Life in the Bristolwood

While Mark and Michelle were off to Rochester a week ago Thursday,  the day was imploring me to “come out and enjoy”!  How could I turn down an invitation to a bright and sunny (warm) day?  Ben had work to do….he told me so.  Still,  couldn’t he just do it later?

I had no idea what to do. Where to go.  Ben was thinking much better than I!  He immediately got on the computer and searched for local waterfalls.  What a stroke of genius!  He found a small one located only a few miles from our house, so we were off and on our way!

We went to Onanda Park, located on Canandaigua Lake.

There were no immediate markings for trails, so I suggested we head down to a small gazebo located near the road.  There was a map there, which I so totally misread!

We hiked south a bit to a staircase with about a zillion stairs.  Up, up, up, and away we went. Ben grumbled and told me we were heading the wrong way.  Oops.

Yes, indeedy.  We wound up at a small parking area on the wrong side of the ravine.  I had better go back to Mapreading Basics 101!  Well, the walk was invigorating.  After all, it was entirely uphill! Off in the distance, we could see someone’s house.  So…back down we went.

We stopped at the gazebo where the map was posted, once again, and Ben pointed out that the ravine should have been on our left side, not our right….

We began our hike anew.  And, guess what? It was all uphill!!  This time it was steep grades and no stairs, though!

And we even found a trail marker!

Phew….all of the buildings are on steep, steep slopes!

It was such a gorgeous day and we really enjoyed the walk. We had brought Murphy with us, but left him in the truck.  I was glad we did because we saw some other dogs and I wasn’t sure how he would have reacted.  Besides that, the trails had some spots that were very muddy.  I was so glad to be wearing my mud boots!

I’m not sure what was  ”springing” up from the ground, but it sure looks like a sign of spring!

We walked and walked and walked some more before we finally reached the waterfall.  It has an awesome overlook with a pretty shelter.

This trail has some pretty steep cliffs that could be detrimental and they aren’t cordoned off.  You can see that the falls was still covered in lots of ice. From the shelter,  there was a nice peek at the lake.

We had walked uphill a good bit and although there was no snow on the ground,  there was still bits of icy snow on the northern facing sides of trees!

Somehow, the people we saw on the trail all seemed to know the path we took on the way down was shorter and less steep than the way we came!  This really is an awesome little walk and one we hope to do again, especially when the woods comes out of its winter slumber.

I said I would show a few more photos, but somehow time (and energy, possibly!) slipped away!

While I was in Woodville, this is a shot of the cottages and hill across the lake.  I was amazed in looking at this photo in its original size. (BIG)  The trees that provide such fantastic lush greenery in the summer months look like PINS in a pincushion! They all look so tiny…like toothpicks.  Funny the things one notices!

This next photo shows the “dock installer”. Well, I am not being techical at all here, but this barge-looking contraption is used for installing docks.  So, it would be a dock installer,no?

Looking toward the south end of Canandaigua Lake….

Oh, and I could not leave Woodvile without showing some of the ice formation on the tall shale walls across the road from the cottages.

I left Woodvile and went on up to the “upper road” leading to Naples….County Road 12.  That is where the town carved out an overlook of Canandaigua Lake.  I have taken photos here in the different seasons, but it is always different!

And here is one looking to the east, across the lake.  In this photo, it is clear to see the deep ravines running into the lake.

These certainly aren’t the most attractive photos, but they do give you, Dear Reader, a look at our little corner of the world!

the atmospheric conditions lend themselves to a GREAT day for photography.  Today was one such day, albeit cold and windy! And so, this afternoon, I went off on a photo shoot to see if I could find some cool stuff. 

I did find some nice things, but I am only going to show a few.  (for now!)

The skies this morning were tinged on baby pink.  I was unsure if the shepards and sailors should be concerned or not, but I think the color was an indication of changeable skies.  The weather is changing, but for the better?  We are supposed to be above freezing this coming week.  Strange. Very strange weather.

My little outing today took me down to Woodville.  I was hoping to see some waterfowl, but all I spotted were Canada Geese and gulls.  I did see some ducks a little northward, but wasn’t wanting to traipse into someone’s yard to get a closer look!  Ah well.  While near the boat launch,  I noticed a beautiful arrangement of golden grasses and bright red berries.  Nature’s attempt at a beautiful still life. 

Even in their “dead” state, these “weeds” provide such pretty color against the stark white background offered by newly-fallen snow.

I drove up onto the high road.  This is where the town built a scenic lookout.  I was fiddling around some with the camera when I noticed a big old crow sitting on the top of a conifer,  looking all the world like a black “angel” atop a Christmas tree.  I wouldn’t have paid this rogue any mind, except for the fact that he squawked and complained the entire time I sat there.  Perhaps I was blocking his view?

Mighty haughty chap, that crow!  Perhaps he thinks he owns the road!

Well, I showed you the morning sky.  Now, how about the Bristolwood sunset? It was very, very pretty!

I was like a Mexican jumping bean…I would sit down and review the photo on the camera, when suddenly the sky appeared to have included even more colors in its pallette!  I would hop back up, insert the SD card, then run outside.  I did this a few (ahem) times!

We took a short jaunt to Penn Yan this afternoon.  I had not been shopping at the little Mennonite store there in awhile, so I wanted to visit.

Today was such a gray and dismal sort of day, but I found some photo ops on the way back home.  Most of the photos are of the skies, as the sun tried so hard to make an appearance….

It was a nice day to get out for a bit, but with the temperature so much chillier than yesterday, it sure was nice to return home to a cozy and warm fire in the woodstove!

The new little camera is still getting its menus and such worked through and out, by me.  A lot of these photos aren’t very good, but I will get the hang of it!  I think the photos are getting better and better as I use the camera,

How I wish the next two would have turned out better.  Murphy was investigating the Christmas tree and it was hysterical!  In the photos, the light he is concentrating upon is red, although it shows up orange.  However, Murphy’s bright red nostrils and mouth were not inflamed…just a reflection of said light!

The last photo was taken this evening as Mark and I sat in a parking lot at the north end of Canandaigua Lake.  Off in the distance, the lights from Bristol Mountain were reflecting off clouds and making a glow in the sky.  When I took the photo, it looked nearly black until I tweaked the colors and focus a bit!

Hope you are having a good weekend!

To the interesting cemetery that I found while on a little ride.  I was having some trouble resizing and saving the photos, then i had more trouble trying to upload them to the blog!  So, now that things are working well again, I wanted to show these photos of this very old cemetery.

As you look at the pictures, you can see that many of the headstones are leaning and falling down…and apart!

This particular stone I found to be very interesting!

Yes, in the midst of many others who left this life so soon, this woman lived 93 years! 

The next photo is very curious to me.  There is a section of headstones that are all set in this cement “foundation”! 

and, sadly, there sits a pile of broken bits and pieces off the headstones in a heap.

I suppose many of these “pioneers” lived so long ago, they and their memories are long forgotten.  This little cemetery situated near cornfields was such an interesting place to visit.  Truth was, I was no longing to linger.  It just seemed between the dreary weather and the isolated “feeling”,  I was ready to shoot and run!

As I was driving some back roads today,  I happened upon a small cemetery.  No big deal, except this was a very old one!  The headstones were from the early 1800′s and I found it intriguing. it was also kind of spooky…with a dark and dismal afternoon with drizzling rain, it added a sense of “spookiness” to the whole experience!

I am having issues trying to save my photos in a smaller size to upload to my blog.  I’m not sure why, but it is frustrating!

I’m just going to leave it at this….it is late and Michelle begins her second semester tomorrow.  I need to get some shuteye!

I took some countryside photos….(this day was unbelieveable….warm….very beautiful!)

like Naples, New York, in November!!!

We are still struggling, learning how to live without our little Angus, but today, I actually felt like taking some photos.  These are all taken within just a few miles of our house….(and some in our yard!)