Happy Halloween from Ft. Greene & Clinton Hill Brooklyn!
Let the holiday season BEGIN!!!!
Apple Picking in Saratoga Springs, New York
Stretched before you, are acre upon acre of apple orchard. The afternoon sun, bursts through the leaves cascading downwards in powdery rays you want to run your fingers through.
The trees, low to the ground are heavy with plump apples, not waxy like the ones in the super market, but a bit ashen, some draped in spider webs.
"Apple!!!! Apple!!!!" Ohm implores on his tip toes, eyes hopeful, fingers spread wide atop outstretched arms.
Mark wipes a small apple clean and hands it over. Ohm's fingers close in on the prize as he takes a crispy bite.
"Mmmm..."
He's all teeth, before setting off to explore the rows of apple trees.
Apple picking is one of my favorite autumn activities and being from upstate New York, I must say, we've got the BEST!
From Western New York to Long Island, there is no shortage of apple orchards to choose from. We went to Saratoga Apple in Saratoga Springs, about a three hour drive from New York City.
With acres of apple trees, a farmer's market, live music, hayrides, a baby kangaroo (yes, a kangaroo) and the best hot donuts and cider (possibly in the world), Saratoga Apple was well worth the trek.
Here's how it works, you purchase a bag, there are three sides and you're free to collect as many varieties of apples as you can fit. If you're not sure what apple tickles your fancy, they have apple tastings. I was a big fan of the Crispin!
Once you've got your bag, you have two options really:
a) Set off by foot to pick the apples of your choice
b) Enjoy a tractor ride to the specific apple tree section of your choice (there's a lot of space between the varieties in some instances)
After you've picked your apples, you might as well stay for lunch (there's a cafe), have some hot apple cider and fresh warm donuts (so incredibly amazing!!!), enjoy the live music and browse the farmer's market.
Saratoga Apple, 1174 Route 29, Schuylerville, NY 12871
Have you gone apple picking this year?
Meditations on a Mid-Autumn Walk
The air, sticky with dew, forms a white cobwebbed haze.
Everywhere, there's evidence of the late afternoon rain shower. Beads of water form atop leaves giving the appearance of small translucent buttons which I fight the impulse to push.
The leaves make no crunch beneath my feet. My steps are silent, deliberate and metered. I have to concentrate in order not to slip from the slick surface of the leaves and onto the sticks and acorns that pepper the ditch near the road.
A frog sings in the distance. Birds call and respond from tree tops, hidden from sight by the colorful leaves.
Webs, beaded with dew, take up space between branches and limbs.
On a branch, a wooly caterpillar crawls, slowly, steadily, brown and black stripes, undulating along.
Devoid of chlorophyll, displaying their true colors, leaves, red, yellow, burnt orange rain down from tree tops. I catch a few in the palm of my hand for later.
Seamlessly Re-Kindling My Love for the Ocean
I wasn't always a beach person. For the first twenty years of my life, I liked the idea of the ocean, of the rolling waves, but had never had a moment of true connection.
Then I visited Thailand, Khao Lak, to be specific. It was as if I saw the water, the ocean, for the first time. The Adaman Sea was warm, the gentle waves, playful, inviting. From my waist to my feet, I could see the subtle layers of water and life.
Then I went to Mozambique. In Inhambane, I fell in love. I would spend hours diving beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean. I'd watch the clouds, intent to note a change in formation, a change in hue as the twilight hours marked the end of a new day.
Then I went to Barbados. On Brandon's Beach I'd swim in the warm water wrapped in the cloak of midnight. Floating on my back, bobbing with the ebb and tide of the waves, I admired the stars, the moon.
Then I went to Costa Rica. In Cahuita, I learned the art of the dead mans float and would spend the afternoons atop the water's surface staring at the sea urchin and barracuda fish below me.
Like old lovers seamlessly re-kindling their love, the ocean and I are always a few steps from each others.
Where do you like to connect with the ocean?
Travel the World With Ease- 8 Tips for Success!
World travel can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. With these simple tips, you'll be ready to travel the world with ease! 
Book a hotel with a local flair! When it comes to accommodation, look for something with a local flair. Chain hotels (unless you’re on a rewards kick) are not your only option. Explore smaller boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and apartments for a more personalized experience.
Venere is a great site for finding unique accommodations both around your home and all the way to the far east!
Roll your clothes, forget folding! Not only do you get fewer wrinkles when you roll your pieces together, but they take up much less space in your suitcase. I typically roll pants together in one pile, shirts in another, dresses in another, sweaters in yet another. It works beautifully. Small items like underwear, bras and socks, I simply place in any open space.
Avoid traveling with toiletries! Traveling with shampoo, conditioner and body wash can be a huge pain. Bottles can break due to temperature changes and pressure, with the potential of wreaking havoc on the items in your suitcase. If you’re going to a hotel, chances are you’ll have access to toiletries. If you’re staying in a populated town in the developed world, chances are, if you don’t have access to toiletries in your hotel, you can obtain them easily, in travel sized portions. A bonus to ditching the toiletries is that as long as your bag is compact, you now qualify to carry your items on board since you’ve ditched the liquid. This makes getting out of the airport so much easier.
Always tag your luggage! I use a simple tag that clearly shows my name and phone number. You just never know. I’ve had to deal with numerous luggage mishaps and it is so much easier to re-connect with bags when they’re clearly labeled with specific identifying information.
Be the person who volunteers to give up your seat in exchange for travel vouchers! If possible, volunteer to give up your seat in exchange for a travel voucher. Flying for free is GREAT! I rarely pass up an opportunity to volunteer my seat. Not only do you end up with free flight vouchers, but you’re given hotel accommodations for the evening, food vouchers and other perks (including first class upgrades when available). There was a stretch of time last year, where I flew to Alaska from New York for free on vouchers, then volunteered my seat to collect more vouchers that allow me to fly to Washington state where I had the opportunity to volunteer my seat again, which allowed me to then purchased a round trip ticket to Tokyo for less than $200- all because I volunteered my seats!
Hire a car service in advance from the airport! Planning to take a taxi to your destination from the airport? It is usually cheaper to hire a car service than it is to take a taxi from the taxi queue. A little research can save you a lot of money.
Resort Hoppa is a great site for finding transportation from the airport!
Store your bags at the airport! Making use of an extended layover to explore a new city? Many of the major international airports will store your luggage for you. This service is also great if you’ve got a really long layover and a lot of bags you don’t feel like dragging around. Alternatively, if you want to avoid the hassle of baggage claim altogether, you can hire a company like Bags Vipto retrieve your luggage for you and deliver it to your hotel or place of accommodation, leaving you free to clear customs or go on your way with ease.
Never exchange money at the airport! The best way to get ripped off is by exchanging money at an airport- the rates are ridiculous! Use your card until you get where you’re going and go to a bank, or exchange some money at home before you leave.
Autumn in Brooklyn: A Saturday At Ft. Greene Park
The sun is high in the sky, but the air is cool. As you walk, your hair rises for a moment, before coming to a rest against your neck, sweeping against the tops of your shoulders. The crunching sound at your feet is dramatic as you step over yellowing leaves.
Autumn in Brooklyn is glorious. The humidity finally gone, the sun still out, people take to the streets pushing strollers, walking dogs, nursing lattes, holding hands, ready to soak in everything this short season has to offer before sweaters are replaced with coats, flats with boots, and an afternoon walk through the park with staying indoors.
Ft. Greene park, in Brooklyn's beautiful Ft. Greene neighborhood is an ideal place to enjoy an autumn Saturday.
Neatly manicured, draped in trees, bordered by Brooklyn's classic tree-lined brown stone dotted streets, Ft. Greene park on an autumn Saturday is the place to be.
If you're the solitary type, take refuge on one of the many old-fashioned benches with a good book, journal or sketch pad.
If you're a parent, take advantage of the large playground, the chance to let your little-one run free. Help yourself to a seat as it may take a while. There's so much to do.
If you're in love, bring a blanket, a bottle of wine, a fanciful snack and lay beneath the trees with your beloved.
If you're an aspiring naturalist, there are plaques to identify the various species of flora.
Do you like football or soccer? Join in one of the many ongoing games.
Into Farmer's Markets? Every Saturday, along the edge of the park closest to the playground, you'll find an intimate Farmer's Market.
Visiting Brooklyn for the first time? I suggest grabbing brunch at one of the many restaurants along DeKalib, Myrtle or Fulton, before spending a lazy afternoon in the park.
Brooklyn, Ft. Greene in particular, has a lot to offer. Ambling along the rows of historic brownstones you'll find boutique shops, wine bars, and amazing restaurants. If you're truly up for an adventure, a scenic walk to the Brooklyn Bridge takes about 40 minutes.
Do you have a favorite park to visit in the autumn?
Make Your Own Almond Milk and Say No to Carrageenan!
Making your own almond milk is surprisingly easy and quite frankly addictive. I've been drinking almond milk for years, but with my growing distrust of carrageenan, an ingredient in processed almond milk which is known to disrupt the digestive track and cause internal inflammation, I'm growing weary of commercial brands. In fact, after reading the ingredients on the labels of my almond milk containers, I was taken aback by the number of ingredients I wasn't able to identify.
No more mystery milk for me!
After experimenting with a number of recipes, I fell in love with this one. I am a big fan of creamy vanilla flavored slightly sweetened almond milk, this recipe caters to that.
Ingredients:
1 cup raw organic almonds
2 cups purified water
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
You'll Need:
Blender
Mason Jar
Strainer or cheesecloth
First you need to soak your almonds in a glass bowl for up to two days (no less than one night). I use two parts of water for one part almonds. The longer you soak your almonds the creamier the milk, so if you like thinner milk (think skim), you'll want to soak overnight, but if you enjoy a whole milk texture, you'll want to soak for two nights.
Next, you'll need to drain the water from the almonds before placing the soaked almonds in your blender. Add to the blender the purified water, raw honey, vanilla extract and sea salt.
Blend these ingredients together until the liquid is creamy. Note, there will be a bit of froth at the top and your grated almonds will settle to the bottom, but the liquid in the center should be creamy and even. Strain the milk from the almond meal at the bottom using a cheesecloth or strainer.
Store your almond milk in a mason jar. Note- fresh almond milk will only last about three days in your refrigerator (hence the small batch recipe). You will want to begin the prep work for your next batch immediately.
The almond meal is a delicious additive in a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. It also adds a wonderful nutty flavor to baked goods like chocolate chip cookies and seasonal breads aka- pumpkin!
