When we first moved back to NY in February, I said that one of the things I was going to do was to embrace -- probably for the first time in my life -- all the things that my home area had to offer.
I think a lot of us probably don't do enough of that.
We get caught up living in the same place that we grew up in, and we take it for granted. We end up forgetting that we have things like the Dutchess County Fair.
We took the boys to the Fair this week, arriving as the gates opened at 10 a.m. and not leaving until after 5 p.m., until their little legs had enough and THEY were actually TELLING us, "Can we go home now?"
Still, it was probably the first time in my 44 years that I spent that long at the Fair. Usually, I've zipped through it. But this time, Tee and the boys and I really made a point of going through everything. Of course, we hit the rides area three times, but that was fine. The boys loved it, and we enjoyed watching them. But we also wandered through the livestock pavilions, watched a backyard circus show, ate some great zeppole, went through all the arts and crafts buildings, bought a few knick-knacks, even some Christmas gifts for friends and family.
I really loved it. Maybe because, again, like the baseball game, I had a chance to "see" it through the eyes of a 7-year-old and 3-year-old. But it was a great time, and I applaud the Dutchess County and Ulster County fair organizers for putting on great shows.
But that was just the capper to a great two months. Also this summer, we watched fireworks from our front lawn from the St. Augustine's Church Bazaar; Tee has taken the boys several times to the Ulster County Pool; we've walked down from our house to the village of Highland for a couple of town festivals; we've eaten a few times over in the eclectic village of New Paltz (when we haven't frequented our two favorite places: Gino's in Poughkeepsie for Italian and Pete's Famous in Hyde Park for a quickie meal); and last week I went out with two close friends and had martinis at the Blue Martini on the Newburgh waterfront.
Never thought I would say this, but it sure is nice to be home again in the Hudson Valley.
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