Thank you to all who have been patiently waiting for the photo contest winners.  We will be judging them this week and announcing winners soon.  We apologize for the delay, we wanted to ensure that due to a technical error, that we did get a chance to see all entries.

You will find that large portions of Madison County have moved past the peak point in the fall foliage department this weekend.  Especially in parts that are south of US Route 20.  There are still pockets of really rich golds and oranges north of US Route 20, especially on the valley sides running north and south.  Areas of the county near Oneida Lake and the villages of Canastota and Chittenango are all peaking this weekend.  Enjoy what should be the last good leaf peeping weekend of the year.

Create a stunning scarf in only a few hours and learn about the fastest-growing fiber technique called feltmaking. During class you will create an amazing lightweight fabric that will result in a beautifully soft and cozy scarf for the winter weather. Easy to learn, you will be felting a small amount of colored merino wool with the wet felting technique.  No felting experience is necessary. Come ready to get wet and roll your holiday cares away! 
Dates Offered: Saturday, Nov 7th, Sunday, Nov 29th or Sunday, Dec 13th
Time: 10AM to 4PM (Bring your lunch and a beverage)
Class Cost: $45.00 per person
Skill Level: Everyone
Instructor: Elizabeth Moldenhauer
Materials Cost: $20, payable to instructor 
Materials Required:
Instructor will supply merino wool & felting tools needed for class. Cost of wool for scarf - $20.00.
PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING:
·         Several sponges as well as a couple of newspaper bags or plastic grocery bags
·         Olive oil bar soap or dish soap
·         Quart size container
·         Several towels (2-3)
·         Scissors

OPTIONAL ITEMS TO EMBELLISH SCARF:
o   Needle and thread
o   Beads
o   Yarn- 75 – 150 yards of novelty yarn, ribbon yarn and/or wool yarn

Please call Elizabeth Moldenhauer - fibre artist
Fibre Heart Originals
118 Malden Road
Syracuse, NY 13211
315.214.8355
Email: emoldenhauer@twcny.rr.com

A portion of the class fee will benefit Divine Nature at BMR Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation.
All classes are held at BMR Acres, 2542 Pine Ridge Road, Canastota, NY 13032
For directions, call 315-697-5476 or go to www.bmracres.com

They will also host, "An Experience in Spinning", A one day spinning course.  This class is an introduction to spinning. Students will use a drop spindle, and will cover drafting techniques, different fiber types and preparations, and a bit of the history of the drop spindle.  Using a spindle is a very economical way to learn hand spinning for a beginner. They are inexpensive to buy, and also very easy to make.  Once you have mastered the spindle you will have learned the steps needed for spinning on the spinning wheel. During class you will have the opportunity to try spinning on a couple of different spinning wheels as well as various drop spindles.  

Skill Level: Beginner 
Instructor: Elizabeth Moldenhauer
Dates Course Offered: Sunday, Nov 1st, Sunday, Nov 22nd, or Saturday Dec. 5th
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Class Cost: $40.00
Materials Cost: Will depend on fiber used and spindle choice
Class Size: 5 student maximum so reserve your place today!
Materials List:
·         Drop spindle  (available for purchase day of class) Drop Spindle Kit available for purchase in class ($10.00)
·         Ball winder and/or Niddy Noddy (optional)
·         Fiber – to be purchased the day of class with the instructor’s guidance 
·         Please bring your lunch and a beverage.  

Please call Elizabeth Moldenhauer - fibre artist

Fibre Heart Originals
118 Malden Road
Syracuse, NY 13211
315.214.8355
Email: emoldenhauer@twcny.rr.com
 

A portion of the class fee will benefit Divine Nature at BMR Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation.

All classes are held at BMR Acres, 2542 Pine Ridge Road, Canastota, NY 13032

For directions, call 315-697-5476 or go to www.bmracres.com

 

This post comes from one of our loyal Madison County fans, Sue Snyder of Perryville.  She wanted to make sure that a new business was on our radar.  A local Amish Family, the Troyers, have opened a country store on Nelson Road just south of Perryville.  It is about 10 minutes from Canastota and Chittenango and 15 minutes from Cazenovia.  There is a map below to help you find it.  Sue tells us that they are open Monday 9-6, Tuesday through Thursday 9-5, Friday 9-6 and Saturday 8-4.  They have fresh baked bread daily, pies and cookies on Friday and Saturday too.  You will also find made to order sandwhiches, deli meats, cheeses, baking goods, bulk foods, local beef and so much more.  Stop by and say hi to the Troyer family.

Critz Farms of Cazenovia was featured on the travel blog "Best Kid Friendly Travel.com"  They were nominated by a local resident who enjoys bringing her daughter and whole family to the farm.  Congratulations to Critz Farms.

We are at Peak Foliage conditions for most of Madison County this weekend.  The hills running north and south north of Route 20 are filled with yellows, golds, reds and browns and with a little bit of sunshine this weekend, it will really pop out at you.  This will be a perfect weekend to take the camera out and take advantage of all the color and scenery available in the Central New York area.  You will find that south of Route 20 the snow that fell last night has taken many leave off the trees moving us past peak in many locations, but there are still vibrant pockets of beautiful leaves to be found, and many great things to do outdoors this weekend so don't let that report fool you.  Enjoy your leaf peeping and feel free to share your comments below.

We are coming up on the Columbus Day weekend, which is traditionally the peak of the fall foliage season.  Despite the windy weather this week, there has not been much leaf loss.  That combined with a rapidly changing color palate on the hillsides has led to some awesome colors and great views around the county.  Most of the county is at 70% of peak and could be nearing peak by the Monday holiday.  I spent a good part of my morning at Chittenango Falls State Park and the views there are spectacular.  There are ample changes around the county, but the drive up and down Route 13 from Chittenango to Cazenovia is well worth the trip right now.  You can expect that some of the hills near Brookfield will be at peak by the time the weekend starts, so grab your cameras and head on out to take some fantastic pictures. 

It is a busy, busy weekend in Madison County and the events are happening in every corner.  Fall is in full swing and the rainy, cold weather of this past week will be a thing of the past as temperatures are being forecast in the upper 60's for this weekend.  Here are your best bets for an October weekend:
1. Golub's Our Farm -- This Cazenovia family farm has been entertaining  kids and family for a number of years.  They open for the season with their "Giant" Corn Maze, "Boris" the pumpkin throwing catapult, a huge selection of pumpkins, petting zoo and more.  Check it out every weekend in October.
2.Fall Harvest Festival at Critz Farms -- Also in Cazenovia Critz is pressing cider this weekend at their Harvest Moon Cider Mill.  You can visit the Elephantastic Corn Maze (a salute to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse), pick your own apples, ride the cow train and so much more.  Do not miss out on a hot apple fritter while you are there.
3. Creepy Camp -- It's Baaack.  Again the folks at Camp High Esteem have put together one of the scariest attractions in Central New York.  You must check it out this year.  You can find Creepy Camp on Route 13, about 3 miles south of Chittenango.
4. Beatlemania Again! -- Recall the screaming girls?  It is that feeling all over again in Hamilton Saturday Night as the Palace Theater hosts Beatlemania Again presents the recreation of The Beatles phenomenon with an incredible simulation complete with fine tailored black velvet suits and the famous Beatles boots. The concert starts with “Meet The Beatles” featuring hits from 1963-1966 and climaxing with “Get Back,” the hits from 1968–1970. Experience the energy and excitement of the live performance with the original sounds of the albums using authentic instruments and amplifiers by The Beatles. Show starts at 8pm, tickets are $20.
5. Talons! Birds of Prey Experience at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park.  Lorrie and Talon Skye Schumacher present an exciting flying Birds of Prey show. Bring your cameras for a great photo opportunity! Meet the world's largest owl, falcons, hawks and play catch with a crow! Learn about raptors from all over the world and our role in preserving the delicate balance of the global ecosystem. Shows start at 11am and 1pm and last 45 min. Meet and greet the birds after the shows for photos and feeding! 11-3pm.
There are other great events all weekend long and you can find out about them right here. 

Maybe you've never had the change to see "Boris" the pumpkin throwing catapult at Golub's Our Farm just outside of the village of Cazenovia.  Maybe you've been back a number of times.  Either way you never get over the excitement of seeing a pumpkin fly 150 yards through the air to explode in a million pieces.  That is just one of the exciting attractions at Our Farm, which opens for the fall pumpkin season tomorrow in Cazenovia.  You can take a hayride, pick your own pumpkin, learn about agriculture and tackle the "Giant" corn maze.  There are many things to do and enjoy and this family attraction.  So with the weather looking nice for the weekend, and the foliage pushing its way towards, peak it is the perfect weekend to head on over to Our Farm and enjoy fall in Central New York State!

Well the leaves have really started to change over the past week and we are approaching close to 60% of peak color in parts of Madison County.  The color change is more noticeable in the hills especially along US Route 20 between Cazenovia and Morrisville.  The area in and around Chittenango Falls State Park is also looking quite spectacular this weekend.  If the weather holds, it should be a wonderful weekend for leaf peeping across Madison County.
Here are a couple of suggestions for the best foliage viewing this weekend:
1. The Link Trail between Cazenovia and Chittenango Falls State Park.  This foot trail is fairly easy to travel for the beginning hiker so it is perfect for hikers of all ages and abilities.  It follows the Chittenango Creek and there are some wonderful foliage views along the trail.
2. Brookfield State Forest.  This state forest is situated in some of the highest elevations in the county.  The leaves are quite far along and the maples are showing many shades of red and orange this weekend.
3. Route 13 from Cazenovia to DeRuyter.  This scenic stretch of highway features many elevation changes, local farms, and an Amish community.  It makes for a perfect fall drive in Madison County.
Don't forget you can always see conditions around New York State by visiting I Love NY's Fall Foliage website.