Scattered Thoughts . . .

A couple of weeks ago during Thanksgiving weekend, Sheila and I spent the bulk of the weekend in the Adirondack Mountains in Saratoga Springs with friends. The main purpose of our visit to Saratoga was to see the Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train but we had a little time to do a few other things as well. We had a really great time and, as usual, we left feeling as though we didn't have enough time there! Among doing all sorts of things in the few days we had in Saratoga, Sheila and I went for a walk through Congress Park one afternoon.  This particular park is home to war memorials, veteran memorials, multiple fresh water mineral springs known for healing and curative properties, an historical society museum (I'll write more about this museum in a future blog entry) , and a carousel. Although the calendar may disagree, it is pretty much wintertime here in the northeast so this wasn't exactly the best time to visit this park but we enjoyed ourselves enough to want

Every Christmas season, the 'Saratoga and North Creek Railway' runs their "Polar Express" train excursion. Since we were in Saratoga Springs for the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train fundraiser and Christmas show, we got to see this great holiday "Polar Express" train up close as we watched it come and go. After seeing this train and experiencing Saratoga Springs, we decided that if we were going to take the grandkids on any Christmas train excursion, it would be this "Polar Express"! We're also thinking of also doing one of their other scenic tour excursions in warmer weather too but this blog entry is about "The Polar Express". The biggest difficulty in arranging for a trip on The Polar Express would be getting tickets before it is sold out. The class of tickets we want are already sold out for the season. So, this season is out of the question. We'll have to aim for next Christmas season. Next year we'll need to st

Batcheller Mansion, built in 1873, Saratoga Springs As Sheila and I were walking around downtown Saratoga, for some reason, I had decided to take a short circuitous route around a back way to access Congress Park. I don't know why I chose this route. This is something I experience often... just a "gut feeling" I suppose... like someone nudging me to go a very specific direction.  So, we ventured around the back way off of Broadway. Within about half a block, a large Victorian home with a towering minaret began to come into view... I slowed my walk and quickly pulled my camera out from the protection of under my jacket... I keep my camera on an over-the-shoulder harness for quick access which also allows me to hide the dangling camera under my coat...  We continued walking closer to this strikingly beautiful structure as I fumbled with settings on my camera. As I was staring up at this towering home, I muttered, "For some reason, I know this building... i

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend and today is the first time I've had a chance to share some photos and video. The first thing I want to share is a video that I shot while we watched a Christmas concert on the colorfully and brightly decorated Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. Our holiday weekend began with entertaining friends at our house on Thanksgiving Day... I'll write more on that and share some photos another time.  Then, on Friday morning, we headed to the rugged Adirondack Mountains to spend the rest of our long holiday weekend in beautiful Saratoga Springs. I haven't been to Saratoga in a few decades so it was nice to get back there and spend some time! Our primary purpose of visiting Saratoga Springs was to see Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train as it pulled into the station. If you've never had an opportunity to see this brightly lit and colorful train, you should! Once the train pulled into Saratoga's surprisingly nice train station... ami