taking the scenic route

When we flew up to New York in July, we had to drive from Syracuse down to Cortland. There was a particular restaraunt I wanted to go back to (went there back in 2006 or 2007 with Ellen and Martha) and we had a little time to kill...so for maybe the first time ever....John agreed to take the scenic route! he must be getting old...hahaha
We got into to NY late at night, so we found a room right near the airport.  We set out for Cortland the next morning. It was a beautiful day and we lucked out because we did not encounter any rush hour traffic.
One thing I enjoy about driving in upstate New York is the fact that you can drive for miles and not pass any strip malls or outlet malls, etc. They route we took was mostly rolling hills and farmland. Perfect for an early summer drive....even John enjoyed it. Unlike driving on I-10 (when we go to Alabama) ...booooring or I-95 or 75 which can be like the Indy 500 at times....this was just a nice relaxing drive through the countryside.

We stopped to check out one of the Finger Lakes...

We didn't see any sea/lake monsters.....
After walking around the park for a few minutes we headed back down the road to the Pumpkin Hill Bistro.
When Ellen took Martha and I there several summers ago...we enjoyed a delicious afternoon snack and a drink. We sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air   and I had wanted to go back ever since. I've been up to NY a few times since that first trip, but we never had time. This trip we made sure to make the time...and it was worth the wait.

We were the first ones there...so we had the place to ourselves for a bit. I had a delicious salad and some soup. John had a burger and fries....both were really good. We enjoyed it all. We noticed this sign and asked where the path went. If you follow it far enough you will be down at the lakefront. We didn't get to the lake, but we did take a nice little walk through the meadow and listened to all the birds and enjoyed the wildflowers. (Didn't come across anyone playing music up in the trees....hahahaha)
It was a pleasant stop on a beautiful day. After our walk we hopped back in the car and we were off to Cortland for the celebration. (see previous post :)  ) Can't wait till my next visit!...I'll definitely try to get back there.

Falling Down on the Job....errr blog

As usual time has continued to pass along and the blog has remained stagnant. Naturally...tonight when I'm supposed to be packing for a trip...I've decided I ought catch up. it's a good thing I'm not in school I don't really have any good reasons other than things have been fairly quiet around here and I don't think anyone is interested in hearing my rants about the upcoming election. So far I've managed to stay "in check" (for the most part) on Facebook...but occasionally I just have to speak up.
That's not what this post is about...so you can relax...hahahah. This is a look back at a celebration for my nephew and his new wife up in New York.
A couple of weeks after we went to Tennessee, we turned around and packed our bags for a long weekend in upstate New York.  As luck would have it we enjoyed nice cooler weather on both of our trips. TN was warm during the afternoons....but mornings were cooler than what we would've had at home. It was wonderful, then to head to NY and have cooler temperatures yet again...and actually needing a jacket! in JUNE! It was like enjoying that lovely time of late Spring, early Summer  for a few extra weeks.

My nephew got married in Missouri back in October. After trying to come up with a plan that would suit everybody.....he and his wife decided they were just going to have a simple ceremony right in their hometown. My sister made it, but most of the rest of his family and friends couldn't get there.
The solution....a party /reception later that year in NewYork where his family lives. They didn't get the entire gang...but most of his Dad's family was there and Elizabeth, Meredith, John and I represented our side of the family. It was a nice celebration and I'm so happy we were able to be there.

The decorations were so clever and perfect....since they got married  on The Back To the Future Day-
October 21, 2015.  It was cute without being cheesy. The two friends that were in charge of the party decorations and arrangements did a great job...especially considering a last minute change of venue due to the weather forecast. Of course everyone had to pose at the entrance.

                               The coordinated outfits were just a happy coincidence...hahaha

                  Just a sampling of all the fun and colorful decorations around the room

                                       Proud Dad making one of his usual great toasts/speeches.
Everyone enjoyed the afternoon and then we had the usual family get-togethers/dinners on our own. We were a rambunctious group...a little on the loud side....but we usually had a separate room in the back...hahaha.

Friday night in Homer, NY

our night out after the reception with the WHOLE gang

                          It was great seeing my brother-in-law's family again after several years

my niece and  her two cousins- from both sides of her family

After the reception and then dinner...some of us went out in search of music to dance to....hahaha
We were kind of  an odd group for a college town...even in the middle of summer...but we didn't care.
Ellen, Elizabeth, Meredith and I from our side of the family and  Anna and one of her aunts and one cousin from her Dad's side of the family. The night wasn't quite like we had hoped it would be...but we managed to get the "DJ" to play a few songs we wanted...we danced...we had a drink or two (most of us) and we got free popcorn! Woohoo! we could have totally taken over the place if we'd had the whole group!!!
We had to leave early on Sunday, so we left on Saturday night for Syracuse. We missed getting together with the whole group again for brunch. But the drive to the airport wasn't bad ...not too much traffic and it seeing the local farms lit up at night was kind of cool. We saw them on our way down to Cortland...but at night all lit up you could in...we could see all the cows being milked, etc. Fun for someone who's never lived near a farm. Pretty country....miles and miles of farmland. Unspoiled countryside...refreshing! Next post I'll have some pictures from our drive down...we actually took the scenic route......John must be getting "old" hahahaha

On to Knoxville

After a couple of nights in Nashville and the wedding....John and I were off to Knoxville to visit family.We got up fairly early on Sunday and headed out...so the traffic was pretty light and the drive wasn't too stressful.
First stop Pigeon Forge.

We hadn't been up to TN in about 8 years. We have seen John's sister and her husband many times over the years, and we saw our nephew Chase two years ago at Thanksgiving (in Alabama), but we had not seen our other nephew since his wedding! We looked forward to meeting our great-nieces and seeing him and his wife again after all those years.
We first started going up to Pigeon Forge back in the 70's....and naturally things have changed over the years. Back during the 70's there was one two (maybe 4) lane road through town...and really NOTHING on it. Just a nice little country town on the way to Gatlinburg. Well now it's jam packed with attractions, restaurants, go-carts, outlet malls.....one thing after another. Not my favorite thing to see. Progress is inevitable...but I'm glad I saw it back when it was unspoiled.
 Walking down the Riverwalk path we had to check out Margaritaville.

this one's for Megan hahaha

actually it was only around 10:00am-we didn't stop in

It was interesting...all fairly new, nice and clean...and once upon a time Megan would have gotten a kick out of staying there...hahaha but we didn't hang around for too long.
I did like the way the walkway followed the river...and there was a natural barrier between where the path was and the main road through town...so you could enjoy the nice trees, the river, etc. and not have to deal with the noise and commotion just on the other side of the river.
We headed over for an afternoon in Knoxville.
John's sister and brother-in-law bought a few acres several years ago and they have been slowly working on restoring the house that was on the property. Last year the other part of the property (originally all owned by one family) became available and our nephew bought it. Ken and Sandy were thrilled to now have all 7-8 acres in the family...and the original owners were happy knowing it was all one piece again...so things worked out well for everyone.
It is a beautiful spot.

The creek divides the two parts of the property. This is the view from the front yard of one house.

It was a beautiful day in late May...just a little warm mid day...otherwise lovely.
Of course we had to gather the group and get a picture on the bridge. John set the timer...but didn't quite make it into the picture as planned...hahaha

We spent the afternoon relaxing and checking out the property. It was fun watching the little girls playing in the creek.

View from the creek looking back at the house...one on the right side...the other off to the left side

one house

the other

This house was built in the 40's (I think) and my nephew and his wife are fixing it up, updating it, etc. It's a work in progress...but it's really coming along.

New white cabinets and paint...lighten things up. They took out one wall between the kitchen and small dining area...it made the room much brighter and roomy. They are still getting it all together...but it looks great.

The second day in town we got ready for a Memorial Day picnic/party. We headed back over to the house. My nephew gave us a tour of the property and the neighborhood around the property......here's the river out back.

summertime green!

The party was a lot of fun. We enjoyed talking to family and meeting some of their good friends and meeting some of the in-laws's is that a word???family members. It was a nice afternoon, lots of good food and just a nice relaxing, fun day.
Our last day in Pigeon Forge, we walked around a bit down at the end of my sister-in-law's street. Over the years many little shops have come and gone....my house holds more than one item from some of those shops...hahahah  missed not having them to stop into...but we did poke around a bit in the stores currently down by the Old Mill. It all started to feel a bit like Disney World....every store seemed to have variations of the same theme....oh well...they have what people want to buy I guess.
And this restaurant was definitely worth the visit!!!!!

Every thing was tasty and it was just a short walk from where we were staying. I'll be stopping back there!
Well...our visit to Tennessee was a good one. We enjoyed seeing some new places and celebrating at the wedding. We got to enjoy some mild temperatures for an extra week...as things were rapidly heating up down in Florida. We loved meeting our great nieces and getting to know my nephew's wife and some of her family. It was interesting to see how things have changed and been built up over the years since we were last there...and always good to have "locals' to show us all the side streets and back roads to get around the congestion.When we left town to head to the Knoxville airport...we enjoyed the scenery, since traffic was light on a mid morning Monday in early June. :)
Flying out of Knoxville is great...just a bit busier and bigger than our airport in Melbourne...GREAT!!!! We'll definitely be back up there....we'll try not to wait 8 years.