North Chili, NY, USA: August-September 2013
Hi everyone. I made it safely to Western New York! I've already seen the Erie Canal, and did a quick stop at some places in Buffalo.
My first day in Western New York I drove into Spencerport to see the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal goes all the way from Buffalo to Albany, linking the waters of Lake Erie to the Hudson River. It was proposed in 1808 and completed in 1825.
The canal increased trade and was a huge success, although originally thought to be folly. The canal is still used today, but primarily for recreation instead of shipping.
We took a quick trip to Buffalo, to see some of the sights. Can you see me? I'm in front of the Buffalo Historical Society. This building was built for the Pan Am Exposition of 1901.
This statue is in front of the Historical Museum.
Me and President Lincoln behind the Historical Museum.
Isn't this gazebo pretty? They play music here sometimes. I wonder where this leads?
The Japanese Garden is also behind the Historical Museum
Isn't it peaceful here?
A few blocks north of the Buffalo Historical Museum is a quiet street with lovely houses. Back in 1901, however, it was part of the Pan-American Exposition grounds. It was here that President McKinley was assassinated.
Here's a close-up. This was the location of the Temple of Music.
Red Jacket welcomes us to Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY. Forest Lawn, open since 1849, is a stunning example the cemetery as a nature park.
Red Jacket is a great Seneca orator.
Ely Parker, the great Seneca lawyer and diplomat is buried here. He served in the Civil War and wrote the final draft of the Confederate surrender terms at Appomattox.
This is the burial site of President Millard Fillmore.
His family is also buried here.
They say Love never dies, but...
Did you know that Rick James was from Buffalo? He's buried in Forest Lawn.
This is the Blue Sky Mausoleum.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed this mausoleum for this cemetery, but it wasn't built until 2004.
This is one of the most well known Victorian memorial-The Blocher Memorial, unveiled in 1888.
Here I am at the Penzey's store on the Elmwood Strip in Buffalo, NY.
Penzey's Spices is am amazing spice company. You can order online, but, if you're lucky, you can visit a store!
There are historical houses all over Western New York.
I'm standing in front of the historic Buckland House in Rochester, NY.
Here's information about the Buckland House in Rochester, NY.
Mount Hope Cemetery was dedicated in 1838 in Rochester NY, and is America's first municipal Victorian cemetery.
Like Forest Lawn in Buffalo it has a park like setting.
Susan B. Anthony is buried here in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY.
The simple grave of an extraordinary woman.
Susan B. Anthony is buried next to her family.
Frederick Douglas is buried here in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY.
Frederick Douglas in Mount Hope Cemetery.
There are several monuments dedicated to Frederick Douglas and his family.
This one is for his wife, Anna.
A beautiful monument in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Trek arrives in North Chili, NY and is greeting by Amelia Ratkins, another rat who travels! http://ratkinstravels.blogspot.com/
Trek and Amelia Ratkins in North Chili, NY
As I mentioned, I arrived safely in Western New York, North Chili, to be precise. That's a suburb to the west of Rochester, NY. I met Amelia Ratkins-she's a traveling rat too. She has a blog and Facebook page. She's traveled the world, but has retired here. Her brother, Cabot, is still traveling. In fact, he's currently in Oklahoma. Amelia said she's been a bit lax with her blog-but hopes to post things soon. Here we are in my hostesses yard!
LeRoy is the birthplace of Jell-O!
Here I am at the Jell-O Museum!
Oil paintings were commissioned, then copied as advertisements.
I like these vintage ads.
Bill Cosby visited here too!
Lots of famous people like Jell-O.
Look at these old delivery trucks!
Jell-O molds!
LeRoy manufactured more than Jell-O. Lots of patent medication was made here.
There's a transportation Museum located in the Jell-O museum.
I always wanted a Cadillac!
Let's race.
Whoo hoo. Let's go for a ride!
A few blocks away from the Jell-O Museum is the factory where Jell-o was made until 1964.
Here's the old Jell-O factory.
Another view of the old Jell-O factory.
The LeRoy House.
This may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Another famous building in LeRoy.
This statue looks familiar.
Oatka Creek in LeRoy, NY.
The South Wedge is a neat neighborhood in Rochester, NY. There are all kinds of unique shops here.
I'm enjoying all the incense at Now and Zen.
Look what's outside the ice cream shop!
Hedonist Artisan Chocolates. Yummm.
However will I decide?
I think I'll stay here for a while.
Hedonist also has ice cream. Look at today's offerings.
I decided on honey plum sorbet! Delicious.
A cheese shop!!!!!!!!!
I'm in heaven!
We were able to walk to a local farmers' market.
Look at this luscious produce!
They have flowers too!
What should I get?
Here I am in front of the Chili Doll Hospital and Museum.
We took a quick trip to Buffalo, NY the other day.
In Buffalo, we stopped at the site where President McKinley was assassinated!
We visited Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo. What a beautiful place. Did you know Rick James is buried here?
If you like to cook, you may have heard of Penzy's Spices. They are AMAZING. If you don't have a store near you, you can order online.Fortunately, they opened a store in Buffalo-so we went to the Elmwood Strip and paid a visit!
We saw where Susan B. Anthony is buried, this is where she lived. She lived in many places, but this was her home in Rochester, NY. The home in which she was arrested for voting and the home in which she died.
There are actually 2 homes involved. This home next door is the visitor's center. It is also where Susan B. Anthony's sister lived.
Here I am in front of the visitor's center.
Just down the street is a little park.
Here are Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas having tea. They actually were good friends and often had tea together. I think I'll join them.
We had to stop at the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY. After all, if it wasn't for him, my trip might not be possible. He was the man that put cameras into the hands of everyday people!
What a house!
Isn't it grand!
This is a side view from the West Garden.
Where am I?
Here's a view from the East Garden.
Isn't it lush?
What a pretty pond.
Isn't this a lovely place to relax on a hot day?
This garden is amazing.
Here's another view of the East side of the George Eastman House.
I could live here!
My hostess loves old cemeteries. We visited Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY. There are lots of famous people buried here too!
We drove out to LeRoy, NY. You'll never guess what's there!
I went to a Steampunk Festival!
I went to Leonard Oakes Winery for a Steampunk Festival! But I also got to look around the vineyard and orchard.
Aren't these grapes amazing!
Amelia and I took a ride on an apple wagon.
Leonard Oakes Winery is also LynOaken Farms and they grow lots of apples too! (They also make an amazing hard cider!)
Time for a bite from a food truck! I got a corned beef sandwich with hand cut fries (with vinegar!). To drink-what else but Steampunk Cider!
Look at the neat outfits this couple has.
Some people dressed in Steampunk, others a combination of styles, and some wore regular clothes.
The festival was described as a festival of bizarre proportions.
There were sideshow acts! The Amazing Arlo is lying on a bed of broken glass! His assistant is about to bring down that mallet on top of the cinder block on Arlo's head!
There were bellydancers.
And a lady sword swallower who also swallowed fire!
I loved the attire of this couple. I think I need a Steampunk outfit too!
My hostess here in WNY loves to read and even has her own mystery blog (http://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/) so we had to check out some new releases.
We stopped at the barn where my hostess boards her horse to say hello. His name is Harley and he's the dark bay off track thoroughbred in the middle.
There are lots of ice cream stands around WNY. Most sell Perry's ice cream-a wonderful family owned and operated business located right here in WNY! Look at all those choices!
Oregon Blackberry Cheesecake! Perfect.
I'm in Appleton, NY at the Winery at Marjim Manor. Not only do they make great wines, but the manor also happens to be haunted!
It was though these doors that Shubal Merritt accidentally shot and killed his son on a Thursday afternoon at 3.
Many other deaths occurred here as well...on Thursday afternoons at 3!
The ghosts are friendly, however, and the wines are delightful.
I'm having a taste of The Cat's Meow, it's made from the catawba grape.
Look at these great wines!
On the way to the winery we passed through Lyndonville, NY. Many Amish and Mennonite people live here.
Many people don't realize how important agriculture is to New York. I'm standing in front of a corn field.
Here's one of many orchards.
Apples are growing.
Look at these lovely peaches!
I think I missed picking peaches!
Look at this old tractor!
Here's another orchard.
Look at what's drying from the ceiling.
Isn't it wonderful?
View from the car-The Museum of Play in Rochester, NY.
View from the car-the newspaper offices of the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY
I said goodbye to some new friends, these lovely rats, some cats...
A goodbye from Sam.
Finally I said goodbye to Kathy, my hostess here in Western New York. I had a wonderful time. I hope you enjoyed my pictures and will contemplate a trip to this great area!
My first day in Western New York I drove into Spencerport to see the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal goes all the way from Buffalo to Albany, linking the waters of Lake Erie to the Hudson River. It was proposed in 1808 and completed in 1825.
The canal increased trade and was a huge success, although originally thought to be folly. The canal is still used today, but primarily for recreation instead of shipping.
We took a quick trip to Buffalo, to see some of the sights. Can you see me? I'm in front of the Buffalo Historical Society. This building was built for the Pan Am Exposition of 1901.
This statue is in front of the Historical Museum.
Me and President Lincoln behind the Historical Museum.
Isn't this gazebo pretty? They play music here sometimes. I wonder where this leads?
The Japanese Garden is also behind the Historical Museum
Isn't it peaceful here?
A few blocks north of the Buffalo Historical Museum is a quiet street with lovely houses. Back in 1901, however, it was part of the Pan-American Exposition grounds. It was here that President McKinley was assassinated.
Here's a close-up. This was the location of the Temple of Music.
Red Jacket welcomes us to Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY. Forest Lawn, open since 1849, is a stunning example the cemetery as a nature park.
Red Jacket is a great Seneca orator.
Ely Parker, the great Seneca lawyer and diplomat is buried here. He served in the Civil War and wrote the final draft of the Confederate surrender terms at Appomattox.
This is the burial site of President Millard Fillmore.
His family is also buried here.
They say Love never dies, but...
Did you know that Rick James was from Buffalo? He's buried in Forest Lawn.
This is the Blue Sky Mausoleum.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed this mausoleum for this cemetery, but it wasn't built until 2004.
This is one of the most well known Victorian memorial-The Blocher Memorial, unveiled in 1888.
Here I am at the Penzey's store on the Elmwood Strip in Buffalo, NY.
Penzey's Spices is am amazing spice company. You can order online, but, if you're lucky, you can visit a store!
There are historical houses all over Western New York.
I'm standing in front of the historic Buckland House in Rochester, NY.
Here's information about the Buckland House in Rochester, NY.
Mount Hope Cemetery was dedicated in 1838 in Rochester NY, and is America's first municipal Victorian cemetery.
Like Forest Lawn in Buffalo it has a park like setting.
Susan B. Anthony is buried here in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY.
The simple grave of an extraordinary woman.
Susan B. Anthony is buried next to her family.
Frederick Douglas is buried here in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY.
Frederick Douglas in Mount Hope Cemetery.
There are several monuments dedicated to Frederick Douglas and his family.
This one is for his wife, Anna.
A beautiful monument in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Trek arrives in North Chili, NY and is greeting by Amelia Ratkins, another rat who travels! http://ratkinstravels.blogspot.com/
Trek and Amelia Ratkins in North Chili, NY
As I mentioned, I arrived safely in Western New York, North Chili, to be precise. That's a suburb to the west of Rochester, NY. I met Amelia Ratkins-she's a traveling rat too. She has a blog and Facebook page. She's traveled the world, but has retired here. Her brother, Cabot, is still traveling. In fact, he's currently in Oklahoma. Amelia said she's been a bit lax with her blog-but hopes to post things soon. Here we are in my hostesses yard!
LeRoy is the birthplace of Jell-O!
Here I am at the Jell-O Museum!
Oil paintings were commissioned, then copied as advertisements.
I like these vintage ads.
Bill Cosby visited here too!
Lots of famous people like Jell-O.
Look at these old delivery trucks!
Jell-O molds!
LeRoy manufactured more than Jell-O. Lots of patent medication was made here.
There's a transportation Museum located in the Jell-O museum.
I always wanted a Cadillac!
Let's race.
Whoo hoo. Let's go for a ride!
A few blocks away from the Jell-O Museum is the factory where Jell-o was made until 1964.
Here's the old Jell-O factory.
Another view of the old Jell-O factory.
The LeRoy House.
This may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Another famous building in LeRoy.
This statue looks familiar.
Oatka Creek in LeRoy, NY.
The South Wedge is a neat neighborhood in Rochester, NY. There are all kinds of unique shops here.
I'm enjoying all the incense at Now and Zen.
Look what's outside the ice cream shop!
Hedonist Artisan Chocolates. Yummm.
However will I decide?
I think I'll stay here for a while.
Hedonist also has ice cream. Look at today's offerings.
I decided on honey plum sorbet! Delicious.
A cheese shop!!!!!!!!!
I'm in heaven!
We were able to walk to a local farmers' market.
Look at this luscious produce!
They have flowers too!
What should I get?
Here I am in front of the Chili Doll Hospital and Museum.
We took a quick trip to Buffalo, NY the other day.
In Buffalo, we stopped at the site where President McKinley was assassinated!
We visited Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo. What a beautiful place. Did you know Rick James is buried here?
If you like to cook, you may have heard of Penzy's Spices. They are AMAZING. If you don't have a store near you, you can order online.Fortunately, they opened a store in Buffalo-so we went to the Elmwood Strip and paid a visit!
We saw where Susan B. Anthony is buried, this is where she lived. She lived in many places, but this was her home in Rochester, NY. The home in which she was arrested for voting and the home in which she died.
There are actually 2 homes involved. This home next door is the visitor's center. It is also where Susan B. Anthony's sister lived.
Here I am in front of the visitor's center.
Just down the street is a little park.
Here are Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas having tea. They actually were good friends and often had tea together. I think I'll join them.
We had to stop at the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY. After all, if it wasn't for him, my trip might not be possible. He was the man that put cameras into the hands of everyday people!
What a house!
Isn't it grand!
This is a side view from the West Garden.
Where am I?
Here's a view from the East Garden.
Isn't it lush?
What a pretty pond.
Isn't this a lovely place to relax on a hot day?
This garden is amazing.
Here's another view of the East side of the George Eastman House.
I could live here!
My hostess loves old cemeteries. We visited Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY. There are lots of famous people buried here too!
We drove out to LeRoy, NY. You'll never guess what's there!
I went to a Steampunk Festival!
I went to Leonard Oakes Winery for a Steampunk Festival! But I also got to look around the vineyard and orchard.
Aren't these grapes amazing!
Amelia and I took a ride on an apple wagon.
Leonard Oakes Winery is also LynOaken Farms and they grow lots of apples too! (They also make an amazing hard cider!)
Time for a bite from a food truck! I got a corned beef sandwich with hand cut fries (with vinegar!). To drink-what else but Steampunk Cider!
Look at the neat outfits this couple has.
Some people dressed in Steampunk, others a combination of styles, and some wore regular clothes.
The festival was described as a festival of bizarre proportions.
There were sideshow acts! The Amazing Arlo is lying on a bed of broken glass! His assistant is about to bring down that mallet on top of the cinder block on Arlo's head!
There were bellydancers.
And a lady sword swallower who also swallowed fire!
I loved the attire of this couple. I think I need a Steampunk outfit too!
My hostess here in WNY loves to read and even has her own mystery blog (http://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/) so we had to check out some new releases.
We stopped at the barn where my hostess boards her horse to say hello. His name is Harley and he's the dark bay off track thoroughbred in the middle.
There are lots of ice cream stands around WNY. Most sell Perry's ice cream-a wonderful family owned and operated business located right here in WNY! Look at all those choices!
Oregon Blackberry Cheesecake! Perfect.
I'm in Appleton, NY at the Winery at Marjim Manor. Not only do they make great wines, but the manor also happens to be haunted!
It was though these doors that Shubal Merritt accidentally shot and killed his son on a Thursday afternoon at 3.
Many other deaths occurred here as well...on Thursday afternoons at 3!
The ghosts are friendly, however, and the wines are delightful.
I'm having a taste of The Cat's Meow, it's made from the catawba grape.
Look at these great wines!
On the way to the winery we passed through Lyndonville, NY. Many Amish and Mennonite people live here.
Many people don't realize how important agriculture is to New York. I'm standing in front of a corn field.
Here's one of many orchards.
Apples are growing.
Look at these lovely peaches!
I think I missed picking peaches!
Look at this old tractor!
Here's another orchard.
Look at what's drying from the ceiling.
Isn't it wonderful?
View from the car-The Museum of Play in Rochester, NY.
View from the car-the newspaper offices of the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY
I said goodbye to some new friends, these lovely rats, some cats...
A goodbye from Sam.
Finally I said goodbye to Kathy, my hostess here in Western New York. I had a wonderful time. I hope you enjoyed my pictures and will contemplate a trip to this great area!