How about some popcorn with the $1 movie? Once again, the Regal Champlain Cinema in Plattsburgh is hosting its Summer Movie Express Festival and yes, it is only a buck. I understand that we could probably see all these showings at our house, sitting in the front of the television. I love ...
Have you seen those long, curly, emerald green stalks with tightly closed buds at the Farmers' Market? These are garlic scapes – and they’re delicious, tender and crunchy. They’re finest when only a few weeks old, and have just begun to curl and form buds. They should be about 12 – 18 ...
I love a treasure hunt. I especially love a treasure hunt that brings a book to life. Interacting with favorite characters in imaginative ways allows everyone to share books differently. It gets us out of the house and exploring new things. Movies are wonderful. I’m a huge fan, but sometimes ...
My go-to walk is to enjoy the 2.7-mile stroll around Mirror Lake. I can easily circumnavigate the lake during my child’s ballet lesson. I can even squeeze in a stop at the bookstore and a grab n’ go from one of the Main Street shops. I usually use headphones and relax, but occasionally my ...
Though my children may have outgrown the need for a summer program, it doesn’t mean that our guests’ family members have. Children do crave continuity so to keep the rhythm there are so many programs that offer a regular schedule mixed with fun activities. Here are my annual (updated) ...
My husband and I have long come to terms with the fact that most of our hard-earned funds go directly toward our children. The money pit is not our house, though lately the house has decided to compete for our available funds. Both offspring and house do offer us a certain level of comfort, ...
There is a saying that everything comes back and that seems to include some questionable fashion choices and alot of hairspray. This time the Saranac Lake Elks Club is providing the ‘big hair, don’t care” place with an 80s Dance Party. Though I may not need a good reason to dress up for a ...
That end of school transition can be challenging when the school schedules are replaced with other events. I always need to establish a routine right from the beginning or our household turns into a chaotic downward spiral. Daily chores are mixed with fun outings. Between work and play, I want ...
I’m not sure why there is still controversy about climate change. My children argue with me all the time and I do understand their frustrations. Perhaps arguing isn’t the correct terminology. They vent. Yes, we know climate change is happening. Thankfully the climate change argument is not ...
A few years ago, I was in the Champlain Valley helping to clear a trail. Just to let you know even with huge signs warning me to be careful of ticks, I did everything wrong. I walked through tall grassy areas with dark pants, shirt, and socks. I didn’t check my clothes before getting in the ...
Since the inception of the Champlain Area Trails (CATS) Grand Hike, my friends and I have enjoyed walking through the interwoven countryside paths of this community 12-mile hike. The terrain is part roadside stroll and wooded walk. The Grand Hike isn’t about summitting mountaintops, ...
With Easter falling on April 21 this year, we want to make sure that Earth Day doesn’t get forgotten. Though I’m sure we are all doing what we can to help reduce plastics and our waste, it is always nice to have a day to remember that we really do only have one earth. Every year my family ...
My children are no longer toddlers, but they still get excited for a family egg hunt. There is something so exciting for the chance to find treasure, whether it is buried in the ground or hiding in a tree. Though most egg hunts are for the very small, there are opportunities for everyone to ...
Though our house in in desperate need of some deep spring cleaning, I’m lucky if I can get one good day of decluttering out of my family. I can’t seem to muster the energy to actually do more than one room before losing interest. Yes, I essentially just shift all my junk to a different ...
The spring equinox may have been recently celebrated, but my backyard is still a snowman making paradise. I usually spend this transitional time of year searching for those little touches of spring. It’s been a long winter and finding tiny tree buds, hearing the return of wildlife, and ...
Yes! Our five maple trees are tapped and we are just waiting for the sap to roll on in. Obviously, we are not in the commercial maple making business, but our two-gallon target has been consistently produced over the years. We’ve annually managed to collect enough maple sap to make enough ...
I’m not quite sure how to begin. I lost a friend to ALS a few days ago. She was not my best friend or a relative. She was a mentor that I spent many summers with. She was my past. We knew each other before children, husband, or my move to the Adirondacks. She knew me before. We ...
The weather can’t decide what it wants to do. The ice underneath this new layer of snow is making my microspikes investment worth every penny. We’ve dropped my child off at her lessons and only have a limited amount of time to get out and enjoy the new fallen snow. I don’t mind keeping ...
Rain and snow, the weather can’t make up its mind. For those times when I don’t want to break trail myself, it is nice to have some groomed cross-country ski options. Though there are wonderful choices that have reasonable trail fees, such as Mount Van Hoevenberg, Dewey Mountain, and the ...
Just because you can do something, doesn’t always mean that you should. The lucky part of living here is that my car acts like a sports shop. At any given time my trunk holds a few pairs of snowshoes, ice skates, a backpack, and some microspikes. What I keep in my car dictates the sport. If I ...