This took just five minutes to be done but I could not help laugh at the fact that when we first came to the USA together, we both had photos and fingerprints taken at the airport and to have go all the way over to Syracuse to have this done again is simply ridiculous. Not only did it absorb two and a half hours of our day, it also cost money for the gas, parking charge and wear and tear on our vehicle. Strangely enough, I was not asked for my own biometrics to be redone either!

This brings me to this morning. What a gloriously beautiful morning it is and with blue skies and sunshine. The snow has once again all but disappeared after the rain we had yesterday and the countryside looks like the precursor to spring.  I cannot wait until the daffodils and tulips start poking up through the soil and then spring will truly be here. We are once again fully booked this weekend and as time goes by, we shall start to rapidly become fully booked for the summer if the past four years are any reflection on the demand for our accommodations here at Cobtree.

It has been a busy week here at Cobtree for Jane and I. For example, answering inquiries by email and by telephone, taking guests reservations, processing credit card deposits, finalizing the inventory audit for each of the properties, adding  a number of hi-definition televisions to some of the properties, modifying the design of the new charcoal barbeque unit ordered from the Mennonite metal fabricators, placing advertisements, attending the local chamber of commerce business after hours, writing this blog and this afternoon, I was out in the fields helping my friend Todd Hoover put in some field drainage tile for a local farmer. It was such a glorious and warm afternoon, just like spring! Working out in the fields helps me get some good fresh air in my lungs and helps me keep fit however, I am a fair weather worker and so when it is bitterly cold, too hot or when it is raining, you will simply not find me out working in such adverse elements!

Jane as always works diligently at her translation and interpretation throughout the day but starts her day walking the two dogs. I on the other hand start my day down at the Hall Diner and chew the fat with the guys that go there together and dine around the “Power table”. These are made up of people from all walks of life. Retirees, farmers, construction workers, car repairers, local business owners and so on. There is always something to talk about and some topic or other to discuss for example, the application by the Martins in Gorham who are Mennonites wishing to start up a puppy mill there. This is a huge hot topic and resulted in thousands of people signing a petition against the operation even though the planning board approved the application. However, this decision was “vacated” by the town board at a special meeting last night on a technicality. It will be interesting to see how the application will now proceed with such venomous objections from both the local community and indeed, from objection from people throughout NY State and wider afield.

There is never a dull moment in the Finger Lakes!

Cayuga cottage has a very  large but older style stereo Sony television in the lounge which was not replaced as it is still a very good TV with a good picture. The TV upstairs is also an older style TV but is also good for use in the bedroom.

So for me, Superbowl Sunday may as well be, a Superbowl full of Chili. Whilst the masses may go to the many sports bars in the area and drink their fill of beer and spirits in front of a wide screen television set, and enjoy the game,  I on the other hand will be enjoying a visit to the local 8 screen cinema to enjoy a movie with Jane and those in the minority that do not watch American football or participate watching the super hyped Superbowl.

Sunday, July 15, 2012 – 7:00 am
1.2 mile swim – 56 mile bike – 13.1 mile run

Race cut-off times apply. The swim course closes at 8:40am, the bike course closes at 12:30pm, and the run course closes at 3pm. Swimmers will be brought to shore after this time and cyclists/runners should expect uncontrolled intersections and aid stations to be unavailable.  An ideal course for beginners and experienced athletes alike – here’s why plenty of aid stations on the course,five splits (swim, bike, run, T1, T2) will be taken for all athletes

DoubleMussel 88.7
Since the mini-Mussel moved to Saturday in 2007, we can offer crazy people – err, dedicated triathletes – the chance to compete in BOTH the mini-Mussel and Musselman half-iron. Aside from enjoying 88.7 total miles of fun, you get to sleep and eat in between. Fabulous prizes await the men and women will the lowest combined times, and we’ll honor those “going for broke” with extra supplies at the medical tent.
Aquabike returns
Thanks to a request from an athlete who wants to compete but can no longer run due to injury, the Musselman is proud to again offer an Aquabike division. Aquabike was formally introduced by USA Triathlon in 2004 and consists of the first two legs of the half-iron: a 1.2-mile swim and 56-mile bike. Participants receive three official split times (swim, T1, and bike) and start with their age group wave in the half-iron. Aquabike athletes will be given the same support as all Musselman athletes on and off the course but will not be eligible for awards.

Swim course (1.2mi/1.9km)
The single-loop swim features an in-the-water start and deep water throughout. Waves are typically 110-150 swimmers each, guided by skilled kayakers. Struggling swimmers will be helped to shore. Water temperature is typically in the mid-70′s, so expect wetsuits to be allowed.

Bike course (56mi/90km)
The rolling, single-loop bike course debuted in 2008 for the fifth anniversary race. Starting from Seneca Lake State Park, it traverses the byways of Seneca County to the east of Seneca Lake, including long stretches of shoreline on both Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. You’ll pass wineries on the Seneca and Cayuga Wine Trails, penitentiaries, small towns, Mennonite farming regions (look out for horse & buggies!), and a shady stretch in Sampson State Park.

Run course (13.1mi/21km)
The single-loop run heads west along a lakefront path and winds its way through the city of Geneva.

February is fast approaching and with it comes the start of the winery events calendar which starts with the Chocolate and Wine tasting weekend from the 10^th through 12^th February. This will closely be followed by Valentine’s day where many couples like to escape cabin fever and just get away for a short break from the norm. Next on the calendar will be the March Cruisin the Tropics weekend, a very popular event that runs this year from 23^rd through 25^th March. Tickets for all of these events can be purchased online at www.senecalakewine.com

The Geneva Chinese Kids Club celebrated the Year of the Dragon at the Geneva Hydrant Hose firehouse yesterday. It was a joyous occasion for the children many whom have been adopted from China by American families here. The group is supported by many local families and by Overseas Chinese students attending the local Hobart William Smith Colleges here in Geneva to whom the group send to them their sincerest thanks for all of their support. The photo above is that of Jane teaching Sean Wright Chinese Calligraphy and below Sean is doing some coloring. Here is a photo of the children doing a Chinese dragon dance and aptly, this is the year of the dragon in the Chinese calendar!

and finally, the children listening to a Chinese story read to them by teacher Wai.

The snow that had accumulated earlier in the week has all bad disappeared once again as we had rain yesterday that melted it all away again. This winter has so far been so mild and must really be hurting the ski resorts like Greek Peak and Bristol Mountain this year. Already we have started to see our forward reservations materialize earlier than is normal for this time of the year together with many inquiries for people wanting to get married and to use our accommodations here at Cobtree.

We had planned on building two further properties here in the fall or early spring of 2013 but now think we will wait another year before doing so. An alternative plan would be to build a separate home for Jane and I nearby and then to rent out the property that we ourselves currently reside in here at Cobtree. In addition to this, we are looking into the feasibility of creating a location on site where people could enjoy holding a wedding, large group gathering, religious retreats, reunions and so forth and where, we could erect a  seasonal 40 x 60ft tent from May until end of September for this purpose and top build a unisex restroom next to it for the guests to use without the need to rent portable toilets or for the guests to use the bathrooms in the homes as they currently do when they hold such an event here at Cobtree. As you can see, a lot is going on behind the scenes and we are always looking to improve our business and services that we can offer to our guests.

This morning, Jane and I are going to be going to a Chinese New Year function down in the City of Geneva which is a small party for children (Predominantly adopted Chinese children from mainland China) to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon.