10 Fitch

For Mother's Day weekend, J's parents asked us to join them at 10 Fitch, a Bed and Breakfast located in Auburn, NY. They had gone to this Inn earlier this year and befriended the owner and Inn Keepers.

This was my first experience at a Bed and Breakfast and I wasn't too sure what to expect. I am uncomfortable with people waiting on me and I knew that the staff does that at B&B's. I was nervous about it being awkward essentially staying at a stranger's home. The fact that I was staying at a B&B with J's parents made me nervous. His parents are great, but it's always nerve wracking getting to know the boyfriend's parents.

As soon as we arrived, all of my nervousness and concerns subsided. The Inn is beautiful. You walk into the main foyer, to your left is a library/sitting room and to your right is the kitchen. Off of the library is a solarium with a gorgeous view of the grounds. This leads into another sitting room with fireplace and dinning room. We were the last ones to arrive so we got the last room, The Gardenview ( I would have picked this one :) ). I loved the room. It was decorated in soft greens, yellows and pinks. It has this really neat frog print on some pillows which matched the print on one side of the comforter. There was a little room inside our room which had a TV, two wicker chairs and a round ottoman. Each room at the Inn has it's own private bathroom. I absolutely loved the tile that the bathroom had. The shower was pretty impressive too. J's sister was teasing us because our room shared a wall with his parents but that didn't bother us.

After looking at the rooms, we joined his parents, M, J and Katie downstairs where Katie had cheese, crackers, fruit and wine ready for us. She is this young, bubbly, smiling and friendly Inn keeper . The owners were out of town so Katie ans Sean ( her boyfriend) were doing all the work for us. Well mostly Katie but Sean did help when he could. He had to work at the Sushi restaurant he is a chef at. We gathered outside, ate, drank and listened to J's mom tell us all about her trip to Spain. It's pretty impressive that for her 60 birthday, her and a couple of friends walked 75 miles ( I believe) through Spain over a period of 5 or 6 days. She had gifts for everyone. I got this really pretty red purse and cute silver hoop earrings. She also shared some postcards and such that she got on her trip. The pictures are yet to come, I think she said there are about 1,000 she took. After drinking a couple bottles of wine, the men went off in search of more wine and snacks. Us ladies sat around and talked for a little longer and then got ready for dinner.

We arrived at an Italian restaurant around 8pm for dinner. J and I ordered beers at the bar while we waited to be seated. The wait was much shorted than anticipated. I was having a hard time deciding what I was going to order since I was not exactly hungry after the cheese and crackers. Everything sounded good on the menu. I settled on a steak salad and it was delicious. It was really nice to be out to dinner with everyone, relaxing, drinking, eating and having good conversations. I like when everyone is laughing and enjoying each other's company. After dinner it was back to the Inn for for bed. I was exhausted.

The sun was shinning the next morning when we got up around 8am. I could hear a ball bouncing outside and to my delight, Sean was outside playing catch with his and Katie's dog Gully. He is a really cute dog. Black poodle mix and very friendly. He loves his mama for sure, he followed her around everywhere. It was very sweet. After getting ready for the day, J and I went downstairs to find everyone waiting for us except for mom. The wine and food did not sit with her well and she had been up off and on throughout the night sick. She did miss out on an amazing breakfast Katie and Sean prepared. It was a quiche served with a salad and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I wasn't sure about how salad and coffee would go together but it was delicious. After breakfast was over, mom joined us downstairs and let us know she was feeling much better.

After some discussion, it was decided that M and J would go to an Antique shop and come back at 1pm to pick mom up and meet J, me and dad in Skaneateles at Kabuki for lunch. Kabuki is the Japanese/Sushi place that Sean is a chef at. Skaneateles is a beautiful town just 10 minutes from where we were staying. It is right on the lake and the view is breath taking. There are shops and restaurants of all sorts up and down the main road. The lake is so clean and clear that you can see to the bottom even when you are out on the pier. J, dad and I walked in and out of the stores, not really looking for anything but just to see what each one was all about. There was a small wine store that offered tastings, of course J and I participated with that. *wink*

The pier at night

View from the pier

Village shops

Village Park

( For more pictures, check out Rel's blog- under the microscope)

At about 1:30pm we met up with group at Kabuki and enjoyed wonderful Japanese food and sushi. I ordered crab cakes that came with steamed rice with a seafood sauce on top. It was really really good. J ordered some sushi rolls and pieces. He liked his lunch too. We suggested that M should try goat cheese in the lobster/goat cheese salad. I got a chance to try a little and it was delicious. I am not too sure if we convinced M that goat cheese is tasty but she did say it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.

After lunch and some coffee, we went back to the Inn to get ready for dinner. J's mom and Katie had worked together on planning what we were going to have that night. After everyone caught a short nap, we met in the dinning room. Katie brought out the first course. It was a salad with figs wrapped in goat cheese and bacon on top with balsamic vinaigrette. It was superb. I never really had fig but the combination was perfect. The main course was a grilled salmon steak on spinach with cranberries and pine nuts on top of red potatoes. I was impressed by the presentation and taste of the meal. The food the whole weekend was phenomenal. Little did I know what was in store for breakfast the next morning. We went into the library after dinner to watch the Sabres play Ottawa in game 2 of the conference finals. I was trying to contain my enthusiasm for the game but F bombs and such were flying by the 2nd period. Katie also served Orange Chocolate Souffle for dessert by the 2nd period along with coffee. It was really good. All warm and chocolaty and melted in your mouth. I could only eat half of it though. Sorry Katie. I was full from dinner and so nervous about the hockey game that I gave myself a stomach ache. They ended up tying the game with seconds left in regulation and lost the game in 2nd overtime. By then, everyone had gone to bed and J and I were exhausted.

Sunday morning was sunny again and the house smelled of cinnamon. Yummy!! I was running a little behind getting ready for breakfast that would be served at 9:30am so I had to stop doing my hair and join the family downstairs. Katie served us waffles with cinnamon bananas and whip cream. They were so good. I have never had anything like it. I love sweets, especially in the morning and these were just the thing I needed. After we were done we took some pictures outside by this beautiful tree with purple flowers on it and finished packing to go home. The guys packed the cars while I finished getting ready and we all met downstairs by the cars. We hugged goodbye and hit the road to home by 10:30 am.

My weekend was amazing. J and I don't really get to spend a lot of time together during the week so this was perfect for us. It was nice that J's mom had 2 out of 3 children around to celebrate Mother's day. I can't wait to go back to the area. My thoughts on B&B's are forever changed.

Thanks to J's parents and Katie who made this weekend happen

A Letter to My Mom

Dear Mom,

I have been thinking about this letter for a long time. I have been trying for years to figure a way to let you and everyone around you known how much I appreciate having you as my mom.

In the first few years of my life, you were the one I depended on for everything. I had others, dad, grandma, my aunts but you were the one I went to first. I knew even at a young age you would provide me with the truth, protect me when needed and love me no matter what I did. You even set a place at the dinner table so my friends ( the imaginary type) could sit with me while I ate. When I decided to be a brat and throw tantrums, you ignored me, knowing as wise mothers do, that if you gave into them, they would never stop. Thank goodness for you, that method worked. I eventually stopped, you were right ( as always). I have always envied your patience, I have none. As things around you become hectic and crazy, you stay calm and collected, never letting your tough image crack. I used to think there was nothing that would make you cry. You weren't like the other moms, you could take on anything. I remember the first time I saw you cry ( well the first time you let me witness it). I couldn't believe it!! I wanted to make it stop, you are my mom and you can not be sad!! I realize now, you are human and sometimes you just have to cry but when I was little I would cry if I thought you were sad. I never want you to be sad. You only deserve happiness in your life.

When I got a little older, you guided me through the tough stages of growing up ( pre-teen/teen years). The strange hair cuts I had, the clothes I insisted on wearing, trying to fit in, you let me be who I wanted to be as long as I was true to myself. I felt awkward in middle school, I was taller than everyone, you showed me to embrace my height. I was chubby too ( I know you disagree but look at the pictures) and you had me believing it was due to "baby fat" until I was a junior in high school. I used to get annoyed when you would say that but I realize now it was to prevent me from obsessing about it and to teach me to love myself for me. I also know if it was a real issue, you would have addressed it. I still depended on you for everything, I wouldn't admit it then, but it was because of you that I didn't do drugs, or get in trouble. I didn't want to disappoint you. That is worse than any punishment. You kept the forum for "taboo" topics wide open. I would come into your room almost every night and talk to you about everything that is going on in my life. Who likes who, who is having sex, who is doing drugs, who is mad at who (girls that age were always mad at someone) or what the new "in" thing was and you would just listen. You would talk with me as long as I wanted, even though you had to get up for work at 4am. I know you gave me little lessons here and there using Oprah or Montel after school as the tools and I listened. I really want you to know that I listened and heard every tid bit of advice and information you gave me. Your voice came creeping into my head a lot of times when I was faced with a decision to make. I couldn't have gotten through those years as successfully as I did without you.

After graduating from high school, I had college to face. You had made college seem important but left all the decisions up to me. I wanted to stay local and go to a community college ( that's what everyone was doing) and you wanted me to go away to a 4 year school. I choose to stay local. I was convinced you wanted me to go away, so I wouldn't date the person I was dating. How silly was I at that age? It's not in you to be selfish like that. I did want you to know, you were right, I should have gone to a 4 year school, well I think I would had a little more fun. You were also right about the boyfriend at the time. Actually come to think of it, you have always been right about my relationships. Now that I was a grown up ( 18 and all), you left the life decisions up to me. You even let me move out without question when I was only 20. I thought I could do it all at 20. Work, go to school, party with my friends. The truth, I could do it, but not without you. I missed our nightly talks, your smiling face when I got home and watching Jeopardy with you. Then the tables turned and you needed me at this time of our lives. This is when I learned what being a strong women really meant. You are my inspiration for life.

I am looking forward to the next stage of my life, hopefully marriage and children, and I know I am prepared because of all that you have taught me. I am truly grateful that you are my mom, I couldn't have picked a better one if I had to. For all your hard work and dedication to your family I want you to know you are appreciated. I love you mom and you are my world.

Love your daughter.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY