We have no clue whether they gave any awards...but we picked the one we thought was best...a small fishing boat decorated to look like a little tug. We thought their attention to the details and creative effort was excellent. We loved the mop at the front and small tires...They even had smoke coming from the stack....Can't you just picture Popeye at the helm???

On Sunday, we had the pleasure of being spectators at the Castaway's First Annual Boat Parade...something they were doing to raise money for Make a Wish. True to the parade format, the local Sheriff boat provided the escorts at front and rear...and several boaters had gone to a lot of effort to decorate for the occasion. We clapped, hooted, hollered and, of course, whistled appropriately. We have no idea if they had any fun...but we sure did.

Carrot Cake Surprise is what we called it....scooped some cake into a bowl, added frosting, nuts and raisins.... believe me, the servings disappeared in a hurry. THANK YOU, Muriel....we'll be munching on it (it is a veggie serving, right?) and thinking of you. Next week this time we should be sitting in the Atlanta Airport waiting for the last of our flights home.....but you know our luck with Atlanta Airport....I'm worried already.

Carrot Cake surprise is what we called it....and believe me it disappeared in a hurry. THANK YOU Muriel

Arrived back in Brewerton late Thursday evening...temp was a surprisingly cool 66 degrees. We were thrilled to have a couple of boxes waiting for us. One contained our usual weekly mail shipment...the other was Muriel's care package....homemade carrot cake...and the trimmings. Crazy her...next day, air express... Didn't look quite like she imagined, I'm sure. It smells wonderful and will repair nice enough... we've promised to share some with Susan and Carolyn. In all this crazy looping experience, this is truly a first!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH....

Thursday we had planned to return to Brewerton...and took just a little detour north into Saratoga Springs to visit the race track. The place was HUGE...and particularly crowded for a Thursday afternoon. There were actually three running venues...two turfs and one dirt track. We tried to see it all...restaurants, paddock, stables. Since it has been around since 1863, there is not anything about it that is bright, shiny new....lots of character...and fun races. I was impressed with how easy it was to see whatever was happening...no matter where the race, our seats had a great view. And we were in the cheap seats. Since all Floyd had to compare it to was the track at Eureka, he had lots to look at. We had a fun afternoon...and managed to not lose any money!!!!

Less than two miles over is Val-Kill, the home of Eleanor. Seems that she and a couple of girl friends built a cottage there...then a furniture factory...then when the depression caused the closing of the furniture factory, she turned the factory into a very comfortable home. She stayed there often until her death in 1962. Simple taste and very simple designs...especially when compared to what we saw at Springwood. We spent a lovely and very pricey evening dining at the Culinary Institute. this time we tried the upscale Italian place... Ristorante Caterina de Medici...or something like that...we couldn't pronounce any of the things we ordered....but we tried some of every category: cured meats, appetizer, pasta, entree, dessert, and coffee. Some of it was good. Some not so much to our liking. But what a grand experience...

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