thanksgiving

As I sit here basking in the glowing warmth of Christmas Day, I'm finally getting a chance to process photos from Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday held up again for an amazing vacation. We took our annual Thanksgiving Day hike with the dogs, we drank good beer, and shoveled our bellies full of home-cooked favorites. 

The vacation lasted for a full four days. Amidst the recent chaos, I had no idea quite how busy I was until I took the time to hit pause. I was reminded what boredom felt like. I enjoyed it too. Had it gone on longer, I might have gone crazy. Instead, its brevity gave me just the right amount of time to process. You don't realize how fast you're running, how much you're putting out instead of taking in, until you s-t-o-p. Sure, yoga allows me to pause each day, but it also involves rushing to the yoga studio, getting in my physical practice, sweating, and then biking home to quickly wrap things up before bed. It's not exactly stopping. 

So, thank you Thanksgiving for giving me the break I needed. For reminding me that the best creativity is born from moments when you have nothing to do. For surrounding me with fresh air. Let's remember to stop every once in awhile.

Happy belated Thanksgiving.

weekly scenes: a winter hike

Our first snowfall happened over Thanksgiving this year. We went home, hoping it would come. Crossing our fingers and holding out for its magical presence to start sprinkling down. Sure enough, rise and shine Wednesday morning, and there it was -- flurrying in the skies and making its presence known. All day it snowed, and bit by bit the landscape was blanketed. Come Thursday, we strapped our hiking boots on and went out to enjoy it. Off to Highland Forest with three dogs, Adam, and my brother. We hiked the expansive trails for about three hours. Working up a sweat with the uphill climbs, and losing our breath from the utter beauty that surrounded us. There is something about a snowy landscape that makes your heart drop. It's a quiet presence. The snow brings peace and sheer awe in one fell swoop. 

Upon arriving home, we warmed up in front of the fire and set some cider to brew with cinnamon and clove. It was truly one of those days. You know, the ones where you feel like everything is just perfect.

empire brewing company

Empire Brewing Company is a long-time favorite spot of mine back home. It's a local brewery with great food, fun times, and a good attitude. I grew up going there with the family, and have since made sure to visit almost every time I'm home.

Sustainability

Empire is the first business in central NY to use 100% NY State produced renewable energy, and the good efforts don't stop there. The restaurant uses locally sourced food as much as possible, and really promotes the concept. You'll see "eat local" signs all throughout the place, right down to the coasters. The owners also have a garden that provides produce for the restaurant as well as a farm stand nearby. All of their spent grains and fry oil get put to use for local livestock, and paper products are biodegradable. With so many measures taken, one can sure feel good about going there to grab some beer and food.How's that for sustainability? 

Beer

My favorite thing to do when I go to Empire is to order a beer flight. I can never finish the whole thing, but for only $10 you get to sample a whole line up. Certain brews are always included, and then there are two seasonal picks as well. My personal favorite beer at Empire Brewing Company is the Black Magic Stout. 

The Food

There are a lot of great menu items at Empire, but my no-fail is the lobster bisque. I've been eating it since I was a wee one and each time it goes down so easy. The soup comes with blue corn croutons in it that are particularly tasty. Blue corn sprinkles the menu throughout and is a signature of the restaurant. Also good, are their flat breads and fajitas. Pictured above is the Mediterranean plate which is a great accompaniment for the bisque. 

moments at home

Adam and I were able to take a quick trip back to Syracuse last weekend. As can be expected of central New York in January, temperatures were close to zero and snow covered every stretch of nature to be seen. Despite the bitter cold we were able to hit the snow shoe trails with my dad and the three dogs. At outset, my fingers were numbed to the bone, but once we got going the blood started rushing, circling in my abdomen and sending warmth to the extremities. It’s hard to explain the beauty that surrounded us. There is no other way to describe it besides saying that it felt like witnessing magic. Gusts of wind would knock snowfall from the trees, and it looked like a million tiny stars raining down. The quietness, the stillness…it was breathtaking.

The indoors felt just as magical. A warm haven of love. The older I get the more and more I appreciate my parent’s home. It’s full of good taste – not too fancy, but elegant and rustic. From light fixtures, to wedding gifts hanging on the wall, I love the little details all around. Above everything, I enjoy how lived in of a home it is. In every nook you can feel the years, the lives of three children, dogs, and two parents who love each other. Both my mom and my dad have their hobbies. My father paints, draws, and builds models while my mom is an avid gardener and reader. As a result the place is full of books, plants, paint brushes – you name it. The environment that all of it creates is so comforting to me. I peruse through and sometimes pick out a book to borrow. I guess you could say I feel at home. I can't help but think, "what precious little moments..."

home

Home is a place of safety and warmth. Where people fill the rooms. A fire burns in the family room, and the dogs splay out to enjoy its heat. There's nothing like the warmth from your mother's food in your stomach. Ah, the relaxing feel of being home. 

My recent trip back to upstate NY for Thanksgiving  was every bit as relaxing as I'd hoped for. We left for a couple days to visit my grandmother in Boston and when we came back there was a no-fail Syracuse snowfall. I snuggled up and hung out with my mom because I couldn't drive anywhere. There's something so relieving about being cutoff like that - away from the everyday, in the middle of nowhere and unable to go anywhere. 

I will never fail to enjoy the comfort of the house I grew up in.