Talk about wide open spaces! Just look at our campsite from another angle! And yes, this counts as an unexpected discovery. We certainly didn’t expect to be in a huge field all by ourselves!
Today, we visited Mount Utsayantha (I have no idea how to pronounce that one. 😊). Blaine had found this place and information that there was a hiking trail there and numerous cell phone towers at the top. That’s it. That’s all he could find about it.
What a marvelous, unexpected find!
We turned onto a dirt road that was pretty Jeep-worthy, so that was the first, unexpected fun thing.
Then we parked under a cell tower that was not quite at the top. We got out, turned around, and lo and behold – the view was absolutely stunning! With a Capital STUN!
People actually hang-glide from here, though the platform looks as if it hasn’t been used for a while.
After we took that in for a few minutes, we walked to the top.
Here, we encountered numerous cell towers – which was a unique experience – and more stunning views. There’s an observatory there from the 1800s and a fire tower too. So much in such a small space! Oh! And there are picnic tables too. . . .
The information board near the observatory told us the history of the place, including a story that developed to boost tourism about an Indian Princess dying up here. I don’t remember the whole story, but they even made postcards showing her made-up burial site and sold them as souvenirs. Too funny!
The original observatory – see the woman standing on the roof?
Dr. Churchill
The Rexmore Hotel
We climbed to the top of the fire tower – yes, even me. Blaine didn’t think I could manage because sometimes I get a little shaky with things like that, but it was sturdy despite the breeze. I just went slow and didn’t look around until I got to the top. On the way down, I only looked at the next step. 😊
He took all the ‘view’ pictures before I came up.
The proof I made it!
It was pretty chilly up there and the wind was blowing – hence the hood
We hiked the trail, but it really was nothing and Blaine had to break out a spider stick because no one had been on it in a while.
Here’s what we found when we emerged at the end of the trail – a cell tower shared by competitors (I found that interesting), and our Jeep.
T-mobile
Verizon
I had to go check out the spectacular view one more time before we left.
Up next on the list was Mine Kill State Park.
First we hiked to a waterfall. Water was pretty low since they’ve not had any rain for about 3 weeks. ☹ It was actually in 3 parts, but they counted it as one to claim 80′.
To the waterfall – this is looking back to where we came from
In the picture, you can’t really see the water dripping down, but it sure was pretty!
However – – in the realm of the unexpected, apparently people actually walk on water here! But there’s a sign telling you not to. Right alongside the no swimming sign.
They had this huge board with info about the wildlife in the area and I actually learned about a new animal we’d never heard of before! A Fisher! They’ve got some pretty interesting things going on! Hopefully you can read about it. Sorry the picture’s not more clear . . .
The next area of the Park had three parking areas at three different levels. There were no cars at any of them. Not a single one. And it was lunch time, so it’s not like we were there at the crack of dawn. We located an open restroom and when I came out, Blaine hugged me and told me this was his surprise – – – He rented the entire State Park just for us!!!! Do I have the most wonderful husband in the world, or what?!?
Too bad he couldn’t come up with a better place for lunch . . . . : )
A hydroelectric generating plant run by New York Power
Time to hit the trails again, and the remaining unexpected discoveries! But we better be careful!
We followed a fairly easy trail (but with spider-stick in hand for part of it),
We didn’t go quite that far. : )
Spider stick part
and the trail turned into a path,
Just look how dry!
This is why the leaves aren’t brilliant this year.
Many are just kinda brownish-gold and then fall off.
and the path led to a few buildings. Didn’t know about these. Hmmmm . . . .
The flags are at half-mast due to the Las Vegas massacre. What a horrific thing! (At the time I’m writing this, I just found out that a friend’s daughter and 2 of her friends were supposed to be there that night, but their flights were rescheduled.
So the red buildings are part of the New York Power Authority Visitor Center. The white ones are part of the Lansing House museum.
See next picture for details
We decided to check out the house first. There were several interpretive signs along the sidewalk leading to the front door.
The Lansing Home
Built in 1819 by John Lansing for his daughter, Frances and her husband Jacob Sutherland
They had 10 children in this house – 9 daughters and one son!
There was nothing saying you could go inside, so we thought it was just a shell and headed up to peek in the windows. But there was a sign on the door saying there were tours from 10-5. The door was locked. However, being as educated as I am in all things old (not really, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?), I spied an old-fashioned doorbell. The kind that’s on the door and you turn the knob? I told Blaine, “I’m ringing the doorbell.” Neither of us thought it would amount to anything, but after a minute, someone came and opened the door! And we got a full private tour of the house! For free! Nice for us, and you get a peek into life in the early 1800s!
Once again, almost all of the things in the pictures are original.
Original document signed by President James Monroe and Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams!
Jacob Sutherland married John Lansing’s daughter, Frances
This was on the bottom of an enormous original land grant document. I just took the seal and signature
Mr. John Lansing
(along with the ghosts of Christmas Present . . .
sometimes reflections just can’t be helped!)
Original tea set, original dress (among other things)
Unfortunately, the lighting was such that we couldn’t get a good picture, but in this same room, the men etched their signatures into two of the windows with a diamond
We saw one of these sewing cabinets before.
Isn’t it beautiful?
This one is gorgeous as well!
I forget who this guy is, but the needlepoint was made for him by his 12-year old daughter
Can you imagine a 12 year old girl doing this today?
They found this flag in a box of other linens.
Note the 13 stars.
They believe this painting was done by students at a nearby college while the Lansings lived here.
The Springs
Look how tiny her dress on the form is!
This is a window that converts to a door to the back yard by pushing up the sash and opening the bottom.
Back when the house was built, taxes were charged by number of rooms as well as the number of doors. Since this was a window, they weren’t charged for this door. : )
Hickory Tree
They peeled the bark to used for smoking meat.
Removing the bark didn’t hurt this kind of tree.
This is a cut out in the stairway showing how the house was built.
The bricks were sun-baked rather than kiln dried.
This quilt reminds me of one that I have that belonged to my great-great grandmother.
This is the governess’ side of the small children’s bedroom.
The governess’ chair.
You can’t tell, but it’s pretty small.
A quilt made for a gift in which those who worked on it, signed it.
We were told that was normal at that time.
Can you believe the great condition??
This bed held 4 young children.
Three laid long-ways, one across the bottom.
It was about single-bed size.
Isn’t this gorgeous??
The next picture shows the work up close.
I think it’s tatting?? Or maybe crochet?
I’m not sure. That’s one craft I never tackled
These are also all original.
They almost always wore or bought white.
If they wanted something different or wanted to cover a stain, they would dye them.
Another beautiful quilt!
This is the bedroom for the older girls. Their meals were brought to this room as well.
And look at this view from their bedroom!
Jacob and Frances’ bedroom.
The clothes are theirs.
Again, can you believe how preserved these things are??
The step up to the bed serves double duty as a chamber pot
Some quilt examples they had displayed in a random room
Some of these things are just period pieces – like the nurses uniform and the two men’s wool swimsuits.
Beautiful, working clock
It wasn’t running when we were there, because they didn’t wind it that day.
The only son’s room, complete with a bed warmer on the bed.
He had a room as large as the girls’ and he didn’t have to share. : )
Down to the basement to check out the kitchen.
That black cylinder thing is a rotisserie.
Original table
I really like how this picture turned out!
It’s a sandstone washing tub
The family dining room, complete with their dishes.
It’s in the basement just off the kitchen, and the table’s not big enough for 12. Probably why the older girls ate in their room. : )
Fireplace in the dining room
Take a look at this paper that came with the acetylene generator.
This is their acetylene generator. It made the gas that lit the gas lights throughout the house.
After hearing Gabby talk, it’s a wonder the house is still standing . . .
An older wringer part. This one probably sat over a washtub
I started my marriage with a wringer washer.
It was a little newer than this one. : )
It belonged to my grandmother for years, before she gave it to me.
We left there, with even more information on all things old tucked away.
Then we went to check out the NY Power Visitor’s Center. No one there either – and by the way, the two cars in the lot here most likely belonged to the two ladies we encountered.
But the flies!!!! We felt like we’d just stepped into Amityville!! (Remember the movie from the late 70s?)
I decided to include a 2-second video. : ) IMG_3510
The center was all ‘walk around and read’. We were tired. We still had to hike about 2 ½ miles back to the Jeep. It was almost 4pm. We skimmed.
And then we went home and I cooked dinner! A real, honest-to-goodness homecooked meal, using a recipe! I had fun, and it was yum-mee! “Mother’s Day Casserole”, so named because I made it for Mother’s Day one year. Here’s the recipe just in case anyone wants to try it out:
1 (6 oz.) pkg. Uncle Bens Wild Rice, cooked
1 large head broccoli crown, chopped (or 1 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped broccoli)
1 ½ C. cooked chicken, cubed (3-4 breasts)
1 C. ham, cubed
1 C. Cheddar cheese, shredded
4 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 C. Hellman’s Real Mayonnaise
1 t. yellow mustard
½ t. poultry seasoning
1 (10 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
¼ C. Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a greased 9 x 13 pan, layer first six ingredients IN THE ORDER LISTED.
Combine mayonnaise, mustard, seasoning, Parmesan and soup. Spread over the casserole.
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until top is light golden brown.
Serves 8-10
HINT: Can be made a day ahead – cover with foil and refrigerate. Bake covered at
350 for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes.