Where do you live?

Adirondack - whenever anyone, not from here, asks where we live, I always say Adirondack NY and quite often they say, "we know where the Adirondacks are, but really, which town do you live in?"  :)

Full time? Part time? Seasonal?

Full time, Mike jokes that there are weeks when he never leaves Adirondack

When did you move here or discover this part of paradise? 

I moved to Adirondack in 1995 after meeting Mike who is a second generation Adirondacker.  Mike's Dad was born in the white house next to the Post Office across from the Adirondack General Store

How do you -- or did you -- make a living? 

Mike and I package together a "bunch of livings", I think that is what it takes to be successful in our area.  Mike has been a residential builder in Adirondack since 1989 and together we have created Adirondack Home Watch, providing our eyes and ears to clients that don't live at their homes full time.

Where did you grow up? 

I grew up just outside of Warrensburg and my folks still reside there. 

How do you spend your free time?

Mike and I like to explore back roads, just day trips and drives.

Coffee, Tea, or…? 

We like both, but tea is our new current fave - lots of different flavors.

What’s your idea of a perfect Saturday? 

A perfect Saturday is like the first day you say to yourself, WOW look how green the Spring leaves are on the trees or the Peak of Fall Foliage Season or the first beautiful white snow.  Adirondack offers many perfect Saturdays and almost every day has a great Sunset over Schroon Lake.

What’s your favorite local restaurant? 

Our favorite restaurant is the last one we visited.  We are super lucky to have many to choose from.

Favorite season(s) and why?

Our favorite season is Winter, we like to snowmobile and it is how we met.

What’s on your nightstand?

My night stand has a charger for my cell phone, a lamp and my grandmothers turquoise bracelet which I wear almost every day - Mike has a Sudoku puzzle book and a flash light, oh and the TV remote.

What are you listening to? 

I have been a huge fan of Country & Western music, I am a dyed in the wool -  Willie, Waylon and Cash fan  - Mike is much more diverse and likes all types, especially 70's rock - We discovered Red Molly two years ago, they are awesome, not total country but old sounding and super harmonies.

What are your current addictions?

Our current addiction is growing a variety of hot peppers, jalapenos, habaneros, tobascos, asians - like in General Tso chicken.  We stuff and grill them, make jellies, dry and grind them and freeze them.  We are working to create a spice mix that we can share.  Stay tuned ...

Who/what makes you laugh?

Our two black cats make us laugh, they are a constant source of entertainment, great "tudes" - attitudes - always playing together and when you catch them cutting up they stop and look at you as if to say "Who me?"

Talent you would most like to have?

...would most like to have the talent of painting or pinstriping classic cars.  I love old cars and wish I knew how to rebuild them.  Mike would agree, he is such a wood head, being a home builder and he wishes his metal skills were as strong.

What’s the best kept secret about Schroon Lake and or surrounding areas?

The best kept secret in our Schroon Lake area is our wonderful local shopping.  People say that they spend less to buy elsewhere and that may be so, but I say, shop less and shop locally.  I love yo  buy at local events, the Church bazaars and holiday craft shows and in the Summer, the garage sales are fabulous. 

What’s the best kept secret about Schroon Lake and or surrounding areas?

At my funeral, I hope they say that I was fun to meet and that I had a great energy and because I want to be cremated, I hope they each take a pinch of my dust and take it somewhere I haven't been yet or somewhere that they really like.  I would be willing to bet we couldn't even get Mike to say "funeral"  :o)

This was fun - thanks for asking me to be a part of your profiles series. Kathy.