And to All a Good Night!

 

Wow! It is so Cold!

Conesus Lake has ice on it! This normally doesn't happen till January. From the looks of the weather reports, we'll be ice skating by Christmas. 

Autumn Rose

We don't have many leaves left on the trees but there are still a few flowers. I found this perfect miniture rose in a yard in Irondequoit. They are calling for some snow this week, but right now it is still beautiful out.

Canadice Lake

This year the fall foliage season has been a complete washout! It has rained and rained and rained. So when it stopped raining for a few hours today I figured I better dash out and test that new camera I just bought. I'm glad I did.

When people think of New York, they think of New York City. Boy would they be surprised if they had tagged along with me today. I headed out in the general direction of Canadice Lake. I drove mile after mile without coming across a single road sign. It was kind of nice heading out with no special designation and no certain time to be there except my gas gauge was precariously close to the E.


To visit Canadice Lake is to visit history. The really wonderful thing about Canadice Lake is there is no development around it and very limited boat traffic. It is the source for the city of Rochester's water supply and so the land surrounding the lake is owned by the city. Can you imagine just a few hundred year when all the Finger Lakes were undeveloped? No motorboats, no jet skis, no cottages, just peace and beauty?

The Worse Day of the Year

 

Hidden Talent

Unfortunately, some of my real estate work is to settle an estate. It's not easy, especially for the family. This week I was asked to do a market analysis for the house of a Rochester area artist. There is a bay window in the dining room where he did much of his work. The palette, easel, brushes and other tools are all there ready, willing and able for the next masterpiece.

There were many sketches and paintings of familiar Rochester landscapes tucked away. I got the feeling that the family was a bit surprised by the extent and depth of this work and was glad to learn that a posthumous show is being planned.

Seasons Are A Changin'

It's been an incredible summer in the Finger Lakes region. It is easy to feel sad about the summer's end, unless you take the time to appreiciate the beauty that autumn offers.

My-Oh-My - What a Sunrise!

Okay, we need to get our heads examined. Our Conesus Lake home is on the market. It was a difficult decision but we put the for sale sign up two weeks ago. Then, this morning, the Lord blessed us with the most incredible sun rise I've ever seen. Are we crazy?

It is hard to believe that 1,500 miles away the Gulf Coast is being pounded by hurricane Rita and Conesus Lake is smooth as glass, the only ripples caused by ducks, geese and an occasional bass boat. The TV is blaring news reports "Rita's Wrath" and "Hurricane Rita: State of Emergency" (Don't you hate the way the news media now gives a soap opera name to every major news event ?" and I can turn it off and find such peace and serenity. Yes we are crazy!

Storing September - A Tribute to Arlene

We gathered at the First Presbeterian Church of Honeoye Falls yesterday to say good bye to a special lady. During the service, her daughter read a poem in which Arlene was very fond.

Storing September

by Elizabeth Rooney

You asked me what I did today

I could pretend and say,

"I don't remember."

But no, I'll tell you what I did today-

I stored September.

Sat in the sun and let the sun sink in,

Let all the warmth of it caress my skin.

When winter comes, my skin will still remember

The day I stored September.

And then, my eyes-

I filled them with the deepest, bluest skies

When winter comes, my eyes will still remember

The day they stored September.

And there was cricket song to fill my ears!

And the taste of grapes

And the deep purple of them!

And asters, like small clumps of sky...

You know how much I love them.

That's what I did today

And I know why.

Just simply for the love of it,

I stored September.

When I left the church yesterday, indeed, I did fill my eyes with the deepest, bluest skies. And had it not been for Arlene, I probably never would have noticed. God bless her!

Back in the Country

I think I am a photographer because I can't paint. After selling about a dozen houses in the city of Rochester this summer, I finally have rounded up a couple of country clients and have been meandering along the country roads. I sold two houses this week, one in Steuben County and one in Wyoming County and between the two properties is about 50 miles of fabulous scenic views.

I love old barns and they inspire me to paint. Wouldn't this view make for a great oil painting, (sigh). Or a soft watercolor. Unfortunately, I can't paint. But I can push the shudder button on the digital camera. I hope you enjoy them.

Bugging Me

Gosh, I've never seen a bug like this before. We thought it was a stick till it started moving around. Does anyone know what kind of bug it is?

A Reflection on the American Way of Life

There is something very romantic about Smalltown, America and Atlanta (not Georgia) New York is very small town. While western New York is full of quaint little towns complete with an old Victorian Bed and Breakfast, Atlanta, NY is different. It just feels authentic, not all gussied up to attract tourist dollars.

The old train depot, peeling paint and all, could be a setting for a movie about the Wild West.

Getting Wiser

Letchworth State Park put on a photographers' Dream Day and this little lady was one of the models. She is a Saw-Whet Owl. They also provided photo ops with a Red Shouldered Hawk, but he wasn't nearly as tolerant as the owl. It was also a great day for a nature hike along the river gorge.

Fresh Veggies

Today was one of the days that leaves me wondering why I got into real estate. I started this morning with 3 offers to write for properties that I've shown during the past week. By noon all three opportunities evaporated! Well, at least I did not waste a lot of ink.

Maybe if I was as cute as the fresh veggie guy, I'd have more sales. I've not had the time or energy to cook in nearly three weeks but I just couldn't resist Mr. Veggies of Avon, NY. I loaded up on corn and squash and beans and peppers. He was just so cute!

Something's Corny in Rochester

Today, I showed a client a HUD house deep in the city of Rochester. On my way home, about 2 blocks away, there was a mini corn field right there on the city street! Check it out for yourself. Take a ride down Benton St. Lots of very nicely landscaped yards in this neighborhood and one with a corn field. Amazing!

Keep a Sunny Disposition!

A lot of people talk about a glass being half full or half empty. But I think Helen Keller said it so much better.

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do."

I love sunflowers! And I loved finding this field of sunflowers in Lima, New York today.

Meet Sparky

Sparky is either a house finch or a purple finch. My husband found him in our back yard. He was blind in one eye and had deformed wing. That didn't slow him down. Jim returned him to his nest several times and he would immediately jump out.
So we set up a new home for Sparky in a plastic tote, filled with twigs, grass and other nesting material. We feed him soggy Cheerios and he thrived. In fact, we discussed changing his name from Sparky to Spunky!

Unfortunately, Sparky didn't make it. When we got home from work tonight, he had passed. Sparky had only been in our life for less than a week, but we sure miss him!

Genesee Valley Park

Some people think of thistle as a weed. Not me! I just love its color and shape but especially that it attracts birds and bees.

One year I had a very large thistle plant in my yard. Once it bloomed, I had gold finches galore. My father offered to chop it down for me and I was insulted! Of course, once it had gone to seed and lots of baby thistle sprung up, I could never go barefoot in my yard again. Maybe father did know best!

These thistle plants are along the Genesee River in Genesee Valley Park, in the city of Rochester. There is a place to rent canoe or take a walk or just sit back and enjoy.

bees