Bus It!

This past week, I had no car to drive to work. I decided to walk to the bus stop and take the NJ transit bus to the City, (Port Authority) I recently had guests who took the bus up to us and stayed for the weekend. Its cool to know people have the option to take the bus and walk maybe half a mile to our Bed and Breakfast. I listened to my ipod and got comfortable, I looked out the window as we drove down Jersey Avenue toward West Milford. We drive all along the lake. It was beautiful. The mountains looked great, the trees are just starting to bud. It looks like the beginning of a Bob Ross painting," little tree here, little tree there" It takes about an hour and twenty minutes. Stressfree and cheaper!! Especially with the gas prices lately.

Birthday at the Winery

One of the benefits of living here in Greenwood Lake is that we're in the heart of NY wine country. So tonight for my birthday (I won't say how old), I'm headed to nearby Palaia Vineyards with friends and family. We're having an impromptu party in "the treehouse." (If you look at the picture to the left, it's the closed-in deck part of the building.) Here they have live music and a great little menu of tasting plates to complement the main attraction, the wine.

I simply love Palaia, it's a fun laid-back place that always has unique events. A favorite in the fall is the Lucy Grape Stomping Contest. Contestants dress up like Lucille Ball, jump in the grape barrel and do their best impersonation of the famed I Love Lucy episode. Can't beat that for originality. And in the summer there are music festivals galore. The Neil Young tribute weekend usually draws a big crowd. Palaia has also been known to host Toga parties, Star Trek night and of course ladies' night. Clearly it's not a typical winery, that's why it's one of my favorites.

Tonight is open mic night, so anything could happen. Can't wait to pop open one of Palaia's award winning wines and celebrate another great year! BTW, don't call too early if you want to make a reservation tomorrow morning :)

Lisa

Hooray for Local Produce

As a family business with a vested interest in Greenwood Lake, at the Waterstone Inn we're trying our best to support local merchants. The thing I love the most about Greenwood Lake is that we don't have any big box stores or shopping malls. We're a community of small businesses that are here because we love what we do and offer unique products or services. As the menu planner and cook at the Inn I was thilled when a produce market opened right on our main street. Reminicent of the markets that I miss so much down on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, (where our old apartment is) Monica's Fruit and Vegetables is exactly the type of business we needed here in Greenwood Lake. With no chain grocery store in town, if last minute guests checked in I'd have to haul over to Warwick or West Milford just to pick up fresh fruit and vegtables. Now, at a moment's notice I can head into Monica's and let her pick of the day be tomorrow morning's special. The fresh herbs are fabulous. My cheddar, chive and scallion omlette special was a big hit. ~Lisa~

First Flight

So, I can cross this off my bucket list. Maureen got me a Intro flight lesson in Orange County airport, in Montgomery, NY. Take Flight was the company. This is the plane I flew. There was me and the instructor. He has pedals and controls also, so if I messed up, he could take over. But there was a good ten minutes a was flying on my own. It was awesome! The best part was, Gary the instructor, said " OK, i wanna try something with you..." so he turned off the engine. Showing me that you don't need the engine to fly, it is all about the movement of air over and under the wings. Soooo as we begin to decent, and call in to land shortly. I say " Are we gonna turn the engine back on.?!" He says " I don't know, maybe..ah no, no I'm not." So we just glide right in and land. *Tara

Mulcahy Reunion Weekend

After living and working in Tokyo for almost 2 years Denis Jr., his wife Heidi and their three children came home to the States. (To fill you in on the family tree, Denis is the oldest brother of Sean, Maureen and Tara, the resident innkeeper.)

In an effort to get out of Japan in the aftermath of the earthquakes and tsunami, Denis and his family went on vacation to Vietnam and left behind almost everything except a few suitcases of clothes. With the American ex-pats now mostly gone from Japan it looks like Heidi and the kids will be home for good in Connecticut. Denis may have to return to wrap thing up at work.

This weekend they came back to Greenwood Lake for a mini Mulcahy family reunion at the Waterstone Inn. Saturday we all went to cousin Seana's softball game. For a post game treat the whole family went to Bellvale Creamery for the first ice cream of the season. The view from there is amazing! The ice cream shop overlooks the entire Warwick Valley. Then Aunt Tara kept the kids busy with an Easter egg hunt at the Inn. That night we ordered great food from both the Inn at Long Pond and Murphy's. We can't get enough of Murphy's lobster tails!! So good.

Sunday the kids went fishing (it's spawning season) from our docks and came across a great find, a HUGE turtle shell. Below is a picture, although it doesn't really do it justice. At over 20-inches long the locals say it's one of the largest that they've seen. We've hoping to preserve it and display it in the Inn.

The weather was gorgeous and we truly enjoyed some R&R time with the family.

Warwick Drive-In

Warwick Drive-In is open.....soooo exciting. They had the new movie "HOP". http://www.warwickdrivein.com/playing.htm So much fun. Also check out across the street. Pennings Farm. Fish Fry Fridays and Live music on the weekends. Two of my favorite spots. See you at the drive-in.....bring your blankies!

April Fool's Day

April Fools Day…ya this is not a joke, I am actually gonna try to do a blog.

We are all looking forward to the spring, not to say winter was bad, because I just love

the snow. The lake was totally frozen over again this year, and there were tons of

activities on it. Snowmobiles, quads, ice skating and ice fishing. Winter Carnival though

delayed by a night had a huge bonfire once again. I’ll save those stories for next winter.

Anyway, Dad is looking forward to getting outside to get the docks in gear and get the

flower pots out. We all of course can’t wait to just “chill” on the deck, ….after the work

is done of course. Even though the mountain is bare, it still is a great view. Each season

really is beautiful…and even though winters may be rough to shovel and travel to work

it is a beautiful sight and allows us to look forward to the next one coming. Saying that,

soon we will be complaining it's too hot!! But hey thank god for the lake.

Tara