February 20, 2024
Another place I couldn’t wait to return to once winter came, Eternal Flame Falls. This naturally-fueled eternal flame is thought to be caused by potent gas seepage from the ancient shale bedrock, however some researchers believe this to be an incorrect hypothesis given the temperature of the rock relative to Read more…
February 14, 2024
Though Valentine’s Day is a bit, you know, trite, I am of the philosophy of the 1994 Built to Spill album “There’s Nothing Wrong With Love.” So some of the red happenings of Love’s official holiday. Red Velvet cupcake again, because it is mind-blowing Sugar cookies mostly for the kids. Read more…
January 22, 2024
Stepping in front of the majesty of Taughannock Falls in the winter is pretty magical. The ice-coated land, the air’s motion, the sounds–all feel otherworldly, like a ice fairy could emerge to recline on your shoulder at any instance. The ice a gorgeous shade of pale blue-green at its thickest, Read more…
October 7, 2023
This autumn I was bit by the leaf peeping bug early on. Perhaps because I was finally closer to nature as I had hoped I’d be for quite some time. Here is to the beauty that is now so close to home. I hope you are finding the place you Read more…
October 1, 2023
Since moving out of New York City, I have been surrounding myself with the beauty of Western New York, with fervor. Perhaps in an attempt to undo all the unnaturalness of my physical existence in one of the largest cities in the country, I hunt for landmarks of a different Read more…
September 1, 2023
With a friend in town, we had to see some sites and we had to eat well! So first, Red Fern–with wide ranging dishes and sweet treats, it’s a vegan go-to. I took a risk on the special, the po’ boy made with battered soy curls. It was tasty but Read more…
August 29, 2023
Looking for a place to get some steps in my new hood, I tried out Channing H. Philbrick Park in Penfield, a suburb of Rochester. It was lush and packed with green, isolated and I’ve also filed it away for a fairy shoot. Though my main mission was to move, Read more…
August 17, 2023
I learned about this hike from some signage at Cedar Breaks National Monument and I was very glad I did. Not only did I have the hike to myself, but there were spectacular views every step of the way, including Zion National Park in the distance. The waterfall is fed Read more…
July 5, 2023
With two visits in three days, Grimes Glen Park may just become my favorite day trip from Rochester. The easy streambed hike delivers you to not one but two 60-foot waterfalls surrounded by gorge walls. And you can step under their powerful force. Also–discovered there was a tree fossil over Read more…
March 4, 2023
With some gorgeous snowfall in Rochester and another new used lens to try out, I headed to Letchworth State Park in Castile, New York. I bought a new wide angle after some photographic failing on my recent trip to Arizona. I was impressed with this new wide angle. Here are Read more…
January 1, 2023
Wanting some beauty and nature on day 1, we headed to Watkins Glen State Park. I hadn’t been there in like 7 years and I remember it being very beautiful. But unfortunately the warm temps (following the arctic freeze) had the best parts of the park closed off. Ice chunks Read more…
November 13, 2021
Finding beauty in Florida is very easy. As I settle back into a real November in New York, some pictures from the Sunshine State. The first beach stop is always the most powerful: A quick spontaneous stop at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge–the FIRST National Wildlife Refuge in the country, Read more…
August 15, 2021
The highly accoladed Letchworth State Park is one of New York’s gems. Though I knew I was more interested in spending time there after the sun and the moon set, given its darker sky but close proximity to Rochester, the daytime brought easy views of the park’s prominent features: waterfalls. Read more…
October 19, 2019
Arts & Crafts, Beautiful Places Far Away, Nature, These are a few of my favorite things., Wanderlust
{It’s My Party 🎉, Part 1} When I thought about where I’d whisk myself off to for (triple prepositions!) my birthday, I asked myself, “Self, what would make your special day enjoyable?” To which I responded, “Being far away and on my own, a national park, an old cemetery, lots Read more…
September 29, 2019
A quick trip to Western New York would of course mean a scouring of vegan options. As is the nowadays, there was so much to try. Veganism is thriving everywhere these days. Not only at my destination, but on stops along the way. Like at 96 Lives Vegan Bakery & Read more…
August 15, 2019
I needed a day like today. I needed to be within nature, not just passing by and jumping back in my car. On this Day 3 I hiked to waterfalls and to what felt like, incline-speaking, the altitude of heaven… if the road maps are accurate. But first, on my Read more…
October 7, 2018
Another perfect day inside Autumn. Today on Hawk Falls Trail in Hickory Run State Park in White Haven, PA for waterfalls and foliage. The glorious mist on a beautiful early Fall day Waiting for everyone to leave… …because I wanted to go in! Ok, so it’s cold but it might be Read more…
May 26, 2018
Water is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Water makes spaghetti and mountains and me and you. Lest you be too concerned with your occasional swells and rages. Such is the nature of water and of you… Water also made the Delaware Water Gap: The chunk of Read more…
September 17, 2017
I’ve begun to understand that observing the world’s beauty is my most favorite therapy. And if you look for it, you’ll find it most everywhere. From delicate macaron feet peeking out from a soft pastel shell to the browned crisped dough of a pastry that some young lady made lovingly Read more…
July 15, 2017
After a quick breakfast at Cafe Smitten in Bakersfield, California it would be time to see a third/fourth California national park: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. To start, a peanut butter and chocolate bar, real good black coffee, and National Park guidebooks. And a quick bite. The Vegan Burrito Read more…
August 20, 2016
For a gal who always sees the first a.m. showing of movies in the theater to avoid people, going to Yellowstone National Park in August is a little counterintuitive. However, crowded in Yellowstone Country is far different than crowded in, say, the New York City subway. It’s 2.2 million acres. Read more…
August 9, 2015
Besides being beautiful, New York’s Finger Lakes Region has some spectacular vegan options. Like Veraisons, the restaurant located on Glenora Winery in Dundee. Honestly, this place was our main reason for this trip. After discovering the vegan options on its seasonal menus, I have been watching them change. With an exciting summer Read more…
July 17, 2015
Another jam-packed day ahead of me and needing the boost, I had the tart from Louisville’s Flora Vegan Treats for breakfast. Clearly by observing Exhibit A below you can see it was light and crisply satisfying–like you want these kinds of tarts to be. The filling was blackberry, the ideal partner for the lemon zested Read more…
July 3, 2015
We were not the only folks looking to doorbust for one of the all-vegan breakfast options at Pingala Cafe & Eatery in Burlington, an Earthy spot for simple vegan fare. Two minutes after opening time, there was a line at the counter. Perhaps if this sculpture and the wild flow of the Winooski river Read more…
November 18, 2014
Treating my home, and its surrounding cities, like I would an unknown city—subject to the same fine tooth comb in search of vegan options—my list of vegan leads in the neighbor state New Jersey was growing. And preferring a random and mysterious lone vegan option to a well-worn, all-vegan establishment Read more…
April 19, 2014
Stick a fork in me; I am done! After 2,000 miles on my Subaru, my vegan exploration of Oregon, Washington and Montana is done. My final day was ambitious… as finality is a great motivator. As is a good breakfast! The day started with a hearty yet light Veggie Benny at Read more…