September Updates

“Life is too short for drama or petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly.” –Author Unknown

Our summer adventures are quickly coming to an end...the weather is cooling down, the leaves are changing color and boats are beginning to leave the marina. 

We decided to celebrate Stan's birthday a little quieter this year since we've been so busy the past few months. We spent the afternoon at the Lakeshore Winery enjoying a glass of wine and a nice picnic. Dinner was onboard.

We didn't have a lot of rain during the summer, but September was a wet cool month and we had lots of beautiful rainbows.

The harvest moon was spectacular and we have one of the best places in the marina to watch it come up.

On the last warm day this fall we drove down to Corning to visit with friends that keep their boat at the marina. We had a great visit with Bob and Loretta and they gave us a tour of Corning. Next summer we might even make it to the Corning Museum.

Our last family vacation was at a house on Cayuga Lake that we stayed at last summer. It was one of our favorite houses. 

Here's a link to pictures of the interior of the house. 

Our first day at the house was beautiful and we truly love this view. We spent a lot of the long weekend relaxing, reading, painting, watching movies and playing games...online and together.  

The end of the season marshmallow roast.

The Sciencenter in Ithaca is amazing and we all have fun when we spend time there.

We even had a little sun to enjoy Buttonwood Grove Winery, which is right across the street from the house.

More marshmallows and good times around the fire pit.

One clear sign that fall is here...the seagulls are taking over the marina.

Finger Lakes Wineries (Part XI)

"What do friends and wine have in common? The older, the better." –Unknown

Lakeshore Winery first opened to the public in 1982, making it one of the oldest on Cayuga Lake. For the past 26 years, John and Annie have continued the traditions established by the first owners. Those traditions mean making a variety of wines of the highest quality; providing a fun, relaxed and educational tasting room experience; and having a good time doing it.

The winery is located on a farm that dates back to 1825. All of their wines are produced and bottled on site, using only Finger Lakes grapes. The original barn provides a unique setting for receiving visitors, with a spectacular view of the lake with a dock for visitors that arrive by boat.

Leidenforst Vineyards has been raising grapes and producing wine on the picturesque lakeside farm in Hector, NY since 1947. The vineyard is located on the east side of Seneca Lake and is considered one of the finest growing sites for premium wine grapes in the Finger Lakes. They feature a wide and varied selection of wines from dry to sweet, red to white, sparkling wines and port wines. The tasting room has a fun and easy-going atmosphere with an incredible view of Seneca Lake.

Azure Hill Winery is located on the hillside overlooking Keuka Lake in NY. It began in the basement of the owners home they built in 2005. It started as a part-time adventure and became a full-time career in 2017 when they made it their permanent residence. Wines available at the winery are Riesling dry, Sweet Riesling, and Sparkling Riesling Brut, Zweigelt, Saperavi, Chambourcin Rosé, Sweet Chambourcin, Synthesis (red blend), and a Sparkling Apple.   

You can read about other wineries we've visited in the Finger Lake area at the following links.

Finger Lakes Wineries (Part XII)

Finger Lakes Breweries and Cideries (Part X)

Finger Lakes Breweries (Part IX)

Finger Lakes Wineries (Part VIII)

Finger Lakes Wineries & Breweries (Part VII)

Finger Lakes Wineries (VI)
Finger Lakes Wineries (Part V)

Finger Lakes Wineries & Breweries (Part IV)

Finger Lakes Wineries (Part III)

Finger Lakes Wineries & Breweries (Part II)

Finger Lakes Wineries & Breweries (Part I)

Sept. 1-3 Hattie's Visit

“A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.” – Unknown

Our little Hattie has been waiting all summer to have her special time on the boat. She's been telling everyone that when she turned three she was going to Mimi and Poppy's boat. Her time finally came and she was so excited and so were we. We truly love having your grandchildren spend time with us on the boat. It gives us time to really get to know them and they get to choose what they want to do and eat what they like. 

On our way to the boat.

Fun on the flybridge with Poppy.

Captain Hattie

One of the kids favorite places to go is the Ithaca Children's Garden.

Eating on the flybridge is so fun.

Another fun activity on the boat is painting rock.

But the best thing about spending time on the boat is playing in the lake and riding on the runabout.

Hattie was looking forward to driving the boat...by herself.

One evening we took the runabout up the lake to the Boatyard Grill for dessert. This is always a favorite activity too.

Having fun on the boat can really wear a little girl out.

Nova Scotia Lighthouses

“We must never remain silent in the face of bigotry. We must condemn those who seek to divide us. In all quarters and at all times, we must teach tolerance and denounce racism, anti-Semitism and all ethnic or religious bigotry wherever they exist as unacceptable evils. We have no place for haters in America -- none, whatsoever.” –Ronald Reagan

I've enjoyed taking pictures of lighthouses since we left Texas in 2011. I have a lighthouse map and an online photo album with 322 lighthouses. Nova Scotia has over 150 lighthouses along its shoreline. We didn't go out of our way on this trip to find them, but we did stop and get a picture if we were close. Most of the lighthouses in Nova Scotia have a pepper-shaker-style tower and look very similar. 

The Cape Forchu Lighthouse, on a headland at the south western tip of Nova Scotia, is the light for the town of Yarmouth and its harbor. It was originally built in 1840 and replaced in 1961 with the current light.

Bunker Island North Lighthouse was originally built in 1874 and replaced with the current building in 1924. It was built to guide vessels between the harbor entrance and the wharves at Yarmouth.

Pubnico Harbour Lighthouse was originally built in 1854 to guide boats into the deep lengthy inlet on the south shore of Nova Soctia between Cape Sable and Yarmouth. The current tower was built in 1889.

Woods Harbour Lighthouse was constructed to mark the dangerous Big Ledge, which is covered at high tide and to mark the southern entrance to Cockerwit Passage. The originally light was built in 1900 and replaces by the current light in 1965.  

West Head Lighthouse situated at Clark’s Harbor on the western shore of Cape Sable Island. It marks the southern side of the western entrance to Barrington Passage. The originally light was built in 1888 and replaced 1972 with the current tower. 

Cape Sable Lighthouse at a height of 101 feet, is the tallest lighthouse in Nova Scotia and helps mark the southern tip of the province. It was originally built in 1861 was replaced with the current tower in 1924.  

Seal Island Light Museum in Barrington is a replica of the top half of the Seal Island Lighthouse. It displays lighthouse equipment and memorabilia of the Barrington and Cape Sable area. It was built in 1978. The original light is on Seal Island that lies 20 miles off the south west tip of Nova Scotia.

Battery Point Breakwater Lighthouse was originally built in 1864 to mark the entrance to the harbor in Lunenburg. The current tower was built in 1837.

Indian Harbour Lighthouse also known as the Paddy's Head Lighthouse built in 1901. It is located on the eastern side of St. Margarets Bay.

Peggy's Point (Cove) Lighthouse is the most well-known lighthouse in Canada and one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. Built to mark the point at the eastern entranced to St. Margaret's Bay in 1868.

Georges Island Lighthouse was established in 1876, but the current lighthouse was erected in 1917. There were various changes over the years to the light. In 1899 the fog bell added and in 1903 the light sequence was changed. The island and lighthouse sits in the Halifax Harbour.

Annapolis Lighthouse marks Annapolis Royal and signals the end of navigable waters for vessels navigating the Annapolis River. It was built in 1889. 

The Digby Pier Lighthouse was established in 1887. The current tower was built in 1903. This little lighthouse was been moved around quit a bit in the last 50 years, but it now has been returned to it original location. 

Gilbert’s Cove Lighthouse was built in 1904 to serve the coastal schooners that traveled up and down St. Mary’s Bay primarily engaged in the lumber trade.

Belliveau's Cove Lighthouse is "pepper shaker" style light that was built in 1889 and replaced with the current tower in 1990. It's located on St. Mary’s Bay on the west coast of Nova Scotia.

The original Church Point Lighthouse was built in 1874.  - Church Point, NS