A New Summer

Honest to god time just flies by. I've been so busy with home repairs. Billiam and I have had a new tin roof put on. It was quite a job with Brian Harris our neighbor down the road and Bill's partner Ford ripping off he old roof and replacing with purlins and the tin sheets. But its on and now for the garage. Next is to replace the siding. I'm going for yellow. Not mustard. just a nice shade of cream yellow. Everytime I see a yellow house, it makes me feel happy.
Nick is in Portland Maine for the summer. I can only let him go. I've done all I can for this kid and it's his turn to fly. Sadly Morrisville didn't work out for him and he flunked out breaking my heart in the process. Well its his life.
Another sad thing for me is that I don't have my summer Tuesdays at the Big Moose Inn. I guess music just isn't in the cards there this summer. Because of this I'm stepping back from the music scene up in the Old Forge area. I refuse to go back to playing the late night hours. I enjoy the dinner hours where I can be home by a reasonable time.
I will miss the shimmering lake from the from the front porch of the Inn and also all the great people I have met or would of met.
Nothing lasts forever!
So new challenges in front of me! I'm a farmer in a market now with my mother. We have quite a nice booth thank you very much! The booth is called Further East Gallery named after my friend Patrick Mills first gallery. Mom and I are selling her hooked rugs and Skyway Loungers! Mom is kicking some hooked rug ass let me tell you. I've been busy photographing (with the help of Rich Grant) her rugs and running her website.
Being in the market has been wonderful for both of my parents! Dad parks his lawn chair out back of the booth and toddles around the park meeting different vendors and buying us sweets and coffee. Its great to see him up and around again smiling and so talkative.
I've got some new songs ready to record but like always will wait to go into recording land until I have at least 12-15 songs written.
Arizona is a big shot on the fall horizon.

Morrisville's Writers Jubilee

I've done the Writer's Jubilee now for the past 3 three years and its truly a great event for children encouraging them to write and be more creative. This year I did a workshop. Unfortunately I only had three kids sign up. But they really enjoyed my work shop. I played my song written about the infamous Adirondack hermit, Noah John Rondeau several times and had them draw a picture to the song. They had to use their listening skills. I then played the song from my laptop a few more times till they were satisfied with their creation. I missed my calling somehow. I really enjoy children and would of made a great teacher!
Here are a few videos from my 45 minute workshop.

First Spring Paddle On Nine Mile

Could this be the hill where Rhoda Loomis had her parties?


Bill with his Nine Mile Swamp Souvenir! A beaver chewed branch!

March 28th was a beautiful day and Nine Mile was Busy. I counted five canoeists and 4 kayakers including Bill and I. The canadian geese and the wood land ducks were nesting all along the shores of the swamp. They weren't to happy with us of course not knowing that we meant them no harm. It was a little erie listening to the trumpet like honking reverberating through out the leafless trees. Bill and I counted 3 productive beaver dams. You could also see where the beavers, when the swamp was frozen, would go out on the ice a trim up the hanging branches like little barbers trimming up bangs! I love nine mile swamp and its so interesting to see it in all the different seasons. In a few months there will be growth 8 feet high along the shore with all kinds of water lilies, dog wood and other plants which will block the view inland.
The waters were clear and cold with a pretty strong current kayaking out. The way back was much quicker of course going with the flow. I think we were out at least three hours. Every time I kayak Nine Mile I can't help but get sucked into the long ago life of the Loomis Gang. This spring kayak with all the plant life still struggling to grow allowed me to look into the woods and imagine where these rowdy cowboys hid the stolen horses. The swamp is actually a lake silted in so the surrounding are pretty flat and surrounded by a sparse population of homes and farms so its pretty quiet. You can hear cars on Route 12 in the distance. Other than that its mother nature in its finest. God's Pocket as Anna La Bastille would say. A penny for my thoughts

March And Happy Spring From The Sunny South Hamilton Gang!

First one up as usual. White rabbit in the flower bed and a mourning dove overhead.
Spring! The lawns are not yet green but the bulbs are pushing up shoots of green and yellow tired of being frozen in the dirt and hungry for warmth and sun. Like us all who live in Central New York. This winter has been a unusually long one. Just grinding!
I'm thankful to have been able to go to Florida if only for a week!
It was a windy week down there but warm! Bill and I hoisted up the kayaks once again and drove to DC to see Kelly and Steve and the boys! Had a grand time there watching Scooby Doo re-runs! I remembered the song and started singing it as I loved Scooby Doo when I was a kid! They are STILL playing the same episodes! Amazing. I also learned that Casey Kasem is the voice of Shaggy.
Bill and I rose up early the next day to get on the road. DC traffic is a horrendous thing. I found myself at one point in a layered landscape of bridges and ramps streaming with cars all going the same direction and with ONE person in each car. Driving at speeds of 80 miles an hour. I was white knuckling the dash in front of me. Amazing! I was petrified. Nothing like traffic in front of my house. Five cars tool on by in the morning on their way then the same tool on back in the evening. In the summer there are a swarm of horse trailors, tractors and manure spreaders and thats about it! One day I looked up and there in my window was a big red tractor trailer in front of my house with Budwiser printed on the side. A beer delivery man obviously lost. I went out and jokingly said that I would tell him how to get to route 12 for a case of Bud. He laughed. I told him where to go. No bud but thats ok as I can't stand the taste of Budwiser anyway.
Florida was fine. Walked everyday. I went garage sailing and bought a used diamond back 10 speed bike for 15 dollars! Florida wheels and she's a beaut! Red! Bill filled the tires with air and off I went!
I did the usual meal planning and cooking giving Bill's dad a break from the kitchen and me something to do.
Unfortunately the pool was just to cold to swim yet. I did get to jump the waves down on the beach the day before we left.
It was spring party weekend! Oh an the kids were out in full force! I'm pushing 50 here so it was entertaining to see all these beautiful young bodies clad in strings and tatooes! Guzzeling beers, challenging the waves and just having a great time!
We also got to kayak twice. Merritt Island was disappointing. Trash everywhere. Bill and I both agree New York's lakes, canals, swamps and river are much more scenic. I look forward to the first nine mile swamp kayak hopefully soon.
Last night I had the family over for a first spring dinner party! I pankoed up some Cod and baked it till it was moist and crispy.
I mixed up some homemade tartar sauce using my veganaise mayo with chopped green onion, touch of barbecue sauce and a few dashes of chipolte. Sweet potato fries and homemade cole slaw accompanied by a delish lasagna my mother brought. It was one good meal. The night began with wine on the front porch watching the cats play in the front yard and welcoming the geese as they flew in honking!
A fine time

HERstory 2009

I morphed into Rhoda Loomis for Mad Art's 3rd annual HERstory with calico cowgirl, Reyna Staganaro on the mandolin!
I'm pleased to say we were pretty durn good. My song "Ode To Anne" is quite a long story song and perhaps a wee bit wordy. People with ADHD would have a hard time with it. I pulled it off quite well if I do say so myself.
We were the first act up and left at intermission. I really wanted to stay through the whole event. Bill said the fog was pretty thick and driving wouldn't be easy so we got a quick bite to eat at Nichols and Beal and got on the road. Driving home from Hamilton was the WORST drive I ever had. I couldn't see ANYTHING all the way home the fog was so thick!
Here are a few shots from Ed took with Reyna''s camera. I had on my Oma apron for the sound check.

Ice Cutting. Dog Sledding. A Full Day In The Mountains!

After a long day with my dear dad up at St. Elizabeth's hospital in Utica nervously waiting while a new pace maker was inserted. After my gig on a snowy winter night at the Georgetown Inn, which turned out rather well considering how bad the roads were.
I was pleased with the turn out and touched by those who traveled these back winter roads for dinner and a little bit of folk music! Leigh Yardley and her niece and nephew and husband Bruce. Patty and John Grossman. Fast Edward Vollmer and Rich Grant. Tommy and Peg Hoe. Last but not least Jim Kitchen of the Mountain Top Golf course and his girlfriend Amy Jeffery.
I played a good two hour set of music and mixed in a bunch of originals I haven't done in a while.
I brought one of my beautiful cast iron, wooded seated stools and several of my mom's hooked rugs for show and tell.
The evening ended up out at the bar doing a couple tunes with Tommy and Eddie. It was a musical moment! I just love these two characters! We've been dear friends for many many years now.
Saturday morning dawned in blue and sunny. Bill and I loaded up our snow shoe gear, camera's and water bottles and headed north to catch the Dog Sled Races.
I've never been to a dog sled race and know little about the rules and what nots but let me tell you! These were some excited dogs! It was a perfect day. I counted at least 15-20 dog trucks! I was under the impression only husky dogs ran in these races like up in Alaska. Wrong! There were gray hounds and other short haired breeds all tethered to sleek wooden sleds just barking and shivering with excitement at the promise of a race!
We then went to the Hard Times Cafe for lunch. I didn't get to sit at my usual table where there is a book shelf over head and a copy of Woodswoman II. This book is out of print and the only one of that series that I don't have so every time I have a meal at the Hard Times, I try to land that table to pick up where I left off reading that book. The Hard Times was PACKED with snowmobilers. The whole Adirondack Park was packed with snowmobilers! The mountains sounded like a freaking bee hive swarming with so many of these machines! I know the locals count on the tourism of all these people coming up from PA and NJ the cities. It was so loud! Everywhere you went! Out on the lake cutting ice or snowshoeing. Nothing but noise. It made me sad.
It must of been golden and spiritual to have been able to live in the mountains back in the days before motor boats and snowmobiles, freight trains and cars. Sometimes, even more than the visual beauty of the mountains. I yearn for the quiet. The birds and trees, wind, water and leaves and a peaceful yoga like trance float in my kayak.
After a cold beer and a chef salad. We headed north again and ended up on my favorite lake of my childhood. Raquatte. There we watched a bunch of locals cutting the ice like they did in the old days, but with a gasoline powered engine conveyor belt to a truck that hauled the heavy blocks of ice by truck up to the ice house. The blocks of ice were two toned with the top layer thick with grayish blue compacted slush and snow. The bottom of the block was pure, clear diamond like ice!
I was glad to see this operation but again bothered by the constant buzz of the snowmobilers as they sped around the lake in their thousand dollar suits and even more than that machines. Hey they were having fun! Just not my scene.
So we left Raquette and back to Inlet we went to get at least and hour of snow shoeing in! The trail we took was in a busy family oriented place called Fern Park. There are cross-country skiing, snow shoe trails. An ice skating rink and a sledding hill. The trail we took actually joined the trails with which the dogs were racing! So we got to see the dogs running behind the scenes and not only on the start and finish line. Pretty Cool!
The night ended with a wonderful dinner with my dear old lady friend Ann Cochran and her husband John at The Woods Inn. The Woods Inn is one of my favorite old Inn's in the Adirondacks restored with antiques from the era of the great old camps. I've played several times in the cozy tin tiled ceiling bar downstairs and have had many memorable dinners there with friends and family.
The night ended with the most amazing fireworks! It was my loudest mountain day ever and late getting home.
Today I rest. Oh wait nope...I've got to hit a grocery store at some point.

Bill and I finally got away for a long overdue visit to Kelly and Steve's new home.
They bought a sweet little red brick home about a mile from where they used to live in Arlington. I'm so happy for her as she now has a lot more room to raise her family. I believe Kelly said she now proudly owns .7th of an acre which is landscaped to the hilt with sand cherries, magnolias, rhododendrons, ornamental grasses an other various plant materials all under a magnificent old oak tree and surrounded by a solid wooden fence.
Little Graeme and Ian have a spacious sunny play room off the dining room and each have their own bedrooms upstairs.
The real treat was the finished basement with a king sized bed room, living room and a shower that would make the roman bath look miniscule! Well maybe not. This blue tiled shower could easily fit ten people an has shower heads placed in every different angle so not one part of your body is missed with spraying water! AAAHHH! It was so relaxing but really a little over the top. I felt greedy using so much water!
Saturday we packed the kids up an loaded up the caravan for the 10 minute trip down to DC's Botanical Gardens!
Ten Minutes! I'm so lucky to have a step daughter who only lives ten minutes from so many wonderful historical places!
I look forward to many more visits!
Inside the Botanical Gardens was pure bliss escaping this long, cold, gray New York winter. Walking around in 80 degrees in the steamy vegetation reading the little plant material label signs and breathing in the different aroma's and color was just what I needed. I could of easily spent the entire afternoon there but the kids were getting restless and we also wanted to tour the Native American Museum. Wow! That museum one could easily spend a month reading a learning about all the different tribes and how they surived. The Native Americans Indian are truly wonderful and amazing people tied so close to mother earth,
We had lunch in the cafeteria downstairs which was a gourmet treat in itself. There had to be 10 different stations with dishes prepared the way the Indian's would of cooked them over open fires. One station the chef grilled salmon over an open wood fire! I loved just sitting there munching on my smoked trout sandwich and watching this man cook over the open flames.
In the "cheap" gift shop I bought a Dream Catcher for over my bed and a set of hand woven coasters for my coffee table beside my couch! I say the cheap gift shop as there were two to shop in. The ground level Art gift shop had many fine fine works of art in pottery, paintings, jewelry, textiles and other stuff but way over priced for my purse! I'm happy with my dreamcatcher!
Saturday night Kelly got a babysitter. Twenty dollars and hour! Jeeze I used to get fifty cents and hour up on ole Foote Hill Road babysitting all the neighbor hood kids back in the day and thought I was making some good money! When I found out Kelly is paying twenty I almost had them turn the car around! I would of babysat the kids for ten and come home with some money! Honestly! The money they pay for day care down there is HUGE! I"m thinking with the grand suite down stair and the Roman shower. I could easily be a personally nanny and make a truck load of money!
With babysitter in place, the four of us headed out for another ten minute car ride to downtown Arlington. I love Arlington!
There is so much happening! Music, Shopping, Museums and the Capitol all there! And no skyscrapers which always made me feel a closed in a like in New York City. We had a wonderful dinner at a joint that specializes only in steak. It was fabulous!
I had a filet mignon with a mushroom brandy creme sauce. Little cast iron skillets of buttery garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were place on every corner of the table. Kelly and i shared a bottle of a nice California red wine while the guys had a beer. After dinner we walked to the Iota Club and listened to a jazz infused rock-ragae band's sound check.
Loud! The evening ended at a more quiet bar called Spider Kelly where we talked about houses, jobs and kids!
It was a great night out to see what city people do. I really live a very sheltered life. Thank God for the Barge Canal Coffee house. It's where I am right now as I write this with a pot of cardamon cinnamon tea.