Margot's Catskills Bach Party

Last weekend eleven girls in their 30's headed up into the Catskill Mountains to celebrate our bride-to-be best friend, Margot.   Our group of friends do bachelorette parties a little differently than what you see on Bridezilla.  Our celebrations center around 27 bottles of wine, Fleetwood Mac dance parties, gourmet-level meals, signature cocktails, diving contests, tie-dying, and our favorite inflatable man, Juan.  Of course, it wouldn't be a bachelorette party without at least one (in)appropriately-themed pinata.

Red-Tailed Hawk Feather

Tuesday evening I was in the backyard and noticed a large feather (approx. 20" tall) laying in the grass.

I was so excited when I picked it up and realized this feather had to have come from a large bird like a hawk. I did a little research and found out that it is an adult red-tailed hawk rectrix feather (tail flight feather).

The feather is now on display in my dining room amongst my other found Hudson Valley treasures (river glass, rocks, drift wood).

Best Friends in Beacon

The summer of 2011 might go down in the books as the best summer EVER!  This weekend a gaggle of my best friends headed up to the Hudson Valley and camped out between the homes of the three residents in Beacon and Cold Spring.

Friday night we had everyone over to my house for grilling and chilling.  We had quite of spread of cheeses, salads, grilled veggies and grilled pizza...and lots of wine.  We ended the night with s'mores.

Ari ended the night with the recent issue of Martha Stewart Living.

On Saturday we all met up at the waterfall and witnessed a tiny wedding.  It was really sweet and we felt like their uninvited guests (in bathing suits). 

Saturday night the boys went to a Renegades baseball game and some of the girls went to dinner at Max's.  Meredith and I went home after that and got sucked into hours of the show My Strange Addiction.  I highly reccomend you watch the episode where the woman is addicted to eating laundry detergent.

Wild Beacon Berries

Abe and I take Lily swimming in the Hudson River a few times a week.  The trail through the woods is lined with wild raspberry bushes and I've been waiting for them to ripen.  This week they were exploding from the bushes and every day we went on the hike I loaded up on the sweet little gems.

Girls Gone Wild

This weekend was my bachelorette party!  We rented a house in the Berkshires for 3 days of debauchary.  It was pretty much the best time ever. 

I hope everyone has friends you love as much as I love my friends and my sister, but I don't know if it's possible.  I am so lucky to have these people in my life, and I appreciate every laugh, every made-up game, every costume contest and every amazing meal we make together.

Below are just a few of the weekend highlights, but most of our memories will be taken to the grave.