Happy Thanksgiving to all!   This year for the first time in 16 years I will be traveling home with Willy & Zelda to stay with my family  and celebrate with them.  I feel truly blessed this year…family, friends, job…all of it adds up to a pretty great life and an enormous amount of gratitude!

Hope you all have a great holiday… in Woodstock…or wherever you happen to be.

K

Are these the tall pines of the Inn?? I think not…took this photo last weekend while visiting the Ipswich MA area to run my first trail marathon.  Stayed at a wonderful B&B..The Inn at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate…these tall pines belong to them..so to speak.

This weekend one of the gems of local theater/writing takes place at the Shadowland Theater in nearby Ellenville.  Check out www.actorsandwriters.com and whatever you do …don’t miss the show!!

peace,

Karen

If you have never experienced the Woodstock Halloween parade…then you simply must come, dress up and join the fun.  The parade will be on Halloween, Monday, 10.31 starting at 4:30 pm.  This parade is for the kids…but the adults get into it just as much and the result is one of the most imaginative, spectacular parades I know of!

Upcoming…writing about it now so you can plan/book ahead…Levon Helm and his band will be holding two benefit concerts the weekend of November 18 & 19.  Let’s see musicians like Natalie Merchant, Donald Fagen, John Medeski  and more will all lend their talents to raise money for our neighbors here in the Catskills who were affected by Hurricane Irene.  Friday’s concert 11.18 will be held at UPAC  www.upac.org  Saturday’s concert at the Levon Helm studios right here in Woodstock.  www.levonhelm.com

peace,

Karen

Right out my front door I took this picture of the lovely Japanese maple blooming red!

This coming weekend don’t miss the annual Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase here in town at the Bearsville Theater….what better place to have this event…right here in Woodstock where such greats as Jimi Hendrix lived and played.  Great music will be playing all over town!  Then take a gorgeous hike on Overlook or up Slide to view the incredible foliage making its display.  This is one of my favorite times of year here in the Hudson Valley…apple picking, Halloween, fall foliage  it doesn’t get much better!

peace,

K

It is just an amazing time of year to be up here in the mountains…cool nights…gorgeous days…leaves turning…and the trails are just glorious to be on this time of year.  I am winding down my training for my first trail marathon and its just heaven to be at places like Boulder Rock, Olana, Poet’s ledge…and many others!

Come check out the Monday Night Live at the Bearsville theater sessions.  This coming Monday 10.10 features  The Jay Collins & the Kings County Band check them out at www.jaycollinsband.com  The following week..don’t miss Shannon McNally!

The weekend of the 14th & 15th brings the Sheep & Wool Festival to the area in nearby Rhinebeck. 
peace,

Karen

This is a photo I snapped from Van Morrison’s old house…which sits up on Ohayo Mtn.  Had the great fortune of attending a wedding there this past weekend…wow!!  Woodstock is just chock full of little hidden treasures like this…houses tucked away ..all with such character and beauty…I would have never seen it but for this wonderful wedding!!  The Ashokan reservoir is simply breathtaking!  Tis the season to plan your fall getaway to the Catskills…we are filling up quick on the weekends…so plan now to come and peep at leaves,  hike the trails …or just lounge by the Millstream!!

peace,

Karen

If you are in town this weekend do not miss the amazing all star line-up planned for Sunday night 9/18 @ the Bearsville Theater.  Check it out www.bearsvilletheater.com  Area musicians lend a hand to raise money for local relief efforts by Family of Woodstock.  You can also donate to Family by going directly to their website  www.familyofwoodstockinc.org  But hey…why not come up to the Catskills enjoy the show and donate in person!  If you are unaware of the devastation up here…check out some of the videos being posted on YouTube.  I live here…and can’t even believe what I have seen…what has happened to the communities just a short drive from the Inn!

I have witnessed the kindness and caring of many, many individuals actively reaching out day after day to help those in need.  Kind of restores my faith in humanity!

peace,

K

I am sure many of you have been wondering …did the Millstream flood?  Luckily it did not.  The Inn is fine we are all fine, however many area communities..some of your favorite haunts have been devastated.  Our biggest problem was no power for 4 days ..and then no internet for about 1.5 weeks.

Because we would like to do something to help our neighbors in Margaretville, Tannersville, Windham..and other towns  I have dedicated my marathon training and the miles logged each week to recovery in the Catskills!  “Miles for the Catskills”  works much like other charities I have run for…each week I will post my miles trained on Facebook…you can pledge per mile and donate to and send a check:

Family of Woodstock 16 Rock City Road, Woodstock NY

or simply go to their website and donate right online!

check out their website @ www.familyofwoodstockinc.org

Family of Woodstock will be helping area communities with costs for relocation, food, shelter, and on and on…Please help NOW!

Thanks,

Karen

Fire in the sky!

It was simply a spectacular display of fireworks this year in Woodstock!  Thanks to our fire department for an unbelievable show!  Music before and after…what else do you expect from Woodstock??  As the summer winds down and we prepare for fall its so nice to spend an evening under the stars with good friends.  Diann, Brian, Nicholas and I had a great time.

Don’t forget the magical music series at Maverick Concerts.  Again, sit under the stars and enjoy some of the best classical music ever!  Check out their schedule at www.maverickconcerts.org

peace,

Karen