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Pairs: Reflections on the Canal

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Every week when Debbie and I walk the canal, we turn on the Runkeeper app on my iPhone. The distance rarely changes more than 0.1 of a mile, but our time is improving. The best part about having my phone handy is that it’s ready to capture a lovely view. Here are two reflections for this week’s Pairs at Helena’s blog. Check out the rest of them there.

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This is the first bridge we walk under as we leave Shoen Place in Pittsford. I didn’t notice that the reflection of the sky is much more detailed in the photograph than the actual sky until I uploaded the photo. 

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I don’t know the technical name for this structure, but it’s used to control the amount of water in the canal. You can see the difference in light between the two photos. This one was taken on our way back to Pittsford, probably an hour later than the first photo. I love the arrows pointing at one another.

It’s a good thing we weren’t hoping to walk today! It’s nearly 7:30 in the morning, and still almost dark since it’s been raining and blowing ever since last night. It’s gotten much cooler, too. It’s supposed to clear up (but not warm up) this afternoon. I hope it does because we’ve been invited to a fall celebration at Skylar’s school which will take place outside.

Pairs: Morning Light

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When Debbie and I arrived at Schoen Place yesterday for our morning walk, we noticed the beautiful light behind the parking lot. I didn’t even know there was a small pond back there, but here are two shots of the morning light. It was a bit foggy as well. After a total washout of a weekend, we’ve had a week of almost perfect weather:  cool nights and mornings, and warm, sunny afternoons. 

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We’re really enjoying our weekly morning walks along the Erie Canal. We start in Pittsford (about half way between her house and mine) and walk to Bushnell’s Basin. Round trip is about 5.8 miles, and we have breakfast at the Coal Tower Restaurant at the end of the walk. Yesterday we agreed we’d keep it up until it snows so, hopefully, we’ll have many more weeks to go!

Spring has Sprung

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It takes a long time for Spring to arrive in Western New York, but after several days in the 70’s and 80’s it is here. Last night after dinner, Tracy and I walked to Highland Park. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, it is a fabulous place, and less than two blocks from our front door. According the website, there are over 1200 lilac bushes, 35 varieties of magnolias, and many azaleas, rhododendron, and gorgeous flower beds. The pansy bed supposedly has over 10,000 plants and was totally redesigned this winter. The lilacs are just beginning to bud. Hopefully, our warm weather will continues because the annual Lilac Festival begins on Friday. Visitors won’t be disappointed, however, because the magnolias and flowering trees are simply beautiful. Here are some highlights from our walk:

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I’ve saved a couple photos for Wednesday’s Pairs posting, and I’m likely to be back with some photos of the Lilac Festival in the next week or two.

 

Pairs: Open and Closed

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Two posts in one day is unusual, but I’m already a day late for Helena’s wonderful Pairs meme. Those of you that have been following me through several winters know I rely on grocery store flowers to get some early spring into the house. Trader Joe’s had bunches of daffodils this week for $1.49. Grabbing two bunches of them was a no brainer.

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I’ve been fascinated with all the different pairs that have shown up on Helena’s blog. I keep meaning to make a list so when I’m at a loss for a pair, I can channel someone else’s genius.

Three Pairs

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I have three pairs to share with you today for Helena’s wonderful meme. Yesterday afternoon Adam’s parents, Tracy, and I spent the afternoon at The George Eastman House. After we saw the new exhibit on Technicolor, we took a tour of the mansion. Luckily, it was one of my very good friends who was our docent, so we got a great tour. Every year, the Eastman House is filled with Dutch bulbs. George Eastman had three greenhouses and from November to April each year, he had wonderful Dutch bulbs blooming in his home. Excellent records were kept, so the staff at The Eastman House knows what kind of bulbs he ordered. Rather than have a few bulbs over many months, they flood the house with gorgeous blooms from the middle of February to the first of March. Needless to say, the residents of Rochester are very grateful for a breath of spring during our long winter—this year in particular!

Outside and Inside:

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Upstairs and Downstairs:

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Zoom In, Zoom Out: 

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This is just a glimpse of the gorgeous flowers we saw, and the exhibit on the development of Technicolor was also wonderful.

 

Pairs: Week 4-Opposites

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We finally got a sunny day over 20° today, so I headed off to the car wash. Not surprisingly, so did a lot of other people. I have a tag that allows me to “whisk” through the special line. Today—-not. so. much. The key tag line actually took longer than either other line, primarily because one person could not figure out how to merge into the other lines.

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Before I reached the car wash, I thought the before and after photos might make a good pair, so I pulled over in a parking lot and took a photo of my dirty car. Afterwards, I took another one. Good thing I did it quickly because by the time I drove from the car wash to the grocery store, the car was already getting dirty again. At least the salt has been washed off!

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These are hardly artistic photos, so I’ll leave you with this one that I took as the car went through the car wash.

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I’m linking my pairs up on Helena’s blog with others you may enjoy. I love seeing the variety of pairs that pop up each week.

One Photo & Twenty Words

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Autumn brings mixed feelings. I’m not a fan of the upcoming long, dreary winter, but I love the autumn splendor.

I’m joining Abi’s meme with a  photo taken at the beautiful Pennisula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin.

 

A Trip to the Beach: Zoom In, Zoom Out

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I had another post planned for this week’s Zoom In, Zoom Out, but I’m glad I didn’t get it written. We’ve had a week of absolutely fabulous weather for late September, lows in the mid-50’s and highs in the mid-70’s. Yesterday afternoon I just couldn’t find much enthusiasm for any of the long list of projects on my list, so I suggested we take advantage of the wonderful weather and drive up to Charlotte Beach on Lake Ontario. One of our prime motivations was a last chance for a chocolate almond ice cream cone from Abbott’s.

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A photo of the ice cream cones would have been more appropriate, but I was so intent on enjoying mine it didn’t occur to me to take a picture! As we walked to the car to come home, I did at least capture the shop.

As we ate, we walked across the street to the park, and walked along the board walk. 

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The beach itself was pretty empty, but this was one of several sailboats out for a spin.

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One last shot for a summery Zoom In, Zoom Out! You can find others right here on Helena’s blog.

Final 2014 Scavenger Hunt Post

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Although it’s felt like fall for over a week now, I still have trouble believing summer is over! It’s so hard for me to let go of the sunny, warm weather knowing a long, cold winter is in front of me. I finished Rinda’s Scavenger Hunt last month, and you can see all my scavenger hunt photos here, but I do have a few extras to share.

First the alternatives:

A birdhouse. This was easy. We have one in our pear tree in our front yard. The first two years it was inhabited by wrens, but it has stayed empty this year.

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Tracy also has a decorative birdhouse that sits in the garden by our side door.

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A hot air balloon. One afternoon sitting on the lawn at the cottage on Conesus Lake, I looked up and saw this hot air balloon floating across the sky.

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When Sarah was here this summer, we visited the Avon Flea Market and I found some different horns:

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It’s so amusing to find them mixed in with such a random assortment of items.

As always, the scavenger hunt was lots of fun, and I’m already looking forward to the 2015 version. Thanks, Rinda, for hosting such a wonderful summer project!

Zoom In, Zoom Out in the Adirondacks

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Tracy and I spent a lovely weekend (Saturday-Monday) in the Adirondacks with our good friends, Bob and Cathy. Tracy and Bob traditionally do a two-night packback hiking trip to one or more of the 46 High Peaks. This year, however, they did two peaks in a day trip. That turned out to be fortuitous since Saturday was cold and rainy. We made the best of it, building a fire in the Great Room of The Ledgerock Motel, and having dinner at our favorite restaurant, Caffe Rustica.

Sunday dawned bright and cold, and we all took off to the Adirondack Loj. Tracy and Bob took one trail, and this year Cathy and I decided to hike as well. We made the nearly 5 mile round trip to Marcy Dam and back. It was lovely and peaceful. As you’ll see in the photos only a few of the trees have begun to turn color.

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Marcy Dam—on the way to Mt. Marcy, the Adirondack’s highest peak

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We were on the trail by 8 am so the clouds hadn’t “burned off” yet.

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Looking up the creek at the waterfall at the dam. Another one for Rinda’s Scavenger Hunt!

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And the Zoomed-In view

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One of the few trees on the trail that had turned color.

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This one’s on its way to orange. I loved the green and orange together.

Cathy and I were back from our hike by 10:30 and took off to Keene Valley. We discovered a wonderful Farmer’s Market/Craft Show on the way. We each bought a scarf, and some pastries for the guys when they came off the mountain. The produce was wonderful, and I picked up some late peaches that are delicious.

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I’ve never seen such skinny little eggplants. I’m not sure I’d know how to cook them.

After cleaning up at the motel, having a late lunch in Lake Placid, and walking through our favorite shops (but not finding much), we returned to the Adirondack Loj to wait for the guys. While we waited we walked down to the lake, and I found another Zoom In, Zoom Out offering.

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I always love to find a cairn along the way.

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And one final view of the lake.

It was great to get away for a weekend, and Cathy and I purchased a book at the Adirondack Loj Information Center on short hikes, so I think we’ll try to make our little hike a tradition in the future. Tracy has conquered 39 of the 46 High Peaks, so he’s thinking it’s going to take a couple trips a year to finish up while he’s still in good hiking condition. I’m happy to tag along anytime.

More  Zoom In, Zoom Out offering for this week are here.

 

 

Zoom In, Zoom Out At the Lake

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Friday we spent the day on Owasco Lake. It’s one of the smaller Finger Lakes, closer to Syracuse than Rochester. Our friends had rented a cottage there for a month, and we finally managed to get down there right at the end of their time at the lake. It was a cooler day than most, unless you were in the sun where it was plenty warm. The cottage sits at the top of a hill, and there are several sets of stairs down from the lake. The photos were taken from the first lower yard; the cottage is up still another set of stairs.

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It was so cool when we left home, I didn’t take a swimsuit with me. Probably a mistake, but I wasn’t the least bit unhappy soaking up the sun sitting on the deck. Tina and Tracy enjoyed floating on the rafts, and Sue took out the little kayak.

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All in all, it was a lovely way to spend one of the last days of summer. Although, I must admit, the forecast for tomorrow is for one of the highest temperatures of the summer. Saturday, when we’re off on a little road trip to Canada, is expected to be in the mid-60’s and rainy. Such is weather at the end of the season in western New York!

You can check out the other ZIZO pairings at Helena’s blog.

 

Zoom In, Zoom Out on the Lighthouse

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Another week has flown by, and it’s time for Week 35 of Helena’s meme, “Zoom In, Zoom Out.” Our church is one of ten churches within the city limits of Rochester. Most of these urban churches are struggling with finances, decreasing congregations, and buildings that need serious repair. Several years ago, the ten churches joined forces to help one another and to see how we might be able to coordinate our resources and collaborate for change. Although there are certainly still churches that are struggling, there have been some remarkable transformations and successes. We celebrated those with a picnic at Charlotte Beach on Sunday, and while I was there I took time to capture my ZIZO photos for the week.

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You can see from the photos that we had a glorious day for the picnic! We’re trying hard to celebrate every last good day of the summer!

Zoom In, Zoom Out on the New Fountain

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Early in July, we purchased a new fountain for our shade garden at the Corn Hill Arts Festival. It’s now been functional for awhile, and as much as I like the way it looks, the calming sound of it is the very best part. It’s just off our patio, so as soon as we sit down we can here the water trickling from leaf to leaf. (Sadly, the bugs seem to have been having a feast on our hostas, so the photographs aren’t as pleasing as I’d like.)

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You can find more ZIZO pairings at Helena’s blog.

Zoom In, Zoom Out at The Antique Boat Museum

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There were lots of opportunities for Zooming In and Zooming Out this weekend. First a nest of ospreys near the end of the dock at the Antique Boat Museum.

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The fireplace in the dining room on the Bolt/McNally house boat.

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And one of the displays of antique boats.

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You’ll find more examples of zooming in and out right here.

Weekend Camping Trip

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Warning:  It’s a long post, but mostly photos; not too wordy. We left Saturday for Selkirk Shores, a state park on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. We’ve been camping with our friends, Bob and Cathy, for over 20 years. We used to go to the Adirondacks with our four kids, and climb one of the 40 High Peaks. Then, after the kids left home, we missed a few years. Now we go nearly every summer, but rarely do we hike. This weekend was no exception.

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We did wander down to the lake after dinner on Saturday, but spend most of the weekend in Clayton, NY.

Some views of the beach:

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One of the main reasons we went to Clayton was to visit the Antique Boat Museum.

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I had no idea how much I would enjoy it. I took LOTS of photos, and think I may make a small soft cover book of them. 

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The museum itself is a treasure, and the gardens are gorgeous.

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 There are four or five buildings and we were able to take a tour of the Bolt/McNally house boat.

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The curating of the displays was excellent, but it was the details of the restored boats that I enjoyed photographing the most.

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And a final view of the St. Lawrence River from one of the boat houses.

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The town of Clayton is lovely as well. We had fabulous pizza (pulled pork and a BLT) at the Wooden Boat Brewery before heading downtown.

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My friend, Clara, and her husband have their names engraved on the yellow chair in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. Clara’s sister is the mayor of Clayton.

 

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There are a number of wonderful murals painted on the sides of buildings, but this one was my favorite.

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I managed to capture three more items for Rinda’s Summer Scavenger Hunt, but I’m saving them for the end of the month recap. I’ll be back tomorrow with some Zoom In, Zoom Out photos from the weekend as well!