It started when my husband received a test from me time-stamped 10:30AM - except that I sent it at 7:00AM...a fluke...perhaps....but this weekend felt like going back in time to me.
My husband and I celebrate anniversaries - not just our wedding, but our first date - we measure time spent together in milestones achieved but we don't let go of what's happened in our past that has led us to the future.
For our first date celebration, we decided to have a 'get-away' weekend. This was much needed by me since the loss of my dear friend and other stressors that have me down. We decided to go to the Chautauqua region of New York State. We were going there to camp and to attend a music festival.
We drove out Friday late afternoon together to start our 'adventure'. I think we both refer to these times as 'adventures' because often we have no schedule, no set agenda and we simply explore together. We found our campsite:
Camp Prendergast, located in Mayville. Our hosts were Rich and Pat a wonderful couple who made us feel right at home. Since we were not doing much cooking over a fire this weekend, we had neglected to bring 'fire-starting' equipment. We headed into town to find a store and on the way back, we stopped by Webb's candy-shop, which carries goat-cheese fudge (YUMMY!). My husband happened to inquire about a nearby French restaurant named
La Fleur, and the counter girl gave us directions. We drove around for a bit, passed it up and finally realized that the name of the place was not on the signage off the road. However, once we arrived, I was enchanted. They asked us about reservations and I was about to be disappointed but the wonderful surprise was that we ended up being able to be seated on the beautiful wrap-around porch. I had been wanting to go to this restaurant for about 2 years now and I was about to share a fantastique meal with my beau. And fantastique it was! The scallops were superb, the wine amazing, the bleu cheese and pear tart to die for. We finished off the meal by sharing a selection of three cheeses, complimentary dark chocolat truffles and I was given a long-stemmed rose. I was in heaven. We made our plans for our next visit to have a luncheon there together. This area of New York is rapidly becoming one of my favourite places to spend with my husband.
On Saturday we headed to Sherman, NY.
The Great Blue Heron Music Festival is something that I would have done probably 20 years ago, at it's inception. More likely in my 20's than my 30's, but I digress. The festival is 3 days of camping, music, partying and counter culture set against the backdrop of a Woodstock-like location in upstate New York. People were friendly (read: stoned or drunk - perhaps not), and ready to relax and let the music, beer, wine, booze and herb of choice flow through them and carry them to their 'happy place'. I felt like I had gone backwards in time sans the mood-altering substances (which I would have shared if someone offered)....the day was filled with smiles, people saying 'Happy Heron' to you, tied-dyed shirts, barefoot dancing, drum circles, festival food and well-behaved children. The best part of this time was having my husband by my side. I enjoyed watching him enjoy this and I hope we get to return in years to come.
Saturday evening found us back at our campsite. The host and hostess of the camp were incredibly attentive and kind - they even chased off idiots who were shooting off M-1000s (which nearly gave me heart failure). We spent time walking around the camp earlier that day and met some friendly folks who shared their coffee and breakfast breads with us - Captn' Dave and his wife and extended family will stay in my memory and hopefully we will see them all again the next time we camp. I was very taken with the way people greeted us and my husband and I talked about the possibility of making a camp-ground our summer home destination. Spending time camping, sitting by a fire, drinking wine, and using our wonderful new hammock, refreshed my spirit and helped me feel a lot better. Most of all, I was blessed to have some much needed reconnection time with Erin, reminding me of how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful man.
So here's to the past, the present, and the future. May time mellow our memories and create a basis for making happy(/ier) new ones to share.
Labels: Camping, Fun, Life
