Upstate Oddities

Happy Trails

2012-02-13T19:59:00.000-05:00

Ah, the welcoming sight of a trail registry box - how I love these portals to adventure! They hold the promise of wilderness and wildness and escape!

Let's open the latch and sign in, shall we?

I like to read all the names of my fellow hikers and see where they're from (usually Brooklyn) before signing my own name. What can I say? I'm ~~nosy~~ curious. That aside, the key purpose for using a trail registry is to record when you start and when you return from a hike. It would be most unpleasant to be pinned beneath a tree and have to contemplate sawing off your own foot. Or how about having to subsist on nothing but protein-rich slugs for days at a time? Quelle horreur! And all because it was too much of a bother to log in. The rangers need to know, yo!

When I'm all hepped up for a day of hiking, I'll sign my name with a flourish. Others are so excited that mere paper won't do - the box itself becomes a register of sorts.

Well, well...Winston Smith was here!

Somebody can't make up his mind...or is this a thinly veiled statement on the perils of global warming? Hmmm.

I don't doubt it.

Strong to the finish, this one.

It's easy being green here, my friend.

By now, you're probably ready for a hike. Have fun and don't forget the three rules of the forest:

1) Don't leave anything but your footprints.

2) Don't take anything except pictures.

3) ALWAYS sign in and out at the registry box.

....unless you're the dark lord, of course.

I think I'll find another trail.

Sign of the Times

2012-01-30T19:11:00.000-05:00

I love historical landmarks. Whether they mark the spot of a delightfully obscure battle or claim to be a founding father's rest stop, I find these factoids fascinating. What tasty morsels of history they contain!

Oh look! There's one now! Quick, pull over!

Well isn't that interesti...HUH?!

Had to do a double take, didn't you? This sign comes from the brilliantly subversive and socially conscious mind of artist Norm Magnusson as part of his I-75 Project. This inspired installation places historical markers with social and political content throughout the country. Magnusson's goal is "not to incite, but inspire thought."

I remember seeing his signs when they made the media rounds a few years ago. You can imagine my glee at stumbling upon one for real - it was like finding the holy grail! Pull over and take a look at the rest of his historical landmarks...here!

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink

2012-01-16T14:08:00.000-05:00

While on a lengthy drive to a trailhead, we stopped at the side of the road to let our restless dogs do what dogs do on the sides of roads. A few yards up we came across a curious discovery.

As if dropped from a temporal portal of the past and plunked down among the moss in the middle of nowhere sits this porcelain sink, circa 1950. A dishtowel has been carefully draped on the edge and the plates and saucers are neatly stacked in the drainer, as if June Cleaver herself, having finished her after-dinner chores, disappeared in a puff of smoke along with the rest of her surroundings.

Nary a house nor campsite can be found nearby to explain its presence. Judging by the trademarks on the dinnerware, this is old, durable crockery. My mother had an entire set of Corelle by Corning which held plenty of scrumptious mac 'n' cheese lunches throughout the years...but that was long ago and I certainly didn't help rinse the dishes in the woods after gorging myself on Kraft.

So why is it here? And who is using it? Have the bears in the Catskills evolved in ways we're not aware? It's a puzzle wrapped in porcelain shrouded in soapsuds, and I fear it will never be solved!

Ebony & Ivory...

2012-01-02T13:04:00.000-05:00

...live together in perfect pine-scented harmony. This lyrical sculpture was found in a wide field between two homes.

The oversized keys are made of wood, but the cast-iron frames and taut metal strings are authentic.

Behning & Sons, established in New York City in 1861, was known for building high quality, expensive pianos. Their success was dampered by the Great Depression - a sad coda, for sure - and the firm was sold to Kohler & Campbell, who continued producing pianos under the Behning name into the 1950s.

I often wonder about the oddities I find here in the Catskills. So many of them are objects that have found a second, sometimes altered, life. Who was the artist that constructed this....was he or she a musician? What happened to the original piano? And who was its first owner? All sorts of scenarios pop into my head over the provenance of such an item, which strikes a decidedly odd and mysterious chord in my imagination.

He knows.

2011-12-22T18:18:00.000-05:00

Pay no attention to the freakish old elf giving you the side eye. May all your days be merry and bright!

Peace and Love from Upstate Oddities

I Know Why the Caged Cow Moos

2011-12-07T10:08:00.001-05:00

The caged cow moos with an anguished moan
of the things unknown on a faraway farm,

and her tune is heard in the distant barn
for the caged cow moos for milking.

with apologies to Maya Angelou :-)

What's cookin'?

2011-11-22T18:23:00.001-05:00

I've always been amazed by imaginative uses for obsolete objects. Like this marvelous melding of a vintage fridge with a classic car seat. Surely this is coolest couch you'd ever want to plant your tush on, is it not? (source)

Or how about grandpa's suitcases put to use as a bedroom bureau?
Old-timey chicness! (source)

Since I'm forever stumbling across dusty old discards in these even older mountains, I can't help but imagine a second life for them. This sweet stove must have roasted tons of turkey in days gone by...

...and most certainly the last of its pie-baking days are over. But why consign it to the garage of misfit appliances? Its sad little face is just begging for another shot at being loved - I say repurpose it!

What would you cook up and create?

Happy Thanksgiving to you all...and thank you for popping in at Upstate Oddities!

Mistaken Identities

2011-11-13T13:08:00.001-05:00

I really need to wear my glasses more often. While I was coming out of the Phoenicia Pharmacy, I saw my boyfriend, John, in his familiar gray hoodie reading the menu of Sweet Sue's with his back to me. I went in for the tush squeeze (really, who could resist?) only to startle a man who was distinctly NOT John. Same gray hoodie, same body type, but once he turned around, clearly Asian...and clearly shocked. Mortified, I saw John way down the block, standing behind what I thought was my Honda Element. Again, another mistaken identity. I have a few bumper stickers on my car, but not this degree of sticker shock!

We spent a few minutes reading them all, while I contemplated never showing my face in Phoenicia again.
Yes, that's me (in glasses!) being reflected alongside John, sans his hoodie.

Magical Mystery Spot

2011-10-26T19:25:00.001-04:00

Halloween is fast approaching and all the little ghouls and goblins will be out and about, demanding a sugar fix...all of them except this little imp, frozen in time in a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. Journey with her into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination.

There's a signpost up ahead!

Your next stop - Homer & Langley's Mystery Spot!

What wonders await? Follow me inside, won't you, after the jump!

Once you enter this singularly odd and fantastical shop, located on Main Street in Phoenicia, you'll be transported into a retro world of wonder with coolness crammed into every corner. Plan to spend at least an hour...or two or three...marveling at all the vintage doodads. Named after the infamous Collyer brothers, the Mystery Spot pays its namesakes due respect - it really is a clutter hound's dream! Proprietress Laura Levine (not pictured) has a discerning eye for the whimsical and bizarre. Laura, a New York City-based photographer (and painter and writer and filmmaker!) scours flea markets and antique fairs to fill her upstate odditorium.

The small rooms (once part of a nineteenth century hotel) have more nooks and crannies than an English muffin and the abundance of items seem overwhelming when you first step in. But because everything is grouped somewhat thematically, there really is a method to finding all the mid-century mod-ness on display. Just watch out for sharp teeth!

One can never have enough Rusticalia, can one?

If you're looking for some notions...

or a peck of peepers, you've picked the perfect place.

Perhaps you'd like something a bit more natural. (perhaps too natural...yikes!)

This array took me back to my childhood bedroom. I think every girl of the 60s had a big-eyed Keane print on her wall...

...and an assortment of creepy dolls. (Well, I did!)

Need something for the family room? How about a funky hand-carved chess set...

Includes photos of previous grandmasters

...or a groovy tv?

There are books and ephemera for every taste. (You know I'm drooling at this point, right? I want everything...except those teeth, of course)

Are you a little bit country? Or a little bit rock and roll? Peek inside the record room:

There are hundreds and hundreds of records here - my photos really don't reveal the breadth and depth of all the vinyl in this room. Serious collectors will plotz!

You lookin' at me, Zevon?

Guaranteed mood enhancer

Other rooms are filled to the brim with fabulous frocks for the fashionista!

Don't forget the children!

Lookin' fly!

Brooches, baubles and bling...

...and a frame for every face.

Trouble finding the perfect gift?

You can't go wrong with a cellophane hat.

Veronica Lake approves.

So does this chick.

Laura Levine, who has hung out and photographed many rock and roll luminaries, shot this great photo of Madonna. Laura's work has been shown in museums and galleries, as well as in the pages of that little 'zine called Rolling Stone. Many of her prints are on display and for sale at the Mystery Spot. Yeah, Laura is awesome. And super nice - she spent a lot of time chatting with me and answering questions about the Mystery Spot and her life as an artist.

This concludes our Magical Mystery Spot Tour. I wish I could have showcased all the kitschy clutter to be discovered here! You'll have to see it for yourself...but for now why don't you pick up a Halloween mask...

... and learn all about those granddaddies of hoarding.

Don't forget to give Petey the Piranha a quick pet...

...and come back soon!

More about Laura and The Mystery Spot can be found here. CLICK!

We'll leave the light on!

2011-10-12T19:26:00.000-04:00

My last post led to the Burroughs Memorial in Rochester Hollow. For those who would like to spend the night in the area, I highly recommend this five-star accommodation found farther up the trail. No reservations are needed and there's always a vacancy, or at least a little corner to oneself.

This lean-to is the ultimate in camping comfort, hence the high rating (suck it, Plaza!) It's solidly built and the three walls are well-insulated.

There's a stone fire pit at the entrance...

and plenty of firewood.

A frying pan and spatula are included in your visit...

as well as a broom for cleaning up (or to serve as a pretend dance partner).

There are hooks for hanging your soggy clothes and shelves for storing your gear. On one shelf I found an EEKtm (Emergency Environment Kit) stuffed into a Tropicana bottle.

Let's open it, shall we? An array of its contents reveal...

-emery boards and nail clippers, because no one likes a messy manicure on the trail.
-needle and thread for when you have to sew up a gaping wound (C'mon, that's what they always do in the movies!)
-a toothbrush (I'll take my chances with a twig, thank you very much)
-a Vicks inhaler (the ragweed count is pretty high right now)
-Chapstick (I'll pass on this, too)
-a dime (a coin toss is the only fair way to determine who gets the primo sleeping location)
-a panoply of lighters
-a pencil for crossword puzzles & a pen if you're really good at them.
-plastic baggies
-dress socks, for that rare, but impromptu job interview in the forest.

I stuffed a surprise in the bottle...but I'm not sayin'! You'll have to find it yourself.

And lastly, but in NO WAY least (amirite, ladies?) is an outhouse!

And what an outhouse it is! It's HUGE! And CLEAN! And handicap-equipped! (I wish my dog would stop being such a camera hog. Jeez!)

In fact, disabled persons are permitted to use an ATV throughout all of these trails. How wonderful is that?! Seriously, this is the best lean-to I've ever come across in the Catskills. I wouldn't be surprised to find a mint on my bedroll in the morning.

Mother Nature's Son

2011-10-03T20:05:00.001-04:00

On a rainy hike through Rochester Hollow this past weekend, my dog led us to a trailside oddity.

This large, weathered memorial commemorates the life of Catskills naturalist and essayist John Burroughs, one of America's little-known fathers of conservation.

I just love the idea behind this memorial! The land surrounding it had been an abandoned farm site that eventually became the property of New York State. Shortly after Burroughs' death in 1921, the boys of the Raymond Riordon School (way to go, boys!) reforested the land with white pine and Norwegian spruce. This lovely monument, flanked by circular stone walls, was placed amidst the newly planted trees. A perfect spot for a picnic, is it not?

The monument itself, although a tad crumbly, is still quite beautiful with its art nouveau embellishments and simple, forest-green lettering against a snowy field.

I found a fragment in the fallen leaves.

I believe it belongs here:

I wish the DEC would complete the rest of the puzzle and put it all back together again. There is another memorial to John Burroughs that I've visited before - a plaque on an upper ledge of Slide Mountain. Someday, I'd like to visit his childhood home in Roxbury, affectionately called Woodchuck Lodge and his Adirondack style home in West Park, curiously dubbed Slabsides. (I was wondering what that odd word on the monument referred to!) But until then, I'll leave you with a Burroughs quote:

"Each of you has the whole wealth of the universe at your very door."

So what are you waiting for? Open the door and take a hike!

Exchange Fate

2011-09-14T18:28:00.001-04:00

As I was driving down a country road, this automotive behemoth caught my fancy.

From its groovy old grill (no, that is not blood on the fender!)...

...to the back of its space-age blinkers, this must have been a fine truck in its day.

Judging by the telephone exchange, that day was long ago.

If you were born before the Beatles played at Shea Stadium, I'm sure you remember the old exchanges that defined our neighborhoods. Mine was FL for FLoral. Isn't that lovely? How about BUtterfield-8? Can you imagine Liz Taylor winning an Oscar for 288? How boring! As the population grew throughout the 60s and 70s, Ma Bell switched to a strictly numerical system, that alas, took away the sense of place that came with making a phone call.

There's a wonderful website, The Telephone EXchange Name Project, that has a searchable database of exchanges. You can also add and share memories of your own exchange. I've added mine. Perhaps the holder of HA1-4755 will include his, as well.

School's open...

2011-09-05T15:22:00.000-04:00

...so drive carefully and steer clear of any mutant children.

Upstate Oddities wishes all the students out there (mutant and otherwise) a happy & healthy school year!

After the flood.

2011-08-30T12:01:00.000-04:00

My heart goes out to all the people of the Catskills coping with the destruction and loss that Irene left in her wake.

All aboard!

2011-08-15T15:45:00.000-04:00

Train travel has always fascinated me. There is something both sinister and sensuous about it - the steam and whistles, the changing landscape whizzing by your window, the strangers on a train. Railroads bring to mind hobos and industry, romance and mystery. And while this is not exactly the Orient Express...

..."The Curious Case of the Caboose in the Copse" is a mystery, nonetheless, and one worthy of Hercule Poirot's sleuthing skills.

An examination of clues reveal the tracks to extend only as far as the length of the car, so we can deduce it's not a runaway train or a loose caboose.

It's been sitting here for some time, as indicated by this rusty wheel, ladder and connecting hitch.

A few yards away, the rather suspicious and alarmed-looking cooktop of a wood-burning stove was found. He remained silent during my interrogation.

The only accessible windows for viewing the interior have been boarded up and the door has been padlocked. What secrets lie beyond? A table for two is the only indication of recent use...

...as well as a two-wheeled means of transport hidden beneath. Someone's been coming here. Do they own this old caboose? I would love to know who....and how they came about it.

The Oil Creek & Titusville line harkens back to 1862. In 1859, when oil was successfully drilled (for the first time in the world!) near Titusville, Pennsylvania, the closest railroad was 27 miles away. The OC&T line was completed to fill that transportation need. Under a series of mergers, it became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad by 1900, then eaten up by Conrail in the late 1960s. In 1986, The Oil Creek Railway Society formed and acquired the remaining original cars in order to preserve the line.

Today, the 17 mile long Oil Creek & Titusville line operates as a seasonal tourist venue, complete with scenic train trips through the historic Oil Creek Valley, murder/mystery dinner excursions and overnight lodging in refitted stationary cabooses. But that still doesn't answer the question of how one of those cabooses ended up in the Catskills! Hercule? Miss Marple? Anyone?

Mamma's Head

2011-08-01T10:49:00.000-04:00

Drive down any road in the Catskills, and you are likely to spy with your little eye an abandoned, rotting abode hidden in the overgrowth. I always find them eerily beautiful, beckoning me to visit.

So why don't you spritz on some bugspray and come a little closer with me?

And closer still...

Don't be afraid. Let's cross the threshold together...

In the midst of it all, nature has come to reclaim her domain.

There's plenty of time to explore...

...and to read!

But what's this, I wonder? Let's have a look-see...

OHMYGODIT'SAGIANTFREAKINGSKULL!!!!

Alrighty then...I think that's enough exploring for the day.

Ghost Station

2011-07-19T14:44:00.000-04:00

One of the charms and a major draw of the Catskills is the unchanged landscape, affording one a sense of place in the world. Up here, you're not passing by an endless stream of sameness with Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bells and 7-11s replicating themselves every 10 miles. Which is why, when I see something like this, I have to stop and pay my respects.

I almost expected Gomer Pyle to come ambling out to assist me. However, there was nary a Gomer nor Goober in site. Everything seemed frozen in time, including the price of gas.

The vehicles surrounding the joint also reflected the 30 year time warp...and the awesome, transformative power of oxidation.

Somebody really likes Scouts. And what groovy little workhorses they were! The International Scout Harvester was introduced as a commercial utility pickup in 1960 as a competitor to the Jeep. It set the stage for future 4-wheel drive recreational vehicles of the 70s, 80s and 90s. But something tells me these vehicles were not used for recreation.

I'm sure that one day this service station will be razed to make way for a modernized facility, but for now let us be thankful for this particular suspension of progress and revel in the cool clean lines of the Mobil font.

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T09:17:00.000-04:00

Why the sad face, Uncle Sam? Don't you know it's your birthday today? Here's a little poem to turn that frown upside down:

I've got a rocket
in my pocket;
I cannot stop to play.
Away it goes!
I've burned my toes.
It's Independence Day!

I hope everyone has a marvelous day with their picnics and pyrotechnics!

Tree Huggers

2011-06-13T19:06:00.000-04:00

I'm forever amazed by the tenacity of trees. They'll shove through any barrier that prevents their upward climb to the sun.

Even their roots manage to muscle through the rocky earth in search of nutrients. Check out any upended tree...

...and the roots will reveal what happens to obstacles in their path - total assimilation!

Indeed, trees are marvelous beings, ancient and mighty....and quite suitable for hugging.

Even in the cold, they are exceedingly hot.

Mostly though, I think that trees are relentlessly ravenous.

Periodically speaking...

2011-05-30T20:27:00.000-04:00

For many, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial welcoming of the lazy, hazy summer season. For me it heralds the attack of the tag sale! Strewn up and down Route 28 this weekend were cardboard signs, balloons, and day-glo arrows pointing the way to undiscovered oddities. Some of my favorite finds of past years have been an ashtray with bite,

a kitty with attitude,

and a sweet leather-clad transistor radio.

This weekend I found a treasure trove of old magazines. Horticulture from the mid 50's:

Boys' Life, from the late 60s:

My older brother was a Boy Scout and received Boys' Life every month. I loved the cartoons and the articles of derring-do set in the great outdoors. I even sent away for a snake bite kit, just in case of a deadly cobra strike. I was sure there were dozens hidden in the manicured lawn of my suburban Long Island home. Reading Boys' Life, I also felt the very real sting of sexism. The Girl Scouts were a joke. We never learned to tie a knot, or shoot an arrow, or build a campfire in front of a lean-to. No one told us how to survive a bear attack - just sell the damn cookies. And so, I lived vicariously through Boys' Life. How cool to revisit its pages!

I hit the jackpot with the next find...take a look!

Look magazine was huge! These issues all date from 1961-1962, when their readership topped 7 million! This was the dawn of the new frontier - the era of Kennedy and cocktails...

of sexy cigarettes...

and even sexier cars.

The continental cuisine of Chef Boyardee...

...and the wholesome goodness packed in a pop art can.

Most importantly, it was an era marked by America's love affair with molded gelatin.

When I was in grad school, I worked part-time in the periodicals department of a large college library. Sunday mornings were my favorite - not many students and rooms and rooms full of bound treasure at my fingertips! I spent many hours hunched in a corner by the stacks pouring through it all, turning the pages and marvelling at a history my parents and grandparents lived through. So yeah, I get a little flushed and my heart quickens when I spot a nicely preserved piece of yore...perhaps a bit moldy, but allergies schmallergies, I got it all for $3 bucks!

Buried Treasure

2011-05-17T20:08:00.001-04:00

You may have thought my last post to be a random bit of advice courtesy of a spray paint totin' mama, but it's actually a whimsical come-on for a new(ish) cafe and espresso bar in Phoenicia called Mama's Boy Market, owned and operated by the multi talented Michael Koegel.

The delicious baked goods and primo cappuccino of Mama's Boy are far from being odd, but its location happens to sit upon the ghost of an oddity - The Phoenicia Hotel. Built in the 19th century, the historic Phoenicia Hotel was a haunt of Babe Ruth, Lee Marvin, and the notorious gangster Dutch Schultz. According to one legend, the Dutchman had lunch at the Phoenicia Hotel on October 23, 1935. Afterward, to hide his millions from the Feds, he buried his loot in an iron case somewhere in the vicinity. That night, he made his way to an eatery in Newark, where he was assassinated by henchmen sent by Lucky Luciano. The location of the treasure went to his grave and hopeful hunters have been coming to Phoenicia ever since to unearth it. For a while, one of the proprietors of the hotel allowed his customers to dig on the property, just as long as they signed a waiver to split whatever was found. That was abruptly stopped when someone showed up with a backhoe.

In 2007, a fire destroyed the landmark hotel.

Ah, the Phoenicia Hotel and its colorful bar scene! I have fond memories of grooving to Mario's one-man band, while a man I dubbed Greg (I swear he was the reincarnation of Gregory Peck!) always stood silently at the end of the bar, chewing on a toothpick, thumbs in his belt loops, as if he just fell out of a John Ford western. One night before closing, the beautiful, tattooed bartender belted out an a capella version of "Me and Bobby Magee" that I'm sure had Janis smiling down from a heavenly mountain in the sky, and during the Eastern grid blackout of 2003, warm beer was served by candlelight at the bar.

After the fire, the empty charred shell of the hotel sat dormant for a long time. Finally it was razed, leaving a huge lot with a giant mound of rubble in the middle. It stayed an eyesore for what felt like an eternity. One day while walking through town, I felt compelled to sift through the debris - I wanted a memento! I hopped over the barrier tape and dug around while my boyfriend pretended to have no idea who the crazy lady was. Something in the ruins was calling to me...a ~~phoenix~~ feline rose from the ashes, and this is what I found!

Not quite the lost treasure of Dutch Schultz, but something more precious - a sharpied, river rock reminder of the happy times spent at the Phoenicia Hotel.

What are you waiting for?

2011-05-08T09:36:00.000-04:00

...and have a Happy Mother's Day!

Royal Registry

2011-04-27T18:24:00.000-04:00

There's been a bit of blather lately about a couple of crazy kids getting hitched somewhere across the pond and though I'm still waiting on my invite, I thought I'd do a little gift shopping (i.e. rooting around Warner's Creek in Chichester) for the happy couple. I had only been exploring for a few minutes when I discovered the most exquisite plate, perfect for a crumpet or two! A dab of glue and it'll be as good as new.

Fit for royalty, wouldn't you say?

I'd like to see Sir Elton top that!

Garden of Earthly Delights

2011-03-29T18:58:00.001-04:00

After checking out the sculpture of Pierre Riche, I had spied these eyes (of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg?) further in the field.

They keep watch to a gateway leading to a Boschian world of wonder filled with terra cotta fantasies and magical mosaics. But before journeying any farther, let's take a closer look at one of the eyes. The artistry astounds!

Just beyond their gaze is a commanding grouping of stone walls forming a courtyard of sorts.

It, too, is adorned with mosaics both pretty...

...and precious.

There are nooks and crannies and cut-outs chock-full of surprises!

The peanut gallery hiding under this ledge are really no larger than peanuts, yet they are so lively. Look at them hooting and hollering!

"Keep it down, boys -you're giving me a headache!"

The arched openings provide views of the wonders beyond.

This massive wall has a few tricks up its bricks.

Mosaic panels have been placed throughout...

...and dramatic scenarios have been sculpted onto miniature stages.

Check out the heads on this one.

Figures are bustin' out all over!

I think I dated this guy in college.

Past the walls and courtyard sits a quartet of columns, each with an intriguing tale to tell in tile.

I love those apes looking on as a skeleton types!

What appears to be another grouping of columns...

...becomes a wall of trees!

Then there's this magnificent wall, mimicking the shape of the mountain behind it. I can imagine a very large bear poking his nose through that window.

Our journey comes to an end with the Dove Whisperer. What do you think he's telling his friend?

I really wish I had more pictures to share, but I was in stealth mode. Even though there were no signs posted, I felt uncomfortable traipsing about. I saw buckets and other materials, so I'm wondering if it's a work in progress. And what a work it is! The photos don't capture the beauty and surprise of it all. It was so animated, so full of spirit that I could almost feel the stones breathe.

Head Case

2011-03-17T18:15:00.000-04:00

The Catskills have long been a haven for artists - from the majestic Hudson River School of Thomas Cole and Frederic Church to the artisans of Byrdcliffe, the oldest continuing arts colony in America. Surrounded by mountains, we are also surrounded by the visionary works of eccentric, eclectic and hugely talented artists. This thought-provoking sculpture sits in an open field across the road from Wambli World.

The flip side:

The artist, Pierre Riche, states that his "inspiration for creating art is to evoke awe and wonder in hope of awakening the divine within." Yes, I would say that's a possibility.

I'm glad I stopped to take a closer look at Possibility, because I may not have seen this impressive piece. I'm not sure if it's a work of Riche's - I found no signature.

Like all art, it's open to interpretation. My first impression was of Libra, the goddess of balance and truth. And what do you suppose the "caged" objects represent? The shiny silver shape is a star, but the other reminds me of a Seussian fish.

I don't know if I was trespassing - there were no signs - but all the same, I always get paranoid when I stroll off the path...I get the sense that someone is watching me from the shadows. This time it was true!

What I found just beyond these penetrating peepers took my breath away....but I'll save that for another post ;-)

Skullduggery!

2011-03-01T19:17:00.000-05:00

A few years ago, while beachcombing on Cape Cod, I found a pair of large skeleton hands. They had five knobby finger bones, much longer than a human's (or any human I'd want to meet). They were pretty freaky. I wondered what strange beast possessed such formidable digits. My research pointed to a seal, or maybe a porpoise - possibly even a whale! I was amazed that a flipper would contain finger-like bones, but it makes sense.

Over the years I've acquired quite a collection of bones and skulls, many found while hiking these beautiful mountains in the Catskills. My dog is especially good at rooting them out. Here are a few - but my challenge to you, dear reader, is to help me identify them.

This first one is easy - a deer - but they're going to get a lot harder.

This one really stumps me.

Here's a view from the top. Rather aerodynamic, but I don't think it's a bird.

This one is teeny. A chipmunk, perhaps?

and another view, showing some pretty impressive dental hygiene.

An unusual shape on this one, although if I knew what it was, I'm sure I wouldn't think it unusual at all.

Another view of the same skull. My, what a flat head you have!

This one has the teeth of a carnivore.
.

Same skull - different angle

This one is rather beautiful in its symmetry.

...and from the side.

A bitty bird....but what kind?

Georgie O'Keefe once said, "Bones are as beautiful as anything I know. They seem to cut sharply to the center of something that is keenly alive." I agree.

Howl!

2011-02-16T17:41:00.000-05:00

With snowy brightness and sparse vegetation, the winter landscape affords a greater opportunity to spot our animal friends. This pair of coyotes popped up in Phoenicia...

...um...perched in the window of a campground office. I wish I had seen them in their natural habitat (and a bit more animated) but hey, check out that deer in the snow....don't disturb him - he looks like he's ready to bolt!

White on white

2011-02-08T18:04:00.001-05:00

This bus looks awfully lonely in its hibernation. When the temperature rises it will be full of passengers. Who are they and where are they going? (hint: not school, but schools may be found there)

The Stage is Set in Shandaken

2011-02-02T19:26:00.002-05:00

Judging from the appearance of this country clapboard structure...

...would you expect to find this inside?

This is the set for Over the River and Through the Woods, the latest production staged by the Shandaken Theatrical Society. The STS is a community theater dedicated to producing high quality dramas, comedies and musicals. They also host movie nights, cabarets, holiday extravaganzas, local playwright festivals and theater workshops for all ages. Oh, and their homemade snacks are sublime!

The actors are mostly local - some professional, others newbies. It's cool to bump into any one of them in town. I always get a little starstruck. The STS was founded in 1976. In 1998, they purchased this landmark building in the cozy hamlet of Phoenicia and turned it into a theater. Renovations were done inside...

...and out. The box office is just darling!

...and from another angle.

I was curious about the building's history.
What does I.O.O.F. stand for?

Choose one:

1. International Office of Old Fishermen
2. Incorporated Orchestra of Oak Fiddles
3. Independent Order of Odd Fellows
4. Inspirational Organization of Organic Farmers

If you picked number 3 *dingdingding* you are correct! The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is an altruistic fraternal organization that has been in existence since the 1700s. By 1896 it was the largest among all fraternal organizations (take that, Masons!) The I.O.O.F's mission is "to improve and elevate the character of mankind by imparting the principles of friendship, love and truth (as represented by the three links) and making the world a better place to live by aiding the community at large in every way possible." What better place for this wonderful theater to make its permanent home!

If you're ever in the area, come treat yourself to a theater experience that would rival any other...and it's a lot cheaper than Broadway! More info can be found here.

Zen and the Art of Motor Vehicle Maintenance

2011-01-25T08:17:00.001-05:00

Situated within these mountains of monasteries and original hippies, this car repair is cosmically fitting.

Do repairs on hybrids up one's karma quotient?

Because of Martin

2011-01-17T17:11:00.002-05:00

Rosa sat, so Martin could walk, so Obama could run, so someone could paint this on their house. Yes, it's been on display since the election.

Not to be outdone, a squirrel has posted this on his house.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. (who would have been 82 years old this year.) We have much to owe this great man.

South by Southeast

2011-01-11T16:41:00.001-05:00

If only this tempting photo had been more than a mere suggestion of the waffles I actually got. Who wouldn't want a pat of creamy butter pointing the way to the fork?

Tin Can Valley

2011-01-06T18:31:00.002-05:00

Whether walking in the city or hiking in the woods, my eyes are drawn to the beauty often found in discarded and decaying objects. Apparently, I'm not alone.

What first appears to be a random jumble of branches and boughs and roadside detritus is, on closer inspection, a rather cool assemblage of found objets de rouille. (or plain old rusty cans...ignore my snobby cosmopolitan alter ego)

My favorite...although the pig doesn't seem too pleased.

Then there's beer. Lots and lots of beer. Bottoms up!

The #1 selling ale of the Reformation.

Birch bark or beer can?

A worn leather shoe has been thrown into the mix. Is the owner the artist, I wonder?

This paean to decay is both eerie and beautiful; an unexpected melding of the natural and the man-made. (Sheesh! It just looks damn cool....please ignore my snooty art history major alter ego)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T18:04:00.001-05:00

As we reflect on the past year and look toward the new...

...oh, I don't know what I'm talking about. I just wanted to share this awesome reflector face.

Mellow Christmas!

2010-12-21T17:24:00.002-05:00

Christmas this year is being brought to you by the smooth taste of Lucky Strike.

Leave some for Santa, won't you?

Persia via the Hudson

2010-12-15T15:54:00.002-05:00

There are three things I know about Frederic Edwin Church:

1. He was a celebrated artist of the Hudson River School of American landscape painting.
2. He designed and built Olana, a Persian-style palace.
3. He rocked the mutton chops.

As much as I'd like to discuss the curious stylings of 19th century grooming, I feel I should focus on Olana, being that it is indeed an oddity found upstate, in the town of Hudson, to be exact.

Freddie's inspiration for Olana came to him after several visits to the Middle East. In 1870, he hired an architect and went to work having a dream home built on his expansive hillside property overlooking the Hudson River. Seeing it in the distance is impressive, but the true artistry of his masterpiece is best experienced up close.

The exterior is covered in intricate stencils, brick, stone and tile work, all designed by Church.

Even on the overcast day I visited, the color was as vibrant as if it had been applied only days before.

Did you know that the six-pointed star (generally recognized as a symbol of Judaism), can be found in ancient Islamic and Christian lore? There were many such symbols worked into the design.

Olana was Church's last masterpiece. During the the first few years of its creation, beginning in 1870, Church became afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis making it almost impossible to paint. As a result, he put most of his artistic energies into the evolving design of Olana. Over the years, he had a new wing built to accommodate his family and to display his growing collection of world art.

I imagine him sitting on the deck in the summer, stroking his formidable whiskers whilst sipping an iced tea and enjoying the spectacular views of the Hudson Valley.

The interior is equally impressive to behold - every room has been embellished with intricate designs and many of Church's paintings are on view. I wasn't permitted to take any indoor photography, but if you happen upon the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, why not take it over the Hudson River...

...and ring the bell at Olana, so you can see it for yourself! The tour guides are super nice and knowledgeable.

You can also take a virtual tour here.

Frack no!

2010-12-09T18:54:00.001-05:00

Fracking makes Happy Avenue sad.

You gotta have art

2010-11-28T16:02:00.001-05:00

There must be something in the water that possesses Catskillians to hang gorgeous old clocks on their sheds, or perhaps there's just something in the water that's bringing it to my attention lately.

This particular catterclock (as I've dubbed them) isn't doomed to spend its lonely hours in solitude. It shares its space with the spectacular Wambli World!

Although all of these fantabulous sculptures are displayed on private property, they face a main road for passersby to admire. Behold a winged pig...

...and this fanciful figure.

I call this charming fellow "The Schnozz." Don't you love him?

All of these colorful creations are constructed from found objects and given new life celebrating beauty and peace. This giant sunflower is a lovely example...

As is this diving tortoise.

The inscription reads, "When the tortoise walks off the moon, it's the changing of an era." ~ the I Ching

I wish I knew more about Wambli World. Is Wambli the artist? A google search led me to the Lakota word for eagle, and although the art soars, I'd love to know the person behind it. Anyone out there know?

Falling back

2010-11-11T11:28:00.001-05:00

It's Daylight Saving Time. Have you set your clocks back?

This Art Deco beauty probably ticked off the minutes in a posh train station. It pains me to see it rusting away on moldy shingles.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-27T17:37:00.001-04:00

Got garlic?

Bus Stop

2010-10-13T18:28:00.001-04:00

Tired of plain old run-of-the-mill firewood?

At Shapiro & Sons the wood is seasoned to capture the heady scent of marble notebooks, bologna sandwiches and Bazooka bubble gum.

However, not all of their buses are filled to capacity. Many are empty shells sinking into the earth - a modern day elephant graveyard...

of school buses...

...and other modes of ~~rusty~~ rural transportation.

Hey, no shoving on the bus!

Bowling for Bagels

2010-10-05T19:01:00.004-04:00

After you climb every mountain and ford every stream, there are plenty of other activities to be had in the Catskills. One can shoot some hoops.

Or hop on a pony.

But if wild horses (ba-dum-ching!) aren't your thing, you can always rent a pair of groovy two-toned shoes and have a ball at the Liberty Lanes.

Every bowling alley should have such style!

And artistic flair!

That's quite a hand span, there!

Peering through the door (I wish they had been open!) I spied this cool shirt.

But what's a Kiddush Hashem, you may ask? A strike? A turkey? No, a Kiddush Hashem is any action by a Jew that brings honor, respect and glory to God. If it's any indication of skill, my shirt would have to read Chillul Hashem. God hates gutterballs.

Brown acid. Never a good idea.

2010-09-14T18:32:00.002-04:00

Maybe it was just the time of year, but with nothing else to do we decided to go on down to Yasgur's Farm and check out the new Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. I had heard good things about the newly built museum celebrating that little concert we've all heard about. They don't allow photography in the museum, but I highly recommend going to see it for yourself. It's a wonderfully realized multi-media experience that takes you from the 50's right up to the Age of Aquarius and into the mud and music of Woodstock. If you go down the road a bit, you'll come across this monument:

And just beyond that is the field where it all happened!

The view when the mushrooms kick in:

I wish I had pictures of all the memorabilia displayed in the museum. I would love to own an original Yasgur's Dairy Farm milk bottle! But I think my favorite artifact was the journal of a kid who was clearly there for the music. He had detailed entries on every single act. My favorite: "Some asshole just jumped onstage. Townsend knocked him off."

Signage Whimsy

2010-08-26T21:23:00.000-04:00

Cozy

Trippy

Haunted

Fite Club

2010-08-04T14:11:00.001-04:00

Although the main focus of Opus 40 is Harvey Fite's magnificently constructed bluestone environment, there are other curiosities for a visitor to explore.

In the early 70's, after he had retired as a professor at Bard College, Fite took time out from Opus 40 to build a museum to house his collection of quarryman's tools and artifacts.

The museum is a fascinating tour through the history of the area and the skills of its workingmen: quarrying equipment is represented, and so are the tools, most of them hand-forged, that the quarryman used every day for farming, blacksmithing, carpentry and the like.

It's a lot to take in at once!

And no matter where you are, this Hessian guard follows you with his eyes.

The space is filled to the brim - no surface is left bare, including the walls where tools are arrayed in pleasing patterns.

From windowsills...

...to rafters - fascinating objects abound.

Apparently Harvey Fite was a man who liked to keep all his ducks in a row.

The pot-bellied stove in the corner looks well-worn and well-loved...

...as do the rest of the tools and equipment on display.

Anyone know what this is?

Besides being an extraordinary quarryman, Harvey Fite was also a fine artist, and as such his sculptures have a home in the museum alongside his tools. This combination of the utilitarian with the purely aesthetic is what makes for such a unique space. This hand of Thomas Jefferson was carved from a catalpa tree which bloomed, according to Fite, for the first time on July 4, 1776.

What was once a log has been transformed into this serious fellow.

Be sure to bid David Crosby 49 bye-byes on the way out...

...and shut the door using this fetching handle.

Don't forget to turn off the light.

A visit to Opus 40 and the accompanying Quarryman's Museum make for a perfect outing. What a truly wonderful place to spend the day.

Rock Star

2010-07-23T14:20:00.001-04:00

Up in Saugerties there is a magical place where a sculptor named Harvey Fite took this...

...and transformed it into this!

Behold Opus 40! Covering six acres, this labor of love (and sweat) is comprised of hundreds of thousands of tons of finely fitted bluestone, constructed by hand over a period of 37 years.*

This grand space is a total artistic environment. You can walk through, around, and over it. I found the deep recesses of its lower pathways to be really cool...literally...which brought much relief on the sweltering day I visited.

Fite worked alone, using traditional quarryman's tools - hammers, chisels, drills, crowbars, and a huge boom equipped with a hand-powered winch. It's amazing that one man created this.

The central monolith weighs nine tons!

Fite built his house on the property. When it still had no electricity or plumbing, he used this circular pool as a refrigerator. A mesh bag with milk, butter and eggs could be lowered into its icy water and pulled up as needed. Today, the algae makes it look like a big bowl of refreshing gazpacho soup...yum!

There are several natural quarry pools fed by springs...

...where one can picnic among the stone sculptures, all hand-carved by Fite.

Opus 40 is a tranquil treasure of the Catskills, where one can walk, climb, sit and dip one's toes into the cooling pools...

...and reflect on one man's vision to take earth's Paleozoic bounty and transform it into a magnum opus.

*40 refers to the number of years Harvey Fite expected he would need to complete the work. Fite died in 1976, in the 37th year of his creation.

Pull up a chair...

2010-06-29T11:21:00.000-04:00

I'm glad this sign was recently put up...

...because I always wondered what these ruins were doing in someone's yard. They're the ghost buildings of what was once a thriving furniture factory.

The company-owned hamlet of Chichester was founded by the brothers Frank and Lemuel Chichester. With an abundance of hardwoods and the water power of crisscrossing streams, this area of the Catskills was the perfect spot to situate their factory. They specialized in chair and cradle making. Old timers would have you believe that every chair on the east coast came out of Chichester.

picture from the Empire State Railway Museum

The factory was later purchased by William Schwarzwaelder, maker of fine office furniture. Workers enjoyed recreational buildings, a general store, post office, school and church - all company-built, owned and maintained.

Decades later, the great depression devastated the business and it went kaput in 1939. The rest of the hamlet no longer had an owner, and would be doomed if it didn't find another. The village, at the time comprising of 44 houses and buildings, was put up for auction on October 28th, 1939. The hamlet was purchased at the auction and has been in the hands of private owners ever since.

Hopefully, these remnants of the past will stay standing for another 150 years.

Color me impressed!

2010-06-14T19:07:00.000-04:00

I daresay you'll find a vacancy at the Reservoir Motel, what with that fancy cable television broadcast in living color. They're probably booked all summer, while us chumps have to watch the new summer lineup in black and white down at the Days Inn.

And that isn't the only amenity being offered to their lucky visitors. See it in the distance?

It's a sort of glass enclosed little booth with the word Phone stamped on it. Hmmm..I'm guessing one could use a cell phone within its confines without disturbing other guests.
How clever!

Tavern on the Scream!

2010-06-01T17:37:00.007-04:00

We drove by this spooky haunted house tavern on the way to the Ashokan Reservoir.

The entrance was barred, indicating that trespassers were not welcome. Trepidations be damned, I had to approach it for a closer inspection.

Everything about the place - the choking weeds, the peeling paint, the dusty neon beer signs - suggested it hadn't seen a patron in years.

I could almost make out an old lady rocking behind that upper window.

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly freak myself out any more, a woman appeared from around the corner, eyeing me suspiciously. She didn't mince words: "Whattaya want?" Sheepishly, I said, "A drink?" "Well, we don't open til the evening," she replied. Translation: "Skedaddle, sweetheart." I managed to take one more picture before thanking her for the info. Judging by these cans, the place does a brisk business. If I get up the nerve, maybe I'll pop in one night for a Bud. Or maybe not.

Note to downstaters: if you're on someone's property, wherever they are, they will know - it's some kind of 6th sense that city folk just aren't wired for.

Spidey Sense

2010-05-25T19:36:00.003-04:00

Sure, spiders are necessary players in eco-management, but no one wants to find a hairy eight-legged nightmare suspended in the corner of the shower just as she gets shampoo in her eyes, but I digress (yes, it was traumatizing). Spiders belong in barns, spelling words in their webs, or in the garden preying on other nasty horrors. And if they have to do so while perched on a pretty daisy, then they should look pretty as well.

Just don't sniff the flower.....aieeeee!

Mountain Sprite

2010-05-17T19:44:00.002-04:00

Lately I've been encountering lilliputian forms of locomotion. The next wee wonder was found in a grocer's parking lot. Had I a bigger shopping tote, I would have stuffed this vintage Austin Sprite into it!

Seriously, how cute is this? I almost expected to find a set of child-sized pedals under the steering wheel to propel it.

Whoever owns this miniature marvel is a trusting soul. Don't think I wasn't tempted to turn that key and take it for a spin! I love the red, white and black color scheme and how the wing design on the steering wheel echoes the insignia found on the hood.

When did cars start to lose their charm? Late 70's...80s? Or is it all a matter of perception influenced by time and nostalgia? Will my grandchildren think my '03 Honda is as dreamy as this little Sprite forty years from now? I doubt it.

2010-05-04T08:58:00.002-04:00

...but pickles can be purchased by the paperbacks.

Milling about in the woods

2010-04-26T20:05:00.005-04:00

While hiking along the Vernooy Kill Falls in Rochester, I spotted what appeared to be a chimney in the distance. See it up there on the left?

It's quite common to stumble upon lone fireplaces in the forest. It's also common for my eyes to play tricks on me. When I got closer and my angle of vision had changed, I could clearly see that it was a massive wall.

Here it is from the opposite side. It's at least 12 feet high and double that in length.

Could this be the remnant of one of the first handball courts in the Catskills? Not likely, though that wall is just begging to be hit with a pink Spaldeen. I later found out that Cornelius VerNooy, a Revolutionary War veteran and early settler, was responsible for this structure. About 250 years ago he built the first gristmill in the region. All that remains of it is this enormous (and old!) wall.

River Relic #2

2010-04-18T19:36:00.003-04:00

With all the heavy rains lately, plenty of junk has washed up on the muddy banks of the creek. Like car parts, bottles and cutlery and other things I find lying around. I wasn't expecting to see a Manga Boy winking at me...

...from the seat of tiny tricycle. It was the bittiest bike I've ever seen.

I hope the wee owner isn't heartbroken. I'm sure an industrious beaver will find a use for it.

River Relic #1

2010-04-02T19:55:00.009-04:00

The rivers and streams of the Catskills are marvelous places to find objets d'oddness. This study in amber washed up not too long ago on the banks of Warner Creek in Chichester.

According to the official Clorox site, this bottle dates from the mid 30's. It still has its original rubber stopper. From 1940 onward, the bottles were manufactured with screw tops.

The iconic diamond trademark was stamped into the bottom.

The ads throughout the 30's and 40s featured an animated Clorox bottle, hilariously named Butch. Yessiree, tough stains were not for wimps.

Clorox seems to have been the go-to solution for stain removal, and in the case of particularly germ-phobic housewives, it offered peace of mind when it came to protecting family health. But decades later, every girl of the 1980s knew the perfect use for the sublime power of Clorox.

Ah, this river relic, this little bottle of bleach - what fond memories you brought back!

Burlesque at the Lex!

2010-03-24T18:09:00.002-04:00

We had passed by the defunct Lexington Hotel on many occasions while driving around the area. So a few years ago when we heard that the hotel was throwing a grand re-opening bash we were excited to check it out. What we found was a dark hotel - not merely dead, but most sincerely dead. Here it is in daylight.

My background research revealed that the hotel was a hopping Slavic hot spot in the early half of the 20th century with a mostly Ukrainian clientele. It changed hands off and on during the latter part of the century. According to the New York Times, Philadelphia nightlife impresario Philip Cohen bought the hotel in 2003. Its restaurant, an eclectic vegetarian/vegan affair, was run by Kaya Chaos, founding member of the NY hardcore punk band Deviant Behavior. Cool! After hosting burlesque shows (oh my) the place was shut down for violating the town's anti-noise ordinance. Not cool. Cohen vowed to fight the town and bring back the shows the following winter. I'm wondering if that was the grand re-opening advertised on the radio. Alas, it never came to be. But enough internet-gathered history (we all know how accurate that is) and on to more pictures!

This sign perplexes me. Cohen reopened the place in '03, but the sign says '98. Does not compute. Unless there were several incarnations. But why leave the old sign up?

A peek inside:

I almost fell through a hole in the floorboards on the rear porch. That's the Lexington Bridge in the background. The hotel literally hangs over the Schoharie River. The porch was covered in river silt.

Just across the river is a view of the impressive Lexington House. It was a resort hotel back in the 1880s. Now it's on the NY State Registry of Historic Places. It enjoyed past lives as a summer camp, an art center and a summer theater. It's one of the last standing examples of late-nineteenth century resort architecture in the Catskills. It's up for sale, so place your bids on this faded beauty!

This yummy Plymouth Valiant has been sitting in the lot across the street, most likely since 1960.

If you're ever in the town of Lexington, take a moment to pay a visit to the Lexington Hotel. They say it's haunted by old Ukrainians, but I like to think the ghosts of burlesque queens shake their pasties at passersby.

A gravestone lovely as a tree

2010-03-15T18:02:00.008-04:00

As commonplace as graveyards are there is always beauty to be found within their gates. In the town of Lexington a dozen gravestones dot the yard of a small church. Most are simple slabs except for this one memorializing a young woman who died more than a hundred years ago. (click on the photo for an enlarged image)

Trees are recurrent motifs in gravestone iconography. They represent the regenerative beauty of life. Befittingly, a tree stump alludes to the brevity of life.

Note the exceptionally fine detail of the bark. That rope looks woven rather than carved!

Surrounded by mountains, woods and streams, this lovely marker of a life complements its idyllic setting.

All Along the Watchtower

2010-03-08T18:12:00.007-05:00

Driving down a country road in Jewett, we came across this funky tower. It has a lighthouse vibe to it, wouldn't you say? I'd love to walk around the gallery and pretend to spot ghost ships sailing over the distant mountains.

After admiring it we continued on our drive. Just a few houses down we saw this! I guess someone else on the block wanted a tower to call their own. Check out those narrow windows. I'd love to explore the interior - I'm imagining a spiral staircase going all the way up.

I took a few photos and we got back to our travels. We didn't get too far before we saw...yup...another tower!

Third time's a charm, I suppose, but this one looks like an evil spell was cast over it. If you look closely, you'll see a sad girl with very long hair gazing out the upper window.

Batty!

2010-02-28T19:12:00.001-05:00

This little fellow was found in the wood stove during a period when it wasn't in use. No, he's not resting, nor is he stunned. And he certainly isn't pining for the fjords. This is an ex-bat.

Many people dislike our flying furry friends, but I love watching them glide out at dusk from under the shingles and do their loopy dances in the sky. Plus they get the bugs before the bugs get me. Check out those dainty wing nails and adorable tootsies!

In appearance, this bat looks like he may have perished a couple of days ago, maybe a week or so at the most. Here's where our story takes another odd turn - he was found more than a decade ago! I'm amazed that he looks so fresh!

Come Fly with Me

2010-02-21T13:51:00.002-05:00

Sometimes the most peculiar things are right in front of your nose and you don't even realize it. On first glance this appears to be a snowy field bordered by woodland, but look again... see it?

Da plane! Da plane!

I've come across animal skeletons in the woods, but never an airplane skeleton! I wonder if the field it's sitting in was once a landing strip.

There are no wings, but the propeller is still attached. I'm surprised by how stunted it seems.

The controls are still there, hanging on the frame. It's a confusing mess of knobs and wires to me, but I pushed the button anyway and it roared to life! (I jest)

Is that a bicycle chain? Another reason why I don't fly.

What I'd like to know is who left it here?

Probably this guy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

Pretty in Pink

2010-02-08T18:57:00.004-05:00

On our last hike we found this beauty nestled in the woods up on a ridge. There were houses not far off so I wouldn't be surprised if one of those homeowners dumped their trailer back here for nature to claim.

It's no Barbie Dream Trailer, but the color is sweet and the lines are vintage.

This was the only identifying emblem. I tried digging up the company info without much success, but comparing it to other models I would say it dates from the late 50s to early 60s.

Peering through the window, my eyes were assaulted by chaos, most likely caused by a paperback reader who dislikes flying insects...

...and keeps the disinfectant powers of Lysol close at hand.

But really, why the scouring pads and Lysol if you're not going to use them to scrub down that filthy frigidaire? I would have gone inside for further investigation, but I looked down at the floor and saw this.

Few things make my blood chill faster than the presence of a lone shoe. My mind tends to conjure up all forms of horrific explanations to make sense of it. Suffice it to say, I didn't delve any further with my investigation. I'm such a wuss.

Redundant Road

2010-02-01T17:42:00.004-05:00

To get to Boulevard Road take Highway Turnpike to the town of Vista View. At the exit, turn right at Avenue Drive then left at Path Lane...you can't miss it!

Snot good. In fact, it's terrible.

2010-01-25T17:45:00.015-05:00

While hiking along the Esopus river in Shandaken, I spied this sign nailed to a tree. At first, I felt my heart sink, thinking it was a "Missing Child" poster. On closer inspection, it was my stomach that had a bad reaction.

What is that poor girl covered in - Slime? Cooties? Boogers? Um, kinda sorta. It's the aptly named Rock Snot, aka Didymosphenia geminata or just plain Didymo for you rappers out there. It's a fast-spreading algae found in streams and rivers all over the world. It grows in long gooey masses that resemble big honkin' wads of snot. Scientists are confounded by its recent aggressiveness and are unsure whether environmental changes or genetic mutations are to blame.

Unlike the Blob, freezing won't kill it. There are no known ways to eradicate the tenacious Snot, which can survive for 90 days on the sole of a boot, making it easy for anglers to transport it from river to river. Preventing its spread* is one way to control it, hence the signage. More gross-out facts about Rock Snot can be found here. I'm going to wash my boots now.

*In New Zealand, if you knowingly transport Rock Snot from one stream to another, you may be looking at 5 years in the clink!

See the USA in a Chevrolet!

2010-01-19T13:08:00.011-05:00

While hiking along the railroad tracks just north of Boiceville, I came upon what appears to be a serpentine root...

...but is, in fact, a smaller piece to a larger puzzle.

Using these visual clues...

...I put my mad research skillz to the test and determined this heap of metal to be a 1960 Chevrolet Corvair.

The rear-engined Corvair was the much-maligned focus of Ralph Nader's book, Unsafe at Any Speed. After Ralph's scathing expose, the car was doomed.

Yet knowing the make, model and year doesn't solve the greater mystery. How did it get here?

It's wedged precariously on a precipice, flanked by trees on either side. The log that crushed the top is cleanly cut on both ends and appears to have been dropped from a great height. I didn't find any stumps in the immediate area that would indicate where a tree had been cut.

I would love to know the circumstances that led to this enigmatic automotive tableau.

Security for Dummies

2010-01-11T19:10:00.005-05:00

Do you crave the peace of mind that comes with owning a home security system but don't want the hassle involved with rigging up booby-traps or the expense of paying thousands of dollars for sensors and alarms? For a fraction of the time and cost, Acme is offering the Chaise Lounge Dummy. No assembly required - just prop this bad boy in a lawn chair and he does the rest, affording you the confidence in knowing that intruders will be too creeped out to target your home. For just $199.95, you'll get the basic model fully garbed in a rugged t-shirt and baseball cap! But that's not all - If you place your order by midnight tonight, you can choose (at NO cost to you) one of the following Chaise Lounge Dummy ensembles to suit any mood or occasion:

Astronaut
Elvis Presley (Rhinestone Jumpsuit Era)
Arthur Fonzarelli
Flavor Flav
James Bond
Snuffy Smith (with realistic "moonshine" jug)
Kung Fu Fighter
Nascar Driver
Dirty Hippie
Magician
Santa Claus
Mickey Mouse
Jesus
Drag Queen

Ghosts of Hotels Past

2010-01-04T18:05:00.003-05:00

Located near the groovy town of Woodstock is a trail that leads up to the ruins of the Overlook Mountain House. No, not that Overlook where all work and no play made Jack a psycho boy. This one is far more benign, yet has its fair share of eerie vibes.

It was a swinging place to stay during the heyday of the Catskill vacation boom during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The ruins that stand today were actually the third incarnation of the hotel. The original could house 300 guests, the most famous being President Ulysses S. Grant. After being destroyed by fire, another was built, and it too, succumbed to fire in 1923. Bad luck befell the last version of the hotel, which was never completed due to lack of funds and difficult access up the mountain. New York State owns the property today.

Let's ignore this sign and take a look around, shall we?

There are stairs leading up...

...and stairs leading down.

There's plenty of room to dance (or play catch)...

...and marvelous mountain views!

Exploring the outside of the ruins can be challenging due to the steepness of the mountain.

But I highly recommend it. All over the slope (and I mean ALL OVER) are bits of debris - porcelain, glass, metal - sticking out from under leaves or half-buried in soil. Lift any rock and you'll discover cool stuff underneath. You'll also find quasi-shrines of found treasures on just about every rock surface.

More information about the Overlook Mountain House has been unearthed here.

Merry Christmas One and All

2009-12-25T01:09:00.009-05:00

Sing songs of joy and peace!

The Amazing Emile Brunel

2009-12-14T17:53:00.001-05:00

I've found that repetition often results in making the extraordinary rather ordinary. I remember being tickled over this totem pole the first time I saw it - and a dozen or so times after that - but then it became just another blurred form on the passing landscape, a sign post telling me how much longer we'd be on the road before reaching our upstate getaway. After nine years I finally decided it was time to stop and investigate. I'm glad I did - what I found out was indeed extraordinary!

The totem was erected in 1933 by photographer/sculptor Emile Brunel. Each segment represents key moments of his fascinating life. Brunel was mostly known as a celebrity portrait photographer and the founder of the Brunel School of Photography. His interests led him to cinematography and in 1916 he released the silent film, The Hand of God. He also dabbled in invention, creating a one-hour film development process that (surprisingly!) didn't take the world by storm. When he built his Catskill summer home in Boiceville he surrounded it with his eccentric sculptures. It is said that after his death in 1944, his ashes were interred within one of his creations. Behind the totem is a now-defunct trading post, which during the 20's and 30s was operated by Brunel's daughter, Gladys. The trading post was hugely popular and saw much traffic, even into the 1990's when Brunel's granddaughter took over.

Around the corner from the trading post sits Brunel's impressive home. A stunning bas relief adorns the full length of the structure.

The home and its surroundings have been placed on the Register of Historic Places. These impressive pillars flank the path that leads to the park.

This stony fellow acts as doorman, keeping an eye on the place. Rowdy behavior will not be tolerated.

I was the only person there on this beautiful fall day. I felt a calming sense of peace amid these powerful, silent figures.

Until I saw these freaky heads!

Ribbit!

Just yards from a main thoroughfare, Brunel Park transports you to another world, to a holy place.

Statues erected and dedicated to the Great White Spirit and to the grandeurs and mysteries of nature. By Emile Brunel - 1933

You put a spell on me...

2009-12-06T18:14:00.001-05:00

Driving through the town of Shady I spied this rather, um, phallic structure jutting out onto the road.

As I got closer I saw that it wasn't at all what my dirty mind had suggested. It was Albus Freakin' Dumbledore!! Apparently with half of Hogwarts stuffed into his wizard hat.

But that's only half the magic. He greets drivers from the opposite side as well. He seems a touch sad that no one stops to say hello.

This is a wonderfully creative example of what to do with a dead tree in your yard. It really is a rooted tree, not just a placed sculpture like you see all over the Catskills of bears and what have you. Kudos to the carver of this magnificent Dumble-duo!

The Eagle Has Landed...

2009-11-29T18:19:00.002-05:00

...in Phoenicia!

This majestic birdie is perched at the Rte 28 entrance to Main Street in Phoenicia. His provenance is quite interesting. Over a century ago he and his buddies were guarding the towers of Grand Central Station in NYC.

The Town of Shandaken threw a huge party for his 20th anniversary in the mountains. I'm glad I was there for the fabulous parade and fireworks. It was a blast, but I think the eagle prefers his downtime, silently welcoming visitors to Phoenicia.

For more information about the eagles of Grand Central Station and their current whereabouts go here.

Cold Duck

2009-11-24T18:40:00.004-05:00

Huh? What? Let me get this straight. A group of manly hunter men gather around the hearth to discuss the perilous situation confronting ducks and the sport of killing them. Because the ducks' best interest lies in the continuation of the sport, right? This does not compute. We need to ask a duck.

click on the picture to enlarge

Caveat emptor

2009-11-11T18:41:00.001-05:00

Driving home from a hike in West Kill, we spotted this cool sign on Rte 42.

Yup, just the sign. No meat market. On the opposite side of the street sits the aptly named Stuff & Nonsense.

That's an old gas pump out front. Peering in the windows, all I could make out was a pile of stuff, a smattering of nonsense and to my great pleasure a sign for the Flowbee haircutting system. The shop appeared to be unoccupied (for decades), unless you count that dapper gentleman, no doubt propped up as a lookout for naive downstaters in search of the perfect haircut.

Hollerin' Hearths

2009-11-05T20:05:00.002-05:00

Last month we spotted an angry fireplace on our drive to a hiking trail in Andes. I suppose he's sore that his house done left him.

This was propped up nearby. I like to think that Tommy is the fireplace's name (and he's very possessive of his spread). It was kind of spooky and lonely, and well, I just wanted to get out of there before Tommy started spitting stones and ash at me. Yes, I anthropomorphize everything.

We soon found the trail, nestled in the Little Pond Campground. It's a gorgeous area, yet I couldn't fully enjoy the hike. I had a nagging sensation that something evil was in the woods....lurking....and watching...and seething...and hating....

Egads!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T22:28:00.004-04:00

Cute.

Stoney Clove Lane in Chichester

Creepy.

Rte. 214 in Chichester

Frozen in time

2009-10-27T19:29:00.007-04:00

This mysterious mannequin has been peering out from the window of the Phoenicia Pharmacy for ages. Local lore has it that back in the early 70's a girl entered the pharmacy with a group of her friends. On a dare, she attempted to stuff a pack of candy cigarettes in her book bag. She never made it out the door, and thereafter her friends always walked on the opposite side of the street whenever they passed by.

*Just getting you in the mood for Halloween. The pharmacy, on Main Street in Phoenicia, is run by very nice people who would never think of turning their customers into mannequins.

Pratt's Peak

2009-10-19T19:18:00.013-04:00

The other day we went up to visit Pratt Rock Park.
The serpentine path leading up to this marvel in stone is off
of Rte 23 in (where else) Prattsville.

Zadock Pratt (1790-1871), the mastermind behind this oddity, made his fortune as a shoe tanner. He also dabbled in farming, building, banking, politics and the pursuit of wife gathering. His fifth and last wife was 50 years his junior! The old studmuffin was all about self-promotion, and these carved images, dubbed the Mount Rushmore of New York, tell the story of his life.

Pratt had a deep admiration for horses and in his lifetime he owned more than a thousand. One of the first images you see when making your way up the trail is this tribute to his equine friends.

As you get closer, a carved hemlock tree is revealed. Tannin, the bitter extract of the plant, is an essential ingredient in the tanning process and provided Pratt with his fortune. His shoe leather tannery became the largest in the world.

Many sculptures can be found along the trail, including a bas relief of his son (killed in the Civil War) and the Pratt family coat of arms. Another curiosity serving to fill a place in Pratt's boulder-etched biography is the odd duo below. The scroll reads "Bureau of Statistics, 1844" which references Pratt's Congressional contribution while in office. The beefy arm gripping a sledgehammer is a tribute to the working man, whom Pratt so esteemed. Legend has it that Pratt met a jobless stonecutter who begged for a handout. Instead, he put the man to work for the next 28 years to carve out Pratt's sculptural dream. I wonder if this "arm of labor" is more a tribute the stonecutter made for himself rather than any ideal. Further up is a bust of the eccentric captain of industry along with his name and birthdate, where underneath he wished to be buried in a tomb hewn from the rocks surrounded by these symbols.

Only a small grotto remains of that idea, however, presumably because the tools available were not up to the job. Water also seeped into the area making it unfit for a burial place. Today it serves as a cozy rest area before ascending to the summit.

The trail leads up and around the carvings to a ledge with a spectacular view of the Schoharie valley. To think that I was standing in the same spot where Zadock Pratt once gazed upon his empire!

My favorite part of the hike is this discovery at the base of
the mountain - a tombstone in remembrance of all the dogs and horses he loved in his lifetime. Nope, no mention of any wives.

More info about Pratt and his rocks can be found here.

Road Thrill!

2009-10-12T18:09:00.006-04:00

We came across this dazzling array on the side of a garage off of Rte 23 up in Jewett.

The New York City street signs are a fabulous touch and that Verrazano Bridge sign is going on my list for Santa.

The display is awesome, although I kind of wish the license plates were arranged geographically. I counted 31 different states along with the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The subway's just around the corner on Francis Lewis Blvd. Watch out for the dogs!

Gets out tough stains, too!

2009-10-04T18:06:00.004-04:00

Last weekend we went to the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in Saugerties. It's a great fall festival but lacks any noteworthy oddness, unless you count a scoop of garlic ice cream in a waffle cone odd (because I don't). Luckily, we came across this oddity a few blocks away. Yes, those are soap bubbles. Every year we go to the Garlic Fest and every year there are soap bubbles cascading from this fountain. The addition of flags, scarecrows and a Virgin Mary give it a little extra oomph, clearly setting it apart from all those other soap bubble fountains one always comes across.