Fall Foliage in the Finger Lakes

All the rain earlier this summer is producing amazing fall foliage in the Finger Lakes Region. This weekend (week of Oct 14-20), the Finger Lakes region should see its first appearances of peak foliage.

Cayuga County foliage spotters predict up to 90 percent color change in some areas by weekend, with bright gold, red and yellow leaves predominating. Estimations of color change submitted by observers range from 50-80 percent, with red and orange leaves are really starting to show on maples, sugar maples and oak trees. Russet-colored leaves are taking hold on White Ash trees, and trees such as the Poplars, Locusts, Hickories, Ginkgo and others are showing subdued yellow coloration. For more information, visit the Foliage Report.

It’s an amazing time of year! Come stay with us and enjoy the local Autumn festivities.

hummingbird outside our kitchen window

Many cultures have rich folklore about the magical hummingbird. But strangely enough, my favorite legend about the wonderful creature I read each time I see a greeting card made by Papyrus. Have you ever come across it?

<<Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration.  Hummingbirds open our eyes to the wonder of the world and inspire us to open our hearts to loved ones and friends.  Like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and to savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday.  The hummingbird’s delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation.>>

We’re excited to see our hummingbird friends return for the summer season. You can enjoy them from our kitchen window or let them join you in our backyard gazeebo!

Read more about hummingbird legend.

a guest's favorite

1 1/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup sour cream
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 extra-large eggs
1 tablespoon coffee extract, or 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water
1 teaspoon vanilla
Garnish: confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. and grease and flour a 10-inch (3-quart) bundt pan, knocking out excess flour.

Into a large bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl stir together bananas and sour cream. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy and add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in coffee extract (or espresso) and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture in batches alternately with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture, until batter is just combined.

Spoon batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 50 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean and cake pulls away from side of pan. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes and invert onto a rack to cool completely. Let cake stand, wrapped tightly, at room temperature overnight.

Dust cake with confectioners’ sugar.

Enjoy!

Are you looking for a fun activity to treat Mom to this Mother’s Day? If your Mom is an art lover, be sure to visit all the great local galleries and studios we have in the Finger Lakes Region. Just down the road in Auburn, you have a rich choice of exhibitions, music, film, folk arts, and more!

SCHWEINFURTH MEMORIAL ART CENTER

CAYUGA MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ART

FINGER LAKES Artists

Tiffany Glass at the Willard Chapel in Auburn NY

I finally visited the Willard Memorial Chapel this weekend. It was amazing to me that such beautiful local artistic work was just 5 miles from the Hummingbird’s Home – what a wonderful afternoon getaway.

<<The Willard Memorial Chapel is an unparalleled example of Tiffany’s work in various mediums. Included in the interior are 14 opalescent windows, a rose window, a large figure window, nine Mooresque-styled chandeliers, memorial tablets of glass mosaic tile and gilt bronze, furnishings of oak inlaid with metal and glass mosaic, a ceiling with gold leaf stencils and mosaic flooring. Built in 1892-1894, the interior of the Chapel was designed and handcrafted entirely by Tiffany Glass Co., and is the only complete and unaltered Tiffany designed religion interior known to exist in the world. The Chapel is on the National Register.>> read more

boat cruises on Skaneateles Lake

Are you thinking ahead to a late Spring break? I must be getting cabin fever because I am too! If you’d like to come visit this summer (book early, we get really really busy with graduations and weddings), Skaneateles Lake offers a wealth of water entertainment.

You can take a relaxing boat cruise with Mid-Lakes Navigation or rent a boat or canoe and paddle around the lake. Don’t forget that in the summer, Skaneateles Lake is a wonderful place to swim and cool off.

Enough dreaming– back to shoveling the snow (at least for now)! I hope to see you this summer.

antique shopping, anyone?

If you’re like me, you love shopping — and, most of all, you love shopping for antiques. Most of the rooms in the Hummingbird’s Home BnB are decorated with treasures I’ve found locally.

The history of the life in the Finger Lakes goes back many years. As a result the region is quite rich in antiques and collectibles from long ago. Many of the roads in the Finger Lakes are dotted with antique stores and collectibles shops. On this website, the region’s best innkeeper’s share their recommendations for the best antique shop in the Finger Lakes.

It’s a great way to spend the afternoon. But, take it from me, make sure you save some extra room in your trunk!

wine festivals on Cayuga Lake

Happy Mardi Gras weekend, loyal readers. This is certainly a popular weekend for us — and my guests are always talking about the great festivals on Cayuga Lake. This weekend, Cayuga Wine Trail events is hosting their 7th annual Mardis Gras on Feb 21 and 22 — click the link above for more details.

My personal favorite is the Wine and Herb Festival on April 24-26. You can sample herb prepared delicacies paired with fine wines and souvenir wine glass and recipes are included.

Our Inn, the Hummingbird’s Home, is just a stone’s throw from Cayuga Lake — we’d love for you to stay with us!

in room massage.

What better way to relax and relieve tension and start your vacation in the Finger Lakes than with a relaxing in-room massage. Luckily, we have found a great massage therapist who is available to you here at the Hummingbird’s Home.

I, myself, recently had the pleasure of receiving a massage from our recommended therapist and it was divine. I work a lot with my arms and shoulders — carrying tension in my lower back — and after a full body massage I could move freely for days. I have never felt so relaxed and at peace.

If you are interested in hearing about our deluxe special with in-room massage, please be sure to contact me for details.

the freshest breakfast fruit salad

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I like to double check my guests are eating heart healthy. My food is always fresh, delicious, and decadent — yet low-cholesterol friendly. Check out some of my guests’ favorite recipes on this blog. Make sure to let me know what you like and if you have any suggestions!