fruit is not in such abundance.

Just got home from a party and Richard is watching the World Series. It is an exciting game so far. I had a laundry to do and some emails to answer and now I am relaxing writing this blog.

Going to visit my sister in Connecticut this weekend-our other sister is coming with me as a surprise. We don't often get all three of us together and I can't wait. We have two parties to go to and one of them is sort of dressy-that is always a challange-as my life on this farm does not warrent dressy clothes. It will be fun to dress up.

Fall has Fallen!!

I don't believe it has been almost a month since I posted a blog-I am very remiss. But, we have had a busy fall with guests, gardening and gathering wood for the stove.

Fall is already past peak and we have had several hard frosts-my gorgeous dahlias, with which I decorate the breakfast plates have turned black, been dug up and are in storage in the basement. There are plenty to give away, so if anyone reads this, and is in the area, I am happy to share.

We finally stacked wood in the garage-now we are really ready for winter. Haven't fired up the wood stove yet-it is only mid-October after all, but we are prepared to do so if need be.

We have three couples here right now, one from Rhode Island, one from Turkey and one from England. Breakfast this morning was fascinating with everyone wanting to know a bit about the other country (state) and conversation was lively.

The couple from Rhode Island are shape note singers, www.fasola.org. Check it out to see what it is. I had not heard this singing except one time and it was with a chorale. The English couple and Richard and I went to hear the singing-there were 121 people from around the states singing a cappella, and it was gorgeous. There was also a pot luck lunch but we did not stay for that.

Hope to be back here before a month has passed.

stacking wood

It is hard to believe that winter is not far away. We spent several hours today stacking wood, splitting some and sawing some, for the wood stove. Probably we will fire it up earlier this year-it was 37 degrees last night!!! In September no less-how can this be?

I am checking out my closet to put away summer clothes and I see that I have not worn many of of them and have gotten my fall things out of the attic several weeks earlier than ever before.

Doing the fall cleanup in the garden in September is odd, but the leaves are falling and the glads need to be dug. So far the dahlias are gorgeous and will decorate the breakfast plates until the first frost. Then I have to dig them as well.

It's Over

Racing season is over and we are back to a normal flow of guests-mostly weekends.

I managed to sneak off last Tuesday to visit my sister and grand niece in Connecticut for two days. It was very relaxing and fun. We went to the free table at the recycle center and got a wonderful play house for Christina. After spending two hours scrubbing it (did I say "relaxing") we set it up on Laurie's deck and all three of us got inside so that Christina could "cook" dinner for us on the little stove. It was adorable (and a bit cramped!)

Now the apples are turning red and I am gearing up to make applesauce to freeze for our winter guests.

More Poetry

From a guest and from Richard about the little Chinese girl killed in Maine by Hurricane Bill

CRUEL SEA (by our guest)

A little flower from China
Swallowed by the sea
Once again we wonder
How cruel can nature be

By Richard

The little girl from China,
For whom a bell did toll.
The whirling waves did take her life
The Lord now has her soul.

Racing season

There is only one week left to the thoroughbred horse racing season. It is kind of sad in a way-the B&B business drops off, the excitement in Saratoga quiets down, and Richard and I have only each other to look at!!

We have had such wonderful guests here-one couple will be here a total of 12 days when they leave the day after Labor Day. They are terrific and we will miss them. They actually drove up from Florida, with stops at family and friends along the way. We also had another couple here just for the weekend and they, too, drove all the way from Florida.

One of our guests who left this morning does tree climbing for New York City. He saw our weeping birch and told us it really needed trimming. He offered to do it for us-wish I had taken before and after pictures. The "after" is gorgeous. What a difference it made for that tree. It looks very happy now.

Guest's Poetry

This past weekend we had a guest who not only can write poetry, but went swimming in our swimming hole 6 times in 2 days!! I told him we have lived here 11 years and I have not been in, BUT, today I did-and it was wonderful-refreshing after several hours in the garden weeding, picking blueberries and dead heading.

The poetry below was written about the swimming hole.


NATURE'S DRILL

Gravel cycled in the rock
By water from the hill
Slowly, slowly round and round
Goes Mother Nature's drill.



MOTHER NATURE

How long did Mother take
To drill these holes in rock?
If only we could read the dial
On Mother Nature's clock.

Washington County Fair

It does not seem possible that a year has passed since the last Washington County Fair which takes place starting next week. It is located between Greenwich and Saratoga Springs and gets wonderful attendance from the entire area, including Lake George.

The fair and Saratoga Horse racing happening during the same week is exciting, something for everyone for sure. Famlies with children will go to the races one day and to the fair another-vastly different experiences for everyone.

It has been really hot here the past three days, but we can't complain, even though we do. It is still cool in the evening and sleeping is a joy. Our guests told us this morning that the stars were so bright last night and so numerous-they could not believe it. They don't come from nice fresh air like we have here.

Felling Trees

Today is the day to fell two 90 foot trees that have been blocking our view a bit more each year. One is down now and the other is being worked on by my 80 year young hubby.

I can't wait to have dinner and look out over our new view.

Too bad it is not good fire wood-but dragging it across the stream and through the wetlands would be tedious anyway. So it is just as well.

And they are off!!

Racing season started yesterday and even with major rain late in the day, it was a success-better than last year both in attendance and revenue.

And the storm last night was terrific-I thought we would end up in Kansas!! But the house is solid and we stayed right here. I am so glad, because the gardens are gorgeous and Saratoga is thrilling.

Visions of Birthday's past

Well the big birthday parties are over and the friends have departed-mixed in with them were some wonderful guests and our friends and guests enjoyed meeting each other at the breakfast table.

On Wednesday the 29th, horse racing season starts and we are all geared up! It will be a busy season for us and we are looking forward to it.

All too soon the summer will be over-but we are enjoying and warm days and cool nights-maybe we won't have to turn on the AC's all summer!!

Birthday weekend

This weekend we celebrate Richard's 80th birthday-no one believes he is that old-he is very active and spry.

Sunday we are having the kids and grand kids here for dinner and Monday (the actual birthday) we are having friends who lived on either side of us on Long Island and another friend who was originally a B&B guest many years ago. She is now a wonderful friend, who is returning to India in November and we will miss her. One of the couples now lives near Boston and the other lives in Cincinnati. He does not know they are coming and I am so excited for the surprise.

Light Show

At one a.m. I was awakened by the most ferocious rain and lightening I had ever witnessed. It was both frightening and gorgeous. The rain was pelting in the house and I had to run around and close windows, mop up rugs and furniture and then dry my hair, which got soaked.

This morning I saw that all the Annabelle Hydrangeas were toppled over-broken mid stem-and so were the Hollyhocks-it was a sad day for this gardener. But a more glorious day could not be imagined-cool, low humidity and sunny-I worked in the garden most of the day.

So after having wine with guests, we all decided to go for pizza-We just finished and it was so much fun to talk to our guests and really get to know them.

Picking Fruit

Why oh why do the raspberries and the blueberries have to be ripe at almost the same time? Seems like I spent a long time picking raspberries today and when I walked by the blueberries there were some beautiful plump ones of them too. So our guests will have freshly picked fruit for their breakfast tommorow.

Deer for our Anniversary

Today is our 38th Anniversary and we had a lovely surprise. Tonight, for the first time, we saw a deer on our groomed property. Of course we have seen them in the fields for the past 11 years, but never right outside our door-nibling on the plum tree! Well, to tell the truth, I am not sure I loved that part, but she was a beautiful creature none the less.

Ride in the Rain

It was pouring rain, but our guests really wanted to ride in the Model A convertible-so, we took them for a ride-we all laughed and tried to wipe the rain out of our eyes. Boy, does rain ever sting at 30 miles per hour! We all got drenched, but it was fun. What we do for our guests!!

Small Fox

While eating dinner last night, a small fox wandered by the window. It had eyes only for the gold finches on the feeder and when they flew away, the fox ambled off. It was a beautiful creature. The last time we saw a fox on the property was at least five years ago. Just hope they don't like flowers!

Mini-getaway

We just got home from Vermont where we went to our nephew's wedding in Stowe and stayed overnight at a lovely B&B (what else) in Hyde Park. The rain prediction was wrong and the day was cloudy but very nice. The wedding was gorgeous on the grounds of friends with gorgeous views.

What a wonderful way to spend a weekend.

Small World times two

Some might say it is just coincidence-but I call it a small world. We had a couple here two weeks ago with a gorgeous Harley. My sister and her husband have a harley as well, so I emailed them both so they could meet for coffee. They live near each other in Connecticut. Turns out they met at Mount Greylock in Massachusetts last fall. Now they are going to meet and go riding.

Another story is this. We had a guest from Japan 15 years ago-he contacted us two weeks ago out of the blue. We also had a guest from Peru many years ago-he and his wife now live in Japan-AND they have met!!.

New York City Ballet and strawberries

The ballet is coming. 20 performances in July. The schedule was just released and it is a great one. If you are a ballet lover, as we are, then come for a visit.

Our spring gardens are at their best this year. I have been working in them a great deal.

Heard that mothballs keep rabbits, deer and voles away from flowers-so I put some around. Also put some in the strawberry patch. Dont ever do that! The gorgeous berries have a funky taste-not like moth balls, but not edible either. And it was a bumper crop this year. Hate to throw them all away, but have to. Can't think of any other reason they would taste so terrible.

Baltimore Oriole

Finally we have seen this beautiful bird-although not on the special feeder I bought for him. He seems to be satisfied with the local food-mandarin oranges and grape jelly don't strike his fancy.

The finches are gobbling up the niger seed-and so are the mourning doves!! How they get on those feeders and eat is something to watch.

Balloon Fest

We are full of hot air-literally-the balloon fest is this weekend. There are so many things to do, but watching the early morning flights of so many multi-colored balloons is awesome. Of course there is food, and many other activities as well.

Americade-Lake George

The Americade motocycle event is in Lake George this week. About 60,000 cycles will be in the area and it is wonderful to see them in groups. Occasionally we can hear their wonderful roar off in the distance.

We usually have one or two of the riders and wives stay here. We hope to get some of them this year-they are such a diverse group of people with that common bond. Sort of like the Model A club that we belong to.

Today we took down a very large dead branch from our cottonwood tree. First we tried to do it with a chain saw, but the angle was terrible and Richard was not able to go any higher on the ladder, so he resorted to a hand saw and I had a rope tied around the branch so I could pull it away from him. Tree removal experts we are not, but we did it and had fun together.

Rain , wonderful rain

Finally we have rain and so far over two inches. The flowers, vegetables and trees are so happy and so are we. Two days to do other things besides mow and garden.

We took a day trip to visit our daughter and son-in -law in Gilboa ( almost three hours west and south of here) and we had a wonderful day-they fed us royally-in fact we ate from 1:15 to 5:45 almost without stopping. At least I did not have to cook dinner when we got home at 9!

new guests

Yes, I know-new guests for a B&B is a bit redundant-However, these new guests are coming all the way from Lithuania. Their daughter was just graduated from a private school in New Hampshire and is entering Skidmore. How exciting for her and for us to meet them.

Lithuania just elected its first female president-good for them.

The hammock is ready

We just receivecd a new hammock and it is hanging between two trees in the shade and by a long flower bed.

The older hammock is now down by the waterfall, on the bridge.

It will be hard to choose which one to relax in and read, sleep or just talk with your partner.

hidden lilac

We just found the most beautiful lilac tree hidden on our property in the woods. We are thinking of getting a tree spade, digging it up and planting it where we and our guests can enjoy it. Of course we have to wait until it is dormant, but we have to save our pennies (or dollars!) anyway.

wonderful friend

The nicest thing just happened-I did a little favor for a friend and she just gave me a beautiful pair of earrings that she made. Jackie is a wonderful jewelry designer and creator- http://www.jacquelinesjewelry.com/ . Take a look at her site-it is terrific.

Richard and I and some friends are going to have dinner at the Cambridge Hotel and check out the new chef. Afterwards we are going to Hubbard Hall for a cabaret starring Kevin Maguire.

Rainy Day

Today has been wonderful for the plants-many of which I just planted, like the parsley, tomatoes and cucumbers and geraniums. But I would love to be outside-instead I spent today cleaning and getting ready for a busy weekend. Tomorrow I will go out and putter.

Farmers Markets

This weekend brings the opening of local farmers markets. They are such fun-each week a new flower or vegetable arrives or a new vendor with soaps, baked goods, jewelry or a miriad of other crafts.

I love to get the first spinach and lettuce (mine are not ready yet-though when I uncovered the mulch 6 weeks ago there was green spinach which we have been eating right along)

Home again

After three days visiting my sister and having a large garage sale, I am back home to gardening and other neglected opportunities. We had such fun doing the sale, but it is a lot of work and she has all the leftovers to take to her church fair.

A wonderful bookstore near us has re-opened after the long winter. It is called Owl Pen-they do not have a website, but if you are looking for a special book Edie will find it for you. The number there is 518-692-7039. Or, if you visit us, we will give you directions to this wonderful old barn housing thousands of categorized books-old and new.

Fresh Asparagus

Just went out to the asparagus bed and I could not believe my eyes. Probably 100 wonderful stalks are ready to be snapped off. So tonight we will have roasted asparagus with fresh mozarella cheese and buttered panko crumbs, along with the London Broil with horseradish sauce. Yummy.

On the way to Lake George this morning our guests saw a gaggle of geese, a wild turkey family and some deer. They live in Manhattan and don't get much chance to witness this wildlife. New York City boasts a different sort of wild life.

The other guests who left this morning had spent two days at the Washington County Antique Fair. He collects antique postcards, pictures and writing paper. She loves painted furniture. He had more success than she!!

If you love fresh asparagus, reserve soon and we will create a special breakfast including it. We will get fresh brown eggs from our neighbor to make an asparagus omelet.

Americade

Just got our first reservation for Americade-hope that we hear from our 'regulars" soon. They have become great friends and we do look forward to seeing them again. It does not seem possible that it is only a month away.

Hyde Collection

We just got back from a wonderful early afternoon at the Hyde Collection-.The current special exhibit is "Old Masters from the Sparling collection" Wow-what an exhibit. It was a beautiful drive up there and Glens Falls has some great restaurants as well. www.hydecollection.com.

Bicyclists take note

On April 18 and 19 there were 1800 bike racers from all over the world participating in the Tour of the Battenkill. This year was a two day event, Sunday was for the pros-126 mile ride through so of the most beautiful country side many of them had ever seen. www.tourofthebattenkill.

While the bicyclists are now gone, the wonderful roads are still here, and we have the maps for the shorter routes. Bring your bikes, lock them in the garage when not in use and enjoy our glorious country side.

Bird Watching

We are having so much fun watching birds-ever since one of our guests counted 54 varieties we have been much more diligent-with watching and feeding.

Right now there are nests and baby birds all over-I am trying to trim back several shrubs and the noise I hear if I get too near the nest does not even sound like a bird!! More like screaming meemies!! I have some pretty funny looking shrubs-I don't want to upset the mothers.

Model A

Yesterday was so beautiful we went for a ride in our Model A Ford. We love to drive through covered bridges-the sound is terrific. There are quiet a few covered bridges within driving distance of our B&B.

Artists reception

Last evening we went to the reception of Mark Tougias, artist, www.marktougias.com. His work is so gorgeous. His handling of lighting and subject matter actually can take your breath away. Our friends bought a painting. Guess Mark was happy we brought them along.

Afterwards we went to a concert of Steve Marking-baritone. What a voice, but even better, his accompanist was Lincoln Mayorga-famous in the Hollywood arena. What a thrill to actually see him-we hear him on PBS all the time.

Summer weather

We are going to have a record breaker today=89 degrees in April!!! But it is beautiful-our first mowing of the season and the tractors are getting the fields ready for planting.

Did you know that cows can detect odors up to five miles away? I just learned that today along with the fact that the age of a cow can be determined by counting the rings on it's horns-kind of like a tree!

guests on new deck

We took our first guests to see the new deck this morning-the sun was out, birds all over and Mike is a "birder". He had his camera, binoculars and spotting scope with him. He is a serious photographer and spent an hour down by the falls taking pictures and watching birds.

deck by the waterfall

We just came in from putting the final touches on the deck by the waterfall-lugging heavy rocks to make a step up to the deck was backbreaking-but we love the results.

We hope our guests will enjoy a glass of wine or a picnic there starting in a couple of weeks.

Bees Please

The lovers of bees are coming May 1 and 2-there is an apiary lecture and class right here in Greenwich.

country life b&b

My first blog and I am having fun. We own a beautiful Bed & Breakfast in Greenwich NY very near Saratoga Springs. Our website is http://www.countrylifebb.com/. Right now we have two couples here, one is a Paintball store owner and his lovely partner who is at Yale studying to do autopsies. They met taking ballroom dancing classes.

The other couple is here for their third wedding anniversary-he is a pharmacist and she works with him. That is how they met.

We never lack for interesting guests with wonderful stories to tell