MORE MARCH MADNESS! (or reasons to celebrate Spring in Findley Lake, NY)

ROCK MAPLE RACING SNOCROSS

Sat & Sun, March 28 & 29, 2009

Peek ‘n Peak Resort

Top snowmobilers from across the tri-state region will compete in races along a custom built track at Peek‘n Peak. Racing begins at 9:00 am each day and tickets are $12 per day or $20 for a 2-day pass available at the gate. Sponsored by Chautauqua County Federation of Snowmobile Clubs. www.chautauquasnow.com

But don’t let the snowmobilers have all the fun. The Peak’s trails are open for skiing through the coming weekend and will remain open on a “weather permitting” basis. Check out the snow conditions & weather forecast at www.pknpk.com

 

IT’S TIME TO FILL THE EASTER BASKETS

    Mark your calendars: Easter is April 12, 2009

The gardens are starting to show signs of spring which means Easter is right around the corner. Don’t settle for the same old Easter candy – surprise the family with our old fashioned candy treats! From Nik-l-Nips, wax lips & sugar daddies to delicious chocolate covered pretzels,truffles & gourmet licorice --  you’ll be “top bunny” for sure.

And check out the brand new “BOOK NOOK” - featuring our very favorite classic children's’ book titles. The perfect addition to any Easter basket!

 

 IRISH SUNDAYS

 Sun, April 5, 2009; 1:00 – 3:00 pm

We’re calling the first Sundays of the month “Irish Sunday” for a good reason! That’s when a group Irish players (with members from all corners of the region) sit in for a live jam session at the Blue Heron Inn. Let the house chores & the yard work wait -- come listen as they play; join us for lunch, tip a pint & taps your toes!

 

KEEPSAKE CANDLE WORKSHOP

Sat, April 4, 2009; 11:00 am

Beth’s Candle Cottage and the Blue Heron Inn will once again host a Keepsake Candle Workshop on Saturday,April 4, 2009. Participants can choose from a variety of themed buttons, buttons & trinkets or can bring their own collectible objects to craft a personalized keepsake candle. The cost is $25.00 per person and includes all candle supplies, lunch at the Blue Heron Inn and shopping discounts at Beth’s Candle Cottage and Nostalgia @ Blue Heron Inn. No experience is necessary and attendance is limited; please call Beth at the Candle Cottage at 716.679.7874 to make a reservation. Join us - the candles are a great gift idea – the perfect graduation, wedding, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift.

 

THINK SPRING!”  LODGING SPECIAL

Our “buy one – get one free” special was so popular we’re extending it through April! Buy one night's accommodations & get the 2nd night FREE! Come relax with your special someone - the shops & restaurants are open, the wineries are gearing up for the season & the local courses will soon be open so bring your clubs and get a jump on your golf game. Or relax over that book you’ve been meaning to crack into, or the many games & magazines we provide for your pleasure. (This special is applicable 7 days a week and must be mentioned at time of initial reservation).

GENERAL MUSINGS

Yes, I’m still playing Lexulous -- the on-line scrabble game I talked about in an earlier post (http://www.lexulous.com). Yes, I’m addicted – I sneak in a game whenever possible. During the day, at home, at work, in the middle of the night if I’m wide awake. It’s a great down-time activity, challenging, fun and best of all it makes me think! The bonus is the nice people I’ve met & chatted with while playing – makes me feel kind of hopeful about the fate of man/womankind.

This game brings the world together – I’ve played with folks from far away countries (where English is NOT the national language) such as Korea, India, Malaysia, England (just kidding about the English!) Ireland, Australia, even some countries I’ve never heard of. And of course people from all corners of the US. Most are courteous, (offering a hello & the wish of good luck or good game at the start) some introduce themselves and state where they’re from.

I’ll let my cell phone ring if I’m in the middle of a game; hey it’s timed & after all the point is to have fun AND win! My husband & daughter think I’m crazy – I just well might be. It’s free, not against any laws & it’s cool to talk to people an entire world away. Lexulous is a lot of fun & I don’t plan to stop playing anytime soon!

Cheers to Spring!  Tobi

SIGNS OF SPRING

TUNDRA SWANS

One of the surest signs of spring is the return of the Tundra Swans. The Swans are large white migratory waterfowl that spend their summers in the arctic tundra that stretches from northwestern Alaska to northeastern Canada. And these birds are big! The Swans measure 47 - 58 inches long, have a wing span of approximately 66 inches and can weigh anywhere between 10 and 20 pounds. They form lasting pairs and mate for life. Their warbling sounds are loud & sound similar to dogs barking in the distance. Tundra Swans migrate in steps, stopping along their migration route to rest and eat. They typically use wetland habitats, but rely on open water for food and safety, so they will select larger lakes that are slower to freeze, such as the Lower Great Lakes.

Luckily a group of approximately thirty swans lands in Findley Lake for a few days each spring and autumn. The wetland habitat is the perfect feeding venue and the nearby fields provide the added bonus of unharvested grains, tubers, and winter wheat. If food is scarce in the wetland habitats the Swans will make short trips to the fields to find food. The arrival of the Tundra Swans makes us think about the magic of the changing seasons – all part of the “circle of life”.

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS

This age-old rhyme may be true somewhere but not here in SW New York State! Our spring typically unfolds like this.

1.  The snow melts away from our streets and yards; the huge mounds of plowed snow are still a few feet high. We walk the yard in every direction, no longer restricted to the single path to the front door.

2.  As we peruse our gardens we see the start of young spring growth; tiny snowdrops, crocuses & pansies stretch through the recently frozen soil to excite us about what’s to come. We also take note of how much work the gardens need after the long winter’s sleep.

3. Then we have the typical St. Patrick’s Day snowstorm, or sometimes the early April snowstorm. The weather reminds that Winter isn’t totally over and Spring is not to be taken for granted, at least not yet.

Come celebrate Spring in Findley Lake! The ice on the lake is melting, soon the brave fisherman will start trolling the shallow waters. Golf at Peek ‘n Peak is just around the corner! And the shops will extend their seasonal hours, filled with new gifts, wearables & collectibles. The Blue Heron Inn is open all week long for overnight guests and serves breakfast, lunch & dinner on the weekends.

And don’t forget about: Blue Heron Inn’s “First Sundays” when local Irish players sit in & jam from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Next gig: Sunday, April 5, 2009

Cheers to all that’s unfolding!

SPRING FORWARD/FALL BEHIND

It's March and the days are getting longer. We'll turn the clocks ahead on Saturday night - you know the old DST ditty: 'spring forward/fall behind'. What it means is that as of Sunday it will remain light outside until after 7:00 pm -- a big change from the short, dark days of winter. And, weatherwise, it's all good from here on in! Not that we're fooled into thinking winter's over - nothing could be farther from the truth. Here in Chautauqua County, New York, it's not unusual to have a St. Patrick's day snowstorm, a late March or early April snowstorm. So although it'll be smooth sailing in terms of increasing amounts of daylight, we know 'sailing' is still quite a few months away. BLUE HERON INN "LODGING' STIMULUS PACKAGE" Stay one night & get the 2nd night FREE! Applies to both weekends & weekdays. The ski & snowboard conditions are fabulous, as you'll read below! SPRING SKIING! Take advantage of the low spring rates and awesome skiing conditions at Peek'n Peak this weekend! You'll enjoy the 24"-50" base and warm weather that make spring skiing so fun and popular. Don't miss out on the great savings -- all day lift tickets are now $37 for adults and $24 for children. WEB SITE NEWS We ran into some delays with the new web site so it's doubtful you'll see it by the end of the weekend. Not a big deal - just wanted to let you know if you're perusing the old web site. Plan a trip to Findley Lake where the shopping is fine, the dining is delightful & the lodging is exactly what you need to shake away those winter blues! Make us part of all your seasons! Cheers! Tobi & Bruce

MARCH MADNESS!

At the moment the sun is shining in an effort to deceive the fact that it's painfully cold outside! It's 9 degrees and the whipping wind makes it feel more like 3 degrees below zero! The calendar may read March, but this winter is definitely far from over! To help warm things up a bit we're offering our own March Madness specials:

Lodging

• buy one night's accommodations & get the 2nd night for FREE! Applies to both weekends & weekdays. The ski & snowboard conditions are fabulous -- plan a mid-week get-away & take advantage of Peek 'n Peak's reduced mid-week lift tickets.

Dining

• It's the month to honor St. Patrick -- what better way to celebrate than featuring drink specials all month long.?

Shopping

• All tin toys are 50% OFF! Now is the perfect time to add on to your collection or to share (with the younger members of the family) your interest in old-fashioned things that "wind" or "pull back" to go!
• We're offering $5 Mystery Bags that have are valued at an approximately $20 - $25. Are you game?

Web site News

The brand new web site is almost ready to go live!!! I'm planning to green light the project by the end of this week & will send up a flare when it's ready to peruse. It has been a true labor of love - we hope you enjoy the new bells and whistles!