Category Archives: Upstate New York

Did You Hear That?

Posted on April 22, 2022 by maryannniemczura

Nothing wrong with my hearing, my husband says. Recently I asked if he heard the high-pitched sound. He didn’t. What did it sound like? Like glasses in the cupboard hitting one another. Then he went upstairs to change clothes and … Continue reading →

Posted in did you hear that?, Easter snow, sights, sounds,, Upstate New York | Tagged busy birds, daffodils, fly fishing, forsythe, life's opportunities, tulips | 43 Comments

Job Completed

Posted on October 9, 2020 by maryannniemczura

By popular request, this post shows the Town installing a new storm drain recently. A previous post last month outlined the street markings to indicate where pipes were to be installed underground to meet up with the drain between our … Continue reading →

Posted in heavy equipmenbt, road machinery, storm drains, Upstate New York | Tagged concrete, four seasons, gardens, grass seed, looking inside the storm drain, plywood frames, soil | 16 Comments

How We Met

Posted on March 15, 2019 by maryannniemczura

Intriguing how people meet their life partners and choose to marry. Luck and chance are sometimes involved. Or fate? Some choose to marry high school sweethearts. Not in the cards for me. I was in graduate school and teaching at … Continue reading →

Posted in chance, fate, long-distance romance, luck, Massachusetts, meeting our spouses, right time and place, Upstate New York | Tagged enchanting poetry, joys, magical moments, mistakes, similar faith and values, sorrows, time teaches perspective | 30 Comments

Slithering Snake in Suburbia

Posted on May 18, 2018 by maryannniemczura

Silly me! Why I thought I would never see a snake in our garden here in Upstate New York, I don’t know. I had my fill as a young girl in Massachusetts and then the big, long rattlesnakes in Colorado, … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Massachusetts, snakes, suburbia, Upstate New York | Tagged garden, garter snake, Upstate New York | 10 Comments

Witty Winter

Posted on February 10, 2017 by maryannniemczura

Bring It On! Out the window I observe large white snowflakes cascading silently, covering the lawn. A vast white blanket. Early visitors scurried through our yard leaving tracks: rabbits. Where do they winter over I muse? Under a neighbor’s … Continue reading →

Posted in animal tracks, Nor'easter, snowflakes, Upstate New York, winter | Tagged blizzard, rabbits, snowplows, squirrels, Upstate New York, white blanket, winter storms | 15 Comments

Get Ready for Old Man Winter!

Posted on October 24, 2016 by maryannniemczura

Cold, soaking rains followed by winds and falling leaves usually indicate the end of Autumn. While I love the colors of this season, I would appreciate warmer temperatures. We are fortunate to have four seasons in Upstate New York. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, Autumn Leaves, nature, snow, Upstate New York | Tagged cold rains, fall gardens;, leather gloves;, Old Man Winter, preparations, Upstate New York, wool & fleece | 10 Comments

A Chance Encounter

Posted on September 16, 2016 by maryannniemczura

My daily walk at the lake park has long been a favorite ritual. How pleasant today’s weather was, and many folks were out and about. People in Upstate New York tend to be friendly and outgoing so it is quite … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, Onondaga Lake, retirement, Salt Museum, Upstate New York, walks | Tagged chance encounter, nature walks, Redwoods of California, stories, trees, walking along the lake | 6 Comments

July 4th Traditions

Posted on July 4, 2015 by maryannniemczura

Family, friends, faith, food, flying the flag and fireworks create memorable traditions this July 4th. Neighbors are out relaxing, playing, taking walks and cooking outdoors. Everyone stops to reflect on this country and on those who went before us and … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrations, Colorado, faith, family, fireworks, food, friends, July 4th, prayer before meals, Pueblo, traditions, Upstate New York, vegetable gardens | Tagged birthday cakes, children, education, faith, family, fireworks, flag, food, friends, gardens, German prayer before meals, July 4, memories, music, traditions | Leave a comment

Nature Changes Clothes

Posted on April 4, 2015 by maryannniemczura

Snow fell along the lake this April morning as I walked and observed nature in its frozen glory. Birds above carried on conversations with one another. Lots of flooding and displaced ducks and geese tried to decide where to … Continue reading →

Posted in Central New York, life, life lessons, Musings, nature, reflections, snow, Upstate New York, weather, winter | Tagged anticipation, changes, changing seasons, colors, lake, life, nature, reflections, snow, spring, Upstate New York, walking, weather | 2 Comments

Childhood Freedom

Posted on March 14, 2015 by maryannniemczura

Recent media accounts of a couple in Maryland prompted me to write this week about the freedom and pleasure of childhood play. I was fortunate to start my early childhood years in rural Massachusetts in and around the Springfield, Palmer … Continue reading →

Posted in a stranger, childhood play, children, family, family stories, Fulbright Teacher, Germany, life lessons, life skills, Maryland parents, Massachusetts, Musings, Parents, rural America, school, schools in Germany, Sturbridge, Upstate New York | Tagged childhood, children, freedom, independence, life skills, Maryland parents, Massachusetts, parents, play, responsibility, trust | 2 Comments