Monday, November 15, 2010

Central New York

Every fall I get hungry for apples, apple pie, apple dumplings, cider. You get the idea.

  Last week I made this apple pie. It tasted wonderful and went fast, so another is probably going to be made soon. I can never seem to make the edging look nice. Help, Margie, what's the secret to making a nice even neat edge on my pies?

 It's not surprising that I have this yen for apples because I grew up with them in the fall.
 I'm from New York State. When people who haven't spent time in New York State hear that I'm from there, they picture blocks of skyscrapers, traffic, crowds and noise. That's New York City.

 I'm from Central New York and it couldn't be more different.

Central New York is dairy farms and apple orchards.

Central New York is woods and sunsets on the lake.

I was born in Syracuse and lived and worked there when I met Rob. Syracuse is a nice size for a city. It's small enough to get around easily, but big enough to always have something interesting going on.

Syracuse is the home of the Everson Museum of Art,

 The Erie Canal Museum,

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo,

The New York State Fair,

And of course, Syracuse University.

In summer I spent many evenings watching the Chiefs play baseball.

In winter I was a season ticket holder at the hockey rink.

Until I was six years old we lived in a village about 31 miles north of Syracuse called Mexico, New York. From age six to ten we lived in Syracuse, then moved back to Mexico. I graduated from high school there.
Our high school was a former military academy and the campus is beautiful.

 A small creek runs thru the campus and there used to be a couple of wooden covered bridges crossing it.   We were always fishing balls out of the water during gym class.

In the summer there are fruit stands. I miss those a lot. There 's fishing and walks in the woods.

This is the church my family attended.

In the winter in Mexico, you shovel snow.

So, this time of year when I get my huge desire for apples, Central New York is on my mind. If you ever get the chance to visit, go. It's a lovely area.

22 comments:

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Thanks, will have to put that on my travel list. Have never been further north than White Plains and that is to skirt around NYC heading to RI.

Don't worry about the crust, don't think the pie will last long enough for criticism.

XXXOOO Daisy, kendra & Bella

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

One of my dear friends is from Tyre, NY. Every time she goes to visit, she always brings me back the best maple syrup.

We had a great crop of apples this year on our farm - I've made apple butter, apple jelly, pepper jelly, apple pies, dried apples and cooked apples. And I still have several baskets sitting in the hallway for us to munch on.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Great post to let Mom reminisce about the Northeast - she misses the good apples and the beautiful fall colors. The only about Syracuse she didn't like was all that snow - now that is NOT the case with us.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Asta said...

You awe fwom a most glowiously bootiful pawt of NewYawk..as you know I'm a city giwl, but that doesn't mean I don't see the booty in that gowgeous landscape..and appless I looove them! My hooman cousin went to
Sywacoose, so mommi and Dadi went thewe fow his gwadooation, and i've been to the fingew lakes and Ithaca..they awe bootiful pawts of ouw state
enjoyt thie fall
smoochie kisses
ASTA

Thor and Jack said...

Thanks for sharing.

Thor x

Soggibottom said...

Love this post. Thank you beautiful photo's. Lady of my own heart.....
:-) x x x

Lola and also Franklin, too said...

We have never been to Syracuse, but we love upstate New York, which as you probably know, to us downstaters is anything other than NYC, Long Island and Westchester. BOL! My human brother has been there about 87 times or more, but he was a musician until last year. They go everywhere. We always think it's funny how New York State is so identified with being urban and all when most of the state is anything but. I guess it's because of the state and NYC having the same name.

lotsa licks, Lola

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

This was an enjoyable post! I loved reading and seeing the place that you call home! Thanks for sharing it with us!!

Lorenza said...

Thanks for showing us that beautiful part of New York!
And the yummy pie too!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Two French Bulldogs said...

Great post. Love that NY
Benny & Lily

Sam said...

Mexico, New York. How confusing!

Really, what an interesting post. I need to visit more parts of my great state. I love it here; I don't think I will ever leave (maybe just move to somewhere that I can have enough property for my own agility course!)

gMarie said...

We had a fabulous time visiting Central New York when we were there. We went all over from The City to the Thousand Islands area to Niagra Falls. Absolutely fabulous. But, ummm, you know apples come from Washington, right? g

Scrabblequeen said...

Your "home" state is really beautiful! I've only managed to get to NY City (once, in 1970) to visit my grandfather. Looking at your pictures, I know one thing for sure; I won't visit in the winter!

Molly the Airedale said...

The snowy road is just amazing!
What gorgeous pictures! Central NY is sure pretty!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Janet said...

Thanks for the lovely tour of central NY. Definitely an area I'd like to visit.

Kristine said...

I've only been to New York state once when I was a kid living in Southern Ontario. We went to Darien Lake one summer. But I'll have to return some day because it looks beautiful.

As does that apple pie. Yum!

SissySees said...

Made me a little sad, actually... My mother's father's people are from Upstate, and a lot of those photos - especially the snowbank - made me sorry I'm not close to any of them and there are no visits up there.

And yes, I only eat NY maple syrup. I've tried the others, but I suppose being hand-fed syrup straight from a great-uncle's trees as a tot made a life-long impression.

silfert said...

Ooooooooohhhhh! Can I have a calendar with those pictures?

How do you feel about Honeycrisps?

Marjie said...

I'm still learning pie crust, myself. I try to make it just go over the top of my pie pan, then cut the edge with a paring knife so it's even.

You were 2 hours from us. I know that people think only of NYC, because it's so huge. Sadly, it even wags the rest of the state. Taxes wouldn't be as high and the state wouldn't be such a fiscal mess if upstate were a separate place from everything below White Plains or at least I-84.

We had a lot of apples, too, but the damn deer were on the attack. Our dentist is supposed to help us out with that soon.

Vivian said...

Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures! I was one of those people assumed New York was that big city with a lot of fast walking people. We have to make it to New York some day, the city and the state!

Nicki said...

It looks lovely

Anonymous said...

I know the area well. I'm from CT. My brother went to University of Rochester for undergraduate degree. the ONLY time I miss that part of the country is the fall. so i know what you mean!