stay in touch

254 Dundee Starkey Road
Dundee, NY 14837

Phone 607-316-0069

1922StarkeyHouse@gmail.com

1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast - Finger Lakes - Seneca Lake

“Lavender Blue, Dilly Dilly…Lavender Green, You will be King, Dilly Dilly, I will be Queen”

By

After writing my last post about the gardens and gazebo at 1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast I realized that I love a lot of different kinds of flowers. Lavender is one of them. I have always wanted to grow Lavender but you need to buy slightly mature plants in order to have them bloom sooner. Some plants can be costly so I waited for the right time to start.
Have you ever had the chance to walk through a Lavender garden in full bloom? It is unforgettable!

Lavender is a fragrant flower that can be used dried for potpourris and the oil essences are used in soaps, shampoos, and massage oils. I came across Lockwood Farm, located in Skaneateles, here in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York.  Lockwood grows Lavender and also raises sheep for natural fibers. Not only that, but they are beekeepers and produce Lavender honey from their bees! My kind of place!  Their site is full of beautiful pictures and a step by step preview about the steps to taking care of bees and honey production. I have never seen as much great information in one place.

http://lockwoodfarm.blogspot.com/2010/10/uncapping-honey.html

I will most likely recommend a trip to Lockwood Farm to my guests.
 Take notice that the Finger Lakes Lavender Festival will take place this July at their location. Check it out and be sure to look us up at 1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast to reserve a place to stay on your way there!

http://lockwoodfarm.blogspot.com/2011/01/finger-lakes-lavender-festival-july-9th.html

Saturated With the Aroma of Vineyards, Gardens, . . . and Freshly Brewed Coffee…

By

The 1922 Starkey House
 Bed & Breakfast
is situated on almost two acres of green lawns and gardens. Guests have a view of the west side of Seneca Lake from most rooms or the double wrap spacious veranda porches. Gardens loaded with Tulips, Peonies, Lilies, Daisies, Lupines, and other perennials or annuals can be seen from every window.

I have plans for a chime meditation sitting garden and garden that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. I have already transplanted about four Bee balm bushes, ideal for that purpose supplying nectar and fragrance, and will be looking into getting more butterfly bushes or any other plant that will draw them in. Your suggestions are welcomed!

The Peony gardens
were originally started by the former owners before me, the Kofler family when they were given a plant or two from my lovely friend and neighbor, Dorothy (Dottie) Newcomb. I transplanted still another fifteen plants in hope of spreading Dottie’s love for gardening and my memories of her.

There is an original gazebo nestled beneath a very old Sycamore tree. I was told by the former “Buster” and Mary Brewer, that it was used as a place to have shady summer lunches by those who worked for his father, the original owner, C. Raymond Brewer.

 Mr. Brewer owned vineyards and other fruit orchards. These workers helped out there and in the packing plant that once was located across the road on Starkey Corners. I wish I could “blink” myself back to the 1920’s, back to the house and the gazebo. I can just picture sunburned, hot and tired hired hands lying down or sitting in the shade, especially during harvest time. The gazebo will get a fresh coat of paint, most likely, this Spring!  Be my  guest and enjoy it in the same way….but I promise I will not make you work!

                                          Vineyards at Fulkerson Winery

Honey! Bee-u-t-ful _ Part III The Benefits of Honey

By





My buddy blogger has been writing about skin and body wellness. This post relates to the use of honey in beauty and skin products.
http://holisticallyhaute.blogspot.com/2011/01/ingredient-spotlight-honey.html

 

humectant /hu·mec·tant/ (hu-mek´tant).  A substance that promotes retention of moisture

Honey is a humectant that can attract and maintain water, keeping your skin well-hydrated during these freezing cold days of winter or in the heat of summer sun. You can use honey contained in natural beauty products for your face, skin and hair. There are many homemade and handmade honey products such as soaps, facial masks, and creams that you can whip up with things from your kitchen or garden.

Today, in America especially, we are entering a new found age of enlightenment when it  comes to revisiting the use of organic, naturally grown “fruits of the earth” in the products we buy. We are embracing a kind of rebirth of natural remedies and ingredients in response to the risks presented by artificial additives and preservatives contained in the food we eat, plastics in the containers we package our food in, and potential cancer causing chemicals within the beauty products we use daily. In reading various medical articles about the benefits of honey I learned that it has antibacterial qualities that have proven to be effective in healing wounds and preventing infections.

Dr. Andrew Weil says in his November, 2006 newsletter Self Healing: “Honey’s antibacterial properties, due in part to its hydrogen peroxide content, help to quickly clear an infection and prevent new ones from developing. Honey stimulates the growth of skin tissue, reduces inflammation, and minimizes scarring, and it has the added benefit of creating a smoother surface between the wound and dressing. Since the wound
is less likely to stick to the bandage, removing it is easier and less painful, and damage to the newly grown skin tissue is avoided.”

Honey is often combined with goat’s milk, oatmeal, olive oil, lemon, and botanicals in the production of natural skin care products. You will find many markets throughout the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York that carry an assortment of holistic and handmade products. The Windmill Country Markets located on Route 14A between Dundee and Penn Yan has a few different vendors that offer soaps, shampoos, and creams. You will also find all the varieties of edible honey products supplied by local beekeepers.

I have included two fun homemade skin care recipes for you to try that I have used myself. Please enjoy and feel free to comment in the box provided at the end of this post.

SOFT SKIN SOAK
This is a wonderful bath for dry, sensitive skin and is gentle enough for children.
 You can use any variety of honey in this recipe.
 Mix together these ingredients and pour into a clean glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid.
• 1 cup water
• 1⁄2 cup honey
• 1⁄2 cup goat’s milk base liquid soap
  add two or three drops lavender or almond oil
 Gently shake to remix and pour 1/4 cup into the bath under the running water.
 Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
 SMOOTH SKIN TREATMENT for face and body

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice-freshly squeezed if possible
 Whip all ingredients together in a small shallow bowl.
Massage into hands, elbows, heels and feet and anywhere your skin is rough or dry.
 Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse well with warm water and pat dry.


Honey: How Sweet Is It? Part One of a Three Part Series

By

Natural, pure raw honey, unpasteurized honey, unfiltered honey, unprocessed honey, unheated honey, unblended raw honey, gourmet raw honey, honey comb….
these are all of the various forms of honey as you would see them labeled at a food market. Many are found at local honey markets here in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York. I use honey often and thought you might like to know a few things about it and why I will choose to use it when preparing baked goods and breakfast at the 1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast. 
The sweetness and goodness of honey far surpasses other types of sweeteners on the market today. Many people are not aware of all the benefits and uses of honey. They rely on the commonly used processed white sugar or have resorted to the use of a variety of artificial sweeteners. Researchers are finding more and more reasons why we should avoid the use of these toxic sweeteners.
Honey is “manufactured” naturally by honey bees that started doing their work from the beginning of time. Really, it’s been used for centuries for its healing properties, as well as its sweetness. It is derived from the nectar of living flowers.  When used in the forms that I mentioned above, it maintains an abundance of healthy goodness that can be served up at your table every day. All of its natural ingredients are unadulterated and contain nothing artificial so all of the pollen, live enzymes, propolis, vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, minerals, and aromatics are in the same condition as they were in the hive.
I have seen so many people substituting sugar with chemical sweeteners in hopes of losing weight. Many foods contain sugar naturally such as fruits, for example. Also food manufacturers add various types of sugar and artificial sweeteners to the food we buy and eat every day. We have become a society on “sugar overload.”  This use of artificial sweeteners, in my opinion, does not do a thing to reduce total caloric intake which is the main reason for weight gain. In fact it is stated in one of the links I have listed below, that the use of these sweeteners actually increases the body’s craving for more sugar. {I do understand that doctors may advise the use of these products to those who are diabetic. In that case, you should follow what your medical doctor suggests.}
PrecautionsHoney contains a natural presence of botulinum endospores, therefore, children under one year old should not be given honey. Before the age of twelve months, a child’s intestinal track is not mature enough to inhibit the growth of Clostridium botulinum, which is often found in honey. No honey, in any form, should be given to babies younger than one.
Please refer to my Foods, Recipes, & Gardens page for a delicious breakfast/dessert recipe using bananas and honey: http://1922starkeyhouse.com/recipes-whats-good-for-you/
I routinely use orange blossom, fall flower, buckwheat, and other flavors of fresh local honey for my baking and along with breakfasts. I also like the use of natural Maple Syrup found locally here in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York. I am just getting acquainted with Agave nectar that is also a natural plant substance.
Please leave your comment in the box below. You may share any honey recipe or fact about honey with my readers. If you would like to subscribe to my blog you will get updated posts sent directly to your E-mail.
Here is an article published today about the uses and risks of artificial sweeteners.
An informative article from the Mayo Clinic about sugar, in general:

Checking Eggs for Freshness and….An Egg-cellent Omelet Recipe…

By

“Place all your eggs in a basket….and watch the basket.”
Mark Twain

As a sidebar posting, (while I am writing my three-part series about honey) if you do not mind, I decided to give you some simple information about eggs. As I am testing and creating my breakfast recipe offerings for 1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast, I have been reading through some great websites for information.

Please use the comments section at the end of this post to let me know how you like your eggs. Do you like them as an omelet? Fried sunny side up or over easy? Soft scrambled? What are some other types of breakfast/brunch foods do you like that contain eggs, such as Quiche?

Since eggs are a popular breakfast food I thought I would share a few simple things about eggs. I will use the freshest eggs that I can find for my eggs dishes and for baking. I am near a lot of local farmers that have free-range chickens for eggs and meat. Truth is, they produce a lot of eggs and sometimes have an overabundance on the shelf.

I’ve noticed that many commercial egg producers are date stamping each egg now. Great idea! So if I want to buy eggs from within my farming community I will request eggs that are only up to a few days old. But I found that there are a couple of simple and quick tests that I could do to really be sure about freshness.

If you look at the picture example of two cracked eggs, the whites on the egg to the right, surrounding the yolk are holding tighter to the yolk. This is the fresher egg. Whereas the egg on the left has whites that are spread out. This egg is probably at least a few weeks old and still edible but if you want absolutely the freshest eggs, you should choose those that have plump yolks with the white albumin closely surrounding the yolk.

Another easy way to check for freshness is to place it in a glass of water. A fresh egg will sink to the bottom, a slightly older egg will stand upright, and an old egg will float.

According to a few state agricultural sites eggs can last refrigerated for quite a good long time, up to three weeks. So I don’t want to mislead you by saying you should throw yours away if you have had them properly refrigerated. Again, eggs that are date-stamped will help you decide. As for me though, when I am cooking or baking with eggs for my guests and 1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast I would rather be safe. Also, freshness always yields better flavor.

Not all eggs are white, as you can see above. Some are various shades of brown or even blue. That all depends on which breed or variety of chicken they are from. The color can also depend on whether the hen is classified as a heavy-weight or not. The most commonly used eggs are white or brown.

The yolks are also various shades of yellow ranging from a very dark orange to a lighter yellow. Yolk color depends on the breed of the hen but also on her diet. Some farmers use marigold flowers in their feed that are healthy for their flock but also contribute to a deeper orange yolk color.
As is true with other food providing animals, some chickens are bred specifically to be egg layers and some for their delicious meat. Some are good for both.
Here is the Egg-cellent Omelet Recipe taken from Delish.com, a great site for recipes provided by Good Housekeeping. The link is http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/classic-cheese-omelet-ghk

Fruits of the Earth: Honey is the Nectar of the Gods

By

Honey: Nectar of the Gods
This is the introduction to a three part series about honey, its medicinal and its magical qualities. I will also include food recipes using honey on the “What’s Good for You” page.
Part 1   Honey:  How Sweet It Is!
Part 2   Honey:  Nature’s Most Complete  Food
Part 3   Honey:  A Natural Skin Moisturizer

                                                              
When you drive through our God’s country in the Finger Lakes, and glance towards the fields along the road you may see some wooden boxes stacked somewhere in a hedgerow. These are filled with honey combs and of course the live honey bees that produce nature’s most complete food.
At this point in my writing, I will not say that I am an expert on beekeeping or the process of gathering raw honey. I will say that I use it daily as a natural sweetener, as a nutritional supplement, and as a skin care product all because I have read so many great things about it for many years. Scientific and medical research continue to support its many benefits.
As with other postings for “Fruits of the Earth” I will try to visit a local honey producer or two in the future, and maybe pass along a few pictures. I remember growing up with members of the Wixson family, one of the best-know producers of honey and honey products for probably 60 years. Anyone who has visited along Seneca Lake and Route 14 in Lakemont, NY has to have stopped at the Wixson Honey Stand to see a live beehive, buy some orange blossom, buckwheat, or wildflower honey, and maybe some beeswax candles. And they would have returned year after year for the fresh ice cream that was made in a relic of an ice cream machine! The stand is no longer there and the building has been purchased by another childhood friend of mine.
 Other fruits of the earth posts that will be coming up over January/February will include information about:
Grapes into Wine
Maple Syrup and Products
Artisan Cheeses and the newly established Finger Lakes Cheese Trail
Natural Wools and Other Fibers -About the coats of Alpaca, Llama, Goats and Sheep, and Angora Rabbits that are grown and produced by local herders. This one should catch the interest of knitting enthusiast!
For future recipes click on the link below.

About Me: Life is a Journey

By

 

Life is a Journey
“Some travel a straight road where their lives are defined from the moment they are born. Others take many a side path, fox hole, or perhaps, the road not taken by others to seek their passion.” 
Cathy Moskal

I was born in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York during the 1950’s, the youngest of six children. I won’t say when in the decade so that you might guess me to be a little younger.

 I enjoyed living on our farm and going to school by bus to Dundee daily. I loved studying and having fun with friends engaging in music, art and sporting activities. I also loved playing and working on our farm. I graduated high school and left to find the world, to live in northern Bergen County, New Jersey, very close to New York City.

There, I raised a family of three beautiful children, now wonderful adults. When they decided  to leave home to find their own world I began thinking about some of the dreams and passions I had placed aside in order to fulfill my “mommy duties.”

Not a day had passed, since my younger years, that I did not think of starting some sort of business. For some reason, I knew I had this creative, ambitious instinct that was entrepreneurial like none other. Do you know how you feel when you are doing something…anything, that you just love, that you don’t realize how much time has passed by and you forget to eat or sleep? It’s kind of like being in love. Some things are like that for me. I don’t ask for them but ideas and questions pop into my head all the time. I have driven my family and friends crazy with my ideas through the years.

I did work creatively and hard on developing a successful Seattle-style Espresso business in a busy mall. It was a short-lived experience, however I knew that at this time, I would be able to pull from those things that I taught myself and learned from other people in my life experience to build another business again.

When I first bought and moved into the Starkey House, I saw this dream coming to life once more. The elegant spaciousness and original craftsmanship sparked my ideas and I could actually see it as a bed & breakfast. Not to mention that the location near Seneca Lake is ideal for future guests to enjoy all that the area has to offer with easy access to everything.

I am passionate about many things. It will be great to develop this new business based on what I am made of and what I believe in. Things like growing, eating and cooking healthy food, working hard but relaxing peacefully, the arts, music, and love for community. I believe that it is important to be grateful for and respectful to our God-given natural land and to those people who work it every day to provide us with the fruits of the earth. Most importantly it necessary to show appreciation to our family and friends. Without them I would have no dream or passion…or goal that would be worthwhile.
Please join me … on my new journey.

You may comment on any post or page of this site in the comment box way at the bottom of the post.. with any thought or question. By doing so you will help me as in real conversation to continue writing other posts. Thank you.

Food, Recipes & Gardens: What’s Good for You!

By

 

I am passionate about choosing freshly grown foods complimented by aromatic herbs and zesty spices! Yummm!

Coming soon…This page will be dedicated to recipe ideas for different types of eating philosophies as well as a collection of ethnic and international ideas. Some  post series will be about specific foods, seasonings, and methods. I will invite visitors to participate by sharing their recipes and ideas.

While I am creating a menu for the 1922 Starkey House B & B, I am sensitive to some of the special diets that my guests may have such as Vegan, Vegetarian, low fat, low sugar, and gluten-free. My menu will be sweet and simple to begin with offering yummy breakfast choices that have successfully tickled the taste buds of friends and family for years. My cooking emphasis is on the use of fresh, whole ingredients whenever possible. I depend mostly on the readily available produce of my local farming friends for fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, and eggs. That way I know I will always provide my guests with the most natural, local, freshest and best.

var sc_project=6505452;
var sc_invisible=1;
var sc_security=”8e2e341d”;

1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast

By

Located in the “Heart of the Finger Lakes” Region
with a Veranda View of Seneca Lake.
The Starkey House was built in 1922 by businessman and postmaster, Charles Raymond Brewer for his wife and children. It is located on the historic, once bustling “Starkey Corners” and named after the township’s original founder, the prominent merchant John Starkey.
The house features Mission style  architecture including authentic light-capturing stained glass, polished American Chestnut woodworking, and original Miller Company light fixtures. Although the house is not situated down on the lakefront, there is a lovely view of Seneca Lake from most rooms and from two large, breezy verandas. The house sits proudly on almost two lush acres with garden views of perennials and evergreens. The property also displays huge Catalpa, Sycamore and Maple trees to provide inviting, shaded sitting places.
Guests may enjoy delicious breakfasts and evening buffet snacks in the dining room or on the porches.
I purchased the house in 1999 and fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I have enjoyed living in it as a regular residence and have invited friends and family for many holiday celebrations and birthday parties over the years.  However, there was never a doubt that its original Arts & Crafts style appointments, such as interior French doors, front and rear staircases, fireplace and three-story spaciousness would lend themselves beautifully to becoming the perfect bed & breakfast.

This year my offerings will be sweet and simple as I work diligently and passionately to provide the best. I will be offering four spacious, bright rooms all with new private baths, as well as two add-on rooms that may create suite-style spaces for those traveling with family or friends.

The house is located on Dundee Starkey Road just off Route 14 on the west side of Seneca Lake about 3 miles north of Glenora, halfway between Geneva and Watkins Glen.

This location will provide perfect access to the wine trail, artisan cheese trail, local farm produce stands, and the downtown walking pleasures of Watkins Glen or Geneva. For those who love to boat and fish, there is room on the property to bring your boat and a NY State fishing and boat launch area just a few miles up the road at Severne.

Our quaint country roads provide the perfect biking experience. Take in everything nature has to offer!

“….there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.” Goethe

By

The new year has arrived and as I glance at the Seneca Wine Trail events calendar and other calendars for the Finger Lakes area, I am noticing that they are filled with great and exciting things to do during the iciest days of Winter. There are so many wonderful weekend getaways arranged for visitors driving or flying in from other places! Time passes quickly when there is a lot to do . . . and I have a lot to do.

So far I have outlined this new conversational space to tell you about things and ideas that I am passionate about. I am finding that writing here will be a great way to tell everyone about what the 1922 Starkey House will offer. Things like comfy beds, freshly ground and brewed coffee, and a delightful porch to have breakfast on or to kick back and read a book. But, equally as important, it is a place for me to share the ingredients of my life’s experiences with others and maybe get some good ideas back in return, while making some friends.

 This last day has been enlightening! What a great response to my first post…the first step and genuine commitment to a creative and productive venture.
Thanks to my lovely daughter, Rachael, for encouragement and support…not to mention..a boot in the pants. I have begun…

“…whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”     Goethe

Please follow me on my passionate adventure!