Travel Tuesday: Autumn in New York

When I was a girl, I used to read Anne of Green Gables and dream of living in a forest. Living in the high desert mountains of Wyoming, trees were scarce and twisted. The constant fierce wind made every tree remarkably strong, if somewhat deformed. Autumn is a funny time in Wyoming with the weather wildly vacillating between blizzards, warm weather, and proper fall temperatures. 

Experiencing Autumn in New York is, well, an EXPERIENCE. Unless you have witnessed the changing of the leaves, the astounding colors, and the way the light interacts with the colors, you truly cannot imagine what it is like to live in New York during the fall.

Don't believe me? Here are a few pictures I have taken over the past week.

So, when are you coming to visit me?

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Travel Tuesday: Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain State Park is nestled among the hills on the west side of the Hudson River. A popular destination for New Yorkers, especially those coming from the city, this park has a lot to offer, as well as some things you should definitely miss. For the true urbanite, visiting Bear Mountain State Park offers a sanitized version of nature without getting too close and personal with the wild.

If you are planning a trip to Bear Mountain State trip, there are a few things you should  definitely do.

• Enjoy walking the trails around the park. There are lots of winding trails and they are accessible and easy for an inexperienced hiker.
• Take a gander around the Bear Mountain Inn. It's cute and fun--although nothing on the grand scale of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park. 
• Go on the Merry Go Round and taste the nostalgia of such a charming and old-fashioned ride.
• Walk through the Bear Mountain Zoo. The bears are completely adorable. The paths are shady and there are plenty of plants, animals, and geological features to observe. This is a bite-size zoo, perfect for small children with short attention spans. 

• Walk along the trail to Fort Montgomery. You'll walk along the Hudson River and enjoy some beautiful views. Fort Montgomery itself is small and intimate. They have some interesting historical displays and a film that explains the significance of the site. 
• Throw rocks into the Hudson River near Fort Montgomery. Eventually, you cross a small footbridge over the river. Just below the footbridge is a perfect spot for throwing rocks. Trust me, if you have kids, you can stay there for hours throwing rocks. Prepare to get wet though, its hard for kids and adults to resist the water.
• Walk across the Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River. The Bear Mountain Bridge is one of my favorite bridges in New York. The views are worth the walk.

• Enjoy looking at the animals. The Bear Mountain Zoo rescues injured wildlife and rehabilitates them. If an animal cannot survive out in the wild, it will remain in the zoo. I like this approach to zoos because it gives a safe space for animals to live, without taking animals from their natural habitat. Yesterday when we visited we saw bears, swans, geese, foxes, coyotes, several different types of owls, a hawk, an eagle, turtles, lizards, frogs, toads, and several kinds of snakes. 

Not all activities and events at Bear Mountain State Park are worthwhile. Here are a few things I would avoid like the plague. 

• Do not picnic at the main picnic area. It is generally crowded with lots of people. Yesterday when walking through the area to get to the zoo, it was so filthy from litter. (I don't understand why people litter. It is disgusting.) The grass was sparse and stubby. If you can afford it, try the restaurant at the inn or get something from the grill and find a nicer area to eat.
• Do not go swimming at the pool. So many people go to the pool that it is practically impossible to enjoy yourself and keep an eye on children. And if you don't have children, it is really hard to enjoy yourself swimming because there simply is no room to swim with all the people. If you want to swim, pick another park to go to. New York has so many awesome beaches and lakes that only cost the price of parking to enjoy. 
• Don't go when there are big crowds. Its hard to enjoy the space when you can hardly breathe from all the people pressing on you. Try and go during the middle of the week early in the day. 

Things to know before you go: 

• Admission to the Bear Mountain Zoo is free, although a donation of $1 is suggested and appreciated. 
• Parking in the park costs $8. If you have an Empire Parks pass, parking is free.
• You will do a lot of walking in the park, so bring a stroller or backpack for little ones.
• There are vending machines throughout the zoo if you need a cold drink or a little candy. 
• You must pay an additional fee to use the pool or ride on the Merry Go Round.
• You can go ice skating in the winter.
• The park is open all year long.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Wondering Wednesday: Homeland

For so long, pieces of my heart have been scattered around and I have felt divided and rootless. Our first few years in New York stripped us bare and laid out flaws and strengths apparent for all to see. At times, living in NY felt like a prison I couldn't escape. Where Sweden had adventure and interest around every corner, NY presented relentless and prosaic challenges. Going back to the homeland, to the high, cold desert plains and mountains of Wyoming felt like an escape and respite from the beat and humidity that seemed to represent all the things I couldn't overcome.

Then, things changed. Riyadh reset my perspective and gave us the freedom to overcome the restrictions we fought against. Keys to our new home that came with mortgage payments and property taxes meant new opportunities and settling down.

Now my trips to the homeland aren't so much an escape as they are a chance for my children to build relationships with extended family. We are the outliers-the exotic family far away from everyone.

I am excited but I am not running there to escape. I leave from a place of contentment. Home, home in NY, calls to me. My bedroom with its airy, white, and cool curtains and comfortable bed is a refuge. Each room in my home serves its purpose in a comfortable manner that reflects the needs of our family.

My garden and yard intrigue me with all their surprises. Walking around my home always yields secret delights. I eagerly anticipate the blooming of different shrubs and plants, each one bringing beauty to the landscape.

We are settled with friends and responsibilities. People depend on us... And we depend on them.

We have summer traditions we eagerly await: lazy days swimming at the lake, watching a double feature until the early hours of the morning at a drive-in movie theater,   exploring the Dutchess county fair, eating outside on the deck under the canopy, swimming lessons, and trips up north to the Adirondacks.

The more pleasures and delights I discover, the harder it is to leave. The pull for the homeland becomes more about the people than the place. I feel more and more rooted to a new home, connected to the place, as much as the people.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Travel Tuesday: Things I Love About New York

I can't believe that July 1st marks seven years of living in New York. This makes New York the one place I have lived longer than any other since I got married. I have to admit, I didn't immediately bond with New York when we moved here. I experienced major culture shock that first year and I experienced some of my hardest challenges here. However, I have grown to love New York and proudly call myself a New Yorker.

In no particular order, here are some things I love about New York.

• You can't turn around without hitting an historical spot from the colonial period or Revolutionary War. I am such a huge fan of history--especially the colonial period, so this is a major treat for me.
• There are so many opportunities to see plays and performances. Being so close to NYC, even local productions are pretty darn amazing.
• New York has the best pizza around.

• New York Delis are amazing. I never knew about sausages and peppers until I moved to New York. One of the best reuben sandwiches I have ever eaten is at a little deli at a gas station by the Appalachian Trail. Aweseome.
• I live in a freaking forest.

• I get to live in the country with lots of wildlife around but the city is just an hour away so I can soak up all the culture my heart could ever desire.

• We live close to some of the best museums in the world. I love museums so this makes me extra happy.

• There are so many lakes and beaches around. During the summer I hang out by the water with my feet in the sand to my heart's content.

• Apple picking in the fall. I love walking around orchards in the fall and picking apples. The fresh apples taste amazing.

• The Adirondacks are gorgeous and a wonderful place for a getaway.

• I have a place here in New York with friends and a community. So glad to be here.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Wondering Wednesday: Stonecrop Gardens

I'm a bit tired today and not really up to a deep post. Winter and I visited Stonecrop Gardens, one of the most beautiful and romantic places I have seen in a long time. I will share some pictures from our adventure today.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Throwback Thursday: May 2015 Review

Winter Rose

Winter Rose is just growing and changing so quickly. She is so cute and fun. Despite the sippy cup in the picture below, she mostly drinks from a regular cup. She likes most food and will try just about everything. She also wild fuzzy hair after taking a nap. I have so much fun spending my days with her.

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Elementary School night

Both Brooke and Jonathan were so happy to show us their classrooms and samples of their schoolwork at the Elementary School Night. Brooke has had a wonderful year in third grade with a structured and artistic teacher. Jonathan has done so well in kindergarten and works so hard at school. 

A Visit from My Kentucky Kin

My beautiful younger sister visited me with her daughter, Saucy Belle. Our girls had a lot of fun together. I took my sister to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we enjoyed looking at the Impressionist Paintings and the Medieval armor. Winter totally rubbed it in to Saucy when she was allowed to get out of the stroller. I also took Nicole to Boscobel, a restored home from the early 1800s that overlooks the Hudson River. We enjoyed a hilarious luncheon at Kathleen's Tea Room where the staff kept cracking us up with their comments. It was such a nice visit and one I hope to repeat.

The Taconic Opera Performs the oratorio, Daniel

Brent and I joined the Taconic Opera Chorus and spent months learning the music for an original oratorio, Daniel. Our friend is the composer and director. We loved singing the choruses. We put on two different performances--one in Ossining and the other was in White Plains. Here is my handsome husband in his tuxedo ready to perform in White Plains.

Building an Addition

We have a huge deck in the back of our house. I have been anxious to make it more usable and functional in the summer. Brent built a couch and we purchased an awning and table so we can eat outside. It made a huge difference and now we can sit outside anytime we want.

 Memorial Day at Fahnstock Park

We are lucky to live pretty close to a great lake with a nice beach. Memorial Day the lake was open and so we spent the afternoon there enjoying the water and playing in the sand.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED