Day Trippin' - Sharon Springs, NY-Part One

On Saturday, my friend Judy and I took a short 2 hour trip to a beautiful town called Sharon Springs, NY. Some of you may know that this is the beautiful upstate home of Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge of the Planet Green TV show called 'The Fabulous Beekman Boys' that began it's first season this past summer.

Sharon Springs is about 50 miles west of Albany, NY and is only about a half hour from Cooperstown, the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Settled in the late 1700's, Sharon Springs grew into a highly fashionable spa during the 19th century and boasted several beautiful hotels that were used as summer resorts for the guests of the healing waters. For more of the fascinating history of this picturesque small town, please visit here.

Last year, the residents of Sharon Springs, with the help and prompting of Josh and Dr. Brent, held their first annual Fall Harvest Festival to showcase the local farmers and craftsman in the area. (Pictures of the Roseboro Hotel)

This years festival was held this past weekend. Since (for a change) we were close enough to actually attend an event that we've heard about on blogs or national television, we thought it would be a great day trip! I mean, come on...Upstate NY in early autumn? Can't get much better than that! Breath-taking views and quaint towns...old original architecture, country roads...you have to love Upstate!

Look at this awesome building! It held what used to be a grand hotel and several small businesses. This is the building that the Beekman 1802 Merchantile , owned and run by the Beekman Boys themselves, is now in. The shop takes up only a small space in the center bottom floor of this enormous building.

This and the next three pictures are of the 'American Hotel' which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is steeped in history. It is beautiful inside. We couldn't hang around too long because they were very busy and we didn't have reservations, but the lobby is beautifully decorated and the wonderful aromas seeping from the award winning restaurant was incredible! Wish I had pictures of the inside. My friend is planning to make a reservation for her anniversary as a surprise for her husband next spring. Shhhh....don't spill the beans!

This was the booth of a fiber artist.

She had gorgous handmade items for sale!

Looking north on State Route 10 through the village.

What a great antique desk!

A quartet played music in the park's gazebo during the afternoon.

FRESH ORGANIC veggies!

Have you ever seen such a sweet face? This is one of the Alpaca's that were at the festival. There were plenty of working dogs with their owners and there was even a miniature horse wandering the streets and sidewalks of town.

Yards and yards of newly spun wool yarn!

Stay tuned for part two of our trip to Sharon Springs Fall Harvest Festival and hear about how we met Dr. Brent and pictures of their historical mansion!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

For the Soldiers
Far above the patriotic music,
and from beneath purple, majestic skies,
men, women, youth
whisper their prayers of thanks.
Together, throughout history,
and through the many storms of war,
brave souls have unselfishly given their lives,
to ensure our unconditional, eternal freedom.
Your sacrifice has not been in vain.

Copyright

Tamara Egan

May 2009

Thought for a Peaceful Soul

Peace
In the early morning mist…
I looked upon the place, that would,
eventually become mine.
I never owned it…nobody really could,
but it was mine, just as time is mine…
if I chose to take it.
Mother Nature took care of the decorating…
Seagulls, sandpipers…
the sand and shells,
scattered in the lazy pattern of last nights tide
which has taken its turn,
rolling in again, at it’s own pace.
I have listened to the gentle, whirling wind and
I’ve seen the brilliance of
the moonlit skies over the sea…
and I claim them as mine…
for the time it is mine to use…
and then it will return to its maker,
for the next adventurer to borrow
to seek their vision,
to find peace…at the shore.

Copyright May 2001

Tamara J. Egan
May 2001

A Full Weekend, A Good Tired and INSPIRATION!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. First, I've been a little under the weather, not so much that it's kept me from work more than a few hours, but enough to be a lot annoying! This time of year, it's tough to avoid the dreaded 'sinus infection' (see what I mean about annoying?). Secondly, I've been trying to figure out what I'm doing on a couple of custom painting projects I've been asked to do.

So, needless to say, I've had plenty of 'down time' to do a little research online for inspiration for those projects. I have found some truly awesome bloggers who are not only talented and inspirational, but downright astounding in their insight into daily 'life' and whole life 'living'.

I started out looking for people who have the same interests as I do and got so engrossed in their journal-like writings, that it was as difficult to stop reading them, as a good book is to put down. I've read a few (blogs) over the past couple of weeks, from their birth through present day.

I've learned that my life isn't so different than any variety of women from all parts of the country. Incredibly, we have a lot in common. Our ups and downs run parallel in so many ways it's hard to imagine. Our coping skills, which, maybe were not so 'honed' in our younger years, we found had grown along with us and had expanded to encompass our sorrows and heartaches. Things we couldn't imagine having to deal with, suddenly came up front and center in our lives and we were forced to not only accept, but to deal with them, in a way that would allow us to function, learn and grow from them.

Women are incredible creatures. They nurture, teach and love unconditionally and without prejudice. They don't necessarily care if it's returned (although it's preferable). They bandage cuts and scrapes, mend broken hearts, find missing things, make incredible works of art and soothe the savage beasts that somehow make it into sleepless nights. They can make sound decisions on the fly and can deal with any 'fall-out' that might follow without flinching. They organize, keep, decorate, warm up, a 'house' until it becomes a 'home'. They can make you feel like you're the smartest, luckiest, funniest, most talented and most important friend in the world, even on your worst day.

I am so happy to have 'met' you all and found kinship in your lives. Inspiration is such a small word for what I've gained in reading your words. Thank you!