Where did all the time go? I can't believe my last post was in April. After several disastrous BBQ attempts, many country house guests and several DIY projects I decided it was time to come out of hiding and get to writing again.
We had a chance to take in Riverfest in Narrowburg today which had a great showing...not to mention the best darn Kettle Corn I've ever had :>)! The booths were filled with local writers, jewelry designers, clothing and more. The puppet stand was a hit with the children....as well as a hit to many mommies purses as every child was begging to buy one...including my little guy. There was such a great sense of community there today. This region just comes to life during the summer and the next few weeks are just jammed with activities. I will be posting several times this week as there is lots to catch up on!
Until then...Have a great week!
Country Kisses,
QC
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Spring Is Here--Head To The Library!!
Ahhhh.....VIVA la Spring. The signs are finally here...a taste of good times ahead. Time for us to organize, make plans for the garden and of course dust off the old BBQ for its time of premium use is near. Since most of our winter was consumed with doomsday chatter it's only natural that spring would bring hope for a new beginning and a positive turn for the economy. Times like these makes one reflect...find the beauty and the awe in the very possibilities right in your own backyard. I call it going local.....it's returning back to your neighborhood and reacquainting yourself with all it has to offer.
We all have fond childhood memories of running down what seemed to be endless aisles of books in our local library, fetching just the right perching spot and finally picking our book adventure of choice. I could spend hours as a child reading through all the Raggedy Ann and Andy books...I couldn't get enough of them :>)!
The Western Sullivan Public Library has been around for several decades and has always been there to support the local community. Here are some fabulous upcoming Spring/Summer events to mark on your calendar:
1)First Fridays Contemporary Writers Series 2009 is in it's fourth year of presenting dynamic new writers who also know their way around a stage. Many of their past authors have been featured on broadway, in televison, in film, or are international touring artists. First Fridays is proud to be free and open to the piblic. A short open mic starts at 7:30pm, sign-up at 7:00pm.
May 1, 2009 Patrick Rosal from NYC, NY
June 5, 2009 Noel Jones from NYC, NY
July 3, 2009 Jeffrey McDaniel from Hudson Valley, NY
August 7, 2009 Allan Wolf from Asheville, NC
September 4, 2009 Derrick Brown from Los Angeles, CA
and Joel Dias Porter from Wash D.C.
October 2, 2009 Beth Lisick from San Francisco, CA
November 6, 2009 Brendan McLeod form Vancouver, BC
December 4, 2009 TBA
2)2009 Summer Reading Program for children (Pre-k to 15) from July 7-30th this year. Registration will be throughout the month of June at each branch. "Be Creative @ Your Library" is all about the arts this summer. Our library will feature special performances by Allan Wolf, author of New Found Land and Zane's Trace (Candlewick) as well as many other books in verse, theater instruction by actors from NACL theater, and live musical performances.
3)Storytimes are held every Wednesday at 2pm at the Tusten-Cocechton Branch, 198 Bridge St, Narrowburg, NY 12764 845-252-3360 and two Thursdays a month at the Delaware Free Branch, 45 Lower Main St., Callicoon, NY 12723 , 845-887-4040. Call for exact dates. Storytimes at our Jeffersonville Branch, 19 Center St., Jeffersonville, NY 12748 845-482-4350, take place on Saturdays 11-12pm.
4)Vickie's Killer Cooking Show bakes up a storm at our Jeffersonville Branch on May 9, June 13, September 12, October 10, and November 14 for all those teens (and/or their parents !) who are wary of the kitchen. Poet and dark queen of the kitchen, Vickie Diescher shares her baking expertise whilst and at the same time expounding on the virtues of local and organic ingredients. Upcoming subjects: Homemade Pizza, Green and White Pasta with Pink Sauce, Strawberry Shortcake, Quesadillas, French Fries, Pumpkin Pie and Hot Chocolate.
Yes, yes-- samples for all!
5)Storytubes: Make a Video About Your Favorite Book! begins in April 2009. Every month videographer Ron Littke will help young people film a short video about thier favorite book. Kids-- come with any props you'd like to use and your favorite book. Be prepared to tell us about the book and why you like it. Videos are two minutes or less. Ron will be rotating his visits to one branch each month. Final dates TBA. He is in Callicoon in April, Narrowsburg in May, and Jeffersonville in June. During July, he'll be in each library once as part of our "Be Creative @ your Library" Summer Reading Program.
So what are you waiting for? Creativity awaits... get the kids ready and head down to the Western Sullivan Public Library. For more information check out their website at: http://www.wsplonline.org/
Happy Spring!
Tech Girl
We all have fond childhood memories of running down what seemed to be endless aisles of books in our local library, fetching just the right perching spot and finally picking our book adventure of choice. I could spend hours as a child reading through all the Raggedy Ann and Andy books...I couldn't get enough of them :>)!
The Western Sullivan Public Library has been around for several decades and has always been there to support the local community. Here are some fabulous upcoming Spring/Summer events to mark on your calendar:
1)First Fridays Contemporary Writers Series 2009 is in it's fourth year of presenting dynamic new writers who also know their way around a stage. Many of their past authors have been featured on broadway, in televison, in film, or are international touring artists. First Fridays is proud to be free and open to the piblic. A short open mic starts at 7:30pm, sign-up at 7:00pm.
May 1, 2009 Patrick Rosal from NYC, NY
June 5, 2009 Noel Jones from NYC, NY
July 3, 2009 Jeffrey McDaniel from Hudson Valley, NY
August 7, 2009 Allan Wolf from Asheville, NC
September 4, 2009 Derrick Brown from Los Angeles, CA
and Joel Dias Porter from Wash D.C.
October 2, 2009 Beth Lisick from San Francisco, CA
November 6, 2009 Brendan McLeod form Vancouver, BC
December 4, 2009 TBA
2)2009 Summer Reading Program for children (Pre-k to 15) from July 7-30th this year. Registration will be throughout the month of June at each branch. "Be Creative @ Your Library" is all about the arts this summer. Our library will feature special performances by Allan Wolf, author of New Found Land and Zane's Trace (Candlewick) as well as many other books in verse, theater instruction by actors from NACL theater, and live musical performances.
3)Storytimes are held every Wednesday at 2pm at the Tusten-Cocechton Branch, 198 Bridge St, Narrowburg, NY 12764 845-252-3360 and two Thursdays a month at the Delaware Free Branch, 45 Lower Main St., Callicoon, NY 12723 , 845-887-4040. Call for exact dates. Storytimes at our Jeffersonville Branch, 19 Center St., Jeffersonville, NY 12748 845-482-4350, take place on Saturdays 11-12pm.
4)Vickie's Killer Cooking Show bakes up a storm at our Jeffersonville Branch on May 9, June 13, September 12, October 10, and November 14 for all those teens (and/or their parents !) who are wary of the kitchen. Poet and dark queen of the kitchen, Vickie Diescher shares her baking expertise whilst and at the same time expounding on the virtues of local and organic ingredients. Upcoming subjects: Homemade Pizza, Green and White Pasta with Pink Sauce, Strawberry Shortcake, Quesadillas, French Fries, Pumpkin Pie and Hot Chocolate.
Yes, yes-- samples for all!
5)Storytubes: Make a Video About Your Favorite Book! begins in April 2009. Every month videographer Ron Littke will help young people film a short video about thier favorite book. Kids-- come with any props you'd like to use and your favorite book. Be prepared to tell us about the book and why you like it. Videos are two minutes or less. Ron will be rotating his visits to one branch each month. Final dates TBA. He is in Callicoon in April, Narrowsburg in May, and Jeffersonville in June. During July, he'll be in each library once as part of our "Be Creative @ your Library" Summer Reading Program.
So what are you waiting for? Creativity awaits... get the kids ready and head down to the Western Sullivan Public Library. For more information check out their website at: http://www.wsplonline.org/
Happy Spring!
Tech Girl
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
An Angel Takes Flight
Today I am going off my usual topic of country life...and decided to speak of life in its raw form. When the reality of life hits you like a ton of bricks...it seems so unfair and cruel. I had such a moment yesterday...while checking my mail I came across a flyer in the building's bulletin board. The flyer featured the photograph of this vibrant and beautiful 8 year old girl who passed away last week from a brain tumor...the announcement was for a gathering they had this past weekend commemorating her life. Her name....Lucia.
I wasn't one of the lucky ones who crossed paths with Lucia but for those who did their lives have changed forever. She looked her illness straight in the eye and she fought back with a great big roar. Suddenly, I felt so ridiculous....to think I was having a pity party for my bad day. I spent most of the late evening in tears and crawled into bed with my four year old son and held him tight....there are no guarantees in life...everything can change in an instant. I couldn't bare to think of the anguish her family was feeling now that their bright light was no longer with them.
I felt compelled to introduce her to you because in these dreary days of this recession...where the news only focuses on negativity...her message was..is.. of hope. She never lost her sense of humor and she was quite the sassy writer.
How do I know all of this??? Lucia left her blog to share with the world. As I read each and every entry last night I was in complete awe. She was truly a gift to this world.....an earth angel with a powerful message for us all.
Her family has set-up a fund in her name to help with pediatric oncology research.
To support her cause and to read her blog click here.
Keeping Life In Perspective....
Tech Girl
I wasn't one of the lucky ones who crossed paths with Lucia but for those who did their lives have changed forever. She looked her illness straight in the eye and she fought back with a great big roar. Suddenly, I felt so ridiculous....to think I was having a pity party for my bad day. I spent most of the late evening in tears and crawled into bed with my four year old son and held him tight....there are no guarantees in life...everything can change in an instant. I couldn't bare to think of the anguish her family was feeling now that their bright light was no longer with them.
I felt compelled to introduce her to you because in these dreary days of this recession...where the news only focuses on negativity...her message was..is.. of hope. She never lost her sense of humor and she was quite the sassy writer.
How do I know all of this??? Lucia left her blog to share with the world. As I read each and every entry last night I was in complete awe. She was truly a gift to this world.....an earth angel with a powerful message for us all.
Her family has set-up a fund in her name to help with pediatric oncology research.
To support her cause and to read her blog click here.
Keeping Life In Perspective....
Tech Girl
Sunday, March 1, 2009
This Old House--Its History is Slowly Revealed
I have always had a fascination with the 1920's....in fact, I have an old Victrola from the 20's in our Manhattan apartment....occasionally, I step back in time by spinning an old jazz record or two . There is just something about any period of time and all the fabulous details that they offer. That's how I feel about our old farmhouse...the cute door knobs, crown molding and high ceilings all come together to tell a story. Our house is from the 1870's...so much history to be told! I've been wondering who lived here...what did the house look like..was the home filled with love and happy memories??
When we closed on the house a few weeks ago I was hoping to meet the former owner...unfortunately, she did not attend but I was able to contact her via email. My husband and I knew that all the former owners put a ton of love into the place...that was evident by the condition of the house. In chatting with her I found out that the original owners of our house were dairy farmers and the son who grew up in that home actually lives in an adjacent property...still running the family farm. She mentioned how much we were going to love being there in the spring and summer as the land is lush and cows graze the land that borders ours...how dreamy! She sent me a photo she took from the rocking chair porch and I couldn't believe how beautiful it looked. I thanked her for keeping the old beauty in such pristine condition and promised her we would continue the tradition.
This past weekend while looking through a kitchen draw my husband found some old photos from 1995....they were of the house...probably three owners ago. There were photos of the kitchen with turquoise green cabinets (prior to its transformation), photos of the shed, grounds and the front porch. Wow! The house has changed quite a bit in the past ten years. There is now a screened in back porch, the kitchen still has the same cabinets but they are now white and the front porch had a more traditional facelift. This inspired us to want to take this home to the next level...the missing piece is adding a bit more of a decorative flair to the interior....my idea is to make it farmhouse chic on a DIY budget. We spent the weekend on a painting project and I will display some before and afters in the very near future. I also stumbled across an adorable store in Callicoon this past weekend...I'll chat about that in my next post.
Enjoy!
Tech Girl
When we closed on the house a few weeks ago I was hoping to meet the former owner...unfortunately, she did not attend but I was able to contact her via email. My husband and I knew that all the former owners put a ton of love into the place...that was evident by the condition of the house. In chatting with her I found out that the original owners of our house were dairy farmers and the son who grew up in that home actually lives in an adjacent property...still running the family farm. She mentioned how much we were going to love being there in the spring and summer as the land is lush and cows graze the land that borders ours...how dreamy! She sent me a photo she took from the rocking chair porch and I couldn't believe how beautiful it looked. I thanked her for keeping the old beauty in such pristine condition and promised her we would continue the tradition.
This past weekend while looking through a kitchen draw my husband found some old photos from 1995....they were of the house...probably three owners ago. There were photos of the kitchen with turquoise green cabinets (prior to its transformation), photos of the shed, grounds and the front porch. Wow! The house has changed quite a bit in the past ten years. There is now a screened in back porch, the kitchen still has the same cabinets but they are now white and the front porch had a more traditional facelift. This inspired us to want to take this home to the next level...the missing piece is adding a bit more of a decorative flair to the interior....my idea is to make it farmhouse chic on a DIY budget. We spent the weekend on a painting project and I will display some before and afters in the very near future. I also stumbled across an adorable store in Callicoon this past weekend...I'll chat about that in my next post.
Enjoy!
Tech Girl
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Country Living -- A Luxury??
There is no question that we are currently living in trying times filled with a ton of uncertainty when we look into the future which is why many might think purchasing a country home now is absolutely ludacris. There is a heated debate going on at a local Sullivan county real estate blog about this very topic.....it inspired me to touch upon it here.
I started thinking to myself what does owning a second home and in this case a country home really mean? It's obvious no one NEEDS a second home....but the idea of one is certainly alluring. For many Manhattanites, it's a necessary respite from all the craziness that is part of the daily repetoire of the concrete jungle. It's an opportunity to connect with nature, create long-lasting memories for our children and in many cases add a few more years to our lives because we are able to completely disconnect from stress.
NYC can be extremely expensive..you can easily spend a bunch of dollars on day to day nonsense so why would it be such a stretch to channel those wasted dollars into something of more value...thus, the arguement begins...to buy or not to buy during these times?? I think now is the perfect time to buy in Sullivan and Wayne counties...listing prices are dropping and you can buy a home "right" vs. the over inflated prices we have seen the past few years. Local banks who didn't partake in the free for all have plenty of their own money to lend and mortgage interest rates are low.
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer...it's very much a quality of life decision....for me, I can't wait to sip my first glass of merlot on our rocking chair porch while watching the sunset this summer....
If you are interested in checking out some of the comments click here.
Tech Girl
I started thinking to myself what does owning a second home and in this case a country home really mean? It's obvious no one NEEDS a second home....but the idea of one is certainly alluring. For many Manhattanites, it's a necessary respite from all the craziness that is part of the daily repetoire of the concrete jungle. It's an opportunity to connect with nature, create long-lasting memories for our children and in many cases add a few more years to our lives because we are able to completely disconnect from stress.
NYC can be extremely expensive..you can easily spend a bunch of dollars on day to day nonsense so why would it be such a stretch to channel those wasted dollars into something of more value...thus, the arguement begins...to buy or not to buy during these times?? I think now is the perfect time to buy in Sullivan and Wayne counties...listing prices are dropping and you can buy a home "right" vs. the over inflated prices we have seen the past few years. Local banks who didn't partake in the free for all have plenty of their own money to lend and mortgage interest rates are low.
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer...it's very much a quality of life decision....for me, I can't wait to sip my first glass of merlot on our rocking chair porch while watching the sunset this summer....
If you are interested in checking out some of the comments click here.
Tech Girl
Friday, February 20, 2009
Our New Old Home--
We did it!!! We finally closed on our farmhouse last Friday which is why I had taken a brief hiatus from posting. The whole day was so surreal......
It was a beautiful sunny day with temps in the high 30's which is a gift for this time of year. We had a late afternoon close which allowed us to do a brief walk through on the property. When my husband and I walked in we were taken away all over again... I guess we had forgotten how much potential the old gal has. We arrived at the attorney's office around 3pm....at the end they handed us a bottle of homemade cider and the keys.
Wow, I thought...what next?
After heading into the town of Honesdale and purchasing some basics we returned to our new old home. The kitchen is so much nicer than I remember it to be...I quickly delved into cooking our first meal. My son was so happy! He made himself right at home by setting his train tracks in the sunroom.
Seeing his reaction to this new journey only confirmed that we made the right decision...
I look forward to our days ahead.
Tech Girl
It was a beautiful sunny day with temps in the high 30's which is a gift for this time of year. We had a late afternoon close which allowed us to do a brief walk through on the property. When my husband and I walked in we were taken away all over again... I guess we had forgotten how much potential the old gal has. We arrived at the attorney's office around 3pm....at the end they handed us a bottle of homemade cider and the keys.
Wow, I thought...what next?
After heading into the town of Honesdale and purchasing some basics we returned to our new old home. The kitchen is so much nicer than I remember it to be...I quickly delved into cooking our first meal. My son was so happy! He made himself right at home by setting his train tracks in the sunroom.
Seeing his reaction to this new journey only confirmed that we made the right decision...
I look forward to our days ahead.
Tech Girl
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Amor in the Catskills---When Design Meets Yesteryear
Well it's about that time of year when roses and Hallmark take center stage and men get ready to spend a good chunk of change to find that perfect gift or restaurant. Where to go and what to do will be the big topic of the day especially for those wooing a new love....at this stage it's the Super Bowl of date night so men usually display their very best skills for that particular evening. This year we have the luxury of a long weekend so why bother spending $300 dollars on dinner at Buddakan when you can take a short 2 hour drive up north and warm up in front of a crackling fire. Here is one Sullivan County inn that is sure to melt any heart this Valentines day.
What happens when a designer stumbles across an old worn down inn? Absolute magic! The Old North Branch Inn was originally built in the 1860's and was a respite for people getting out of the city and its summer heat. Victoria Lesser found the old gem while looking for a part time residence in Sullivan County. After spending a big portion of her savings, the result was a breathtaking renovation. The rooms offer modern amenities with a flavor of yesteryear.....
We stopped in for lunch during Fourth of July weekend. Their restaurant wine bar is called Baxter's (named after her adorable pug)..... there is a grand bar area, old bowling alley and tables/lounge area mindfully set throughout the first floor.
Leonardo DiCaprio was staying there that weekend with his mother...not uncommon in these parts as it is one of the few places they can go without being followed by the stalkarazzi and crazed fans. Victoria has a blog on her website that keeps customers up to date with upcoming activities at Baxster's. Her latest entry talks about her new screening room that can be used for events with old theater seating from Radio City Music Hall!
All this fabulousness at an extremely affordable price. Her rates are well below $200 a night....so take the drive to a winter wonderland...where the memories will certainly surpass any $20 dollar martini that Manhattan has to offer!
Enjoy!
Tech Girl
What happens when a designer stumbles across an old worn down inn? Absolute magic! The Old North Branch Inn was originally built in the 1860's and was a respite for people getting out of the city and its summer heat. Victoria Lesser found the old gem while looking for a part time residence in Sullivan County. After spending a big portion of her savings, the result was a breathtaking renovation. The rooms offer modern amenities with a flavor of yesteryear.....
We stopped in for lunch during Fourth of July weekend. Their restaurant wine bar is called Baxter's (named after her adorable pug)..... there is a grand bar area, old bowling alley and tables/lounge area mindfully set throughout the first floor.
Leonardo DiCaprio was staying there that weekend with his mother...not uncommon in these parts as it is one of the few places they can go without being followed by the stalkarazzi and crazed fans. Victoria has a blog on her website that keeps customers up to date with upcoming activities at Baxster's. Her latest entry talks about her new screening room that can be used for events with old theater seating from Radio City Music Hall!
All this fabulousness at an extremely affordable price. Her rates are well below $200 a night....so take the drive to a winter wonderland...where the memories will certainly surpass any $20 dollar martini that Manhattan has to offer!
Enjoy!
Tech Girl
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