Excerpt – Sip & Shop 2025

Our 5th annual Sip & Shop felt like a celebration of friendship and tradition. This year my longtime friend Traci joined us—someone who’s been part of our lives since we first moved to Canandaigua nearly 30 years ago. After a long, laughter-filled brunch at Simply Crêpes with boozy coffees and mimosa flights, we wandered downtown, visiting every boutique and giving a little business to each shop we passed. The day was less about shopping and more about honoring the rituals and friendships that have carried us through decades of adventures

Creative Journey - A wildly creative, electrifying night with DakhaBrakha at the historic Smith Opera House — music that felt like art, ritual, and storytelling all at once.

Kindred Spirits - A magical storybook-themed baby shower filled with joy, warmth, imagination, and family — a celebration that felt like stepping into the first chapter of a new life.

Kindred Spirits - A Halloween getaway to historic Gettysburg — Gettysburg at Halloween feels like stepping into a historic ghost story wrapped in small-town fall charm — atmospheric, playful, and quietly magical.

The Wild Life - A two-hour rural ride to Keuka Lake — complete with hills, dogs, a flat tire repaired by a Mennonite family, and a crop-dusting plane that felt way too close for comfort — followed by a sun-soaked boat day with friends, food, wine, and small-town exploring. A perfect Fall in the Fingerlakes adventure.

The Wild Life - Oktoberfest Ride with the RBC

Mobility, outdoor exploration, biking, and learning new ways to ride.

Bike to Seneca Lake, mostly via the Ontario Pathways Trail. Solitude in natural beauty of my 2 favorite settings - forest and water.

A five-day bike tour from my home in the Fingerlakes to Niagara-on-the-Lake with my bike buddy Holly — 150+ miles of canal paths, small towns, Niagara Falls, wine country, and the joy of crossing into Canada on two wheels.

A joyful Quebec family reunion on Lake Baldwin, where Bailey met the whole extended family for the first time. We spent the day kayaking, swimming, playing games, enjoying a pig roast, and reconnecting — then took the long scenic route home through Vermont and the small towns we once loved.

A glamorous long weekend in Saratoga Springs with Catherine — boating on Canandaigua Lake, road-tripping to the Roosevelt Hotel, dressing up for a bougie day at the racetrack with brunch at the 1863 Club, celebrating Diane’s birthday with cupcakes, and wandering the charming streets of Saratoga before heading home.

A week-long supported bike tour through the Finger Lakes — familiar roads, peaceful miles, light social moments, and a quietly empowering reminder of my strength, autonomy, and commitment to vibrant aging.

A long weekend in Boston for Meredith’s bridal shower — biking the city, dinner at Faneuil Hall with family, celebrating Kevin and Meredith, and enjoying a warm, meaningful few days in Brookline.

A spring getaway to Hershey and Gettysburg — staying at the historic Londonderry Inn, meeting Trace and Shayna for dinner, exploring downtown Hershey and the Gettysburg Battlefield, hosting a cozy Indian takeout dinner with friends, and celebrating Jai’s birthday in a meaningful, relaxed gathering.

The Wild Life - A rainy but peaceful solo bike tour from Pittsford to Niagara-on-the-Lake — crossing into Canada via the Peace Bridge, meeting my brother near the Falls, reuniting with Serge and Lisa for wine, dinner, and relaxation at Harbour House, and wrapping up with two days in Buffalo

Wander the World - A determined, rain-or-shine birthday adventure through Costa Rica — from night walks in the Monteverde cloud forest to ocean views in Manuel Antonio, ziplining, snorkeling, gourmet farm meals, and tropical relaxation, all shared with Catherine and Karen. The trip ended in Dallas with visits to Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards — and miraculously, my badly sprained ankle healed by the time I got home.

Winter in St Petersburgh Florid - a chilly but beautiful month in St. Petersburg — biking through coastal towns, visiting museums and performances, escaping to sunny Hollywood for a long weekend, welcoming Ben and Bailey for beach days, and sharing a condo full of quirks, laughter, and unexpected memories with my siblings and Serge.

Winter biking in the Finger Lakes — riding through quiet, frosty landscapes with new cold-weather gear, hauling my sturdy bike trailer for errands, and learning to love the stillness and strength of cycling all season long.

Sip & Shop – A Cozy Winter Tradition With Friends

Decking the House for the Holidays - Nov 2024