I have just returned from a wonderful week in Albany the capital city of New York which sits on the west bank of the Hudson River about 10 miles south of its confluence with the Mohawk River.
Albany on the Hudson from Corning Tower
The Egg
It is a beautiful time of year to be in Albany with spring having a good start and the heat of summer not yet prominent. My travel companion (a local resident) escorted me to the Empire State Plaza and on this day plants were blooming everywhere and the sky was a stunning blue. The Empire State Plaza inspired by Nelson Rockefeller is magnificent for its architecture and is home of the Corning Tower which is the tallest building in New York outside of New York City. We traveled up 42 stories to the observation deck and the views of the city were amazing from that vantage point. Next stop was the Village of Lake George.
The Village of Lake George
Lake George (also known as the Queen of the American Lakes) is a long narrow lake located at the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains but a short drive from Albany. The lake is very clear due to its oligotrophic nature. The village of Lake George is quaint and scenic and loaded with things to do. For more information go to
After returning to Albany we heard the news of the vicious attack on the Orlando Night Club and proceeded to build a memorial in the garden for the lives of all of the people who were affected by this tragedy. Make no mistake all Americans have been affected. From New York to Orlando (whether visiting or residing) all of us have been affected. Being with my travel companion in New York during this tragic turn of events has only made our bond stronger.
Birds have wings designed to fly, but not all are adapted to do so. For many years they have fascinated me with their intelligence, and their ability to bond with humans. There are nearly 10,000 different bird species in the world. Every single species has evolved and adapted to harbour unique abilities that separate them from other birds. Most can fly, some can't (like the ostrich who can run 60 MPH). And some just don't fly very often as they prefer to run (like the road runner who checks in at a swift 20 MPH). Some birds can hover and even fly backwards (hummingbirds) and some fly thousands of miles without stopping when they migrate. The smallest flying bird is the bee hummingbird (weighing in at 0.06 ounces with a total body length of about 2 inches) and the largest is the albatross (weighing in at 20 pounds with a 4 foot wingspan) . Some birds are smart enough to use tools (like crows and weavers) and some birds are smart enough to talk, count, learn tricks and mimic humans (like parrots). Flamingos are unique in that their color comes from beta-carotene in the crustaceans and plankton that they consume.
Fascinating Flamingos
Oh yeah...... A shout out to my friend Cuckoo Muran..... because there are more kinds of chickens in world than any other kinds of birds..... but only one Cuckoo Muran!
Time for you to meet my best friend (besides Lake Dog) Rocky whom I mentioned in an earlier blog. Rocky is 44 years old (that is human years which I believe are the same as bird years) and we have been together since 1993 therefore we are bonded. He and I share a love for Dr. Pepper, Goldfish Crackers, and Breyer's Ice Cream with fresh Georgia Pecans. Like me, Dr Pepper is his all time favorite.
What a great weekend at the Lake House! My travel companion and I loaded up Lake Dog and some fishing gear and headed to Lake Barkley to celebrate the holiday weekend with friends and family. Memorial Day has always marked the beginning of summer to me and no better place to be than at the lake house. We had a full weekend with great food, lots of laughter, a few chores, and some time on the water fishing. The bass were biting night crawlers on Lake Barkley and we both managed to catch a few while Lake Dog enjoyed some boat time.
We enjoyed some great food, cold beverages, time around the fire pit in the evenings, lots of laughter, bird watching, and lots of time on the deck telling stories and we even did a few chores and upgrades to the lake house. The wildlife on the lake provided us with surprises every day and I even managed to get a few photos to share with you. I hope your holiday was nice too. www.lakehousesupplies.com
