Chickens :)

I had to post this photo. I love it! For my brothers - Pawel and Maciek - they had a pet chicken before... but that's a long story :)

[photo courtesy of TopazLabs Website]

Watkins Glen Waterfalls and Wine Tasting

Part of our New York weekend was a trip down one of the largest NY Finger Lakes - Seneca Lake to Watkins Glen. About 2 hour drive south of Rochester through beautiful countryside, wineries and charming small towns.



Seneca Lake stretches about 37 miles south, very narrow and super long lake, with the small town of Watkins Glen on the south shore. "Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks. Within two miles, the glen's stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade."



The day was cold, cloudy and hazy. We didn't have a nice weather on our little road trip, but at least it didn't rain much, and the autumn foliage was just amazing, as you can see the colors on the pictures. Golden and res leaves covered with the mist of waterfalls... It was a really beautiful trail.


On the way back we made few stop to the local wineries along the western side of the Seneca Lake. Wine tasting was exactly what we needed after this chili hike up the gore. I purchased few bottles of pretty decent desert wine. It's hard to get a good desert wine, and once you find something you like might as well get it. I had a chance to snap few photographs and even ate some grapes...

Short Trip to Niagara Falls... really short...

I guess it was too short, since I already know that I want to go back. I know, it's just water, but there's something amazing and mesmerizing about it. On top of the river water flows so quietly, like it doesn't even know that it's going to fall so far down... and then the big splash and tons of mist flowing in the air... hard to describe. It's imaginable that anyone would want to try their luck in the barrel, going down the falls...

[2 seconds exposure to get smooth water]

Our trip was short. We left Chicago on a early Friday morning and drove over 9 hours to Niagara Falls in Canada. Around 5:30 pm we finally got to our hotel room with amazing views of the falls. (We stayed at Embassy Suites Hotel, right on the falls - that is the hotel i would recommend). The evening was cold and crisp. I had a chance to snap few photos before it got completely dark. And since I didn't have my new tripod (my order didn't arrive on time) with me there was only so much i could have done. Around 7 pm. powerful light bulbs illuminated the falls, bursting red, orange, green and blue lights onto the falling water.




We did a lot of walking, had dinner and doughnuts from Tim Horton's - Canadian dunking donuts. Tim and Miker went out for a while and i hit the jacuzzi in our room and fell asleep watching the falls. It's so amazing - it never stops! You actually stop and think about it.
Next morning we had breakfast in our hotel, again great views :) and walked down to the falls one more time. The day was overcast and rainy...




After that we drove through the Rainbow Bridge and back to US. We made a stop on the American side of the falls, also. Completely different view. I wish we had more time to check out the Goat Island and the Observatory... but like I said - there is always the next time... I will do more of the touristy stuff - like taking the Maid of the Mist and walking through the tunnel to get behind the falls... and hopefully I will take my tripod with me so I can take some night shots... anyways - it was great to see the Falls. The second largest waterfall in the world. I will be back someday :)

[view from our hotel room, right after we checked in]

After that we headed over to Rochester NY, to visit Miker's family. But that's in the next post.

Try squeezing everything in only 3 short weeks...

Yes, 3 weeks is not that much time, especially when you're trying to catch up on last 2 years. That's how long has it been since my sister was here last time. Two years ago exactly, for the wedding. Wow - it has been 2 years already!


It was really nice to see her and spend some quality time together. Last time during wedding craze we didn't really have time to hang out and relax stress free. This time finally we did. And it was really nice to have my sister here. The time passed so quickly. The weather was ok, but not too great, weekend were rainy and cold, so it was somewhat a disappointment.

First weekend the whole family meet up at the Old Warsaw - polish restaurant, where we had dinner and drinks and we danced our butts off. It was so much fun. We stayed up really late, and all of us slept at the parents house. Morning was really tough - as we all were slightly hangover. I made brunch - and we ate around 2 pm, once everybody were able to drag their bodies off the beds... Culver's for dinner... gross...




The next weekend we meet up at our house, downtown. We had a tiny Oktoberfest party with some German beer and a huge tub of onion and beer bathed bratwurst. We had few different potato salads and an apple dessert. Food was yummy. Drinks were pouring and even though it was freezing outside and it rained constantly we still had a lot of fun. We had 2 airbeds in the living room and a couch serving as beds... Kodie was making night rounds to check if everybody is tucked in. :) We went to breakfast in the morning and dinner was at my P's house... Monday was Mom and Daughters shopping day... it was a long, fun day...


During the week my sister took the blue line and came downtown. Shopping, dining and drinking... it was fun. Kodie got to know his aunt, and they really clicked. He even slept with her on the airbed in the living room... woke her up in the morning with lot's of kisses - LOL - more like licking your entire face...


Last weekend we hanged out leisurely on Sat, and Sunday we decided to check out the Apple Fest in Long Grove, IL. Line for apple cider doughnuts was super long, but with a little patience we sat down on the grass with a dozen of them and hot apple cider and enjoyed the sunshine. It was a chilly but sunny day. Doughnuts and cider made it all worth it. Kodie had a lot of fun meeting other dogs and everybody commented on how gougers he is... I should think about getting his pictures to a dog agency, we could use extra cash!!! LOL!



We did some touristy stuff also, it's always fun to do it when the guests are in town. We checked out the new windows at The Sears (I guess Willis) Tower... well, looked cool, but i have to admit i was little freaked out to step on them. Couldn't look down. Watching the sun set from the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower was amazing. It was a beautiful evening. Very clear, fall evening with amazing views of the city. I always went during the day - but believe me it's so much nicer right before the sun set...





Millennium Park, The Bean, Buckingham Fountain and the Lake Michigan - always fun to check out. And it is such a wonderful time of the year. The leaves are turning, not too crowded with tourists. Just great time to relax and enjoy the beauty of Chicago.


Lot's of shopping, eating, late evening with wine and movies, talking about books and all the other things we did. I miss it already. I miss it a lot.
I hope the paperwork finally gets finished and she will get her green card and move here. I can't wait for that day. Finally the whole family on one continent...


Oh, I almost forgot - finally we played dominoes - the Mexican Train game. It's something we usually play with Tim's family, and I've been wanting to introduce it to my family. Finally the time came and we played for 2 evenings. We got it down. Now we can all play in at Christmas. :)

My sister is back on Poland, 3 weeks flew by and I miss her again. We all do. It's amazing how fast we all got used to each other, and good byes suck! I hate it.
Hope to see you soon Sis! MISS YOU!

Shiva Rea Sun Salutation Video

Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) might seem boring for some, but this simple sequence of 12 yoga poses (asanas) works great if you don't have time to do anything more involved.




Health and Yoga website lists some of the benefits of Sun Salutations, here they are:

• Tones up the digestive system by the alternate stretching and compression of abdominal organs. It activates digestion and gets rid of constipation and dyspepsia.
• Strengthens abdominal muscles.
• Thoroughly ventilates the lungs, and oxygenates the blood.
• Acts as detoxifying agent, by getting rid of enormous quantity of carbon dioxide and other toxic gases.
• Tones up the nervous system and improves memory.
• Promotes sleep and calms anxiety.
• Normalizes the activity of the endocrine glands - especially the thyroid gland.
• Refreshes the skin. Prevents Skin disorders.
• Improves muscle flexibility.
• In women, stimulates the breasts to help firmness normally. Restores any lost elasticity, through stimulation of glands and the strengthening of pectoral muscles.
• Suppresses menstrual irregularity and assists in easy childbirth.
• Prevents loss of hair and graying.
• Helps reduce fat.
• Reduces abnormal prominence of the Adam's apple.
• Eliminates unpleasant smells from the body.
• Lends grace and ease of movements to the body.
• Revives and maintains the spirit of youthfulness.
• Broadens chest and beautifies arms.
• Makes the spine and waist flexible.
• Produces health, strength, efficiency and longevity.

Hangover Yoga from Yogatic

This just might come handy on some weekends when too much liquid courage is consumed... I found this video on the wonderful website/blog yogatic. Check it out for much more yoga videos, tips and other interesting stuff...

Getting into Yoga

I have done some yoga here and there, but lately I started getting more and more interested in this eastern practice. So I will be posting things that I find interesting and I can use down the road with my yoga practice. This Moon Salutation video shows step by step directions - try it for yourself... {published from yogatic.com}

Moon Salutation Video

Basic Taste - My Food and Recipe Blog

For those who received the Christmas letter from Karen Kometer and would like to check my food blog - there was an error in the letter, my food blog is called
Basic Taste . Please feel free to check it out and forward to anyone you know that might be interested.

Video from Pawel's show at Congress Theater

Here is the "home made" video of Pawel's show at Congress Theater. The quality is not the greatest, and they had some problems with the sound. This is the best we could do in a dark room with a cannon camera. :)

Euro Reggae Fest 2009 and Paverook on stage

Seems like this blog is quickly becoming "all about Paverook" blog... {for those who don't know - Paverook aka as Pawel is my youngest brother, age 19}... Unfortunately for me, and I guess, fortunately for him - he does have much more going on right now... Last Saturday Pawel and his little hip hop band made their first stage appearance at Congress Theater in Chicago at Euro Reggae Fest 2009. It was just one song - but it was a great stage experience for them...

The Night of Hallow!!!

Last Summer Days

I Really Did Not Like That Raincoat!

{My mom always takes me outside to take care of business, if you know what I mean - that evening it was raining cats and dogs, so she puts this yellow raincoat on me. Do I look like I enjoyed my potty break?}

{I have to admit - I looked pretty handsome wearing that raincoat. I actually kind of liked wearing it, only when I was inside though. Once she took me out - that's a different story.}

{My mom likes to take pictures of me - for no obvious reason. She thinks I will be a big movie star someday!}

{I like posing for my mom. It makes her happy! She might be right about me being famous someday! Just look at my jaw line!}



{Me and my dad, I get my good looks from him! Don't you think so?}

{Oh, happy day! I was in a super great mood that day - we were on a road trip to the farm - I was very excited to get there and play with the cats.}

{Me and my mom. At the farm. We went to visit great-grandma over the memorial weekend, I had a lot of fun!}


{Great-Grandma and Uncle Martin. He was really cool! I think he liked me a lot!}