Naming the farm

Or really, not naming the farm! Since we haven't actually found and bought the land or farm yet, it seems premature to name it. I've kicked around some names anyway, from silly ones like "The Funny Farm" (because I figure once we tell most people we know what we're planning, they'll likely think we're a bit crazy) to ones more related to our current business name. Truthfully, I'd like to name it "A Peaceful Place" because right before we found the farm that started us on the path (the one the mortgage company wouldn't write a mortgage for), I got a fortune cookie that said "find a peaceful place to live your life" or something like it. Despite all that was wrong with that farm (and there's a LONG list), the one thing that struck us as we stood in the fields was how peaceful it was. I figure that someone, somewhere, already has a farm named that though. So I decided that no matter what it is officially named, I'll call it that when I think of it.

It's been a while

Boy did life ever happen! We're still looking for that farm, and still taking photos. We scrapped the Etsy shop for now, and are working on building our own website. I was going to just start up a new blog for our new directions, but figured I would just keep this one going.

Here was what was meant to be the first post in the new blog, some of this rehashes what followers already know (ah yes, that same old farm we couldn't buy):

Of farms and photographs

Welcome to our little corner of the web! Right now, this blog is meant to chronical our plans to buy a small farm as well as our photography. Hopefully one day it will chronical our life on our farm and what's selling in our photography shop! Currently, we do sell our photos through several PODs (print on demand), but we are hoping that in addition to buying and or starting a small farm, we will be selling our photos on our own site. Both of these ventures will take time and money, but stick with us if you want to read about the adventures in both!

First, let me tell you a little about the photography. We've both been interested in photography since childhood, and have been selling our work on everything from prints to mousepads to greeting cards through several outlets. While this has been a great way to "stick a toe in the water" so to speak, it takes a lot of the control over the final product away from us. We will continue to offer what we already have up on those sites, but we will only be adding new things to the greeting card site (http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/picturethis). Building our own site is going to take time, so I can't say we have an ETA on a release of that. We're looking at vendors for printing right now, and researching shipping options.

Now, the part that has us pretty excited (not that photography isn't exciting): the farm. I have farming in my blood-my grandparents both grew up on farms, and a great, great aunt and uncle were popcorn farmers. Sounds fun, huh? About a year ago, while we were house hunting, we came across a little farm for sale. At the time, we hadn't discussed actually starting to farm on the acreage, we were just enamored with the property. Why, I can't really say. I guess it was one of those "love at first sight" moments that you can't explain. It really didn't make much sense really. We wanted a three bedroom, two bath ranch with a basement that didn't need any work (been there, done that with our current place). This was a two bedroom, one bath house with no basement that needed a LOT of work. In fact, it was abandoned, even the yard looked like a field because it hadn't been mown in years. But we loved it. So we looked at it, called a mortgage agent and dreams of a farm began floating in our heads. And the mortgage agent quickly put the kibosh on that-the house wasn't mortgagable (we tried more than one mortgage company and more than one way to get that farm). So much for that place. But, it planted the seed for the idea of beginning a farm.

While we wait for the right place to "crop up" (sorry, couldn't help it), we're researching all the aspects of owning and running a farm, from fun stuff like tractors to serious stuff like business structures and taxes. We'll check in as we look at the aspects and as we shoot new photos.

REAL Shoe Trees

Veering off the Adirondacks for a moment. I mentioned shoe trees in a previous comment when explaining why I didn't want to give the location for the Wilderness Lodge in the north country. That got me thinking that I never blogged about the shoe trees that are right here in Western New York. The photo is of a bookmark I made from a picture we took of them, in black and white.

First-what are shoe trees? Well, they are exactly what you'd think-trees with shes hung in them. Second-why? Well, that's a good question. And I don't have all of the answers. These trees were supposedly started back in the late 60's or early 70's depending on who you believe. Now legend has it that if you make a wish, then throw your shoes up into the trees and they stay on the first try, your wish will come true. It's not as easy as it sounds, we tried.

Many shoe trees are just one tree, this happens to be multiple trees. I'm not sure why or when it became more than one, or if it always was.


Anyway, we thought we'd share the shoe trees of Western New York with everyone.

Wilderness Lodge AKA Pete's place

When I, the wife half of Scenic New York, was younger, my mother and I used to come to the Adirondacks as much as possible. We camped at Lake Durant and also stayed in the cabins (motel?) at the Wilderness Lodge. I remember going there in the winter and cross country skiing on the property up to the right of the main building (to the left is a pond and stream).

I really can't say much about the history of the place or even when it closed. I do know that about 20 years ago, they had REALLY great food (I especially remember the biscuits) , the owners were a husband and wife, she cooked and his name was Pete, hers was Deb. There were always plenty of people there when we were there, and when I asked a woman that had lived in the area for a number of years about the place, the first thing she said was "oh, that had such great food there" (followed by a sad look and "you know it's defunct now, right?"). I believe the upstairs was an apartment where the owners lived, and the bottom was (and I know this for certain) the dining room/bar and kitchen. There were two smaller buildings that remind one of older hotels, one with two rooms and one with three or four. Those are in a bit worse shape than the main lodge, as is the old garage. The lodge itself has broken windows and people have obviously been in the place since it closed. I've tried poking around the internet for more information on the place, such as when it was built and when it went out of business to no avail. All I can really say about it is that it is just one of countless disused camps and buildings strewn about the park, reminders of times past. I have tried to contact some people local to the area and familiar with Adirondack history, so I might have more to report on the building and property later.

I am not giving a specific location for this place, and I'm quite certain unless you know of it's existence already you won't find it based on the information I'm giving (I can't find one single reference to it online, via Yahoo, Google or Bing) . This is strictly because it really isn't in terrible shape and I want to hold onto the idea that someone might come along and rescue it-and sometimes people learning of an empty building can do things that aren't very good. I'd hate to hear it burnt down or something (a la what happened to the barn at Santanoni). The places I'll discuss later are a bit easier to find, and are rather well known anyway, especially Tahawus (aka Adirondac or The Upper Works or the McIntyre Mine).

Abandoned Adirondacks

We FINALLY got a chance to go out on a photography trip. We went to the Adirondack Mountains of New York. It's easily one of the most beautiful places in the world as far as I am concerned.

The 'dacks are more than just the amazing beauty of the mountains and lakes, the trees and nature. The human history is just as interesting if not as beautiful. There are countless historic places scattered throughout the millions of acres in the park. Presidents, future presidents and captions of industry vacationed here, and generations have lived in the hamlets. People have lived, worked and played in the wilderness of the north country.

Here are some photos of the places left behind (I will be blogging the history of some of these places shortly):

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!