Leaving Luzerne

During the last days of Luzerne I said goodbye to campers, the lake, and clinked glasses with new friends.  A friend and I got in the car and on the road by 4:45 am to drive home in one day.  When we hit the 1000 mile countdown, this amazing rainbow came out!  It actually turned into a double rainbow, but I wasn't able to catch it.  It formed a huge arc over the road that we drove under as we headed home to the best state ever - Wisconsin!

Vermont

During one of the last days of camp my friend and I drove into Vermont.  Upstate NY is beautiful, but as soon as we crossed the state line everything was astoundingly gorgeous and peaceful.  Whichever way we turned our heads we saw picturesque farmland and landscapes, and drove through several cute towns.  I understand now why it's always talked about as a weekend getaway state!

Something New - Part 2

Saratoga is also home to a large race track, and I witnessed a real horse race for the first time.  We walked through a large park area, the inside betting stations, and into the pavilion to get up close to the track.  The horses are beautiful, and the whole thing got me way more excited than I was expecting.  I lost all the money I bet - 5 bucks.

Something New

For the first time in my life I went in to a cigar shop when I visited Saratoga Springs. It smelled really good and I loved all the details on the labels and boxes.  No personal purchases :)

Small Things

After wandering around constantly for the past year, I'm really excited to be moving into an apartment this fall where I can bring all my more permanent home-y possessions:  kitchen supplies, bedding, some furniture, etc.  I picked up these coasters the other day at a little shop in Beacon, NY, which sells homemade, crafty goods.  From this really great business, they're made of felt, and when you lay them all next to each other, they show a complete picture of a tandem bike.  The small, useful things around the house that make you smile are the most satisfying :)

Up

 

 

The other day I was thinking that I spend a lot of time looking up here - clouds dotting the sky, moon and stars, where the tops of the pines reach their fingers into oblivion.  It's so open and interrupted, and it's good to find yourself by getting lost in the expanse.  Yesterday it was really nice out and I wrote this silly little verse about it:

Up

I gaze, into the sky

At the clouds, I turn my eye

Adventure beckons - my mind's aflight

Here I leave my earthly plight.

A smiling cow, a spouting whale

There's a ship in full-blown sail.

I hope I never see the day

Where sky is not a place for play.

When all seems down and turned around,

Up is where I find my ground!

Eating Alone

 

 

  

 

The other day I walked down the road into town and went to a little restaurant where I sat and ate breakfast by myself.  I sipped coffee and read my book, and then relished a monstrous breakfast with some people-watching on the side.  I've never actually gone to eat a complete meal alone...it was awesome - just me and the food totally focused on each other.  Next experiment:  solitary trip to the movie theater!