Serenity Sunday...week 22

"There are three methods to gaining wisdom.

The first is reflection, which is the highest.

The second is limitation, which is the easiest.

The third is experience, which is the bitterest."

Confucius
(China's most famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist, 551-479 BC)

Day Trippin'...Skaneateles

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Pam and I took another day-trip. This time our destination was the beautiful town of Skaneateles, N.Y. to do a little browsing at a small occasional Flea Market and the great boutique shops in town and to have a little lunch. Skaneateles is only about a half hour (or so) drive from here, west on Rte. 20 and about the same distance, southwest of Syracuse.

Skaneateles Lake is one of the Finger Lakes. The city of Syracuse and several near-by towns pipe in water from Skaneateles Lake. The cleanest of the Finger Lakes, its water is so pure that the city of Syracuse and other municipalities use it unfiltered. The City of Syracuse spends about 2.3 million dollars a year to protect lake quality, sixteen people inspecting (usually twice a year) each of the 2600 properties in the watershed, which is relatively small, compared to other Finger Lakes. William Henry Seward called it "The most beautiful body of water in the world." (italicized quoted from Wikipedia)

Docks in town...and...

...more Docks in town...

The town and lake area are deeply steeped in history and played a major role in the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman, who was instrumental in helping freed slaves get to safety and was also involved in the women's suffrage movement after the war, settled her family in near-by Auburn, N.Y.

Harriet Tubman (photo H. B. Lindsley), c.1870.

A worker on the Underground Railroad, Tubman made 13 trips to the South,
helping to free approximately 70 people.

Underground Railroad sites have been documented in the town of Skaneateles. Although the larger city of Syracuse nearby was known nationally as center of abolition and Underground Railroad activity, Skaneateles was said (by Beauchamp, an early historian) to have "eclipsed Syracuse as an anti-slavery town." (italicized quoted from Wikipedia.)



All year long, there is something happening in town. In the summer, it's outdoor antique shows, live music in the park on Friday evenings, antique boat shows. During the Holiday season, it's 'Dickins Christmas' where a cast of characters (dressed in period clothing) from Scrooge to Tiny Tim, roam the streets while they interact and entertain the public on the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas.



During the summer months there is a mail boat that delivers the mail to some of the homes that are situated on the lake shore. Mid-Lakes Navigation offers a dinner boat that is staffed by college students who will give you an informative and exciting tour of the lake and includes a lot of the history as well.

Off and on we hear of famous folks that have visited including the former President Clinton 's family, who spent a vacation on the lake about nine years ago. Former NFL football player (Atlanta Falcons) and best selling suspense writer Tim Green , is usually in residence high atop the cliff that overlooks part of the west shore of the lake.

We had a late lunch here, at the"Bluewater Grill". I've never had a bad meal here. In the summer months you can be seated on the porch, which is almost at roof level and gives a wonderful view of the lake.

Shotwell Memorial Park

Shotwell Park, once acclaimed as "one of the most beautiful war memorials in the country," has a rich history behind it. The property where the Park is located was originally owned by John Briggs, a Revolutionary War soldier who moved to Skaneateles in 1800 and built a tavern on the site in 1806. (as quoted from Skaneateles.com)

The Sherwood Inn is an inn and tavern/restaurant that has windows that

face the lake for beautiful views at any time.

Downtown...


The local bank branch...

Streetscape...

Shops...

Shops...

and more shops...

Did you have fun on our day-trip? You never know what's around the corner until you decide to take the turn...

Thanks for coming along...

Serenity Sunday...week 21

Alone

by Maya Angelou

Lying, thinking

Last night

How to find my soul a home

Where water is not thirsty

And bread loaf is not stone

I came up with one thing

And I don't believe I'm wrong

That nobody,

But nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires

With money they can't use

Their wives run round like banshees

Their children sing the blues

They've got expensive doctors

To cure their hearts of stone.

But nobody

No, nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely

I'll tell you what I know

Storm clouds are gathering

The wind is gonna blow

The race of man is suffering

And I can hear the moan,

'Cause nobody,

But nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Serenity Sunday...week 20

I was looking through some files (for some Sunday inspiration) and found this, written by Dr. Charles Swindoll. Read it, then read it again and then you'll get it. It's in the attitude...honest, it is. Have a wonderful day!


Our ATTITUDE


( Dr. Charles Swindoll)

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of ATTITUDE on life.

ATTITUDE to me is more important than facts.

ATTITUDE is more important than the past, than education, than money,

than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do.

ATTITUDE is more important than appearances, giftedness, or skill.

ATTITUDE will make or break a company, a church, or a home.

The remarkable thing is that we have a 'choice' every day

regarding the ATTITUDE we will embrace.

We cannot change our past.
We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.
We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play the one card God has dealt us - and that's our ATTITUDE.

I'm convinced that life is 10% what happens to me,

and 90% how I react to it, and so it is with you.

We are all in control of but one thing - our ATTITUDE."

In rememberance...September 11, 2001

(I posted this poem in April, but in light of today's date, I decided to repost.)

"I was talking to a co-worker the other day about a poem I wrote right after the September 11, 2001 attacks. 9-11 has been on my mind all weekend, so I thought I would share.

This poem was published in a newsletter, sent to all of the Onondaga County employees on the first anniversary of the attacks.

Still, to this day... I don't understand what makes people do these crazy things. What motivates them to do it and how it could ever... make sense to them. My thoughts and prayers are always with those we lost on that terrible day. "

A PRAYER

…was the shock, then the hush,

then the awesome silence,

as we tried desperately to absorb,

the magnitude of violence.

…brothers and sisters united,

from all over the world,

their hearts were all breaking,

as a flag was unfurled.

Matters not, that they knew them,

hearts and tears work that way,

they all felt tied to a ‘someone’,

that was lost that fateful day.

Then slowly and sweetly,

silence turned from despair,

we don’t know where it started,

and we don’t really care.

…from high in the mountains,

from one country to another,

in the streets, in the forest,

from your sister to my brother.

The tune is so lovely,

it’s graceful and lyric.

The words speak of peace,

if you’re quiet you’ll hear it.

The world’s people are united,

the message is clear,

a solemn promise to ‘them’,

we will not live in fear…

A concert of devotion,

from fathers and mothers,

to the children we have,

and for the future of all other’s.

It sweeps deep in their hearts,

the song is love for mankind,

the harmonious tune,

plays forever in our minds.

We’ll continue, we’ll go on,

we’ll move forward with our lives.

But we’ll never forget our heroes,

those who gave up their lives…

Our America had been changed

by the events of that day,

for her children, and the parents,

it’s in their honor and their memory we pray.

So…pray to your God,

and I’ll pray to mine,

for the peace that we seek,

is that, which we find.

Copyright

Tamara J. Egan
September 22, 2001

Serenity Sunday...week 19

Remember the walls of maples,

and playing in the colorful piles of fallen leaves?

We were adventurers,

in the delicious days of childhood.

copyright 8/25/2000

Tamara Egan

(I've had this picture for years, not sure where I found it.)

Can it be? ALREADY? Autumn?

The temperature reveals that Autumn is on it's way into town. I'm not happy that summer is coming to an end, but I love everything about Autumn. The air smells cleaner, the leaves (where I live in the northeast) will be a spectacular riot of yellows, oranges and reds. It's difficult for me not to think about picking up a paint brush!

Halloween is on it's way, whether we like it or not!



Decorating is easy and fun this time of year...more organic and reflective of the vibrant colors we see in our landscape.

I painted this wooden bowl a couple of years ago.




These signs are for the shop.

This jar is one of the first things that I painted and sold.

Playing in piles of colorful leaves, pulling out some cozy sweaters and jackets, the La Fayette Apple Festival, the smell of wood burning in fireplaces, frost on the pumpkins...what are your favorite Autumn memories?