Hudson Valley Musing

Art Studio Views In Northern Dutchess NY

It is still not too late to take the self guided art studio views tour in Northern Dutchess NY.  Today the weather here was beautiful so I am sure many made use of this opportunity to look at the work of the various artists in the region.  I suspect artists are attracted to this area because of the beautiful surroundings.  Some of these artists might have also taken advantage of programs offered at Bard College since it is well known for arts education.

Viewing starts on Sunday at 11:00AM-5:00PM and this is free to the public. You can download the Art Studio brochure which will provide information on the artists as well as their locations.  Speaking of location, the tour extends from Tivoli to Hyde Park.

So, after downloading the brochure you can decide what type of work appeals to you.  Here is some of what you will see: oil, glass , printing, pastels, ink, photography, watercolors, oil and much more.

Make sure to go out and have a great time knowing you are also lending your support to the local artist community.

Thanks also to our local businesses who were instrumental in making this possible.

***graphics http://www.artsnortherndutchess.org/asv/about.html

Just another day in real estate? I would say not

Yesterday, I mentioned I came home early from vacation because of hurricane Earl and immediately had an appointment set.

Well, I took these potential buyers out today to look at a unique home which they ended up really liking.  The tour took about an hour and because of the beautiful landscape we got around to talking about plants and herbs.

There were several butterfly bushes on the property so there were many butterflies around.  This made me think of a creature I had noticed around my own butterfly bushes, something that looked like a cross between a bee and a hummingbird.  To our delight as we went by one of the butterfly bushes we saw one of those creatures which I discovered, after a Google search, is actually called a Sphinx Moth.  My search term was rather funny,  "looks like a hummingbird bee". I discovered there were many who were as confused about this creature as I was.

And that was not all, the potential buyers also rescued a bee caught in a spider web on said butterfly bush.

So, showing houses can have little perks which help you get to know your clients better in a very natural and spontaneous way.

So, now I will follow up with the buyers by sending the video of the Sphinx moth and the information I found on-line.

Just another day in real estate? I would say not.

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Just another day in real estate? I think not

 These photos were taken in the late fall, at the Trolley Museum of New York located in the Roundout area of Kingston New York.

This museum is located in the old Ulster and  Delaware railroad yard.  There are about 30 trolleys, the oldest dating back to 1907.  The Trolley Museum  covers the history of the railroad in the Hudson Valley.  Rail travel was once a very important part of the transportation system in small communities. Then came the car and this system which connected many communities by train was abandoned.  While out and about in my real estate activities  I sometimes run into these abandoned tracks.  Some have now been turned into rail trails for leisure walking and biking. The fall foliage tain which runs along the Esopus Creek is  a great example of some of these old train lines being put back into service and the old rail beds being restored.

At the museum you will also find many old trolley photographs, see a video presentation. Besides looking at the trolley you can also get on one of these antique trains for a short tour along the Hudson River.

This museum is also located across the street from the Hudson Valley Maritime Museum and the Dock where you can take a cruise on the Hudson River. 

We are thankful to the volunteers who maintain and operate this piece of history.

Hours of operaton

Noon-5PM  Saturday-Sunday, Memorial Day-Columbus Day

Fees

Adults $5.00

Seniors and childrens 2-12  $3.00

Contact

89 East Strand 
Kingston, New York 12402 
(845) 331-3399

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Wordless Wednesday-Have you been to the New York Trolley Museum?

Taconic State Parkway an important route in the Hudson Valley

The Taconic State Parkway connects Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Columbia Counties in New York State's Hudson Valley Region.  It is approximately  105 mile scenic route and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

President Franklin Roosevelt, himself a Duchess County resident, was instrumental in getting this project going.  The plan was that this route would give easy access to the local parks.

The construction started in 1927 in Westchester County, followed by the section in Putnam County and Southern Dutchess County.  Next, construction continued in the rest of Dutchess County and Southern Columbia and finally the remainder of the parkway in Columbia County was completed in 1963. So, the entire project took about 36 years to complete.

The Taconic State Parkway or, simply the Taconic as it is referred to, was the road to take when someone wanted to take a Sunday drive in the country.  Besides being scenic it is also a narrow winding road.  Over the years efforts have been made to widen it and make it less steep in certain sections.  Other changes over the years included closing certain cross streets due to safety issues.

As people migrated to Dutchess County in large number to get away from the higher home prices and cost of living in the counties further south, the Taconic became even more important to the economy of the region.  Although housing was less costly in Dutchess many still had to commute to Westchester for work and for many the Taconic was the route of choice. I know this to be a fact as I was one of those commuters.

This is also the route many from New York City and Westchester take to go to their second homes, so traffic is usually very heavy heading north on Friday night and  heading south Sunday afternoon.    The Taconic is the type of road you might be tempted to go fast on, however, keep in mind it is well covered by the New York State police so your joy ride could be spoiled by a ticket.

This is the Taconic Parkway in Southern Dutchess near Fishkill

 Taconic Parkway at Salt Point NY

Taconic State Parkway in Northern Dutchess County

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com 

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Taconic State Parkway an important route in the Hudson Valley

  Honey where should we go next?

When I go to the beach the birds on the beach never fail to amuse me.  I have so many bird pictures that it is now a joke with my family. They are always asking if I got enough bird pictures for the day.

When I look at this particular picture, to me I see two love birds, no pun intended, contemplating their next move.  Or maybe they are thinking to themselves, "will the catch be good today?"

So, what do you see when you look at this picture?

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com 

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Wordless Wedesday Honey where should we go next?

It is not uncommon to see wild turkeys in the Mid-Hudson Valley.  I have had several occasions where I had to stop to allow them to cross the road.  Have you ever encountered a flying turkey? What an awkward sight,  I thought that at any minute it was going to make contact with my car and I ducked. Not a great reaction when driving.

There is actually a turkey hunting season to help mange the population.  Once I had a listing of a large parcel of land and while I was walking it with a potential buyer I came across several camouflaged hunters who really scared me. What if I had been mistaken for a turkey? Not a pleasant thought.

A month ago I saw a large flock of turkey and there were about 24 babies, I thought this might be a great photo opportunity. The mother noticed me and began to franticly call the babies who had wandered in different directions. As the mother's call grew more frantic it dawned on me I might be attacked so I made a hasty exit as I did not want to be the headline news. "Blogger viciously attacked by Turkeys as she tried to take picture."

So what's your best turkey story? and I am not talking about as food :)

 FIND HOMES LISTED IN THE MID-HUDSON MLS

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com 

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Speechless Sunday-Turkeys out for a Sunday Stroll

• Dutchess County Fair Rhinebeck New York Starts August 24th

Now that everyone knows where Rhinebeck New York is, here is another opportunity to come for a visit.  Tuesday August 24th is the start of the 165th year of our County Fair.  The Dutchess County Fair is held at the Dutchess County Fairground located on Route 9 in  Rhinebeck New York.

Attendees at the Fair come from all over the region, and I think last year saw a record attendance.  With the present economic climate,  many can no longer afford to take a vacation like in years gone by; this is a perfect chance for family to spend time together.  Here there will be something to engage each member of a family.

The Dutchess County Fair will run from August 24-29 and tickets if purchased in advance will be at a discount.  These can be purchased at the Dutchess County Fair site or in some local business.

A pdf file of the exhibitors at the Dutchess County Fair, is available on-line.  Here is a snippet of some of the events.  I have never personally seen the husband calling event, I tend to spend more time at the animal exhibits but now I am wondering about that event. It sounds like it should be rather funny.

The animals are always so entertaining and cute. Who could resist these  little piglets?

 Then there are the rides and the demonstrations of antique farm equipment.

There is also always lots of delicious food to sample, not the place to be if you are on a diet but for one day attendees just want to treat themselves.

So mark your calendar and take your family to Rhinebeck.

Here are a fews tips to ensure a great day.

• Buy tickets ahead of time as this will give you more money in your pocket for an extra treat.
• Wear sunscreen
• Bring a hat and sunglasses
• Are you prone to getting tired? Bring a chair so you can sit whenever you want to.  Many lightweight ones are available .
• Keep track of small children.
• Make sure wallets and purses are secure.

 Interested in a Rhinebeck home? 

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com 

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Rhinebeck Open House-Saturday August 21 2010

YOU ARE INVITED TO

AN OPEN HOUSE AT

8 CEDAR LANE, RHINEBECK NY

WHEN: SATURDAY JULY 21, 2010

TIME: 12:00-3:00 PM

Just reduced to $319,000, a home you can move into.  Hardwood floors, central air and a fireplace are just a few of the features.

View 8 Cedar Ln in a larger map

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com 

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Rhinebeck Open House-Saturday August 21 2010

 Wordless Wednesday-Even a stone walls will get my attention

Yesterday I was out previewing homes for an out of town buyer client.  I was out in a beautiful area of Dutchess County, and as I went down this road which seem to go on and on.  I saw many stone walls, some had the very perfect flat stones and were very nice to look at, and really enhanced curb appeal for those properties.

Then I saw this stone wall and it  got my attention.  I really like also sorts of rock and this wall featured  rocks of different shapes and sizes, so naturally I found it to be more interesting, wouldn't you agree?

Have you ever considered building a stone wall? These days help is just a click away.

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com 

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Wordless Wednesday-Even a stone wall will get my attention

O'Leary's a new restaurant in Red Hook NY

A  few weeks ago we decided to try the newest restaurant in Red Hook, O'Leary's.  For several months we had watched the renovation.  This building had been home to several restaurants over the years.  When we stepped inside O'Leary's there was no reminder of the past.  The transformation was terrific. I found myself thinking, "I never thought the place had this potential."

We were greeted by a friendly and efficient staff.  Our table was beside an old fireplace and Deanna was our waitress for the night.

The menu offered a nice variety of pasta, steak and seafood dishes.  Since there were three of us dining we tried something from each category.

The service provided by the staff, as well as the appealing decor and the delicious food made our experience  a pleasant one.

LOCATION

7100 Albany Post Rd, Red Hook, NY 12571

TELEPHONE

(845) 758-4155

 DIRECTIONS

    With this sign you won't miss O'Leary's  Restaurant on Albany Post Road commonly known as Route 9

 This newly renovated building is home to O'Leary's and there is a good size parking lot.

                                        Fireplace

                                  Table settings

                              Deanna our waitress

Carol and staff thank you for a lovely evening and welcome to Red Hook.

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com 

www.jfivehomes.com  or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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 Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-O'Leary's a new restaurant in Red Hook NY