Pre-season sales, future plans, recent trips

We're running big sales in the supply shop, as well as a great early bird sale in the main shop. Here's hoping for a great Christmas for everyone! The supply shop can be found here: http://www.scenicsupplies.etsy.com and the main shop at http://www.scenicnewyork.etsy.com .

Well, since the bank told us no dice on that farm, we've been discussing what the next step is. We've decided that whether we can find a way to buy that place or not, we want a small (8+ acre) farm. We know we'd like to raise Christmas trees, gourds and lavender, as well as continue collecting and selling natural supplies and taking photos that we sell. To grow the things we want as well as to grow the supply shop, we need more space than our little place now has. It's been a wonderful home and will make someone else a cozy nest, but we've outgrown it. We don't want to move in the winter, so we'll pick up where we left off in the hunt in late winter/early spring.

We still haven't taken any great photography trips recently. It's been a rainy gloomy year and we haven't had a lot of time to drive around. We have gone on a few supply collection safaris though, although nothing spectacular has happened. We're collecting like squirrels for the winter though, since we won't be able to get any supplies for months while the snow flies. Hopefully the snow brings some nice photographic opportunities to us this winter and we can add some great new shots to the main shop!

Weekend Road Trip and Love Makes No Sense

This past weekend we took a short road trip to the little lakeside village of Olcott Beach, perched on the shore of Lake Ontario in Niagara County. We heard there was a new ship in port and wanted to check her out first hand. She's a stout little brigantine (sailboat) named....The Black Pearl. You won't find Johnny Depp around, but Olcott DOES host a Pirate Festival every year so she should feel right at home! She is owned by Liberty Excursions and will join the schooner Liberty in plying the waters of Lake Ontario in full sail as a passenger ship. She was recently bought and has been extensively renovated by the couple that owns Liberty Excursions and will be ready to sail next season. A little internet research turned up a build start date of 1939 and was finished in the late 40's or early 50's. She has quite a storied history, including sailing to Europe and participating in both the 300th anniversary in Philadelphia and 10 Mayor's Cup races in New York City. No one was at the dock when we went down to check her out and the Liberty was no where to be seen, so we assume she was sailing at that time. Although the Pearl looks small when compared mentally to a "pirate ship", she is still quite impressive and we will have photos on the Etsy site shortly.

Ah, love. It really makes no sense. You just can't explain it. I am talking about, of all things, that farm again. Yes, after we decided there was absolutely NO way we were buying the place, we were back out there this week reconsidering. We still don't know how we'd get a mortgage, but we did stumble on the shingles to repair the roof hidden in a corner of a barn, so at least that would be one less expense! I guess like any good love story, this one has more twists and turns yet to go. We'll keep everyone updated. All I know is this; if we buy this place, it needs a serious mowing! I jabbed my finger with a pricker and it still hurts, and I am sure there's still some stickers and burrs stuck to my clothes!