Quintessential Country: Adventures in Sullivan County & Beyond

Halfway Mark of Summer--

2009-07-26T20:57:00.001-07:00

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

Spring Is Here--Head To The Library!!

2009-04-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

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

An Angel Takes Flight

2009-03-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

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

This Old House--Its History is Slowly Revealed

2009-03-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

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

Country Living -- A Luxury??

2009-02-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

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

Our New Old Home--

2009-02-20T21:35:00.001-08:00

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

Amor in the Catskills---When Design Meets Yesteryear

2009-02-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

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

Lake Como in the Catskills??

2009-01-31T16:39:00.000-08:00

Lake Como is one of Italy's most popular and romantic destinations. Discovered by the Romans thousands of years ago this gem of zen tranquility has been attracting crowds for centuries. Now, I haven't had the opportunity to travel to Italy but this past autumn I was able to experience a taste of it in the Catskills. [Can you say, "Delusional"?]... Ok, maybe it was a stretch, but given the way the economy is, we gotta take what we can get. Parla Italiano anyone??

It was the perfect day....temperature in the 60's and the sun was simply beaming. We were up from the city on a house-seeking trip. We had envisioned finding our home in Sullivan county but thought keeping our options open would be the smart thing to do. There had been this grand Greek Revival home in Deposit, NY that I simply wanted to see. Deposit is about 35 minutes north of Roscoe in Delaware county. Manhattanites are starting to buy there as homes can be purchased at a very low price and taxes tend to be lower. Greek Revival seemed to be the dominant architecture of the town and there was a cute sense of community there. It is far from developed and lacks the conveniences of some of the dreamy hamlets of Sullivan county but we figured it would be worth the discovery. The house was beautiful and quite big.....but it didn't really speak to us. After the viewing, it was close to lunch and our patient but starving four year old was starting to unravel. In retrospect, he was simply amazing during the whole house-hunting process...we would call him our little bathroom inspector. For some reason, he felt the need to give us the thumbs up or down on the bathrooms of every home we went to see :>)....

Back to Italy in NY, our agent, D., told us about this amazing inn we could have lunch at and raved about the scenery. So we drove up a winding road, under a rustic train bridge and after ten minutes arrived at our destination.

The Chestnut Inn is an oasis located on Lake Oquaga....built in the late 1920's it was a very popular vacation destination back in the 50's and 60's. Stepping into the inn was like stepping back in time......

There was jazz music playing in the background....a grand fireplace in the lobby and plenty of lakeside seating.
We opted to sit outdoors....the vistas were just breathtaking and many of the guests were lounging on the dock reading their favorite book.

Our biggest surprise was the meal...it was an amazing slice of gourmet at an affordable price. Even the snobbiest of foodies would have to buckle at the quality of service and presentation.

The Chestnut Inn serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. This is the perfect venue for a wedding, corporate meeting or a lunch getaway. The rooms are all updated with luxurious amenities. We actually went back for Thanksgiving and the scene was out of a story book. So while it isn't exactly Italy.....it's certainly worth the trip!

Godere (Enjoy)!!

Tech Girl

On My Way To Schrute Farms -- When T.V. Meets Reality?

2009-01-29T18:54:00.000-08:00

I consider myself to be some what hip when it comes to pop culture...besides, for many years it was my job to deliver pop culture and sports news to morning audiences with my own sassy twist. I worked with three LOUD sports announcers and I had no choice but to speak a million miles a minute to get my point across. Anyway, about two weeks ago it was a very cold and dreary Saturday evening...my husband and son were sound asleep and I had one of those very rare but much needed alone moments. I decided to start researching additional areas near our future home that we have never explored. As you can already tell...I love adventure and discovering new places...so with a fabulous glass of red wine in hand and an 1803 candle burning in the background (as a side note: 1803 candles are the absolute best soy candles I have ever encountered. My favorite scent is the grandpa's trees and I love the fact that my purchase supports a farm in the midwest). I started my search on Google...Honesdale seemed like a good place to start. I found all these fabulous links about future spring/summer events to look forward to, upcoming writing seminars and the cutest european bakery. Finally, I came across a travelocity link to Schrute Farms. It convincingly stated, "Schrute Farms is the number one beet-related agrotourism destination in Northeastern Pennsylvania."

In reading further, I discovered that Schrute's had table making classes and beets wine. Heck....I love a good glass of wine so beets wine was just up my alley....sign me up I thought. I'm a city girl who would certainly be willing to trade in my stylish shoes for a new country experience.

I innocently started reading the reviews...and little by little started to get a sick knot in my stomach. There were reviews about ghost wailing at night, cousin Mose "watching" over the guests (he was the unwanted roomie that never left the guest rooms), only one primitive bathroom and who could forget the infamous optional story bed-time package with cousin Dwight.

Although I am not British I thought to myself..what in bloody hell is going on here and why are they getting so many 5 star reviews?? Of course by now, those of you who are fans of the NBC show The Office know that this is virtual marketing at its best. The characters of the show went to "Schrute Farms" and I believe there is a pending wedding with two of the popular characters. Since I don't watch the show it took me a wee bit longer to catch on. For those of you looking for a good laugh...here is the link to the travelocity reviews click here.

I guess you can say the joke was on me or was it? So much for being a pop culture diva :>).....

Enjoy!!

Tech Girl

Not Your Ordinary Cup of Joe -- The Art of Coffee Drinking

2009-01-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

For centuries, Europeans have mastered the art of coffee drinking and coffee culture. I love a rustic and unique coffee house that has an old world elegance to it. Your time is what you choose it to be....great conversation, a time to pen the next best seller or perhaps reading one. It's on these bitter cold days that I would love nothing more than to lounge at one of these cozy places. In the city, Starbucks has become the standard for coffee drinking....it caters to convenience (it's hard to walk three blocks without running into another one). On a recent trip to Oslo, Norway my husband smiled at the fact that there wasn't a single Starbucks in sight! This is why when we head up to the Catskills I love to frequent three of my favorite Sullivan county coffee houses.

Buffalo Zach's is located in the heart of downtown Roscoe, NY. This was the first coffee house I ever visited in the region and instantly fell in love. The decor can best be described as southwestern with a dabble of adirondack flair. Beautiful hand carved furniture adorns the place and I believe the owner does a lot of this work himself. There are many zen quotes posted on the wall alongside Native American art. The place just oozes charm and love.

Peter, the owner, is extremely welcoming and for you dog lovers out there.... he named the place after his two adorable labs. He also has an amazing story to tell and I will touch upon his special cause and how this place of business supports this dream in a future post. For those of you who enjoy fishing but absolutely need to stay "plugged" into your computers..Buffalo Zach's offers free Wi Fi. Outside of being a fabulous coffee house they also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the summer, there is live music on their outside deck and even Peter has been known to belt a tune or two for the crowds. If you are ever in the area stop in and say hello.

If you love Samba with your coffee or morning juice then the next destination is one you might want to put on your list. Samba Brazilian Juice Bar is located on Main street Jeffersonville, NY.

This place is fabulously designed with dark wood floors, funky area rugs and nicely placed seating. They have exposed shelving with unique gift items that can be purchased. They are also connected to the toy store next door and from personal experience offers hours of entertainment for the children. The place has a festive and friendly vibe. In the words of a local Jeffersonville resident, "This would be the place you would take a city girl to impress her."

In the quiet and dreamy hamlet of Narrowsburg, NY is where my final favorite is located. This chic and modern coffee house is called the Narrowsburg Roasters. This place offers an amazing gourmet selection of coffee and hot beverages. Their sandwiches are absolutely delectable...if you are ever there be sure to ask for their turkey and brie.....have them toast it....you'll thank me later :>)......

The back offers a seating area with a mod like decor and there are local jams and products on display. There is also some leather seating at the front of the store offering views of the many adorable shops. Complimentary Wi Fi is also available. A great place to stop in for a quick snack or to catch up on the morning newspaper.

Enjoy!!

Home Sweet Home -- Country Living

2009-01-25T14:50:00.000-08:00

So you can say it's almost official. In about two weeks we will be the proud owners of a quintessential farmhouse near Sullivan County, NY. The journey that brought us to this moment started last summer. A spontaneous trip sparked by an awful nyc restaurant experience (we have a 4 year old son who was 3 at the time...need I say more :>). We were "over" the city and decided taking a drive up north to the Catskills was just the medicine we needed. Mind you, neither my husband or I had ever been there before....we were purely going on a bohemian spirit of adventure and the inspiration from a NY Times article that talked about this quaint town called Livingston Manor. So off we went to our adventure......

We arrived at Livingston Manor only to find that maybe it wasn't so much of the "it" town that the Times had made it out to be. We couldn't even find a bed and breakfast to stay at. Lucky for me I always carry with my laptop and wireless card (what would we do without technology). We discovered there was a town called Roscoe just 5 minutes away and found a great B and B to stay at called The Reynolds House (one of the oldest operating B and B's in the country).

And so the real adventure would begin.....

I welcome you to this blog! I will be covering all the great family activities that this region has to offer. From the quaint coffee houses, to the local artist and locally grown products. There is so much to see and learn. For us this journey means more than just a weekend house in the country. This is a chance to reconnect to a simpler time. To unplug a little from the hectic pace of the city and return to what is most important....quality time with family and friends.

Hope you enjoy the journey with us!