Finding the Catskill Mountain House

We were staying at a small bed & breakfast in the mid-Hudson River Valley this week when we found out--on our last day there, of course--about a nearby site that was heralded as just the balm for sore eyes. Needing no convincing, and not daunted in the least by unfavorable weather conditions, we headed out in the direction of the Catskill Mountains toward what James Fenimore Cooper called the “greatest wonder of all creation.”

In the moist gray-blue air, this is what we got:

Then the clouds below us became a cloud around us. I could see and feel its movement as the fog crept around a corner and took over not only the land on which we stood, but also the invisible vastness in front of us.

The voice in the guidebook we’d consulted told us the view from the site of the old Catskill Mountain House was “so lovely that it transcends mere description to become a symbol of the profoundest yearnings within the soul of the beholder.” I was prepared to believe it; even in absence—the absence of the house, which was burnt down almost 50 years ago, and the absence of the view, which was hidden by all the weightless wetness of a levitating pond—there was something transcendental. And I thought, for sure, I’d be returning. I hadn’t seen what I’d hoped to, but I’d seen something.

It’s not the manifestation that keeps us coming back. It’s the promise.

Day Trip to Rhode Island

The nice thing about living in New England is not having to drive far to find something totally different from your every day life. I grew up in spitting distance from Massachusetts and Rhode Island (although I never did try that) and was only a car ride from shopping at Quincy Market or sunbathing in the ocean sand. It's a glorious place to live.

After I got married, I moved out here to the Western Hills of Connecticut, and now I'm close to New York state, which adds another dimension to my travels. So much to see, so little time. Soon my family and I will take our annual drive up to Freeport, Maine, where we shop at the outlet stores and buy WAY too much at LLBean. I'm also getting excited to travel up thru the Berkshires to check out the fall colors next week.

This past weekend we took a van ride to Rhode Island. Hubby and I, and the 3 kids. My son is hours away from turning 6 and my girls are 4 and 3. We usually take a few summer trips over to the ocean to dig for clams and eat some great seafood, but our lives got hectic this year. And with the weather still summer-like, we thought a jaunt to the beach to get some good food and stick our toes in the sand would be a fun family trip.

And it was. We got to the beach and it was so foggy. Come to find out, it was just that little piece of land sticking out into the ocean that was foggy, that wonderful town called Point Judith. On our way home, the sun came back out as we traveled farther inland. The lobster and steamers were glorious; the kids LOVED to collect shells and dip their toes in the salty water. My son is all excited to bring his shells to show-and-tell at school tomorrow. And the ride was full of laughter, music and happy, content kids. Thank goodness my kids have always traveled well.

It was a wonderful family day trip. And it didn't take long to get there.

Meet me at the Fair

Last weekend the fam made its yearly pilgrimage to the Topsfield Fair. If you don't have much on tap for the coming weekend, we HIGHLY recommend you check it out! The Topsfield Fair is America's oldest agricultural fair. Agricultural barns are set up around the perimeter of the fair where you can view everything from prize-winning tomatoes and heiffers to floral displays. The real reason to hit the barns, though is to see the largest pumpkin in New England... which, as of right now, is the biggest pumpkin in the world (and believe you me, it is one big-ass pumpkin).

There are two midways, one for kids and one for big people. I like that there is a separate area for kids that has less flash and trash and fewer carnies trying to guilt parents into paying $3 per dart to pop balloons for yet another cheap stuffed animal.

A highlight of the fair for me is always the food. I am a pretty healthy eater most of the time, but something about fair food unleashes the junk food beastie in me and this year I had two of the most perfect candy apples ever dipped while Kiddo enjoyed freshly made cotton candy.

The fair (like Disney) publishes a daily schedule so you can make sure you're in the front row for the Mrs. Essex County Pageant, sheep shearing, or pig races (okay, so not at all like Disney).

Admission is $12 for humans over the age of 8. Parking was $8 in our chosen lot. The traffic can be a bit crazy but a few years back somebody slipped me a back roads map and now we just scoot right in (I'd publish it but I lost it and now just remember where to go- anyone with basic knowledge of Google maps can wing it).

The League of Maternal Justice will be pleased to know that they have a clean and comfy dedicated area for nursing mothers.