While the future of Snowcones is undecided, I would like to say thank you so much to everyone who has made a point to tell us that they enjoyed our Alaskan adventure.  It is kind of surreal when a stranger is staring at you in a store or on the street, and then finally approaches you to tell you they know everything about the last three years of your life.  Of course, Josh and I just love it when you do tell us - I know I make blogging look easy, but it is a lot of hard work! 

We have about a month left here in New York.  Although Josh's job doesn't start until the New Year we would like to be settled in Texas by December to give us time to explore Houston.  Regardless, we have to be there by December 17th because we are flying out on the 18th for our Christmas vacation...in FAIRBANKS!  That's right - Snowcones is going to give you one last cold, dark, wintry peek at the Interior region of Alaska before embarking upon a warm and sunny existence in Houston, TX.

In the meantime Josh and I have been working a little and playing a little, exploring as much of New York as time (and part-time pay) allows.  After the wedding we stayed in Naples for a couple of days, renting a house overlooking Canandaigua Lake.  We tasted wine, shopped at farmer's markets, and ate a lot of delicious food.  On the advice of our friend Eric we rented the house through The Quiet Place; Josh chose the Naples Chalet and it was worth every reasonable penny.  We cannot recommend them enough and we plan to return in the future.

The house was beautiful and spacious with two large decks and a hot tub.  We cooked, soaked, and Scrabbled.

Basket, left, one of two gifted by my Uncle Jim, Aunt Julie, and cousins Jamin and Julia.  Jamin made the baskets - from the tree to my table.  He's awfully talented and the baskets are truly useable art.  (Also: Score!  Getting married is awesome.)  It's worth mentioning that the basket on the right was left by our hosts at The Quiet Place - cookies from Panerra.

In spite of coming down with the flu on Day Two my husband managed to take me to a few wineries - Dr. Konstantin Frank and Heron Hill which we enjoyed very much.  I was impressed at the wide variety at Heron Hill, where we purchased several bottles. 

We also had lunch at the Village Tavern Inn in Hammondsport; the food was great but by then Josh felt like holy hell so we headed back to the house where he slept and I read a terrible murder mystery novel.  Newlyweds to old married couple in a short five days!