tag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368547701142010-08-31T17:45:52-07:00<![CDATA[Finger Lakes Living]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.DMeridian One Technologies Inc.tag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546326522010-08-31T17:45:45-07:002010-08-31T17:45:45-07:00<![CDATA[It's Wine O'clock Time at Wilhelmus Estate Winery]]>
Now is the time to visit some of your favorite New York wineries. Here in the Finger Lakes, the tractor-trailers are already on the roads with the new crop of harvested grapes on their way to the Finger Lakes wineries. There are over 200 Finger Lakes wineries to visit (so much wine, so little time!). And we are even more fortunate here in Canandaigua as the Wilhelmus Estate Winery is located less than two miles from Canandaigua’s city limits.
Along with all of the fine wines that Boud Kuenen produces, Karen has ordered some really nice ladies wine shirts and some flags to display in your driveway or garden. Jeanette has been waiting for the “it’s wine o’clock” flag to come in. In a couple of weeks we will be hosting our friends Tina and Dan from Pennsylvania, and the first place where we will head to “start the party” is the Wilhelmus Estate Winery (click here). Dan makes his own wines and I know that he will be carefully sampling Boud’s Wilhelmus Estate Winery wines and mentally comparing them to his own. And you know what; the wine samplers always win in these competitions!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546329192010-08-27T04:52:57-07:002010-08-27T04:52:57-07:00<![CDATA[The Peak of Summer in the Finger Lakes]]>
The Canandaigua Lady has finally made her appearance on Canandaigua Lake a couple of weeks ago after spending most of the summer in repair. Unfortunately, the crowds of vacationers along Kershaw Park will soon be gone for the season, and the beach area will be closed.
The “Ring of Fire” which is celebrated here in Canandaigua the Saturday before Labor Day (Sept. 4) also signals the end of summer. Its tradition goes back to the days of the Seneca Indians and the start of the harvest season. But now it’s a signal to the Lake Dwellers that vacation time is over, schools are ready to open, and the same old problems wait back at the office. Summer 2010 was an excellent one in the Finger Lakes and it is going to be fondly remembered by all of us Finger Lakes Dwellers.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546333402010-08-22T06:54:14-07:002010-08-22T10:34:14-07:00<![CDATA[Trying to Manage Mother Nature in the Finger Lakes]]>
Our pond here in the Deep Run Development is a constant source of enjoyment not only for the humans that live here in the Development but also for the animals that live in the pond or come to the pond for food or drink. One can see deer tracks all around the pond as they come usually in the evening to shake a long hot summer day’s thirst. The pond has been stocked with blue gills and some large mouth bass and occasionally a blue heron will stop by looking for his dinner. In the spring, a pair of mallard ducks will raise their family in the grass along the pond.
A pond is governed by Mother Nature but most humans are not content to leave good enough alone. We want to see the pond just like you see ponds in the magazine pictures with crystal clear waters, no algae, and only a few cat-tails along the edge. We have been trying to mange the pond here in the Development with little success. We’ve treated the pond with some PBL bacteria and parley pellets which is supposed to keep the algae growth at bay and have been testing the water quality all summer. The quality of the water has remained good but we have had ample rainfall this summer. A good source of information on ponds in the Finger Lakes is WillowPond AquaFarms (click here).
The cat-tails are out of control and need to be treated with some herbicide in order to cut back their growth. And some aquatic grass seems to have taken control of the surface. In spite of all of the difficulties, our pond remains a source of enjoyment here in the Finger Lakes.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546338072010-08-16T06:44:39-07:002010-08-16T06:51:54-07:00<![CDATA[Not In My Finger Lakes Backyard]]>
One weekend about a month ago when we had such hot weather and high humidity, we remained nice and cool in our air conditioned home. But, about 400 nearby residents did not fare as well as they suffered a “brownout” and could not get enough electricity for their homes. They called our local electric supplier, NYSEG, and all that they were able to find out from a recording was that all was well. This went on for about four days and after a lot of frustration on the part of the home owners who couldn’t get enough electric power, the electric crews came and put up a new sub-station with three transformers supported by two poles and a cross piece just across the road from Deep Run Park along Route 364 in Canandaigua.
Of course, the home owners who live here in the Deep Run Development are upset because the new substation takes away from their view of Canandaigua Lake. We are asked to make choices (or have the choices made for us) which benefit some folks but cause others distress. Another good example is the wind farm which has been erected just to the south of Canandaigua near Cohocton, NY. The electricity generated there is essential for powering Finger Lakes homes, schools, dairy farms, family farms, and reducing man’s carbon footprint on the land, but the turbines do take away from the natural beauty of the Bristol Hills in the Finger Lakes. It’s all a part of living together on one finite sized planet called earth, populated by too many people who want the good life - a big house in pleasant surroundings, an SUV, and low taxes.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546341702010-08-11T16:54:01-07:002010-08-11T17:01:34-07:00<![CDATA[The Dog Days of Summer in the Finger Lakes]]>
It’s been a hot humid day here in the Finger Lakes. As I return from my evening motorcycle ride, the sun is just beginning its final descent behind the Bristol Hills. The park at Deep Run has been busy this year. The few swimmers that are left are taking their last cooling dip in the water of Canandaigua Lake before the park closes.
And with the descent of the sun, a calm descends upon the Finger Lakes as its inhabitants prepare to rest from another hot humid summer day. My energy and ambition never seem to return on these humid summer days. I guess that’s why August days are known as the “dog days of summer.” Soon schools will be returning to session and clearer, cooler nights will prevail. In the meantime, don’t fight the weather and take some time off to enjoy summer in the Finger Lakes.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546346452010-08-05T18:18:38-07:002010-08-05T18:18:38-07:00<![CDATA[Finger Lakes Wilhelmus Estate Winery Has a New Look]]>
Karen Kuenen of Wilhelmus Estate Winery (click here) has been busy rearranging the tasting room at the winery. She is now featuring a line of nautical and rustic wine barrel furniture. The new line of furniture adds to your tasting experience at Wilhelmus Estate Winery and if you would like to create a special area in your home for tasting and enjoying Finger Lakes wines, Karen would be glad to order some pieces of furniture just for your home.
Last winter Boud, Karen’s husband, bottled a few cases of his new “Frontina Rosa” wine which is a blend of juices from their estate vineyard. It’s an off-dry cocktail red wine which is intensely fruity and has 1.8% residual sugar. But, you had better hurry on this one as supplies are very limited!
Fortunately, Boud has ample supplies of my favorite Wilhelmus wine – Chamborcin. I keep coming back for this red hybrid variety wine with complex fruit flavors, a light pleasing nose, and full finish. It’s a great sipping wine and it also pares well with any of your favorite foods.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546350812010-08-01T04:46:28-07:002010-08-01T04:55:02-07:00<![CDATA[Kingston, Ontario Canada - Part II]]>
While we were walking along the Waterfront Park in Kingston, a couple stopped us and inquired as to where the nearest grocery store was located. They told us that they were from Rochester, NY and that they came to Kingston by boat. Since their boat was without provisions, they needed some assistance in locating a grocery store. We told them that we were from Canandaigua in the Finger Lakes and we didn’t know where the grocery stores were located, but we did know where some fine restaurants are located!
Our very favorite is Chez Piggy (click here) which is located behind City Hall on King Street. The entrance to Chez Piggy off King Street is literally a hole in the wall. In the era before the automobile, the horses used to be stabled in the courtyard in back of the building and they entered through the narrow stone doorway.
Today the courtyard is used as a lovely outdoor part of the restaurant. One can sit and enjoy a nice glass of wine and a bowl of carrot ginger soup with shrimp under the shade of the colorful umbrellas and do some people watching. The food is outstanding and the service is excellent.
With our stomachs full, we returned to Gananoque that evening to watch the sun go down over the St. Lawrence River. Bring provisions to Canada? They have all the provisions that anyone could desire in the beautiful 1000 Island area of Ontario.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546354862010-07-27T17:59:51-07:002010-07-27T18:00:47-07:00<![CDATA[Kingston, Ontario Canada]]>
Instead of taking the 1000 Island Bridge near Alexandria Bay to Canada, we take the little international ferry at Cape Vincent in the United States to Wolfe Island which is the largest island in the 1000 Island group. It’s a more laid back way to travel (which is why we went on vacation in the first place) and you get two “cruises” on the way to Kingston. Wolfe Island is in Canada so one must stop at customs after you drive your car off the ferry. You then head across the island to Marysville to catch the bigger 80 car ferry to Kingston. This ferry is operated by the City of Kingston and is free! (When was the last time that you went on a beautiful boat ride for free?)
The City of Kingston is a very historic city and has much to offer visitors in terms of restaurants, parks, colleges, historical sites, and sports. We love the little park along the St. Lawrence River in Kingston and it’s always our first stop when we visit. The locomotive engine there at the park was one of more than 3000 steam engines built in the city of Kingston. At one time the Canadian Pacific Railroad ran along the St. Lawrence River front in Kingston and connected Toronto to Ottawa. The old railroad station in Kingston now serves as a tourist souvenir shop. It is here that you can buy a bus ticket which will take you on a tour of the city. The bus tour is a tourist ‘must do’ as they take you around the city in an air-conditioned bus to see the historical sites, the colleges, and tell you a little about the history of this beautiful city. The tour is worth much more than the fourteen dollar price for a ticket!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546357232010-07-25T05:01:26-07:002010-07-25T05:10:11-07:00<![CDATA[Kids, Dogs, Boats, and Water in Gananoque, Ontario Canada]]>
Late one afternoon while we were in Gananoque Canada, we watched while some children were given a lesson on how to properly paddle a kayak. They took to the water as easily as a new duckling takes to the water on its first swim. I had to smile as a “two-man” kayak passed by with a German shepherd sitting on one of the seats. He seemed pleased with his boat ride and why not – he didn’t have to paddle!
Later, we watched some children going for a swim in the St. Lawrence River at the Joel Stone Heritage Park. It was a warm evening and they loved jumping off the raft which was anchored out in a few feet of water. It took me back to my youth when we used to go swimming in the local creeks, but I am thinking that the waters of the St. Lawrence River are much cleaner today than the creeks that I used to swim in!
Boating is enjoyed by many folks who live, work, and vacation in the 1000 Island area. But the adults' toys are bigger, more expensive, and for the most part, I would have to wager a guess that the kids and the dogs were having a lot more fun cooling off in waters of the St. Lawrence River.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546359852010-07-21T17:06:11-07:002010-07-21T17:06:11-07:00<![CDATA[The Islandview Inn B&B in Gananoque, Canada]]>
One of our special places to visit which is not in the Finger Lakes but is in the 1000 Islands area of Ontario, Canada. The 1000 Islands area is just a pleasant three and a half hour drive from the Finger Lakes of NY. We just returned home from our third visit to the Islandview Inn B&B in Gananoque, Ontario. If you love living along the water, boating, fishing, and exploring the waters of the St. Lawrence River, you’re going to fall in love with the little town of Gananoque, Ontario.
Large tour boats depart from Gananoque daily to take vacationers on a water tour of the 1000 Island area. The IslandView Inn B&B (click here) is located at 195 Market St. Its location is secluded from the tourists but within easy walking distance to the marina, the Joel Stone Heritage Park, the boat tours, and some very fine restaurants in Gananoque.
The Inn is owned by Lisa Wells and is a lovely renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian home that has been turned into a B&B by Lisa with the help of many skilled tradesmen who live in the 1000 Islands area. Lisa takes great pride in operating the Inn herself, making fancy breakfasts which delight everyone who comes, and keeping the place immaculate. Staying at the Islandview Inn for a couple of days is a great Finger Lakes getaway!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546363692010-07-18T05:15:30-07:002010-07-18T18:27:40-07:00<![CDATA[The Calm after a Finger Lakes Storm]]>
That evening the dark storm clouds were still hanging low in the western sky, but at sunset, we were treated to a magnificent Finger Lakes sunset! The moisture in those thick dark clouds refracted the light of the setting sun so that we saw only the deep red colors of the spectrum.
Storms seem to serve a special purpose. They bring anxiety, tension, and sometimes destruction, but after the storm, there seems to be a peaceful calm and a clearing of the air as a new weather front moves in. And after the storm has passed, we humans seem to be renewed too!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546368602010-07-12T18:21:48-07:002010-07-12T18:21:48-07:00<![CDATA[How is Your Garden Doing in the Finger Lakes]]> I’ve been struggling this year trying to take care of two gardens. The one here at my home is my vegetable and flower garden and it’s doing quite well. We have had plenty of rain and nice warm sunshine this year. We are enjoying lettuce, onions, radishes, zucchini, and summer squash from this garden. The potatoes are in bloom. So are the tomatoes.
My other garden is quite different. I mow the lawn at the church where I attend and also plant some geraniums there to try to brighten up the neglected exterior of our little country church. I’m hoping that if the outside of our church is a little more attractive, perhaps others will notice and they will come to learn about what is being taught inside the church. My sister-in-law Nancy would understand. She and some of the neighborhood school children in Modesto worked on planting a garden near the school where she teaches. We both hope that our efforts will help people learn about the benefits of community work and the joy that it brings to all.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546373692010-07-06T13:14:25-07:002010-07-07T04:15:09-07:00<![CDATA[A Finger Lakes Vacation in Ithaca, NY]]>
We arrived late in the afternoon and they graciously consented to take us aboard their boat, Summer Daze, and then on a little lake cruise. It was a beautiful evening and most of the Fourth of July celebrators had already left for home. After a brief cruise, we ended up at the Boathouse Restaurant on Lookout Point.
I guess it has been one of my fantasies to be able to dock your boat alongside a restaurant just like you would park your car, have dinner, and then depart in the boat. We had a lovely dinner outside on the patio while enjoying a beautiful summer evening in the company of our friends. We reminisced about the days gone by and made a few plans for the future. A summer dream had just come true!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546375082010-07-05T05:05:15-07:002010-07-05T09:46:44-07:00<![CDATA[The Canandaigua Lady Misses Out on Fourth of July Celebrations]]>
The 26 year old boat is the reason that Jeanette and I moved to Canandaigua and the Finger Lakes. We were treated to a lunch on the Canandaigua Lady by my son and daughter-in-law as a retirement present some 12 years ago. The boat needs to have all of its hydraulic lines replaced and the timing of the repair is unfortunate as it will keep the Lady out of service until August.
During the summer, the Canandaigua Lady is usually docked at The Steamboat Landing Resort along the northern shores of the lake where the locals and a lot of out of town guests board the Lady for a nice relaxing scenic boat tour of Canandaigua Lake. But when something breaks, you have to take the time to fix it. After the repairs are complete, the owner is expecting another 20 years of use out of the boat. That’s a good thing as I sure do miss the Lady’s evening visits!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546378472010-07-01T04:28:04-07:002010-07-01T04:28:04-07:00<![CDATA[Graduation Time in the Finger Lakes]]>
Everywhere you look there seems to be a graduation party! Up the street, next door, in Canandaigua, in East Rochester, everywhere in the Finger Lakes, all are celebrating the completion of 12 years in public school. I’m trying hard to remember my graduation. There were 62 seniors that graduated from my little high school in Smithville, Ohio. We were all grown up then. We had achieved what had been carefully laid out for us by our teachers, our parents, and members of the community. Our motto was, “The Best Is Yet To Be!” We were given a diploma but it didn’t come with a map which laid out our future. Likewise, we weren’t even given a list of warnings as to what difficulties we might have to face or endure. But we surely did possess a huge amount of enthusiasm and youthful energy to “get on with the future!”
My grandson Christian graduated from East Rochester High School last Saturday. We celebrated his graduation with a little party at an East Rochester restaurant. It was a happy occasion. Today Christian, you feel like you are at the top of the ladder. But soon you will see that there are many more rungs left to climb. We hope that you too are filled with enthusiasm, optimism, and hope. These are the propellants which will take you to the next level of your journey. Our very best wishes!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546386572010-06-22T14:08:50-07:002010-06-22T14:14:41-07:00<![CDATA[It's Strawberry Picking Time in the Finger Lakes]]>
That’s what I have been waiting for - strawberry picking time in the Finger Lakes! None of those big berries from California that look like a strawberry, have hollow centers, and then you need to close your eyes and imagine that you are eating a strawberry. No, I am talking about plump juicy sweet red delicious strawberries that are grown locally.
There are many market farms in the Finger Lakes which grow strawberries, but my favorite one is Tomion’s Farm Market over on route 14A near Penn Yan. And the strawberries are now ripe and in season. You can pick your own for only $1.65 per quart! Or if you are like me and are a bit lazy, you can buy them for $3.50 per quart already picked.
Tomion’s Farm Market features a lot of other fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables when in season. I usually pick up a big bag of red potatoes when I go there. Today was no exception as I picked up 20 pounds of red potatoes, some onion sets for my garden, and a cup of coffee for myself!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546392992010-06-16T17:41:11-07:002010-06-20T05:30:20-07:00<![CDATA[Of Money and Manure in the Finger Lakes ]]>
What does money and manure have in common? Both are no good unless you spread them around! And that’s what I did with my pile of organic compost yesterday. The potatoes are now nicely hilled with rich organic compost and my tomato plants are top dressed with a thick layer of the compost. The compost helps to hold the moisture in the ground as well as providing nourishment to the plants.
June is really busting out all over and in just a few days the sun will be at its zenith for the year and the days will begin to grow shorter! Now that’s a sobering thought but fortunately the descent of the sun is very slow at first and we will have all summer to enjoy the warmth that it gives to the earth.
We’ve enjoyed the first of our vegetables – some lettuce and a few radishes for our dinner salad last night. The summer squash plants are now in bloom and soon we will have some squash for our dinner vegetable. The family harvest has just begun.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546395802010-06-14T04:34:46-07:002010-06-14T04:34:46-07:00<![CDATA[Garage Sales in the Finger Lakes]]>
The Chapin Church in Canandaigua recently held its annual garage sale. Garage sales are a lot of work and due to the dwindling numbers of church members, we decided to hold a trunk sale and just sell the space where you can come and park your car or truck on the church’s property to sell your favorite treasurers that you no longer need.
It’s a good way to meet neighbors and friends. We sold some hot dogs, soda, and bottled water, and in general just enjoyed spending time outdoors together.
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546398662010-06-10T16:44:43-07:002010-06-10T16:44:43-07:00<![CDATA[Family Farming in the Finger Lakes ]]>
The organic fertilizer for my garden arrived today which means that I have my work cut out for me. It is composted locally and is especially blended for raising mushrooms, but works quite well on gardens too. This year I am using it as a top dressing for the tomatoes and also to hill up the potatoes in the potato patch. Nothing fancy when it comes to spreading the stuff - just my old wheel barrow and a shovel. No batteries or moving parts except me. And some days that’s the part which is hardest to get moving!
I did have to replant my yellow beans. This time, I soaked them in water for 24 hours before I planted them. We shall see if this helps. I don’t know what happened to the May 19th planting, but not one bean emerged from the entire planting! Perhaps the soil was too cold. The rains that we have been having this past week have done wonders for my garden and the lawn. The rain and the sun are for sure the most important ingredients for a successful garden, but ones which we can’t control.
I go to the trouble of raising a garden because it is a part of my heritage of being raised on a family farm and it makes me a part of the family farms here in the Finger Lakes. There’s nothing like fresh lettuce, onions, beans, tomatoes, broccoli, and potatoes from your own garden. It’s a family harvest that’s worth the effort!
James R. Bupp
]]>James R. Bupp - Ph.Dtag:moguling.com,2010:sm-92233720368546404192010-06-06T04:23:18-07:002010-06-06T04:23:18-07:00<![CDATA[Early Industrial Development in Erie, Pennsylvania]]>
During our recent visit to Erie, Pennsylvania, we stopped at the Watson-Curtze Mansion on West Sixth Street (click here). This Manson was the home of Harrison F. Watson from 1891 and then Frederick Feliz Curtze in 1923 until his death in 1941.
I am more interested in what these men did for a living than I am in the homes that they lived in. Harrison F. Watson was president of the H.F. Watson Paper Company which manufactured building, roofing, lining materials, as well as steam pipe and boiler packaging materials. Frederick Felix Curtze was president of the Erie Trust Company, Heisler Locomotive Works, Union Iron Works, and the Keystone Fish Company. All of these business endeavors allowed the two men and their families to enjoy a lifestyle that has since passed with the Industrial Revolution.
The Manson is indeed lovely. It has 24 rooms, 17 closets, 5 bathrooms, and 12 fireplaces. The building materials are lovely with heavily decorated woodwork which appears throughout the house and hardwood oak floors in all of the rooms. Heat for the house was originally provided by a coal furnace and probably a boiler with steam or hot water heat. Oh, and ladies, don’t fret because of all of the work that it would take to clean 5 bathrooms, or run such a lovely home; they had a staff of 6 domestic servants!
