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Published: August 31st 2013
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Our ten year old granddaughter, Vivian, came for a week's visit. Thought others entertaining grandchildren might like this perspective. It may look like we were constantly on the go; but we did realize that a quiet afternoon reading or being a bit indulgent with our i-pad, and a trip to Price Chopper for V. to choose her own treats were also fun additions to the equation.
We started at a family party in Lake Placid, NY which was tons of fun. V. got to reacquaint with almost a score of cousins - mostly girls. What fun, especially all the dancing after dinner. While in LP, V. and her parents ate at Smoke Signals (with a fab view of Mirror Lake) while Wes and I chose Desperado's and TexMex with "an Irish attitude." We met at Ben & Jerry's after and caught the finale of a concert said to be staged each Friday night at a little amphitheatre on Main Street. We liked having our own time in town but really enjoyed the remainder of the weekend set at a private Adirondack home in the "Great Camp" tradition. While many of the guys played golf, we gathered with a few hearty
Lunch at Algonquin Lake George
Great view of the boats coming in and out and the dock girl and dock boy who helped them. men, women and children for a hike up Mont Jo. That experience was too much for me but V. and her 4 month old second cousin (he in a front pack) stormed the summit with its beautiful view of Heart Lake like troopers.
At the end of the weekend, V.'s parents headed back to Long Island and we headed towards Ballston Lake with our little charge chatting like a magpie in the back seat. We got as far as the Bolton Landing exit on the Northway and headed to The Algonquin, a favorite Lake George restaurant with lake side seating and a great view of this beautiful lake and the comings and goings on the Algonquin's own dock (love to pull the boat up to eat). Wes introduced V. to the marvelous career of "dock boy" or in her case dock girl. Our lunch was wonderful and we headed south again. Not content that our already full day was full enough, we exited at Saratoga Springs and visited McMahon of Saratoga's barns at the Fasig Tipton NY Bred Yearling Auction and introduced V. to the fast paced auction process. She got right into it; we got her a catalogue
Fasig Tipton Sales Ring
V. situated herself right next to the Press Box!
and she loved recording all the sales. We zipped by a fab mostly equine art show rimming the walls of the second floor of the FT Pavilion and headed home.
On Monday we were invited to join with cousins for a gathering in Congress Park in Saratoga Springs with tons of little cousins, rousing games of "Duck Duck Goose" and a carousel ride before meeting Zita at the Victoria Pool in Spa State Park for lunch at Catherine's and a few hours in the pool.
We took V. tubing behind our Pontoon Boat in Ballston Lake and stopped for a swim in the "wide waters." So glad that V. isn't squeamish about lake swimming. Some kids get a little picky - after all fish and other wild life make their homes at the lake.
We headed to Rutland Vermont for some river tubing, but backed out once we arrived at the river and even the tour operator said it was too cold for the 2.5 mile float on the --- River. It's too bad when a plan cancels, but Plan B - a picnic with Beth, Casey & Jack at their home in Rutland Town and an
Kids and Cousins Playing
Duck, Duck, Goose in Saratoga's Congress Park. afternoon in the pool was a happy substitution.
A rainy day found us at the newly named MiSci Science Museum (formerly Schenectady Museum). The animated dinosaur exhibit was as good as a Disney animation and the other science demonstrations (mostly all hands on and interactive) are cause for a return visit with C & J.
When the plans for V's visit were made, we knew we had a major commitment for a client event at Central Park, Schenectady. We knew that V. would fit right in at Schenectady Day Nursery's 13th Annual Steak & Lobster Fest benefit. She drew accolades as she rolled silverware, and later joined with other young girls to pass out water and soft drinks for the guests at the benefit picnic.
We spent our last night as a threesome at Carney's. V. loves music and the singer that night, Ed Campbell, was just the right touch. On Saturday we went to the Burnt Hill Farmers' Market, Wes's Soft Ball Game, and Lake Side Farm before Tom and Tricia, V.'s parents, arrived. We all met later in the afternoon at the Saratoga Race Course. Wes got Paddock passes for our guests and we happened
V. and Three Cousins
Dominic, Lilian, Sarah, & Vivian and a bunch of other McMahon side cousins enjoyed the Carousel in Congress Park, Saratoga Springs. to meet some friends of Tom's from work and other folks we knew while we watched the horses get saddled. Then we all trooped over to the back stretch where I bought lunch for three of us for $8 (including a light beer for me). This, for the uninitiated, would have cost three times that over on the front side. We had our chairs and watched the races from the "staging area" together with other of our horsey pals and had a grand old time.
Good bye V and parents after a quick breakfast on Sunday. So glad for the visit and we had a very nice week; however we welcomed the return of peace and quiet!
Oh, Vivian wanted to “best” her previous record of 4 restaurants in one week (other than on vacations). So we counted: Smoke Signals, The Algonquin, Catherine’s in the Park, The Big Apple (a diner for the very best breakfast - located between Whitehall and Rutland), Carney’s Tavern (Ballston Lake), Home Style Pizza (Upper Union Street, Schenectady - because the children’s hot dog dinner at the lobster fest proved too little for a growing girl), and the Back Stretch Snack
Bar. Do you think Ben & Jerry’s and John Mantas (Mike’s Hotdogs the caterer for the Lobster Fest) should count?
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Jane Golub
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The Best Blog Yet!
As you know, I read all of your blogs, but this was the best one yet! Price Chopper, miSci, Schenectady Day Nursery - watching V enjoy them all - life doesn't get better!! Jane