NYS Archives

Weather Not So Inviting, But NYS Friends Are!

June 12, 2025June 12, 2025Posted in blogging, Travel, writingTagged friends, NYS, travel2 Comments

I love upstate New York; there are times I truly miss the area! However that feeling became diminished each day it continued to be gray, cloudy and/or rainy. Did it always rain this much when I lived here? How did I cope with the gray sky day after day? Or is it just a sharp contrast to the 320 days of blue sky and sunshine I have now experienced the last 22 years in Arizona?

Whatever, I am always thrilled to visit my friends. Time to catch up with each other and be active. These friends stay in touch throughout the year and I look forward to visiting them each year. Recently, I thought about this a bit more. I recalled a NYS acquaintance telling me my move from NYS to Arizona would mean we would have no friendship. Really? It’s hard to image, but yup, no friendship continued. Yes, there is no daily contact with my NYS friends; however, I know I could pick up the phone anytime and ask for input, support, or an opportunity to talk and catch-up. My NYS friends are just those people and I love them for their kindness.

The farm: No surprise to anyone who knows me. I love being outdoors in nature. My friends have a farm. Time with them allows me to relax amongst all the trees, grass, birds and beef cattle. While having visited in past years, there was one 2:30 in the morning moment of distress for me. Actually I worried maybe there was distress for one of the cattle too as it mooed …. and mooed. Who do I wake to ask if the cattle are okay? Since it was 2:30 in the morning, I decided my friends probably have an ear on their animals and would care for any needing help. The next morning I asked if all the cattle were okay. Apparently the mother and calf may have separated and one was looking for the other. All is well on the farm!

To the big city for “Beetlejuice”: I have been fortunate to visit the farm at a time when I can see a Broadway Show in Syracuse. An hour drive to enjoy Beetlejuice. I never saw the 1988 film, and chuckled as I walked into the theater with people dressed in black-and-white striped outfits and crazy hairdos. There is definitely a cult following for this zany musical. It was a fun afternoon!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Having previously lived in the Ithaca, NY area I was very familiar with this lab. Now I wanted to see the room of new displays. Wow! I could have spent hours at the bird song area, headphones on and listening to those which are most melodic and/or those with attacking calls, etc. But I had other friends I was here to spend time with, so I looked at each display of feathers, eggs, hummingbirds, etc. and marveled at how jam-packed this room was with information. I could see local birders truly spending hours in this room!

We all took a walk on a trail at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Where are the native azaleas? Two of my friends had that mission to find these shrubbery plants soon to bloom, if not already doing so. My ear was listening for birds and noticing the early wildflowers and ferns. It’s only been more than 50 years ago, I completed a “Ferns of NYS” college project with numerous, dried and labelled fern specimens. Even now I love seeing fiddleheads. Knowing spring has sprung, and so too will these ferns!

My friends and I gathered at Purity ice cream. No better place to talk and enjoy my time with them. We each have had a busy year since our last visit. We travel, enjoy the outdoors, work on some artistic project, read and stay in touch throughout the year. I am fortunate to have these friends and know our paths will cross in NYS or perhaps another place in our future travel plans.

One friend mentioned the Cuba Cheese Shoppe in Cuba, New York. As I was driving west through NYS to Ohio, I stopped at this cheese shoppe. I ate the freshest cheese curd in my life here! Of course I bought plenty and have been munching since. If you love cheese and are driving on Interstate 86 in NYS, check out the Cuba Cheese Shoppe. You will not be disappointed! Or as my friend does, order online and have all your cheese delivered.

Walking the Hudson River Pedestrian Bridge with Memories

June 8, 2025May 26, 2025Posted in blogging, TravelTagged friendship, NYS, travel2 Comments

Walking was an activity my friend of 40 years and I had done in many places. Two years before her death, I asked her what she would like to do during one of my visits. She chose to walk the Hudson River Pedestrian Bridge in New York State.

We drove to the Hudson River Valley and enjoyed the beautiful, green countryside. Another blog post recalls that visit. Upon our arrival, we walked a local park trail. While she was limited in her amount of energy needed for walking per day, my friend put one foot in front of another and moved on. I saw the tremendous effort she put forth. Her body had been ravaged by chemotherapy, etc. in the previous year. She was not one to complain. But it was imperative I read her body language by the day we decided to walk the pedestrian bridge.

The Hudson River Pedestrian Bridge is the longest elevated bridge in the world; 1.28 miles in length. I am walking the bridge once again now, but alone. My friend died 2 years ago today. In memory of her, I chose to walk this bridge, out and back.

As I walked the bridge, memories flooded my brain. Numerous fun times my friend and I had during our long friendship. Moments of joy, then sadness swept over me since it was also a recollection of our walk 2 years ago. This day I was not physically 100% . I had a couple of antibiotics newly prescribed to me by the ER doctor the day before. But I knew I would complete this entire walk.

When my friend and I walked here 2 years ago, we walked from one end of the bridge to the middle. The next day, I drove us to the other end of the bridge to walk once again to the middle. Her footsteps walked the entire bridge within the 2 days. Here I was to walk the bridge and recall our time in the Hudson River Valley. She also exemplified the tenacity of completing a goal no matter not being 100%. I too knew I would walk the entire bridge on this day in her honor. I am so thankful for the years of friendship and the wonderful memories we created. She is missed by me so often; however, I do know we impacted each other’s lives. To give oneself so whole-heartedly into a friendship is wonderful and memorable.

Walking the Hudson River Pedestrian Bridge

Looking north to our loved Adirondack area!

Poet’s Walk Park, Red Hook, NY

April 28, 2022April 18, 2022Posted in UncategorizedTagged NYSLeave a comment

There are numerous parks, preserves, refuges and places to walk in New York State. And when we are having sunny and warm days in the Hudson River Valley, it was almost difficult to decide which one to visit! We decided to walk and bird-watch at Poet’s Walk Park. This park was created in 1850 on two neighboring estates where it is said famous writers, such as Washington Irving, walked and were inspired to write. I liked the designed landscape of “outdoor rooms”, areas of the land separated by stands of trees and stone walls. I loved this structure: “Overlook Pavilion”.

My friend and I walked the park and I spent time photographing birds. The numerous bluebird boxes around the property reinforced the fact I would see many bluebirds:

Plus there were other birds: Eastern Phoebe, blue jay, tree swallow and white-breasted nuthatch:

This was a great place for us to stretch our legs, look out over the Hudson River and enjoy a sunny day! If we had planned ahead, it would been a great place for a picnic. So if you are in the area, consider that idea at this park and enjoy!