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Village of Homer Celebrates with Winterfest
The old adage says “when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade”. The Village of Homer has put a seasonal spin on the adage to which, “when life gives you winter, you make Winterfest.” Their optimism has resulted in a great winter event that will celebrate its 12th anniversary this year.
Homer Winterfest 2012 will take over the entire village on February 3rd & 4th with events and activities ranging from the frigid to the folksy. In the frigid category are the human sled dog races, skating on the village green and snow sculptures. The folksy activities include the chili cook off, antique and craft show, a beer and wine tasting as well as a parade on Main St.
It all starts on Friday evening with a community bonfire and fireworks show. If you have never seen a fireworks show in the winter sky, it is spectacular.
Be sure to add the Homer Winterfest to your list of February activities and visit HomerWinterfest.org for additional information on all there will be to see and do.
Relax, detoxify, and rejuvenate at Hope Lake Lodge spa
Life is back to normal after a wonderful summer. Work schedules, family schedules and all kinds of obligations are starting to creep in on your sanity. Maybe it’s time to think about craving our a little rest and relaxation for yourself.
One of our favorite places to return to nature (or nurture!) in a relaxing environment is the Waterfalls Spa at Hope Lake Lodge, in Cortland. While the lodge is well known for its kid-friendly activities such as water slides and rope jungles, did you know that it also includes a parent-friendly — sorry — eco-friendly spa that uses organic and natural products?
Even the design of the interior spaces at Waterfalls Spa is based on nature and designed to chill your senses. Each interior space follows the basic principles of Feng Shui for positive energy flow, and actually changes color to harmonize with the visitor, ensuring a totally personalized experience. Wow!
In addition, we especially like the sauna at Waterfalls Spa. Not just because it makes us feel slimmer and more healthy, but because the Waterfalls sauna is infrared! It’s a great way to detoxify — the radiant heat waves warm up your body directly, washing all those impurities and toxins right out of your pores. It can even decrease inflammation, fatigue, and cellulite! Ahhhhhh.
So, after a few sessions in the spa you will have higher energy levels and a strengthened immune system. Just in time for all those colds the kids will be bringing back from school!
Call 877-386-0416 (ext. 1293) for more information, or check out their http://www.greekpeak.net/hope-lake-lodge/hope-lake-lodge.aspx
Some Folks Claim it Just May be the Best Time of Year
The humidity is gone and so are the crowds. Daytime temperatures are cooler and evenings better yet. Still plenty of things to do and see, some folks claim that autumn in Cortland County just may be the best time of year.
There are still a few festivals and fairs taking place, now with more of an agricultural flavor. The town of Cincinnatus celebrates the harvest season with its annual Corn Fest, September 17th right downtown. You can’t/don’t want to miss it. The City of Cortland gets in the harvest spirit with its salute to the pumpkin. The 16th annual Great Cortland Pumpkinfest takes place in Courthouse Park Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1st and 2nd.
This is also prime time for produce. Farm markets are at their best with loads to offer including the best fruits, vegetables, cheeses and baked goods you will find anywhere. Stop in at Bill Anderson’s Farm Market in Preble or Reakes Country Goods in Truxton, just to name a couple. And of course there are the farmers markets on Main St. in Cortland and next to the village green in Homer.
For the hands on autumn experience just head up the road to LaFayette and Beak & Skiff Apple Farms. You can actually go out in the orchard and pick your own apples if you like. Or visit their country store and choose from Macouns, Jonagolds, Ida Reds or our favorite, the Cortland. You might even want to check out the apple wine, hard cider and vodka, especially if the apple picking has left you parched.
For the best apple cider bar none plan to stop at Hollenbecks Cider Mill in Virgil. You can actually watch Bruce Hollenbeck press the cider and explain the process. Kids love it, especially sampling the finished product. Hollenbecks also has baked goods, cheeses, jams and jellies and sometime horse drawn wagon rides on the weekends. Look for them to open around the first of October.
And of course there is the leaf peeping. On a clear day with blue skies there is leaf peeping as far as you can see. Pick a country road and drive, you won’t be disappointed. Some folks claim autumn may be the best time of the year and they just might be right.
The New Adventure Center Certainly Lives Up To Its Name
The first thing that got my attention was how high the Ropes Challenge Courses are. They are way up there in the trees. And the ziplines, 1,300 feet long and 60 feet above the ground. They claim you’ll zip along at almost 40 miles per hour! That’s flying along at a pretty good speed.
Greek Peak Mountain Resort’s Adventure Center is very impressive. They have done a beautiful job of integrating all of the outdoor elements with the terrain. This really comes in to play with the Nor’Easter Mountain Coaster. 4,300 feet of dips, banked turns and vertical drops reaching speeds of up to 28 miles per hour. Thankfully you can control your own speed if you get moving a little too fast and wimp out.
The new Adventure Center is “way cool” with loads of other neat stuff to try. It is a great addition to Greek Peak Mountain Resort and tons of fun for the kids. You can get a preview of all there is to see and do by visiting www.TheOutdoorAdventureCenter.com
Northland Sheep Dairy: Shepherding and Cheesemaking the Natural "Whey"
The world's dairy sheep industry may be based in Europe today, but here in the U.S. we clearly have quite a reputation for shepherding! Of the 100+ dairy sheep farms that are currently in operation across America, one of the most interesting is right here in Cortland county.
Northland Sheep Dairy is a 100% grass-based farm just outside Ithaca. It operates on a self-sustainable basis: recycling crops and manure, using draft horses and mules for the majority of the farm labor, and following low-stress techniques to ensure the health and well-being of the animals.
The product of all this hard work? A delicious selection of handmade, artisan cheeses made from raw ewes milk. We love the Bergere Bleue, a creamy roquefort-style cheese; and the Bergerino, a moist hard cheese that has been aged for up to two years. Or try the Cardonbert, a soft cheese blended with purple cardoon flowers. Mmmm.
The farm also sells sheepskins and wool blankets from their own flock, and various cuts of lamb and mutton. Although the farm is only open to the public by appointment, Northland Sheep Dairy products are available at select local gourmet stores and markets. The farm also has a permanent stand each Saturday at the Ithaca Farmer's Market.
Owners Donn Hewes and Maryrose Livingston love the hands-on experience that they get from being the only two people who work the farm. (Maryrose is the cheesemaker and shepherd, and Donn the laborer.) Between them, they follow a strict philosophy of animal care, keeping no more livestock than necessary to maintain the best natural and healthy diet for their flock. Hewes and Livingston believe that “by providing healthy, locally produced food to our immediate community we will create a stronger civic fabric where it is most needed.”
We wholeheartedly agree.
Northland Sheep Dairy is open to the public by appointment only. For more information, call (607) 849-4442 or visit www.northlandsheepdairy.com
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