The room wasn't fancy (Super 8 Motel) but it was clean, the mattress was firm and the AC worked like a charm! Sometimes all it takes is one night away to get you out of your 24/7 work routine and on the road to feeling a little more relaxed.

Dinner at Elderberry Farm was most memorable. It's an absolutely beautiful, charming and idyllic restaurant and with a friendly and attentive staff. Did I mention the food?
Yikes...just scrumptious from beginning to end, with everything on the menu prepared from scratch and coming either from their farm or the local area. Now we can say we've done the Route 90-50 Mile Garage Sale in style!

We were on the road a little after 6am and our first purchase was made at 6:17! The pickin' was good nearer the top but that was probably also because we were shopping at the screech of dawn! After a few miles, we just couldn't resist following a hand lettered sign in Union Springs which lured us off the main road. We were met by a decrepit old kitty cat named Jack who we later learned is 19 years old and thinks everyone comes by the barn just to see him and give him some love. Such a sweet crusty old boy. Jack's owner (a man of at least 70) fashions tables from the giant old wooden pulleys they used to use nearby on the canal locks. His barn was full of interesting treasures and each came with a story.

This solid brass lamp-looking thing is made from WWII shell casings. It is part lamp, part food cart. The heat from the lamp would heat up the individual compartments on the outside where various hot foods would be kept. Very cool but a little out of our price range - $500 maybe $1,000, he wasn't sure (and we weren't sure he really wanted to part with it!).

We shopped our way all the way back Ithaca and filled our car with lots of lovely and interesting smalls. Though as with any trip away, it's always nice to be back home,and that's what I'm looking forward to today.