PIERMONT PIER: THE FALL EDITION

 

 

 

 

 

As you may or may not have noticed, my presence in Blogland, and by extension,  social media, has been near non-existent these past few months. 

I fear I've fallen so far off the blogging radar screen, 

that  I should change my brand name to.......

 

Ms. Toody Who? Shoes. 

 

I keep thinking about ending my blogging career,
but I'm not ready to give it up just yet. 
I guess I should just accept the fact 

that I'm probably going to post once or twice a month, at most.

 

 Every time I consider hanging up my "out of business" sign, someone says,  

"I read your travel post about blah-blah-blah, and you really inspired me to go,"

or

"Your itinerary was so helpful."

 or

"I'll never get to go there, so thanks for taking me along virtually."

 

 And that, folks, is what makes me keep on keepin' on,  albeit sporadically. 

Not to mention, it's kind of hard to sustain the brand of being a travel blogger,

when a world-wide pandemic comes along.

I know we're all in the same Covid boat which is docked at home right now, 

but I do wonder when we'll be able to travel again.

 

Like everyone else, my travel radius has shrunk to a close-to-home range.

 

Over the summer, I discovered the Piermont Pier, 

in Piermont, NY, literally fifteen minutes away. 

Remember I showed you that, here?
I went back in late October to see the views in all their autumnal glory.

I don't know what I was thinking, as I picked a pretty foggy day,

and could barely see the fall colors across the Hudson River.

 

Back in the old days, I would have had this post up in a timely manner.

Here it is, almost six weeks later.

I place the blame 100% on Joanna and Clea from The Home Edit.

Thanks to my infatuation with their show on Netflix

(and their two books that I ordered, and read at warp speed),

I've been so busy rearranging my drawers and cabinets,

there's no time left for blogging.

I'm so deep into home organization  mode, 

that dinners have been late to the table,

laundry has sat for hours in the washer,

and FaceTime calls to friends have been pushed aside,

so that I can rainbow-order every single thing in my house

(rainbows are their signature, FYI).

 

If it wasn't for the fact that I need to buy some storage bins

for my next big project.......the office.......

I probably wouldn't have posted this fall edition of the Piermont Pier until spring.

Timely, it's not.

Pretty, it is.......if I do say so myself.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

🦃 🦃 🦃

Next year, may we all celebrate with extended family and friends.

Stay safe!

😷 😷 😷

 

 

PIERMONT PIER - A QUARANTINE DISCOVERY

I'm curious.......

Where are you on the spectrum of social distancing?

Over the July 4th weekend, I was looking at pictures on Facebook of many people I know

who were on vacation, or gathering with friends and family.

I had to wonder if we were among the last to adhere to social distancing.

Personally, I'm still keeping my distance.

 I'm not on the far end of the spectrum of those who haven't ventured out at all, 

but I'm not anywhere close to the middle, either.  

I do go food shopping periodically.

I even went into Target and Home Goods for a short time last week. 

I felt absolutely giddy walking around Home Goods,

although possibly, it was the lack of oxygen under my mask.

Masking up was a small price to pay for much needed retail therapy, and I didn't stay long.

The temptation to go frequently, or visit other shops
(oh, the lure of the mall!) is strong,

but I continue to stay on a pretty short quarantine leash.

I'm not ready to put myself or those around me in a position of risk.  

Admittedly, however, on July 4th,

I couldn't help but think of Independence Days past, without a sense of sadness.

Quarantine life was definitely getting me down. 

I needed do something to cheer myself up.

"Want to go for a ride?"
Mr. Goo Shoes said it first, but I was on my way to ask him the very same thing.

He suggested something completely different than I expected.......

lunch at one of our favorite little roadside joints.

We hadn't yet taken advantage of the "outside dining" re-openings.
I agreed, both excitedly and reluctantly,

but the desire to do something NORMAL won out.

We agreed that if it looked too crowded when we got there, we wouldn't go.

Considering that it was July 4th, and a beautiful day,

I was pretty sure I'd be eating the granola bar I packed just in case.

Surprisingly, the restaurant was wonderfully empty.......

At 3:30pm, we were in between the lunch and dinner crowds.

We indulged in Connecticut-style lobster rolls

(made with melted butter instead of mayo).

Afterwards, we drove a few minutes north to the Piermont Pier, in Piermont, NY,

which we'd never been to, even though it's only 15 minutes from home.

It felt so good to see someplace new!

Because of the heat, we could only stay about a half hour.

Even still, I managed to take about 150 pictures.
Not to worry.......most were the victim of my "Delete" button.

The pier is on the Hudson River,

with perfect views of the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge to the north.

This new bridge replaced the aging Tappan Zee Bridge,

which connects Rockland and Westchester Counties in New York.

This is a bridge we cross rather frequently....... well, at least we did in life as we used to know it.

We'd take it to see friends, to visit Junior Goo Shoes at college,

and to eat at some of our favorite restaurants.

It's hard to break old habits, so I will probably always call it the Tappan Zee.

And, I will always think of Junior GS' imitation of his high school teacher.......
"Such beautiful truss work!"

when he took them on a field trip to the former Tappan Zee Bridge.

Looking towards south are views of lower Westchester County, NY.

Just past that is The Bronx, and New York City, which are obstructed due to a bend in the river.

If I swam straight across the Hudson, I'd be at my bestie's house.

Believe me, it was so hot, there was a brief delusional moment when I considered it.

Being near the water always helps my mood.

I wonder if there is such a thing as "water therapy?"

I don't mean swimming in it, or drinking it.......I mean just looking at it.

Do you feel that way, too?

It definitely had the desired effect on Saturday.

I left the house feeling sad and irritable,

but returned feeling a little calmer and happier.

Piermont, NY is a charming town on the banks of the Hudson River,

which we have frequented over the years for its restaurants.

Now, we have another reason to go.......the Piermont Pier.

I can't wait to see the views from the pier in the fall.

Socially distant picnic, anyone?

 

WOODSTOCK AND WOODSTOCK: A 50TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE

Pop-up quiz time!

50 years ago today.......from August 15 - 18, 1969,
the renowned Woodstock concert was held in:

a) Woodstock, VT

b) Woodstock, NY

c) Woodstock, CT 

d) None of the above.

Did you say "None of the above?"

Groovy! Give yourself a pat on the back. 

If you didn't, don't freak out  -- you're in good company.

I actually failed this test just a few years ago

when Mr. Goo Shoes and I spent a week at the Waterfall House

near Woodstock, NY (read about that, here.

We planned to visit the Woodstock museum,
which now sits on the concert site,
figuring it was close to where we were staying.

After google-mapping it, I learned that it was 67 miles from the town of Woodstock.

What the what? 
That just about blew my mind.

Mr. GS, who attempted to drive to the famed rock concert 50 years ago,

knew that it wasn't exactly in Woodstock, 

but had no idea (or maybe he forgot) just how far it was from its namesake town. 
He never made it to the concert -- he had to turn back -- because all the roads were closed.
But, perhaps if he had,
he might have remembered that it was actually held 
on a 600-acre farm in Bethel Woods, NY. 

The concert promoters intended to hold the concert in the town of Woodstock, NY,

but they were denied a permit.

A local farmer, Max Yasgur, offered up his property........ 

and half a million people descended upon this heretofore unknown country town.

The rest, as you know, is rock and roll history. 

The investment backers of the festival were called Woodstock Ventures,
and, because the town of Woodstock had a reputation of being pretty hip 
among those in the music world, the name Woodstock stuck.

Soooooooooo.....
There's Woodstock, and then there's Woodstock.

It wasn't until about three years ago that we finally made it to
the museum at Bethel Woods.
The grounds now consist of a beautiful complex, 
housing the museum, an amphitheater, and performing arts center.

The museum showcases a lot of far-out 60's artifacts.

As for the other Woodstock.......the town........
 we've been back a couple of times since our vacation there,
most recently in July.
We took a 90-mile ride one afternoon 
because Mr. GS wanted to get a Woodstock 50th anniversary t-shirt.
It was a good excuse for a spur-of-the-moment road trip. 
Most of the photos in this post are from that day; some are from previous visits. 

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that relishes its ties to the famous concert event.
It very much maintains its 60s vibe.......Can you dig it?

It's a great place to stroll through, grab a bite,
do some shopping, and get your inner hippie on. 

 If you can leave Woodstock without purchasing something tye-dyed, 
or with a peace symbol on it,
well, you've got more self-control that I do. 

Happy 50th Anniversary, Woodstock!

Peace, Love and Rock and Roll!
☮☮☮

LINKING WITH: 
Best Of The Weekend

Our World Tuesday
Take Me Away October 2019