Let's Finish the Season with Wine, not Whining.

You know how I feel about the end of summer.

But maybe by now you also know: I'm determined to make the most of all things, even ones that cause me deep inner pain.
[Oh, summer.]

So, in order to celebrate it out with a bang,

these ladies and I climbed in Hannah's car,
and went on a little trip.

Our drive deposited us here, in Hammondsport,
a quaint little town offering food, antiques

 [what is it with me and antiques lately?!],
and adorable little foreign men exuding joy with carside 'parfaits'

 [by which, we're pretty sure he meant 'frappe'].  Sara even got a hug, in warm and happy welcome.

Though it was difficult to leave,

we had other things to see.

At our winery lunch destination,

we found ourselves in view of this view,

and paused for a moment,

to take it all in,

with joy.

 Then it was time for lunch,

 and our first tasting of the weekend.

We followed it with two more wineries;

Dr. Frank's
[where we might have had a little more scenic picture taking fun?]

and then,

Heron Hill, voted one of the world's best tasting rooms,

according--at least--to Ed, our rather enthusiastic server.

When we had had our fill, we wove our way over to Watkins Glen, home of our adorable motel, a street of little shops,

 and the Roosterfish Brewery,

where my lovely siblings met us for dinner,
in a perfect end to our perfect day.

The next morning found us up,

early, but not quite bright.

Our goal? To see the sun rise,

 over this harbor, a few blocks from our room.

We waited patiently,

enamored with the colors of the sky,

 the winging of the birds,

 the soaring of the clouds.

 And then,

the moment we began to realize,

the waiting was worth it.
[There will be more on this, you can be sure.]

The rest of our day involved coffee,

[we needed coffee...] and then,

 Watkin's Glen State Park

 [Waterfalls included].

 We climbed the stairs,

 in order to see all the place had to offer.

 Quiet,

 and not so much,

 
 we took our time,

 we had a little fun,

we enjoyed just being in it together.

Then there was lunch at Stonecat Cafe, replete with outdoor jazz,

and many delicious options.

We closed it out with two more wineries,

and then made one last stop,

for ice cream cones [the size of my head!],at the local

 bee-ary-slash-

piano bar.  [???]

Then it was time to head homeward,

with gratitude and joy in our hearts

for a wine-y end to a summer full of fun.

A weekend, in pictures

Last weekend I found myself with two lovely women, touring the finger lakes and all they had to offer.  Here, a teaser:

Small Towns

Antiques

Whimsy

The View, Pristine

The Companionship, Good

In fellowship

Yes, there's delicious

Tastings

Lakeside

Translation Dr. Frank?

There's a Heron [Winery], on a Hill

Options

For Serious Consideration

Home

Harbor

Light, however it may come

We wait, for the Sun

The Congregation

The Peace

The Real Deal

Transforms

Reflects

Breathes

Warms

Reveals

And now, Be

Keep an eye on where you've Been

Watch for Moments

And, Motorcycles

You mean we have to choose?

Sit

Enjoy

Water from the Rock

Inhale

Listen

Look

Smile

Keep on, Keep on

See it from over here

Let's lunch, with a view

Lemon Mint, Yes

Let's Dance, while the Band plays on

Oh.

Joy!

Well, we were at a winery...

See

Remember

And then, for kicks and giggles...

Sweet Endings.