Who Ever Thought At-Home Whole Foods Delivery in the Hudson Valley Would Become Popular?

Back in December, I learned that Whole Foods delivered to New Baltimore if a prime member. I decided to give it a try this week as I have not been to the store since December. Some may ask, why I did not try a locally owened store. I chose this as the prices were affordable,convenient and offers more than just produce. With all the cases, I do not feel comfortable going to a local grocery store right now. I will continue to use Shop and Save for basic groceries with curbside at Walmart every couple months.

This order was a great treat! I selected my items, but it took quite a while to get a time slot. Quite frustrating as you had to keep trying over and over again. Finally,  I got a time slot with a 2pm same day delivery. I had 8 bags of well packed and labeled groceries. Elisabeth and I were so happy with the quality of the fruit and produce. I will admit I was a bit nervous about someone picking our produce.. We thoroughly washed everything once we got it. We will definitely do this again! The delivery is free for prime members. Suggested tip of $7.00.

Before COVID, I grocery shopped all the time! Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Honest Coop, Asian Market, Shop and Save and Price Chopper were some of my favorites. Since March, it has been Shop and Save and Walmart curbside. I have only been to Albany once since March 2020. How things have changed and how we have altered how we shop and live.

Home is the safest place to be and home is where we stay!

Spending Sunday’s with the Family

Every Sunday, I cook a family breakfast and start the prep work for dinner, and prepare Rick’s snack for work. During the cold winter months I like to make a Sunday dinner that can be prepared ahead so we can enjoy the afternoon and evening. I call it my one night off of cooking.

I was undecided about breakfast so I made a quick breakfast casserole of maple breakfast deer sausage, eggs, cheese, and can of crescent rolls. Enjoyable and filling.

For dinner, I made crusty curried chicken thighs with potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots. One pan meal that allows for easy clean up and a quiet kitchen free evening.

I am blessed as Elisabeth is starting to cook more. She no longer follows recipes and made dinner all last week. After 12 hour days last week , it was wonderful to have healthy dinners made. The one benefit of COVID is Elisabeth is working remotely and her classes have been remote. I am glad to see her have the love of cooking I have, my mom has, and my grandmother had. I did laugh when she said this is exhausting and you have done it for how many years!! Elisabeth thank you for my first break in 23 years!

I love cooking but it does get tiring day after day. My suggestion is if you have time, prepare a one pot meal or crockpot meal on Saturday or Sunday and enjoy time for yourself and with your family.

Duck Cassoulet

One thing COVID allows is more time at home and more time to cook. We did not tend to go out much for dinner before COVID but did enjoy getting together with friends for dinner. We do not go out, do takeout, or see anyone currently. I never follow a recipe completely and I use ingredients I have and improvise if necessary. I still only go grocery shopping monthly to avoid any potential exposure. I am looking forward to enjoying this dinner again with friends when we can safely get together one day.

This was an easy recipe and once assembled you are free to do other things. The local Shop and Save carries duck legs (which is where I shop monthly). I did not use bacon. I substituted nitrate free kielbasa for sausage.

Bon Appétit

Raised Flower Beds

For Mother’s Day 2017, Rick built raised flower beds enclosed to protect our flowers and vegetables from the variety of wildlife in our backyard. Due to our love for industrial style and the need to protect the garden, we decided on corrugated raised fencing. I am sure by now that you can tell we love implementing corrugated steel throughout our home! Rick had already made a few raised flower beds in 2016, but in order to secure our crop and have a large garden, more needed to be added. Therefore, the exterior lining of the garden consisted of built-up flower beds, which extended on the already existing hilltop beds. This was a great addition to the yard and we look forward to the first harvest every year. Planting and working on the garden is a family affair and produces a variety of vegetables for summer salads and for preservation.

This project was pretty affordable and fast (only spanning one afternoon). All you need are sheets of corrugated steel roofing, untreated 2×4’s (treated are safe around veggies), and nails.

*We bought our materials at Lowes. When buying, remember if you do not have the saws to cut the wood or steel, they will cut it to size for you (just make sure to have the correct measurements).

Our Kitchen Got a Face Lift

Spring 2019

Due to the urgency to make the house livable in a timely fashion, we rushed doing the kitchen with the knowledge we would work on it down the road. To begin, we bought butcher block from Lumber Liquidators for the outer cabinets and to save time and money chose a simple tile for the island. In 2018, we decided to do DIY cement counter-top for the island. Cement counter-tops would ideally bring the entire room together and we found a cheap and easy method to do them. After researching the DIY project, Rick bought the supplies at Home Depot. Again, we decided this would be good weekend project to spruce up the house. During the process, there was a lot of sanding and dust created in trying to cover the tile and ensure the cement was even. The project totaled $180. Yet, a few months later we started seeing some cracks in the surface of the cement which got worse each week. We were guessing that the problem had to do with the overhang shifting due to the extreme heat of the prior summer. Despite the cracks, we loved how the cement looked!

This year we replaced the cement with granite counter-tops. Since much of the house we did within budget, we decided to splurge on white granite to compliment our black kitchen cabinets. The granite is spectacular and really brightens up the kitchen. And, even better this is the first project that Rick has not had to do!

Building a Ship-Lap Wall to Hold Our Electric Fireplace

Fall 2017

In our home in Vermont we had two pellet stoves, yet due to the size of our new home there was no need for another source of heating. Yet, we wanted a fireplace, but it was too expensive to run a gas line to the living room. During one of our regular trips to Home Depot, we saw an electric fireplace on clearance for $189. After thinking about it, this would give us the picturesque fireplace we wanted without the hassle or the cost. Once bought, we had to figure out how we wanted to mount it. Our living room has spectacular views of the Hudson River so we knew we wanted to put it in a spot to fully enjoy the views. We decided to place it in-between the two front windows. This was another ideal ship-lap project, so Rick went on to build out the wall in the living room. To finish it off, we wanted to have a mantle above the fireplace. Rick saved one of the original support beams (probably dating back to the 1800’s) that he replaced during renovations, so he thought that would be a fantastic reminder of the history and work that went into the house. He mounted a piece of the beam above the fireplace to service as a mantle. Rick did fantastic job, we are indeed very lucky! To further accent the wall, we hung a painting by one of our favorite artist’s, Adrian Yellow above our newly mounted mantle. The fireplace is great on a cold winter evening.

Driftwood Jewelry Tree

This project started at last week’s auction, where Elisabeth found a tall, skinny mahogany bookcase in which she wanted to display some of her books in her room. Yet, seeing her room was already full with little room for the new bookcase, she went about rearranging her room. After spending a day rearranging and reorganizing the room, she decided she wanted to have a tall piece to fill an empty space in her room. Elisabeth has a lot of jewelry she wanted to display and thought that a driftwood jewelry tree would be a great display her jewelry and hats.

On Sunday, Rick decided to build a driftwood tree to fit in the small area in her room. Since moving to New York, we have collected driftwood from the Hudson River at the beach across the street. We have piles of driftwood, which we stockpile for projects like this. With Emily and Elisabeth’s creativity and Rick’s handiwork, we were able to create a beautiful, natural jewelry tree. After a few hours working in the garage and rearranging the driftwood just so, Rick finished the project.

All the project took was a sturdy metal base, a variety of driftwood pieces, screws – and a bit of creativity.

Elisabeth is beyond excited to have been able to add the finishing touch to her room! Check out the transformation from a pile of driftwood to a 5ft+ jewelry tree:

Antique and Flea Market Adventures

No matter who you are or what your interests are, there are places and adventures out there just waiting for you to explore. For antique lovers or treasure hunters though, these adventures bring about fantastic finds, skilled negotiations, and great memories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have missed our antique adventures but are excited to share our favorite shows and flea markets with hopes that all of us are able to get back to going on adventures soon. We tend to stick to the New York and New England circuits for antiques and collectibles. Although we have countless adventures and places we love to visit, below are some of the top trips for anyone looking for antiques/ collectibles coupled with good food and great memories (with pictures from our trips over the years).

The Country Living Fair

One of the staple trips of the summer is the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, New York at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in the beautiful Hudson Valley. The Fair is usually held the first week of June and promises attendees great shopping, seminars, demonstrations, and food!  The Country Living Fair includes more than 200 vendors spanning 25+ states with antiques, furniture, handcrafted goods, art and artisans, vintage and upcycled goods, home and garden décor, handmade fashion, and more. The Fair is presented by the Country Living Magazine and offers visitors the opportunity to fully experience the “Country Living” lifestyle while finding pieces that speak to them!

Since moving to New York, we have planned girl trips to Rhinebeck, some years attending all three days of the Fair (Friday-Sunday). On our numerous trips, we have bought beautiful handmade pieces of jewelry, clothes, antiques/ collectibles, and countless gifts for friends and family. In 2019, they announced that the Country Living Fair would be held in Tennessee in the future so we will have to wait and see what the decisions post-COVID are. This is a must-see event and promises to act as the perfect girl’s trip for you and your friends.

Brimfield Antique & Flea Market

If you are a collector or more into high-end antiques and collectibles, the Brimfield Antique & Flea Market in Brimfield, MA is for you. Antique dealers and collectors travel from throughout the US and abroad to attend the world-famous Brimfield Antique Flea Market that occurs three times a year – for six-day periods in May, July, and September (we prefer the September show). The Show is considered the oldest outdoor antique event, running for 50+ years. Over 100,000 shoppers are estimated to attend the Antique Market with 12 fields filled with rows and rows of booths containing thousands of vendors. The Brimfield Flea Market is completely free to shop (except for a few gated areas), although you will have to pay $5-$10 for parking.

The Brimfield Antique Flea Market generates excitement and lasting memories that is contagious. For those interested in attending, know that the booths span up and down Rt. 20 for 1+ miles. The length and sheer quantity of vendors make it extremely difficult to reach all the vendors on a single visit, so identify exactly what you want prior to arriving. For us, the first time we attended the Flea Market we were overwhelmed by the never-ending vendors and collectibles. Once we grew familiar with the Market, we have identified our favorite dealers and know which ones we want to return to each time we attend. Since Brimfield can be overwhelming to a first time visitor (or even reoccurring shoppers), here are some tips for making it through the Brimfield Antique Show. Be sure to book a trip to the Brimfield Antique Flea Market for an exciting adventure that will allow you to walk through history as you explore countless antiques and collectibles!

Arundel Flea Market

Personally, one of our favorite hidden gems has been the Arundel Flea Market in Arundel, Maine. Unlike the more established Flea Markets, Arundel is much less structured. It opens when the first dealer sets up and it closes when the last seller packs up – every day! This is a must-see if you are traveling up the coast or visiting Portland for a few days.

The key to getting great finds and beating the crowds is hitting the Flea Market early in the morning – between 7-8am (the early birds get the deals). On the weekdays, over 20 dealers show up and set their treasures on long, wooden tables. On a weekend, the crowds multiply, especially on a beautiful weekend in the summer – where almost every wooden table or 200+ dealers are in attendance. Due to the lack of restrictions, some of the stuff is junk, but most of it includes great antiques/ collectibles and even better prices. Over the years, we have found countless treasures at the Arundel Flea Market and are always surprised at some of our finds. The Flea Market has something for everyone as there is an abundance of beautiful, unique pieces that will add the perfect touch to any home!

Also, check out the Stormville Antique Show & Flea Market in Stormville, NY. Both times we were there, we happened to come across the taping of Flea Market Flip!