Mom,
Thank you again for your support in helping me in my new business. I am so lucky to have this camera to photograph my weddings with this year and I am very excited to start using it.
I'm sorry that you weren't here to watch me go home with it, but believe me, I was very excited!
I'm anxious to share my new albums with you at the end of the Wedding season, so get ready!
:)
xoxoxoxo

I got the chance to meet up with Sue and baby Nolan in tow at Phillips European

Her birthday was earlier in the week but we both had things going on...so we met for lunch and then got to pick from at least 30 different delicious cakes for dessert.
I brought and lit a candle for her to make a very special birthday wish with.
We caught up, sighed with happiness watching Nolan make happy faces while he was dreaming in his carrier,

and really enjoyed my time with her. She's become a wonderful mother.

Happy Birthday Sue!!!
:)
Thank you for everything you shared with me during lunch. You help me more than you realize.
xoxoxo

We met up with Jim and Susan Thursday night at our usual hang out...though it has been a while for me since I've been out.
They brought birthday wishes and presents for me - very sweet.
:)
A subscription to a Digital photographers magazine, and a pair of really sweet blue and purple drop earings...my favorite colors together...
It was so nice to have the chance to celebrate together - Thank you both very much.

:)

Saturday morning, headed out with so much excitement to
Skaneateles for a much needed getaway with Mickie and Carrie.
We met up at the spa that we have been wanting to go to for a while - Mirbeau Inn and Spa
It was incredible as you drove in - as if you just crossed the ocean into Europe or something. Completely authentic and awe inspiring...to me anyways.

I was so excited once I saw them waiting there, and we all headed into the spa.

We got their tour, and slipped into our robes as we waited for our mani's and pedi's.

The atmosphere was SO relaxing. The scents in the air were invigorating and cleansing. I could definitely get
used to treating myself to a spa visit now and then.
;)
We caught up as we waited soaking our feet. Once they called us into the room, it was so great because we were all in the same place...so we could still be right there with each other




We really enjoyed the procedures as we relaxed the afternoon away

After our nails and toes were done, we relaxed back in the waiting area again for everything to dry. Then we headed outside to their whirlpool area. It was an unusually warm day - like 60 and in MARCH - with lots of sunshine...which made the hot tub experience SO nice.
It was 103 degrees and felt great!
Here's before we all got in all snazzed up in our comfy robes and slippers

Mickie LOVED the hot tub!


Care and I relaxed outside on the lounge chairs while Mickie got in an extra ten minutes in the jacuzzi

Once she got out, she soaked up some more heat by the fireplace...I couldn't believe they even had a fire pit...this place was SO nice and luxurious!

We got dressed again after I relaxed a few moments in the sauna and then took a little tour of the Inn/Restaurant area...
These little windows wound around the stairs as we entered the dining area

If you look out the window of this picture, you can see the bridge that resembles the blue bride monet painted in his famous painting...they also built their gardens (in the summer) to resemble his painting as well!

The entrance to the restaurant

I loved the look of these lanters as they led your way up to ther guest rooms


They even had koi living in the pond ...

Guest rooms...

Wait staff enjoying the 60 degree weather outside

Some passerbyers took our picture for us and we took theirs too

Quaint waterfall seeming like a natural brook overflowing the rooftops...

Once we soaked in everything from their gardens, we headed back in to enjoy some Riesling and a Shirley temple
:)
Mickie sat down to look through their guest book - lots of signatures from many people over the years...
Mickie summed up our getaway perfectly with her inscription:

"A place people come to
watch life grow (in the garden)
escape life (in the spa)
celebrate life (over a toast at dinner)
and to know the very essence of life...
time with good friends.
This is such a place...Mirbeau!"
-Mce 3/06
Cheers!

Once it was time, we headed over to our Inn down the road to freshen up for our dinner in town.
The INN was so nice and our room was really cozy. They took me to a place called
Joe's Pasta Garage
Everything was delicious and we had a lovely time

We headed back to the room after, and there were more surprises for me. I can't believe how lucky I am to have these lasting friendships in my life.
The presents came out, and the cake, and everything was presented to me with love and friendship

mmm marble cake with whipped cream frosting!

mmmm cake!
The plates were Japanese themed and as toppers there was a japanese bag filled with fake chocolate/coconut sushi candies...and chocolate dipped fortune cookies! SO clever!
:)

Once I blew out my candles and we had some cake, I got to open my gifts...

They got me 2 pairs of really sweet earings, and an extremely clever idea of a gift - business advertising magnets for my car! Mickie drew the car with the ad on it so I could see what it would look like in theory until it arrives for real at our house - neat right! Also, Mickie is a web editor for her job for an entertainment site - so she gets to meet famous performers now and then. She recently got to meet John Corbett -
(here's the picture she got of him with her at her job)

...who we fondly last knew as Aidan on Sex and the City. She had him sign his picture for ME so I have my OWN copy!!
:)
Thank you both so much for everything - I can't believe how lucky I am sometimes and undeserving because everyone should be so lucky and I know they aren't...but it is never taken for granted by me...I know how lucky I am.
xoxoxo
After we enjoyed all the sweets and gifts, I brought out the wedding pictures I took at Carrie's wedding so she'd have a copy of them. We had fun going through them all together reminiscing the wedding again...



We snuggled up ready for bed after this and said our goodnights. Up and at 'em in the morning...a very nice sleep in actually. We headed down for their continental breakfast and caught up chit chatting some more

We headed back up to the room to pack, and then checked out to browse the shops in the little town for a while.
Carrie checked out the Vera Bradley section of bags...

We found a magnet perfect for Mickie
"Had she punished him enough? How could she be sure?"
:)
After shopping, we headed over to the bakery where they got my cake the day before - and where our cars were...
We browsed the baked goods, and they got a few goodies for the ride back.
This was my last picture of them before we separated

:(
I took a quick picture of the little Patissiere because it was so cute...

Until our next meeting dear friends - I am so greatful to you both and love that we still get together to celebrate one another - I couldn't be me without you.
Here's to another wonderful getaway!
Love, Sue
*****************
Mickie's wonderful poetic rendition of our stay ~ Thank you Heim for always taking the time and thought to remind us of all the details with truth and humor in such a beautiful way:

One night in Skinny Atlas
by -Mce Dutcher

Giggles galore about patisserie pastries and water-stains
Herbal foot-soaking and loud story-swapping commence
Palm and ped-pampering with shiny paint

A rest before a dip in the outdoor hot tub
Waterfall at the fireside
An unusually sunny day for March
Wines and Temples by the gardens
Mirbeau an influence on the artist Monet
Then came the itch, such a bitch
On the back end
Of a good friend

Preparations for dinner at the turquoise-stained inn along the lake
Fashionable attire and a spot of wine before dining
Possibility that the pasta garage uses wiper fluid in food
But the company and conversation make such details insignificant
Unique pasta pillows
Garlic knots the unanimous favorite

Return to the inn
Whipped cream topped-marble cake with wine
Sushi-shaped candy & dangly earrings
“Aidan” signed photo print
Laugh-inducing hand-drawn car magnet hint
Chatter and laughter, appreciation expressed
Comfy clothes and cleansing for the night’s sleep
Hair-from-down-there discovered in the sheets
The offending curls are removed through fits of laughter
Vulgar sight for such a quaint space
Memories of a body condom in Boston
Sharing intimate secrets, expressing fears, attempts to comfort
A final hug to seal the day before the lights are dimmed

Silence until morning, waking to gray skies and rain
Partially rotting breakfast on a lakeview porch
Toxic water pales in comparison to favorable conversation.

Greedy innkeeper exchange before patisserie pop-in
Damp stroll around town to shop-hop and parley
Farewells near; another successful jaunt among 20 years of excursions
There by a lake was evident
One very calming fact
For each other they would travel “to the moon and back”.

Skaneateles, NY Trip
3/06

Mom is back again at the end of the week - Thursday.
This time, Peter is with her!
I met with them at their hotel nearby around 5 and was finally able to give her a gift Peter had me get for her from us that they saw together at Craft Company no. 6 the last time they were here.
She was VERY excited as she opened it.
A mirror she had eyed and loved...

Happy early Birthday mom!
We shared a celebration toast, and then headed out to a restaurant I've been meaning to take Peter since he started becoming a Harley rider.
We had lots of chit chat and a really delicious dinner at The Dinosaur BBQ

mmmmm ribs for Peter!

We had a great time and were looking forward to being together again the next day - this time with Bob.
(He was at the NIN concert nearby with some friends so he met up with us on Friday night for dinner).
Both mom and I worked Friday afternoon, and then we all met up for a little window type shopping before our dinner reservations. I took them to the Pittsford area since our restaurant was nearby and they really enjoyed browsing around in
People's Pottery

We spent quite a bit of time in there, and then headed over to Mario's Via Abruzzi for a wonderful dinner.
Bob met us there after work and we really had a nice time.
Fried spaghetti! mmm was really good!

Here's mom cracking the claw of a lobster for Peter

I had Chicken French which was DELICIOUS. Thank you mom and Peter for such a wonderful birthday week.

It was so nice to have the chance to see you here in Rochester and we're always looking forward to spending more time with you out here again.
Buds will definitely miss all the extra petting time and attention he got!

:)