random

 Welcome.....I love fall for so many reasons... One of course is that I was married... in the fall...

*my scanner is new.. and it cut off my train... and half of me... I haven't had much practice.. scanning pictures.. lately... but her is the view... of the winery... and me... on my wedding day... 7 years ago.. and and 7 sizes smaller... sorry.. it's not cropped either.. the scanner is tempermental.

I will be married 7 years.. this weekend, As I sit here and sip my Harney and Son's Dragon Pearl Jasmine tea with some honey from our apiary. I reflect on my marriage...in between bites of Apple-Ginger Snack Cake.((homemade recipe...if you want to borrow)  It hasn't been all roses... but I like our family unit. I think my husband is still romantic and he and I still have a lot in common. In this society there is so much to tear apart a marriage.. and very little to help support it.. but I feel date night is one of the most important things you can do to help support it... Even if it's once a month... We rarely go anywhere together alone...but...  We went out...last weekend... to the Haunted Hayride... I remember my brother saying once... ,"Why would you want to pay anyone to scare you?"  and it always makes me laugh.. but it was fun to do something.. different...and yes, it's expensive... but we decided that we would not go out to dinner... we would do the hayride with  our Friends Marisa and Fred and then we would go to a winery the next day. We got married at a winery.. so we love to visit new ones...I once had a neighbor tell me... I would never want to spend 80.00 on a hayride when I could go out to dinner and wine... for the same price.. and I agreed with her... I still do... but... my husband and I had our third date... 7 years ago... at the Haunted Hayride... so it felt... full circle... and we enjoyed ourselves....  I love the little shops inside and the corn maze is always my favorite- and when the headless horseman himself.. appears...

 The next day... we went to Glorie Winery.. in Marlboro www.gloriewine.com
there website... talked about sustainability... and I found it to be very environmentally friendly...

"To us here at Glorie Farm Winery, sustainability boils down to three pieces: environment, social responsibility and profit. We are serious about the green movement and embrace the concept and implementation of green practices. Being green includes energy conservation, water conservation, and recycling. To conserve energy, in 2008 we installed an 8,300 kilowatt hour solar photo voltaic power system that produces all of the electricity used by the winery. As of this writing, we have produced 21,300 kwh. The solar power allows us to be less dependent on electricity from the power plant and helps to reduce our carbon footprint. Last month we signed a contract with Hudson Valley Clean Energy to install another system that will produce 18,500 kwh/year. Together, the two systems will provide all of the electric needs for our winery, farm and residence.
To conserve water, we installed a trickle irrigation system 16 years ago. This type of system delivers just the right amount of water, one drop at a time, directly to the plant's roots with minimum evaporation and no soil erosion. To conserve natural resources, we recycle all of our glass and metal.
All sustainability also includes a social element. Yes, you have a role to play. Your actions can contribute to the social or society piece of sustainability. One action you could take is to buy local! Local food is commonly defined as food grown within 100 miles from where it is consumed. Articles and cookbooks have been written recently about the 100-mile diet. Why not consider local wine as part of your diet? Purchasing local food is considered sustainable because it has a smaller carbon footrint. Why purchase wine produced in California or Argentina which are thousands of miles from here? Think of the fuel burned to ship that distance!"

My husband purchased me a Hillbilly wine glass... there.. Do you like it? we also got a bottle.. and look at the name of this... wine...

Then we went to another great Vineyard... called Stoutridge, I had my camera with me.. and the memory card was full.. .so me..... so this picture is from their website... www.stoutridge.com
 They are also a distillery....

 he is always... talking.. when I try to take his picture...
I love the little black lights...

They go green too...
"Our Solar photovoltaic array on the south roof of the production area is nearly 3000 sq. ft of cell area and can produce 40 kW of electricity on a sunny day. Over the year we expect to be a net producer of electricity with the panels supplying more power than we use."

There wine is unprocessed... so no sulfites...

Then we left there to go to the Racoon Saloon in Marlboro.. I have not been there in ages... and we got to sit... at the best seat in the house.. over looking the gorge...Fall leaves and a waterfall.... I ordered Pate.. and calamari... and a glass of wine... HEAVEN....
 ( from camera phone)

I have been working on... some skeleton's for the front porch... and they are still a work in progress...but they look like this right now...

* still need to fix her head.. and give him more of a neck... and add his legs and boots... but looking good and creepy right...?

My son and I enjoyed some playdough  fun the other night.... he made snakes.. I made .. Halloween... people...

My house is decorated for the season....

I am still enjoying some fall food... I made a pear, pecan and pumpkin crouton.. salad the other day for lunch...

Got my son a new bean bag chair.. as recommended by the O.T.. for his upper body... to lean over it to read....but look who wanted to try it out first...

My son loves.. to ham it up.. and he wanted to have a photo shoot with his new pj's...

And now I unveil my recycled Halloween gift idea.. for teachers...


 Go enjoy the fall... day....