A Christmas Carol

Need help getting into the holiday spirit? 

Well, go see A Christmas Carol at the

UPAC in Kingston. 

December 3, 4, and 5. 

Hurry tickets are going fast!

All details can be found at the link below:

http://www.upac.org/event_info.php?id=390&venue=upac

10 out of a 100

I have only carved a sliver off my 100 things to be thankful for list.  Here are 10 more things I am thankful for over this holiday season (in no particular order):
(20/100)

1. Morning coffee-  Love the smell of it and the much needed caffinated effects.
2. Digital Cameras- Two reasons here: I am not very photogenic and I am a novice photographer sooo..I think you get.
3. Woodstove- one of the best features in our house!
4. Flannel Sheets- It is getting to be in the mid 20's at night now, brrrrr- chatter chatter
5. Pandora.com- Lifesaver when in need a new playlist.
6. Rail Trail Access - The rail trail is right across the street from our house, so nice for all seasons. (especially because I saw a Pileated Woodpecker and 2 Blue Mountain Birds yesterday so pretty!)
7. Better Homes Cookbook- Thanks Mom for this Christmas present from years ago or poor Matt would be eating Elbow Macaroni with Chick Peas every night- ( Too bad it's my fav)
8. Target Red Card 5% off everything!- If you don't have a Red card I am sorry because this time of year it is soo nice to automatically get 5% off your bill for just being a customer.  Thank you Target!
9. Hot Apple Cider at the Mohonk Gift Shop- Besides the awesome conversations you can have at the counter, the apple cider is so good and so nice after so many interesting cafeteria lunches at the MoMoHo.
10. Evite- I love Evite! It is so easy, so fun and really helps makes connecting with friends when throwing any kind of party.

Deck the Halls..

Now that Thanksgiving has past it is officially the 'Holiday' season. So, I have put together a list of local businesses that can help you get your house spruced up for the holidays.

*One word of advice, always call ahead to make sure they have what you are looking for, to avoid any holiday family fun disaster car rides.  Also, ask about payment methods, many of the farms do not accept credit cards.

Christmas Tree Farms

Bell's Christmas Trees- Accord
Available at the property: Pick and cut your own tree, tree wrapping, tree stands, Santa, wreaths, food and drinks, and farm animals.  Saws are provided and pre-tagging too.

647 Mettacahonts Road, Accord, NY 12404 Phone: 845-626-7849.  They have a great website: http://www.bellschristmastrees.com/index.html
Directions: Rt 209 to Mettacahonts Road , follow signs to 647 Mettacahonts, AccoRoad.
Open: November 26 until December 24 (noon), Monday to Friday 9:30 until dark, Saturday and Sunday 8:00 until dark.
You choose and cut Christmas tree varieties: Blue Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir.

Christmas Tree Lane-Wallkill

Available on property: Pick and cut your own, pre-cut, and living trees.  Trees bagged and tied, free tree trimming, and complimentary saws and refreshments, as well as, Christmas wreaths, decorations, a gift shop, and picnic area. (brrr!) It gets better they also have an animated barn with 200’ Christmas Train.
555 Bruyn Turnpike (Christmas Tree Drive), Wallkill, NY 12589. Phone: 845-744-8642.

Open after Thanksgiving through mid December.  You can come and tag a tree now!  Open only on the weekends from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Cash or Check only

U-Choose and Cut varieties: Douglas Fir.
Pre-cut varieties: Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir.
Living, rooted tree varieties: White Spruce.


Corey's Christmas Tree on the Farm- Marlboro
Available on property: Christmas trees, wreaths, door knocker wreaths and homemade potpourri sachets.  There are also wreath demonstrations and complimentary cup of hot cocoa for just visiting the farm. (How nice!)

Open starting November.  Please call for directions.

451 Plattekill Road , Marlboro.  845-591-9375 (Marlboro!- Maybe you’ll get to see Jersey Shore’s Snooki!)

Varieties available: Blue and White Spruce, Douglas Fir, Norwegian and regular Pine. 


Hurds Christmas Tree Farm- Modena
This farm is amazing and so much fun during the fall season.  I can only imagine how fun it will be during this upcoming winter season.
Available on property: Fresh and u-cut Christmas Trees, wreaths, kissing balls, and living trees.  Christmas cow train, toasty bonfire, hot cocoa and s’mores!  Cross Country skiing and skating available- weather permitting of course. J

Open weekends, November 267-December 20- 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
845-883-7825     2187 Route 32, Modena
http://www.hurdsfamilyfarm.com/christmasTrees.php                               info@hurdsfamilyfarm.com
http://hurdsfamilyfarm.com/blog/christmas-tree-care/


Mountain Fresh Farms
Available on property: U-cut Christmas trees, tree Wrapping, tree Stands, carry-out bags wreaths, saws are provided and tall trees.  They also offer wagon rides, an outside fire place pavilion, a petting zoo, food and drinks, balled trees, and pre-tagging. 

282 Orchard Road, Highland, NY 12528 . Phone: 845-795-2260. Fax: 845-795-5389. Email:
Directions: Bailey's Gap Road near intersection with Orchard Road, 2 miles south of Highland off Route 44/45, 15 minutes from Exit 18 NYS Thruway. Open: November 26 to December 19, weekends 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call for midweek.
U-Choose and Cut your own: Blue Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas Fir, Norway Spruce, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Black Hill Spruce, Canaan Fir.


Rielly's Christmas Trees- Esopus
Available on property: Cut or dig your own Christmas Tree.  Bring your own burlap and tying material.  Varities available: Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir and a lot of Blue Spruce.

Open weekends 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and weekdays by appointment.

38 Poppletown Road, Esopus   845-384-662 or 845-389-0097

Stover's Christmas Tree Farm- Stone Ridge
Available on property: U cut Christmas Trees.  Saws provided. 

Open the day after Thanksgiving, Thursdays-Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. through mid-December.  Please call ahead after mid-December.

93 Schoonmaker Lane, Stone Ridge, NY 12484 Phone: 1 845 687-7512. Alternate Phone: 203-727-1741.

 U-Choose and Cut varieties: Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, White Spruce.


Other Locations to Purchase Trees, Wreaths, and more…


Jenkins & Lueken Orchard-
Available on property: Pre-cut Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths and boughs, trees tied, pre-picked produce.
69 Yankee Folley road, New Paltz, NY 12561. Phone: 845-255-0999. Email us at:
Open: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Payment: Cash, Check.
Christmas tree varieties: Pre-cut varieties: Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir.


Kelder Farm- Kerhonkson
PreCut varieties: Blue Spruce, Canaan Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, White Spruce.
info@kelderfarm.com

Not all of our area’s Tree Farms are listed above or if you simply don't trust my opinion check out these websites for other ideas, locations, etc.  http://www.visitvortex.com/hardenburgh_christmas_tree_farm

http://www.pickyourownchristmastree.org/NYxmasse.php

100 things to be Thankful for...

One of the many magazines I peruse through had an article called 100 reasons to be thankful during the holidays...

So I thought I could come up with my own...however I probably should have done this 100 days before January 1....

I will be adding a few things to be thankful for through January 1.

Here we go:

1. Netflix- what a great invention.  I am currently in love with it and my blue ray player.
2. Spell Check- really we all should be thankful here.
3. My husband- I completely lucked out and am thankful on a daily basis.
4. Leftover halloween candy
5. EZ pass- People you really need to get on board here.
6. My cousins- always supportive of me- I love them.
7. Pleasent conversation with a stranger on a plane.
8. Holiday Cocktail Parties- what's not to be happy and thankful about; great food, drink, and friends.
9. Caller ID
10. Having a job and doing something I love.

2 things my side of the mountain needs

As I already mentioned on Facebook my side of the mountain is lacking two very lucrative and fun things.

1) A local movie theater
2) A Fun Zone

What I am wondering is where to people in Ellenville and Pine Bush go to see movies?  You can to Rosendale but not if you want to see any main stream movies.  New Paltz has a theatre but really- we might as well have one like that over here.  You can drive the 30 minutes to Kingston but I think that movies should be more accessible to the community than that. 

Someone please educate me.  Where do you go to watch 'new' movies? Don't say you illegally download them.  Do you think we are missing out here?  I do.  I would put them in myself but I don't think I will be am multi millionaire anytime soon.  If I ever am- I will attempt to just as long as it is reasonable. 

Tell me what you think...

Slacker

Sorry for being a slacker!  I haven't posted anything in 2 or 3 weeks now!  Halloween got the best of me and now I am in Oregeon.  I am not sure how much time I will have while I am here to discover anything interesting in the Hudson Valley to share. 

If you know of any events or restaurants or music that you want to share with everyone please feel free to comment or post something on the Locally Speaking Facebook page.

Until then- I hope you are having a great weekend!!

-Annie