Julio’s Musings Around Columbia County, New York

Benton Road

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

Front side view of the Hernandez-Miyares farm as the Miyares clan converges on bucolic Columbia County, New York to celebrate the New Year. Having spent the past week in crazy New York City, it is a welcome respite to be here in the quiet and serenity of the Upper Hudson Valley.

Making pancakes is competing with writing this blog. Well anyway, I don’t seem to have much to say at the moment. I still have one day to craft a New Year’s message from Columbia County.

[tags]Julio Hernandez-Miyares, Columbia County[/tags]

Merry Christmas 2006 from New York City

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

Did the annual pilgramage to the Rockerfeller Center Tree on Christmas Day in New York City. Not quite sure why I do it. Its a madhouse of mostly tourists and baby strollers. The excitement is contagious though which probably gives some reason for why I keep the tradition going.

In case you are interested, here is the photo of the official Wall Street Christmas Tree.

There were actually throngs of people in Lower Manhattan on Christmas Day. Folks are attracted to visit Ground-Zero at the World Trade Center construction site and then spread out from there.

[tags]Julio Hernandez-Miyares, Christmas, New York City[/tags]

Departed Reston, Virginia at exactly 6:30am EST on Sunday December 24 en-route for a Christmas vacation with the family in New York City.
I was crossing into the borough of Brooklyn over the Verazanno Bridge at approximately 9:40am. Thats a distance of about 225 miles in a little over 3 hours! Quite an accomplishment though you have to be familiar with I-95 in the Washington, DC to New York City corridor to appreciate. For those that keep track, the maximum speed was 102 Miles per hour near exit 1 of the New Jersey turnpike. That was not a sustained speed, just wanted to be able to say I cracked 100. Most of the trip was between 80 and 90 mph except during the Delaware Turnpike which still finds itself in the Nixon Administration era with a top posted speed of 55! The best stretch was during the normally boring New Jersey turnpike. Flying by
exits 1 through 4 in southern New Jersey, the blur of instance after instance of new tract housing rapidly gobbling up the few remaining farm acreage in the what passes for the Garden State.
Did I set a speed record for the trip with the caveat that I did not get a speeding ticket? Not sure. Assuming an average speed of 90 mph which is about what I believe is the maximum, the trip to the entrance of Brooklyn would take approximately 2 and 1/2 hours. Once you get into Brooklyn, then all bets are off therefore I will use that as the finish line. Though still an interstate, it is of the usual dismal, littered, narrow, pot mocked New York City variety. Going over 50 mph puts you at risk of missing the bone crunching potholes narrowly missed by the folks ahead.

[tags]Julio Hernandez-Miyares, New York City, Christmas[/tags]

Key Biscayne Beach

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

As we plunge into winter here in Columbia County, New York can’t help posting a photo taken during my vacation in Key Biscayne, Florida this past summer.
Albeit , fall 2006 has been very tame and the current temperature at the moment as i write this blog is in the 40′s farenheit which is probably about 15 degrees higher then it would normally be expected to be at this time of year.
Nevertheless , its all dead up here except for the evergreens. Seasonal shops etc are closed waiting for th day trippers from New York City that visit during the warmer months. Many homes are empty as the wimpy warm weather folks stay away, the farms are bathed in brown awaiting the spring thaw.
[tags]Key Biscayne, Julio Hernandez-Miyares[/tags]

Miyares Farm?? Maybe

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

A somewhat dark view of the large property directly across the road from my home in Columbia County, New York. Not sure of the total acreage but I would guess it is approximately 700 acres.
Columbia County, New York is ripe with these large tracts of farms, horse ranches and otherwise un-developed land.
This is the norm not the exception even in today’s hyper real estate market for 2nd homes and exurb living. A lot of that has to do with the mind-set of the landed gentry in Columbia County. The owner of this large tract who runs a farm on it, has decided to parcel out two pieces for sale. Instead of selling as small lots for the McMansion crowd, is selling at 41 and 33 acres.
Though I believe the prices for the parcels are inflated, I am keeping a keen eye on the movement as I am interested in increasing my land holdings and being right across the road from my home, is a perfect opportunity to expand my presense and perhaps look at finally setting up the Miyares Farm.

[tags]Julio Hernandez-Miyares, Columbia County[/tags]

Thanksgiving Preparation in Columbia County

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

Well, Thanksgiving came and went this year already and now we are head long into the Christmas Holiday season.
Here is a picture of the room getting prepped for the Thanksgiving Feast in my Columbia County Farm in Gallatin County.
Somewhat busy looking I know, I have been asked to move the Fuzzball (lower left hand of image) down to the basement but I have been resistent. The room does double duty as Maria Victoria de Bernard’s (renowed Columbia County Cuban Folk Artist) studio. Her art supplies were conveniently and somewhat unceremoniously stuffed in boxes and put in whatever crevice was available to make room for all of the country guests at the feast.

Thanksgiving in Columbia County , New York is a special time. Some of the local farms are working overdrive to bake all sorts of pies for the local residents. The farms themselves are rapidly going into a state of hibernation till late spring as the onslaught of winter which can be brutal here encroaches on a daily basis.

Another onslaught is notable by its absense as the weather turns bone-chilling. The yuppies from the City trim back their day trips up north. That can only be considered a good thing from my vantage point.
[tags]Columbia County, Maria Victoria de Bernard, Cuban Folk Art[/tags]