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July 13-16 Hattie’s Visit

By on July 18, 2026 in The Pearl
“To my grandchild, you are my reminder that the simple things in life bring the most joy.” –Unknown 
Hattie’s visit to the boat was all about being on or in the water. She requested we pick her up and go straight to the boat. No wasting time in Lewisburg…at least not at the start of her time with us. It was the perfect weather to spend hours on the water. In fact it was the only way to stay cool. It was very hot and humid and the lake water felt amazing.

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

July 13-16 Hattie’s Visit

By on July 18, 2026 in The Pearl
“To my grandchild, you are my reminder that the simple things in life bring the most joy.” –Unknown 
Hattie’s visit to the boat was all about being on or in the water. She requested we pick her up and go straight to the boat. No wasting time in Lewisburg…at least not at the start of her time with us. It was the perfect weather to spend hours on the water. In fact it was the only way to stay cool. It was very hot and humid and the lake water felt amazing.

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

July 8-11 New Hope, PA

By on July 17, 2026 in The Pearl
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.” -Mark Twain

It’s hard to believe but we’re celebrating our 45th anniversary. We enjoy little getaways to mark each year. They aren’t extravagant or showy trips but small getaways were we can relax and enjoy what brings us happiness. This year we decided to explore a cute small town east of us here in Pennsylvania. New Hope is a picturesque riverfront borough in Bucks County, roughly 30 miles north of Philadelphia and 70 miles south of New York City. It’s packed with artsy boutiques, historic inns and has an active theater scene. The streets are lined with shops and antique stores. The food scene shines with cozy cafés and riverside restaurants. 

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

July 8-11 New Hope, PA

By on July 17, 2026 in The Pearl
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.” -Mark Twain
 
It’s hard to believe but we’re celebrating our 45th anniversary. We enjoy little getaways to mark each year. They aren’t extravagant or showy trips but small getaways were we can relax and enjoy what brings us happiness. This year we decided to explore a cute small town east of us here in Pennsylvania. New Hope is a picturesque riverfront borough in Bucks County, roughly 30 miles north of Philadelphia and 70 miles south of New York City. It’s packed with artsy boutiques, historic inns and has an active theater scene. The streets are lined with shops and antique stores. The food scene shines with cozy cafés and riverside restaurants. 

New Hope is located along the route of the Old York Road, the onetime main highway between Philadelphia and New York City. It was generally regarded as the halfway point, where travelers would stay overnight and be ferried across the Delaware River the next morning. It is said that the night before George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River, he lodged in New Hope, and then destroyed the ferry so the British Army could not follow him. 

The town was originally settled in 1715 as Coryell’s Ferry. It was officially renamed New Hope after a devastating fire in 1790 that destroyed much of the town. The successful rebuilding inspired a new sense of hope. Hence the name New Hope. The borough was officially incorporated in 1837.

Across the Delaware River is the town of Lambertville, NJ. We both thought this town offered more shops, antique stores and restaurants that we were interested in. It was fun to explore both places.

We stayed at a cute little B&B called Porches on the Towpath. It was right downtown within walking distance of everything.

Our home for three nights.

The streets in New Hope and Lmbertville were full of historic buildings filled with shops and restaurants.

Our first night in town we enjoyed dinner along the Delaware River at a place called Martine’s River House. Dinner was delicious and the view was nice.

Stan had the grilled salmon with vegetables, potatoes and a mustard cream sauce. I had the caramelized  scallops with sweet corn risotto and chorizo with paprika butter.

Looking back at New Hope from the bridge.

Both New Hope (Delaware Canal) and Lambertville, NJ (Delaware and Raritan Canal) built a canal to carry goods, lumber and coal to major cities like Philadelphia. Each was built within years of each other. Both are now used as multi-use linear parks. We walked sections of each and thought the NJ canal towpath trail was prettier.
The D&R Canal in Lamberrtville.
We had a lite lunch at this cute little place in Lambertville twice.
We enjoyed our dinner so much at Karla’s that we went back a second night. The restaurant is located in a building built in 1830s

Two nights…two pictures.

I had the vodka rigatoni the first night and Cheese Tortellini on the next visit. Stan enjoyed the sweet potato crusted flounder and the halibut special with mango salsa.

The New Hope Railroad in Bucks County, PA, was established in 1891 as part of the Reading Company, the line was a vital passenger and freight route until public commuter service ended in 1952. Today it operates out of the iconic 1891 “Witch’s Hat” station, offering scenic excursions through the historic Delaware Valley.
Bucks County Playhouse is located on the site of a former grist mill on the banks of the Delaware River. The original structure was built in 1790 after the devastating fire. The Playhouse opened in 1939 and became a legendary “summer stock” destination where Broadway stars escaped the un-airconditioned city to try out new productions. It quickly became “America’s Most Famous Summer Theater” where legends like Robert Redford and Grace Kelly once performed. 

June 17-21 Cora’s Visit

By on June 26, 2026 in The Pearl
My heart is full of love for my granddaughter, but each time she smiles, it becomes fuller. –Unknown 

As I look at our calendar and I can see the summer flying by already…and the actual season has just begun. Cora was the first to come spend time with us. We had a wonderful five days while Graham and Hattie were at camp. 

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

June 17-21 Cora’s Visit

By on June 26, 2026 in The Pearl
My heart is full of love for my granddaughter, but each time she smiles, it becomes fuller. –Unknown 

As I look at our calendar and I can see the summer flying by already…and the actual season has just begun. Cora was the first to come spend time with us. We had a wonderful five days while Graham and Hattie were at camp. 

We began our time together at the house and then spent three days on the boat. Cora really enjoys the miles and miles of wonderful bike trails around the marina. We did 17 miles while we were at the lake. We also hiked a few miles along the Cascadilla Gorge in Ithaca. The gorge connects downtown Ithaca with the Cornell Campus. It’s a short hike in length, but long on amazing waterscapes. There are eight waterfalls along the gorge ranging in height from 25’ to 80’. The steepness and depth of the gorge hides the fact that it’s surrounded by roads and buildings…it’s a little oasis in the midst of a hectic world. 

The temperature was perfect for riding bikes while Cora was with us…although a little bit windy.
Some of the things we spotted on our rides. We think the turtle was laying her eggs or at least preparing where she was going to lay her eggs.

I love these smiles.

The Cascadilla Gorge trail.

Cora likes picking flowers.

The view from the fly bridge.

All the kids enjoy playing on our driveway and quiet street. Lots of room for skating and biking.

Chasing lightning bugs.

June 16 – Raymond B. Winter State Park

By on June 16, 2026 in The Pearl
“True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake. It’s making the choice to build a life you don’t need to escape from.” -Unknown
​​Today we decided to drive down the road and hike at Raymond B. Winter State Park. It’s literally located on Buffalo Road (our road) about 17 miles from our home. Raymond B. Winter State Park was originally established in 1933 as Halfway Dam State Park. It’s famous for Halfway Lake, which is held back by the first hand-laid stone and cement dam constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

June 16 – Raymond B. Winter State Park

By on June 16, 2026 in The Pearl
“True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake. It’s making the choice to build a life you don’t need to escape from.” -Unknown
​​Today we decided to drive down the road and hike at Raymond B. Winter State Park. It’s literally located on Buffalo Road (our road) about 17 miles from our home. Plus all 120 state parks in Pennsylvania are free. Raymond B. Winter State Park was originally established in 1933 as Halfway Dam State Park. It’s famous for Halfway Lake, which is held back by the first hand-laid stone and cement dam constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

We chose to hike the Boiling Spring and Overlook Loop. We hiked about 2.8 miles through mountain laurel, ferns, blueberry and black berry bushes, pine and hemlock trees. It was a fairly easy trail and it was a beautiful day to be outside.

Halfway Lake is filled by spring fed mountain streams. The water temperature never rises above the low 50s, because much of the lake is filled with water that comes directly from underground. Little Bubbler is an artesian spring located on the west end of the beach. The sand bubbles as the water seeps up through the ground. I felt the water and it was like ice water.  

The lake got its name from a historic tavern and barn called the “Halfway House,” which was built in the 1800s. It served as a resting spot for teamsters transporting farm produce across Sand Mountain between Lewisburg and Centre Hall. 

Mountain laurel everywhere. It was so pretty.

The only pink ones we saw were in the open areas that got lots of sun. We aren’t sure if that is why they looked different. The flowers are just amazing.

Part of the trail.
The view from the top. We could just make out the lake and road at the bottom.

A small boulder field we went through. It was along the mountain ridge. It was formed 10-15 thousand years ago during the last glacial period.

Little Bubbler…it’s hard to tell from the picture, but there were about six holes where the water was bubbling up.

The beach looking across to the dam.

Our picnic spot.

Looking across to the beach from the dam side.

The dam. People fish from this side of the lake.

The east side of the lake looking towards the beach.

Our hike

Back to Ithaca

By on June 10, 2026 in The Pearl
“We all come from the sea, but we are not all of the sea. Those of us who are, we children of the tides, must return to it again and again, until the day we don’t come back leaving behind only that which was touched along the way.” ―Frosty Hesson
It’s been a wet cool spring so we weren’t in a hurry to get the boat launched. To be honest we were enjoying our home and time with our family and didn’t even mind waiting till the weather improved. It seems there is something fun going on all the time in Pennsylvania. We picked an absolutely wonderful week to move the boat to the marina. Lots of sunshine, warm afternoons and cool nights that made sleeping on the boat very nice. 

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

Back to Ithaca

By on June 10, 2026 in The Pearl
“We all come from the sea, but we are not all of the sea. Those of us who are, we children of the tides, must return to it again and again, until the day we don’t come back leaving behind only that which was touched along the way.” ―Frosty Hesson
It’s been a wet cool spring so we weren’t in a hurry to get the boat launched. To be honest we were enjoying our home and time with our family and didn’t even mind waiting till the weather improved. It seems there is something fun going on all the time in Pennsylvania. We picked an absolutely wonderful week to move the boat to the marina. Lots of sunshine, warm afternoons and cool nights that made sleeping on the boat very nice. 
We took advantage of the sunshine to visit a few of our favorite places. A trip to Sheldrake Point Winery is our traditional way to welcome the start to our summer season in the Finger Lakes. It was a beautiful day but a bit too cool for a picnic by the lake. So we enjoyed one of their sandwiches and then sat in the sun on their lawn…all while enjoying a bottle of their dry rieslings. 
Another day we drove over to Watkins Glen. A cute little town that sits on the south end of Seneca Lake. We had lunch at Lucky Hare Brewing overlooking the marina and we watched the boats moving around on the lake. We walked along the water and wandered around town doing a little shopping before heading up the west side of the lake to hunt for a waterfall we haven’t seen before. Another perfect weather day. 
We celebrated our first night back to the lake with dinner at the Flint & Stave in Seneca Falls.

I had the seafood risotto and Stan as usual had the grilled salmon.

The sunsets are beautiful in Cayuga, NY 

Launch day 2026 came on May 26…what a beautiful day.

Stan on his way to Ithca.

Home for the summer in our same slip.

The full moon was a Blue Moon this month.

Celebrating the beginning of the summer at Sheldrake Point Winery.

After our wonderful lunch at the winery we stopped by Gourdlandia near Ithaca. They grow, dry and make art out of all types of gourds.

We got better photos of the moon the day after the full moon since it came up later.

Our day in Watkins Glen began with lunch on the lake.

Views with lunch. Looking towards town and the public dock.

It was a wonderful day for a sail. This is the Schooner True Love built in 1926.

Pier House on Seneca Lake and one of the murals in town.

The Glenora Falls

Our little runabout is in and ready to be used. Can you spot The Pearl in the background?

Dinner at The Boatyard Grill.

I woke up one morning with the balloon going over the boat. Summer as truly began now.

My happy place. My favorite place to have my morning coffee.