I hunted and hunted for a place that could fit a good number of friends that would not totally wipe me out financially (although my friends graciously kicked in toward the cost of the place)....as "the list" has cost me quite a bit this year. Since some of my friends were coming from a distance I also had to think of a location that might make it easier for some of them, and I wanted it to be on one of the finger lakes. Plus, I did not want to be at a lake house that was right on top of neighbors....yes I had lots of specifications I had to meet.
BUT, I finally found a place on Seneca lake, Secluded Shores. And let me tell you......I was NOT disappointed. I had only seen it in the photographs online, but it was perfect! You had to go down a long gravel road to get to the house, and the neighbors were not close at all. The view......AMAZING! We were right over the lake and the covered deck around the house was the hit of the house and the place to be.
I only could have a certain number of friends that could be invited, which was the most difficult thing about the weekend as I had so many people who I would have loved to have join me.
The weekend started with my parents coming for the first night as most of my friends could not come until the next day. One of my Best friends and my God-daughter arrived late that night from Albany, so my birthday morning started BRIGHT and EARLY with a camera flashing in my face capturing my major bed-headed hair as she sang happy birthday and baby giggled away.
Another friend arrived late that morning and a friend from Boston arrived at lunchtime. It was an absolutely beautiful day.....unusually hot and sunny, but there was a wonderful breeze. Just relaxing, listening to the lake, enjoying the sunshine with friends was a terrific way to spend a lazy birthday afternoon.
For my birthday dinner, we met up with 2 more friends at the Moosewood in Ithaca. A terrific vegetarian restaurant, then we all returned back to the lake for my mom's famous "disappearing chocolate cake" with all 40 candles for me to blow out!
Saturday, the girls all went hiking at Watkins glen. I went along for the first little bit for a photo shoot, but due to my recent foot surgery I obviously could go no further so K and I took the little one back to the house for nap time--ha ha!!....she had no intention of napping.....
Then it was off to Wagner Winery for lunch and start our wine touring. We did tasting there and at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars (http://www.lamoreauxwine.com/) , Leidenfrost Vineyards, and Atwater Estate Vineyards (http://www.atwatervineyards.com/). My favorites were Lamoreaux and Atwater.
Back at the lake house it was more relaxing out on the waters edge with wonderful snacks and conversation, until the wind kicked up and we had to retreat inside....then everyone disappeared to different corners of the house for nap time until dinner.
After a wonderful dinner, the sadness of saying goodbyes to some of the girls started as a few had to depart early.......taking us down to only 3 for the night.
The weekend was fun, I wish that I had been in perfect health so I could have been more active and engaging and peppy. I think that movies sometimes ruin things for real life. We watch them and they portray these perfect stories of how things should go, and unless they are a comedy they don't show: the grill that won't light, the stove burner that won't heat, the fact that my foot was swollen and I had to go home "NOW" and put it up or it would explode, baby needing a nap (or her poopy diapers), people being tired from their every day lives and just needing a break and crashing, that the wind was too much for the campfire thus no smores, wine tasting was enough---who needs to come back and drink more--we are old and that just makes us more tired. Movies just make you expect that everything will be perfect and that when a group of women go away together they will laugh, and giggle, and drink wine, eat food, play games.....perfect.
But one thing I have come to realize this past year (although I think I already knew it), Life is hardly perfect and I need to not be disappointed when it is not. I need to accept the beautiful moments that I DO have, the friendships that I DO have, the love that I DO have, the experiences that I HAVE had, and the life that I DO have for God has blessed me with so many wonderful people in my life.....this weekend solidified that. My friends are amazing, I love them so very much. I am so thankful that they could end this year of Living Life Abundantly with me and celebrate my turning 40 with me. They are truly a blessing to my life.
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