More from the Schenectady Capital Region Home Front

---

Our blog followers (we have had over 23000 hits - thank you all very much) know that as much as we get around; we LOVE where we live and work here in Upstate NY. We are more or less Schenectady and Saratoga County based. We'll be off in the motor home soon; so are reminiscing about our great home base. Once the Saratoga Race Course starts to wind down its summer meet; festivals abound in the Capital Region. Scottish Games in Altamont; Little Italy Festival on Jay St., Schenectady, Greek Festival, Carrot Festival, Stockade Art Show, and Stockade Walk-About House Tour (all in Schenectady). Art night Schenectady the 3rd Friday of each month, Schenectady County's Farm & Foliage Day, and Upper Union Street's Harvest Fest were on the same weekend in October. The same weekend featured the opening of a wonderful new gallery, The Gallery Upstairs at Sow's Ear Studio on Upper Union St., Schenectady. Cannot recommend it HIGHLY enough! Ever the foodies, we have tasted great sauces at Scotti's, Upper Union St., Schenectady and wonderful old fashioned pizzas and creative salads at Panza's, Saratoga Lake. We caught the Fiddlers Tour at Carneys, Ballston Lake in September and tasted incredible food / wine pairings at the amazing Fall Wine Dinner at Lake Ridge, Round Lake. An example on the Fall Wine Dinner - the first course was pan seared scallop & pear salad - the scallop was stuffed with salmon mousse topped with sage pesto. The pear salad had walnuts and arugula; and the wine was a crisp and dry Sauvignon Blanc 2007 from New Zealand. To DIE for! To go from the sublime to the even more sublime, see the photo caption for the New Big Apple Diner located almost on the Vermont / NY border between Whitehall and Rutland (below). The waning days of fall foliage season (mid October) in Vermont were "white capped" with at least 10 inches of natural snow on the top of Pico (part of the Killington ski area near Rutland). It's probably the same in the very close by Adirondacks where we had a great time at Lake Placid with the WHOLE family during the summer. We are so centrally located, we can scoot to Rutland, Vermont, where part of the family lives, and back as a day trip. On our last trip to Long Island, where another part of the family lives, we came home via Stockbridge, MA having taken the ferry boat from Port Jefferson to Bridgeport, CT.

---

Photos

Ready to Roll
Once the burning bush turns red; the neighbors can expect to see the Schooner in the driveway getting ready to roll. We're all set to hook up the jeep (isn't this a cute little dingy?) and take off like the Canadian geese. Our southern beach neighbors often herald the setting sun by blowing on their conchs - not to be outdone; Wes found a garage sale conch, cut a "mouth piece" in it, and is ready to make a god awful sound!

Ten Pumpkins on Fitch Road Saratoga
Me thinks ten little grandchildren are connected with this fall scene.

Fitch Road, Saratoga, Fall Scene
I think the horses like crisp days. The first frost eliminates pesky flies.

Big Apple Diner
This place between Whitehall and Rutland, in New York, but very close to the VT border is a favorite stop for big, greasy, good breakfasts. Sausage gravy & bisquits, steak & eggs, corned beef hash topped with eggs over easy, short stacks and tall stacks of pancakes, French toast, Texas French Toast, and the like - we never have lunch or dinner here; but the menu is amazing. Always cars (and more importantly trucks) at this very plain bump in the road. We just question the word "NEW" on the sign - it just doesn't seem all that new; but it is yummy for those who are not calorie shy!

New Gallery Upstairs at Sow's Ear Studio
This is upstairs at 1597 Upper Union St. The owner, Rosemary D'Alberto Prock, is from Mechanicville! Yea Mechanicville girls! This show, with the wonderful mixed media sculpture of Julie Branch, is up until Nov. 14, 2009.

Adele's New Dress - Mixed Media Figurative Sculpture by Julie Branch
This and a dozed kindred pieces from local artist Julie Branch will be at Sow's Ear Studio's new Upstairs Gallery until November 14. The Gallery is located at 1597 Upper Union St., Schenectady. On November 20 and 21; an Artisans' Studion Showcase will feature the work of 10 female artists. The studio is open daily except Sunday. This is a "don't miss it" attraction in Schenectady.

Sow's Ear Studio
You will find unique gifts and accessories for wearing and for the home here.

Snowy Pico (Killington Area) in October
It looks like a small white ribbon capping Pico; but it's 10 inches of natural snow on the top trails. Snow in October bodes well for the ski industry in the east. We hear, from a great source, that Killington is already blowing snow. Hope to get there to ski with the boys in March.

Waning Days of Fall Color in Vermont
Still beautiful; even after the red maples have let go!

Flag Football in Vermont
These are third and fourth graders having fun on a crisp fall Sunday in Rutland.

At the Summit, Whiteface Mountain
We all got togther for a great Adirondack weekend in Lake Placid. When I say "all" I mean some 50 + family members on the DeVoe side.

At the Top of Whiteface
There are several ways to get to the top of Whiteface Mountain. Some of our crowd climbed up from the north end of Lake Placid. Others of us drove up the toll road and climbed or took an elevator a relatively short distance to the summit.

Whitehall Armory
Right across from the Whitehall Stewarts where we so often stop on our way to and from Vermont. Looks like a castle. Seems to still be operating as an Armory. Tanks and other military vehicles in the side yard.

Whitehall Smoke Stack in the Mist
Whitehall has great potential - birthplace of the American Navy, mighty Hudson and NYS Barge Canal coursing through, historic scene manor, emerging antique scene, and a Stewarts where we always stop for coffee, the clean restroom, local newspapers and snacks on our way to and from Rutland.

Baby Farm Animals at Harvest Fest
In keeping with Schenectady County's Farm & Foliage Day; the Upper Union St. Harvest Fest had pony rides and baby farm animals from Ponys for Hire from Berne, NY. Hard to believe but I have been working with Susan VanEtten, who owns the pony business since she was a little girl and I did Downtown Schenectady events some 25 or so years ago. Her father set her up in the pony ride business when Susan was about 10.

Upper Union St. Harvest Fest
Incredible Larry and a craft from Scotia Glenville Children's Traveling Museum pulled in the crowds.

Home Spun Occasions
Caller, Paul Rosenberg (who teaches folk, line, square, round, ALL dances from around the world including Holland ) was an amazing addition to Harvest Fest. He plays private parties and we are lucky enough to go to a "barn warming" featuring Paul and the Home Spun Band.

Joanne and Henry Hudson
This is the 400th anniversary of Dutch discovery and exploration in New York State. So, it only seemed natural to invite Henry Hudson to our Harvest Fest.

The Barn Warming
The Wayman's Barn Warming, with caller Paul Rosenberg (Homespun Occasions) and a great string band, served a triple purpose, we warnmed the barn, celebrated the Wayman's Anniversary, and had a chance to say good bye to many of our DeVoe relatives and friends. We square danced and folk danced until we were exhausted. Barb's menu and Dave's barn setting were wonderful!

Birthday Party
Joe's birthday party was a great time and gave us a chance to say "so long" to our McMahon relatives. They are amazing - had a huge yearling sale all day on Sunday and still entertained some 30 of for dinner in the early evening. Panza's, Saratoga Lake, great caterers - they also did Wes's 50th class reunion.

Comments

[jeff]

always enjoy...
Lioke I always said....you manage to get me to read.....most people cant get me to...

[Casey Ross]

I just cllimbed Whiteface in August. Missed you by just a little bit. I walked up and took the elevator down. How about you?

[Silver Back Cuda]

Hi Casey - so nice to hear from you - where did you stay in the Adirondacks? we are in DC on our way to Pine Island - really looking forward to Florida. Joanne