Dispatches from the (not so) exotic north!

by chuckofish

Here it is 6:45 am and I am happily ensconced in our little Airbnb house in Alexandria Bay, NY. The DH and I arrived yesterday, my birthday, for a couple of days relaxation away from the wild hubbub of our hopping metropolis (ha, ha).

After settling in, we set off on an exploratory walk. During summer, Alex Bay is a tourist destination; in winter, it’s the quietest place you can imagine. Seriously, it’s a ghost town but that suits us to a tee.

Here’s the DH smiling on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. In the background you see Boldt Castle, one of those excessive turn-of-the-century confections that school children visit on field trips and young couples use as a wedding venue. I’ve never been there and since it’s closed in winter, won’t have the pleasure on this trip. I gather it’s quite a place if you like that sort of thing. And there’s Canada on the other side of the river.

After our bracing walk, we settled down to celebrate my birthday — and what a nice one it was! We ate quesadillas (made specially by my DH) and cake (store bought) and then I got tucked up in blankets to unwrap presents.

What a haul! My dear husband gave me the latest in ancient fashion from the British Museum — an Assyrian wool scarf. Now lamassu will protect me from both the cold and whatever evil lurks among the snowflakes.

My wonderful sons gave me the essential gift trio: something to read; something to listen to, and something to watch. They certainly know their mama. My youngest son and his girlfriend also sent me a dozen red roses! Alas, I don’t have a photo of them, but they are as beautiful as you imagine.

“But what is that camel I see in the photo?” you ask. Mary, my incredibly talented niece, made me this supremely adorable camel ornament. Isn’t it the best?

Unfortunately, all the lighting here is overhead and I could not avoid casting a shadow, but you can still see how perfect it is. I love it! I am so pleased with all my gifts! Thank you all for giving me a happy, happy birthday!!

Now it’s time to make some coffee and eat some cake for breakfast (I indulge myself whenever possible) before preparing for a quiet day of reading and exploring the area’s nature reserves. I highly recommend taking a short break somewhere. If you’re worried about germs, take a day trip! And eat cake!