This year I spent the 4th in Sleepy Hollow near Ichabod’s Landing. I decided to go for the fireworks display after going for a hike with some friends earlier in the day. I found a vantage point and settled in – conversing with all the other “tourists” during the wait.. Since I hadn’t tried this before, I just blindly followed the crowd, trusting the wisdom of the mob! We all ended up planted just above the newly created portion of the Westchester River Walk at Ichabod's Landing. To get a good spot, you had to get there early. To a child, the wait must have been endless, but Jade and Tundra came to the rescue and provided kisses and entertainment for some of the kids who were waiting for the show to begin. And it was well worth the wait. It’s hard to get good shots at night with my small... 07/04/2008

Ichabod’s Landing is name after Ichabod Crane, Washington Irving’s  famous character from the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”  This is relatively new construction that was only available for purchase in 2004. Most  notably the complex sits right on the  Hudson River, literally steps from a swath of the Hudson River Walk that is under construction and will eventually run from the tip of Westchester county (at the Putnam border) to the border of New York City in the South (from Peekskill to Yonkers.)  The views from the River Walk are spectacular and I have a few pictures of the area immediately surrounding Ichabod’s Landing. What a dramatic walk to have steps from your front door!The complex itself consists of town houses that are three stories high. Some boast of roof top decks and gardens a... 05/24/2008

RiverWalk is an ambitious plan to create a continuous trailway along the Hudson River from the border of Putnam county in the north and the New York City border in the south. Part of that plan was fulfilled with the high-end townhouse devleopment (to be reviewed later) called Ichabod's Landing in Sleepy Hollow, NY.  The development was completed in 2004 and includes a portion of the River Walk for the general public in its plan. I wandered down to the River Walk at Ichabod's Landing today.  It was a blustery and cold spring day and the wind from the river whipped around.  But I got the following photos which include a couple of views of the Tappan Zee Bridge that connects Westchester to Rockland County and the Kingsland Point Lighthouse.  Development of the River  Walk is on going in Ta... 05/22/2008

A couple of weeks ago I posted some photos of brand new baby goslings out with their "parents" for what appeared to be one of their first outings in Swan Lake.  They were so small that they appeared to be like tiny corks in the water, bobbing up and down -making photos a challenge to take. Well, the goslings have certainly GROWN.  Four are now two - unfortunately - but I am pleased to report that the two remaining are thriving in quiet beauty of the Rockefeller Preserve. They are looking more self assured, perhaps a bit too much so, but their parent's were keeping vigilent watch over their activities and my presence!  I'll admit that this is a bit of a tease. To see the new photos of the two gosling you will need to visit my outside blog that is just getting started. Please excuse the t... 05/17/2008

Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001,  Yatsuka Cho, a town in Simane Prefecture, Japan offered a gift of over 500 peonies to the United States as a healing memorial.  It was also a gesture of solidarity and support from a former enemy of the United States who less than 60 years ago were locked in combat with us during World War II. The peony is considered to Japan’s most noble of flowers  and is the “signature flower” for the region. The Rockefeller Preserve accepted the gift and renovated the entrance to the Preserve in order to accommodate the peonies.  Planting the peonies was an undertaking that included a representative from Yatsuka Cho, four gardeners, a translator and an environmental scientist.*Initially, there was sadness as the first shipment arrived with all the flower... 05/15/2008

I was able to escape to one of my favorite places for a nice walk: The Rockefeller Preserve in Sleepy Hollow. Much to my delight, the Geese had been done what geese do in the spring - produce goslings. I was able to spy a mated pair waddling out into Swan Lake with what I imagined was one of the their first times out with their "young family." Making sure all four were in tow they ventured out into the middle of the lake enjoying the late afternoon sunshine. I watched until they were in the middle of the lake. Taking pictures was difficult because the goslings were so small, they looked like tiny corks bobbing on the top of the water and my camera does not have that great a zoom lens..but this is what I was able to capture:   To Search for Homes and for further information go to my webs... 05/05/2008

It was a beautiful sunny day on Wednesday, and I was able to get away early - so I decided to take Jade and Tundra to the Rockefeller Preserve in Sleepy Hollow, NY. The Preserve is well known as an "important bird area" and for its working farm. Tundra, being brought home towards the end of July last summer as a small pup - was only introduced to the preserve towards the end of December. So this was one of the first time she encountered a brand new animal called the COW! We were all walking along very happily when suddenly something caught Tundra's eye: a grazing herd of cattle.... You could literally see the little wheels turning in her head. She was stiff and alert and at full attention! "WOW! What's THAT?" You could see the look of both wonder and fear in her eyes. "These are either ... 04/05/2008

One of my favorite places to take the dogs for a long walk is the famous Rockefeller Preserve in the hamlet of Pocantico Hills.  The park’s primary activities include hiking, running, fishing and horseback riding.  The Preserve has been designated as an “Important Bird Area” with over 180 species known by the National Audubon Society.  The park features many trails and a lake which is an ideal location for an easy 1 mile walk. To say that the history of the park is rich one is an understatement. The land was donated by the Rockefeller family of Standard Oil fame. Over 1000 acres have been dedicated to the State of New York since 1983.  It is with a sense of irony that the family who built an oil empire has in subsequent generations dedicated itself so ardently to wild-life preservation ... 01/28/2008

The snow was gone - unfortunately...but it was quite cold on Christmas Eve Day when I took Jade and Tundra to the Dog Park at Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow, NY.   Dogs need exercise - particularly Siberian Huskies - and with the two days that were ahead, I knew that what they needed was a great run in the park to burn off the excess energy. And run they did!   Here are a few photos of them standing still.....        Jade taking a short rest.....                 Tundra Checking out what is in the tree...              Jade watching and waiting.....              Tundra - after a big run.......         Here are a couple of shots of Jade and Tundra running.....These are very hard to get with my camera - so forgive the blurring....but it shows just how much exercise these guys need...... 12/25/2007

A new monkey wrench was thrown into the Lighthouse Landing project that I wrote about yesterday.  The builder - Roseland has backed out at the 11 th hour because the Sleepy Hollow board of trustees reduced the size of the residential housing by a little less than 6% and added bonding obligations and improvements that they feel were excessive and exceeded the authority of the Trustees.  Granted that it is important that builders and landowners  make a fair profit.  But at the same time, I have gotten an increased sense that builders feel that they can literally "bully" local officials into submission with "its my way or the highway" stands and threats of litigation.  My point is - where does a landowners right to a profit end and a municipalities right to determine its future growth begi... 12/20/2007

Lighthouse Landing – the proposed development  in question located on roughly 100 acres of prime real estate along the Hudson River in Westchester County. The site features breathtaking river views including that of the Kingsland Point Light House and the Tappan Zee Bridge. The site is also full of lead contamination from the GM plant that occupied the area from 1899 to 1996.  It is also the focal point of two lawsuits, one filed and one threatened. When GM left Sleepy Hollow it left behind prime real estate that was badly contaminated.  What to do with this potentially marvelous site has been a hotly debated issue ever since. So much so, that it has taken 11 years to get to the point of issuing special permits.  To  the environmentalists the site represents an opportunity to restore th... 12/19/2007

I happened to be on the Hudson River this evening and experienced the most wonderful sunset.  I had my camera - but photographing sunsets can be tough. With  a fairly new camera in hand - I got some fairly decent shots. So I'm just going to post a few and say "Enjoy!"  11/28/2007

One day my vet was looking at one of my white Siberian Huskies one day when she had a distinctly gray tinge around the neck.  It was coming from the tag on her collar.  She shook her head and said “It’s hard to be a white dog!”  Another vet that I use for surgeries laughed when he saw the two “girls” and said – “White dogs always like to roll in the mud!” Often, I forget just HOW white these guys are.  So, I decided for a special treat, that it was time to have Jade and Tundra professionally groomed. Buddy always stays clean – but he’s red and white – not all white!  Anyway, after their bath and blow-dry the groomer put special pumpkin bandanas on them. Later, I  decided they deserved some time at the dog park in  Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow, NY.  The park is located across fr... 10/30/2007

Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without at least giving a nod and a drive-by to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow – the location being the inspiration for Washington Irving’s famous tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Although part of different townships, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow are closely associated  both geographically  and by history. Washington Irving’s Estate, Sunnyside is located in Tarrytown, while Philipsburg Manor, the Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and the Headless Horseman Bridge are located in Sleepy Hollow.  An 18-foot statue of Ichabod Crane being chased by the Headless Horseman was erected in Sleepy Hollow on Halloween morning  2006.  So the statue will celebrate its first birthday this Halloween. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a short story written Washington Irv... 10/30/2007