Vacation Faves!

I'm back from vacationing in the Adirondack Mountains and feeling fairly refreshed and recharged for the rest of summer!

I had many faves from the last 2 weeks.....most were from the vacation in Long Lake, NY and a couple are from the last few days here at home enjoying a "perfect weather" week. Because I missed last week's FFF, I will have several photos.

Link up your own blessings from God by going over to Susanne's site. 

• COTTAGE-ING!  This is the term my youngest daughter uses to describe our mountain vacations now.  We sold our camper 3 years ago and so now we rent cottages.  This particular one was beyond our expectations!  It was downright lavish as per Adirondack cottages go.  A real blessing! We thoroughly enjoyed our surroundings and the girls had their own rooms as the relatives who were supposed to join us had an emergency come up, so we had this all to ourselves. We loved the screened in front porch and the living room with the comfy L-shaped sofa and natural pine coffee table. We even had a tv which Dave was happy about, for watching some baseball games while I read on the beach. I thank God for this week away and for the gorgeous weather.

Houghton House circa 1880!
Cottages at The Shamrock
Dave on his birthday, 29 July

The kitchen/dining room
a blessing with coffee maker, microwave, full fridge
and blender. Even a dishwasher, although we didn't use it

Our first evening was a bit cloudy but all the evenings after that were perfect.
Claire took this pic of me just relaxing on the dock.
27 July

• LOVELY LONG LAKE!  We were blessed to be in the town of Long Lake and that the establishment  we were renting from was literally right on the lake!  Our own cottage was across the road but it wasn't far to walk down to the dock and beach. The owners allow patrons to leave their kayaks on the beach, so we were extremely blessed.  We kayaked, swam and had morning coffee on the dock. We also spent almost every late afternoon either reading or swimming on the beach.  The girls and Dave even sailed on the Shamrock's little Sunfish!  It was free to anyone renting a cottage!!  Free is definitely a fave!

I loved kayaking on Long Lake...this is heading south
Photo courtesy of Claire

Dave and Claire sail  Long Lake
Owls Head Mt is the one in the right, partly cut off

Courtney enjoys the beach before sailing

• HIKING!  Dave and I hiked Owls Head Mountain which is directly across the lake from the beach.  Owls Head is a tough climb towards the summit.  It was 6.3 miles round trip and very steep for the last mile...but so worth it!  This was my 8th Adirondack Mt that features a firetower.  I was so happy that Dave agreed to hike this mountain with me! This was his 4th firetower mountain.  I also did a solitary hike at the Adirondack Interpretive Center on our last full day in Long Lake.  I hiked 2 of the 3 loop trails and they were very easy!! Even the girls did a very short hike with us to beautiful Buttermilk Falls, just southwest of Long Lake.  It is a blessing to be surrounded by God's creation and a fave of mine to be hiking!

from the Summit of Owls Head Mountain
overlooking the High Peaks, Adirondacks
31 July

Sucker Brook as seen from the trail Faith took
ADK Interpretive Center
Newcomb, NY
2 August

Buttermilk Falls
Long Lake, NY

• FAMILY TIME!  The best part, for me, about a vacation in the mountains (besides the hiking and kayaking!), is that the four of us are together. We were only a 5 minute walk from town so the first night we celebrated Dave's birthday a couple days early by eating at the restaurant in town.  It was a good meal on their deck overlooking a quiet section of the lake. There were 2 ice cream stands in town so of course we walked there after dinner 2 different times so we could try both and compare!  On the one rainy day (Thursday 1 August), we decided to explore this place.  The girls and I had been there back when Claire was only about 5 and they really couldn't remember much about it.  Dave and I enjoyed it but the girls were a bit bored as it really is geared towards younger children. We all enjoyed the 2 films we saw there.  One was about the Monarch Butterfly Migration and one was a series of photographs by a beloved Adirondack photographer. Courtney used her fancy camera to get some good photos around the Center.  When we were done exploring the trails and museum, we headed out to dinner in Tupper Lake where the food and prices were excellent!! The fave was that by the time we were ready to hike the Center trails, the sun was out and it was a gorgeous afternoon!

in Long Lake Village
Photo courtesy of Boston Hidden Restaurants

Otter Exhibit...so much fun watching the otters play!

The Wild Center
Tupper Lake, NY
North-Central Adirondacks
1 August 

Claire takes a rest on the Pond Trail Bridge
at The Wild Center

Lily Pads on the Pond at The Wild Center

• FARM FRESH!  While we were away, I was craving some corn on the cob but it wasn't ready up there in that part of the state yet.  We did have fresh berries and other fruits and veggies but I was so glad to get home and go to this local farm with Dave on Sunday to stock up on some fresh, local produce.  Oh my.  We enjoyed the corn and green beans for dinner that night and all week we have been enjoying 3 different kinds of fresh, locally grown berries, tomatoes, and zucchini.  I love summer foods!

Bonus:  Organizing for Back to School! Courtney volunteered to help her younger sis re-organize her room and closet after our shopping spree on Wednesday! Courtney returns to college in one week and Claire begins high school in just 4 more weeks! My first day back at work will be Claire's first day of 9th grade.  We have a lot planned in these last weeks of summer break! A fave for me is when the girls take charge of their own closets!!

Courtney (sitting) has fun helping Claire!

I hope you enjoyed this peek into our vacation.......it is such a blessing to have this beautiful world to explore!  It wasn't a "fancy" vacation but it sure was fun....and relaxing...and included many of our very favorite things to do.

Have you been on a vacation yet this summer?

 What is one of your faves from the week or from your vacation?

Bonus Pic:  my favorite photo from vacation

Sunset over Long Lake from the Shamrock Beach