North Country Directory

Fresh FTD Delivery Flowers

2008-07-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

If you are living in Kansas City and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Kansas City. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Kansas City, KS and buy your fresh flowers. Kansas City local florists include Mears Florist, Village Flower Company, Eidson's Florist, Fields Florist, P J'S Floral, Michaels Heritage Florist, Sara's Florist, Michael's Heritage Florist, Hen House Supermarkets - Missouri Stores- Kansas City- Floral, Evans Don Florist, Mohr-Mears Florist, Roses Only, Don Evans Florist, Pulley Wholesale Florist, Flowers by LA FLOR Shoppe, Burns Floral & Home Decor Too.

If you are living in Concord and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Concord. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Concord, NH and buy your fresh flowers. Concord local florists include Olde Speedway.

If you are living in Columbus and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Columbus. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Columbus, OH and buy your fresh flowers. Columbus local florists include A LA Wiskets, Details, Hilltop Florists, Olentangy Plaza Florists, Victoria's Four Seasons Florists & Gifts, Market Blooms Etc, For Someone Special Florist, Miller's Farm Market, Avantgarden, University Flower Shop, Eve's Flowers Inc Reynoldsburg, Designs by Doe Florist, Timeless Petal, Blumen Garten Florists, Flower Factory Inc, Flower Galaxy, Sawmill Florist by Sonya, Stanford Interior Gardens Inc, Expressions Floral Design Studio, Ford Flowers, Flowers by Mel, Mille Fleurs Flowers, Imagine Custom Floral Designs, Downtown Floral Company, Stember VI Florist, Designs by DOE, Meyer Interior Accessories, Lagniappe Inc A Little Extra, Flowers by Stember, Hill's Floral Products CO of Ohio, Capitol Square Floral & Gifts, A Private Affair Inc, Chapel Hill Flowers & Gifts, Flowerama, Bella Flora, Milano Florist, Dixon Bob & Associates, April's Flowers & Gifts, Fifth Avenue Floral CO & Greenhouse, Rees Flowers & Fine Gifts Inc, Say It With Silk Floral Design Studio, Trees On Occasion Inc, Jo Anne Flowers, Paper Flower, Flowers On Orchard Lane, Cobblestone Gardens, Cua's of Columbus, Villager Flowers & Gifts, Floral Originals, Fireside Florist & Gifts, Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gift, Green, Hamilton Flowers & Gifts, Hoffman Farm Market, Kabloom, Cline's Flowers, Bexley Flower Shop, Virgil Alwood Florist Inc - North, Village Petals Inc, Hobby Lobby Creative Centers, Culpeper's, Dawson's University Flower Shop, Giant Eagle - Columbus, Hills Market, T Bears Florist & Gift, Foliage International, Trippies Distribution, Kroger Food and Pharmacy, Grandview's Fiori Florist, Rees Flowers & Fine Gifts, Whitacre Flowers, Daisy Basket, Buffington's Flowers, Mimosa Floral Design & Gifts, German Village Floral & Nursery.

If you are living in Augusta and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Augusta. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Augusta, ME and buy your fresh flowers. Augusta local florists include.

If you are living in Washington and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Washington. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Washington, DC and buy your fresh flowers. Washington local florists include Florist Studio, Georgetown Flowerland, Peters Flower Stand, Blackistone Florist, Heavenly Florist Inc, Flowers On Fourteenth, Bird's Florist, Marianne Florist, Flowers On the Hill, Just Roses, The Floral Studio, Ultra Violet Florist, L & S Wholesale Florist, Simply Sunshine Gift Tea Baskets, Renae's Flowers & Gifts, Flowers by JENI Inc, Flower Town Express, Le Printemps Flower Shop, National Floral Supply of Marland, Balloons and Plush, Greenworks - Spring Valley, Chacon Just for You Flowers, Metropolitan Florists Delivery Cooperative Inc, Dupont Flowers, A Little Shop of Flowers, A Balloon Bouquet®, Evelyn O Chisley, Dove Florist, Park Plaza Florist, Alhariri Enterprises, Flowers By Jeni, Aster Florist, Ophelia's Flowers Cards & Gifts, JC Enterprise, Flower Designer, DC Florist, Greenberg- Martin L Florist, Avenue Florist, Georgetown Florist, All Of Your Dreams Flowers & Spas, L'Enfant Florist Inc, Giant Food Inc and Giant Discount Drug - Maryland- Waldorf- Charles County P, Lehop & FAI Attorney's Office, Shane Floral, The Roseman Roses & Flowers from Ecuador, Sandy's Flowers, Peter's Flower Stand, Acacia Flowers, Washington Floral Design Group, Watergate Florist, Giant Food Inc and Giant Discount Drug - Pharmacies- District of Columbia- , D C Flowers, McCallum Sauber Wholesale Florists Inc, Washington Harbour Florist, Flowers International Inc, Greenworks - Ritz Carlton, Classic Flowers Inc, Executive Balloons Inc, Bird's Florist Inc, Giant Pharmacy, Walter Reed Flower Shop, Friendship Flower Shop, Sandra Vonetes, Capitol Hill Flowers & Fruit, Floral Arts Inc, Grand Floral & Design, Safeway Food & Drug - Washington Stores, Washington Flower Center, Giant, Columbia Floral Gallery, The Ociana Group, Capitol Florist & Gifts.

You can check online florist, it has loads of florists’ business listings that you can visit to order your online flowers. Or you check one of the online yellow pages websites.

Free Ads Online

2008-06-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, when it comes to selling things in the North Country, our market is often limited. We try the Watertown Times or the Penny Saver and we get no results. That is why sellers need to broaden their horizons by advertising on the Internet using Online Classifieds.

It does not matter what you have to sell using sites Stumble Here, a free ad site will help you sell it. They have numerous categories from Trucks to Real Estate and everything in between. Not only do you save by not paying a listing fee, you also expose your product to a wider audience who may be interested in what you are selling.

Stumble Here is not only a great site to sell stuff; you can also find some really good bargains. I looked all over for a tool I was wanting and I could not find it. I searched on their site and found one down in Syracuse. I was going down there for something else so I contacted the seller and arranged to buy it while I was there.

This site is also not crowded with a lot of junk ads so I put in some links for you to check out. Please feel free to leave a comment about what you think.

Strawberry Season

2008-06-19T09:01:00.001-07:00

It is that time of the year again in the North Country. The time to pick those ripe wonderful strawberries to enjoy. We purchase ours from the Amish but there are many places in the North Country to buy these little nature's wonders.

One of the places many people love to pick their berries is at Behling's Spookhill Farms in Adams, NY. It is a fun place to visit and it offers great produce and wine.

As you can see by the picture, we have already froze up some strawberries for the rest of the season.

Do you have a great place to pick strawberries? Leave a comment to let others in the area know.

I am looking for a good place to pick blueberries. If you know of any, please let me know by leaving a comment.

Enjoy the berries!

2008 St. James Fair

2008-06-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

Well it is fair time again and the beginning of fair season in the North Country is normally marked by the St. James Fair. This year the event will be held on June 19th, 20th, and 21st.

This is a great time for everyone and it is free to walk around. They offer great food some rides for the kids, and some local entertainment. I always like to go to enjoy their sausage sandwiches. To me there is nothing like fair food to make the belly happy.

For those of you who never have been to the fair, it is located on the main strip in Carthage, NY at the St. James Church across the road from Kinney's Drug Store.

Come one, come all to to this great event.

Strawberry Festival in Adams

2008-06-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

This is the official announcement for the Strawberry Festival.

The South Jefferson Historical Association will be sponsoring their annual Strawberry Festival on Friday June 20th from 10:30 am – 6:30 pm and Saturday June 21st 2008 from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Sixtown Meeting House located at 33 E. Church St. in Adams, NY.

Events will include a Chicken BBQ each day cooked up by the skillful hands of the South Jefferson Lions Club and a full menu from the grill including Hoffman hotdogs, hamburgers and Italian sausage, salt potatoes, beans, rolls, salads and homemade strawberry shortcake, soft ice cream and strawberry sundaes.

In an effort to speed up our food serving line, we will be adding a “food express lane tent” this year. This will offer faster service to everyone by serving those wishing to purchase chicken dinner take-outs separately from those wanting food from the grill, and sit down service during our peak traffic times, typically from noon until 1:00 pm.

There will be a two day craft show indoors and out, a variety of technology displays including a model railroad setup by train buffs Stuart Perkins on Friday and Malcom Jones on Saturday and an exhibit by the Sci-tech Center of Watertown who will be doing science experiments throughout both days. Local antique and classic car owners have been invited to display their prized automobiles (weather permitting) with the larger turnout being expected on Saturday. We also will have our usual plant sale, bake sale, raffle, silent auction, sale of local histories, maps, postcards, and recordings of local events from the 1930’s and 40’s as well as demonstrations by local weavers, spinners and wood turners.

Saturday’s events will include the State Police conducting their child fingerprinting / ID program, children’s games, facepainting and a petting zoo. On Saturday only, individuals may bring in their antiques for a professional appraisal by Gerald Petro. A 26-year veteran in the antique business, Gerald operates the Iroquois Auction Service and will be present to do appraisals. Clear photos of items will also be accepted. Appraisal costs will be $3.00 per item or two for $5.00. House calls may be arranged for Saturday after 3:30 pm for $25.00 each. Mr. Petro will also be buying gold and silver such as chains, jewelry, coins, tea sets, candlesticks and more. Proceeds from the weekend’s events support our museum’s operational expenses.

Anyone wanting more information about the festival may call 583-5459. Please come and join us for a weekend of food and fun as we welcome in the area’s strawberry season.

Kitchen Remodel

2008-05-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of redoing the kitchen and have been planning the project for quite some time. I am about to purchase all the material I need after doing a lot of research to save money.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I wanted to purchase all my stuff locally but I was shocked that I could find such a good deal on steel kitchen sinks and kitchen faucets by buying them online. I am figuring the project should take a good part of three months and I am trying to barter some of the labor with people I know.

We are planning on redoing the whole kitchen in a farm theme since we live in an old farmhouse. We are doing more gardening and we are raising our own food, so I will be adding a special prep area with two prep bar sinks to allow easy access to water without tying up the main sinks.

Between my Internet purchases of the sinks and bartering for some of the labor, I will have saved a substantial amount of money on the whole project. I am trying to pay cash for everything to avoid long term charges so every penny saved will be a great blessing.

I saved a bunch of money by ordering my sinks online. If you have any other suggestion for me to save money on the project, please leave me a comment.

James Wright is a Disgrace

2008-04-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

I am furious at James Wright for the crap he pulled just a short time ago. He resigned from office to take another job. This started a very negative campaign between Aubertine and Barclay for the State Senate seat. This create a battle of negative campaign ads from both candidates conducted. It was a sore stain for the North Country and politics in general.

Now after all the dust has settled and Aubertine won, Wright now states that he is not happy and is thinking of running again in November to get his seat back. I think he is a disgrace to have left his seat mid term just to take a better job and now that he is not happy with that job he wants to return to his old job.

The man quit and left the seat and his district without representation. He caused a bitter conflict that cost a large amount of money and now he wants to return to office. We can not stop him from running; however, I encourage the voters to not support him if he does. Political service should be taken serious and if you are elected, you should be man enough to complete the term you were elected to. Because he failed to do so, I do not see where he should have the gall to run again.

I believe this makes him a total disgrace!

Please feel free to share your opinion.

New York Governor Resigns

2008-03-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

Eliot SPITZER resigned today at 11:45 am. He did not elaborate on what he did but he did apologize to his family and New York for his personal failing. I am shocked that the man who put on the persona of being above all the corruptness that politician’s fall for now is caught up in a prostitution ring. It is alleged that he has spent as much as $80,000 over the course of a few years.

I say it is about time for him to resign. I am not only disgusted by his lack of consideration he has for his family but the fact that he portrayed himself as squeaky clean. He is leaving Monday March 17th and I say it is not soon enough. I am not saying other politicians do not do the same thing but this is a man who went after this kind of crime and was suppose to clean up politics in New York.

I hope the state can recover and hopefully improve things for us New Yorkers.

What is your opinion of this event?

Irish Festival Upon Us....

2008-03-08T15:34:00.000-08:00

Every year, the State Office Building in Watertown, NY is home to an amazing Irish Festival. It has become a north country tradition and an all around great time. Along with being a good time, much of the proceeds goes to local scholarships and charities.

For this one weekend, it appears everyone in town is part Irish as they enjoy the many activities, tasty foods, the amazing, traditional Irish music, and much more. If you have never been to the festival before then maybe 2008 is your year. The festival this year will be on March 14th - March 16th with something for everyone. On the 14th, you can begin your good time at 5:30 PM and continue on until Midnight. Included in the evening are The Miss Ireland Pageant, great music, and a wide array of foods and beverages to kick off the weekend.

The morning of the 15th starts things off a little earlier at 11:00 AM and again continues well into the night ending at Midnight. This day has events such as Irish Step Dancing, an Irish Rock Band, and dart tournaments. If you have no time to attend until the 16th, the festival continues between the hours of noon and 6:00 PM with continued events.

So, looking for something to do next weekend? Try out the Irish Festival in Watertown, NY. It is an abundance of entertainment, food, and fun all related to the Irish heritage. Put on a little green and head on over for a great time and a great cause.

Tragedy Turned Around

2008-03-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

It isn't too often that a terrible tragedy like a fire turns into a positive. However, in Depauville, that is exactly what will happen in April, 2008. After a fire destroyed their entire book collection last September, it would have been easy for any Free Library to close the doors for good. After all, they often run on a shoestring budget as it is ad when disaster strikes, it is hard to know which way to turn.

This plucky little community and library did give up and now they are almost to the point of reopening those doors to the public. It looks like the only thing missing are some books and they will be ready to get moving once again.

A library is such a focal point in many of our small communities here in the north country. They often hold children's events and give us a place to go and learn so many new things about topics that we can only imagine learning about. So, please join me here in wishing the Depauville Free Library the very best as they once again bring life to their community. It goes to show that it isn't about the size of a community, but rather about the heart of a community.

Privacy Policy

2008-02-29T16:08:00.000-08:00

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Beer Pong Fun

2008-02-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

Living in the North Country, we sometimes find the winter blues a bit too much and we always are looking for fun ways to entertain ourselves. I have always wanted to add a recreation room so I can entertain my friends. Of course, I have to settle for using my dining room to entertain. When one of my friends wanted to get into beer pong, I said we really did not have the room at our house. So I decided to check into ways to play with limited space.

I ran across a company that offers Portable Beer Pong Tables. They tables are light weight and portable for easy storage. It also allows me to set them up with ease in the dining room by just moving the main table. My wife was worried about the possible mess. These tables offer grips that hold the cups in place to prevent spills and the tables are quite attractive. The nice thing is, I would be dealing with a company that is located near by in Albany.

These Beer Pong Tables would be great for those living on Fort Drum because they are can be set up and taken down easily for temporary use. As long as you know your limit and you use a designated driver, you and your friends can have a great time playing beer pong.

I am planning on ordering my own Beer Pong Table soon.

It's Despicable - Let's Move On

2008-02-23T16:53:00.000-08:00

It can't be over soon enough for me. If you wonder what I am talking about, it is the special election for the 48th Senate seat here in the north country. Who could have imagined when Senator James Wright vacated his seat at the end of 2007 that such a sad state of affairs would take place to replace him.

Running for the seat is Republican William Barclay and Democrat Darrell Aubertine. Although going into the campaigning, I felt strongly that Aubertine was the best candidate for the job, I must say that at this point I just want it over. It has been like two teenage boys fighting for the same girl.

There has been no line that these candidates wouldn't cross when it came to negative campaign tactics. They have attacked each others' families, careers, and personal lives without hesitation. Even after an agreement was made publicly last week to stop the negative campaign advertisements, they couldn't just do it and remove them. Then of course comes the blame game once again. He didn't do what he said he was going to do, so I am not going to either.

Could someone please just be the bigger man? Better yet, let's just get it over with on Tuesday, February 26th and move on. Whatever happens, I no longer care. I am sick of listening to two grown professional men act like children. By the way, as of this article, there is yet another issue going on. It has to do with a possible delay in the election date so Barclay can appeal a recent judicial decision that allowed neither man to take the independent line.

Delay the election Barclay and make me listen to one more day of campaign ads and many minds will be made up for sure. This has been the most despicable race I have ever seen and it sure doesn't make the north country proud.

A Cute Little Book About The Adirondack Area

2008-02-11T06:56:00.000-08:00

I received the book "Excuse Me Sir...Your Socks Are On Fire" for Christmas. I wanted to share my thoughts and review this neat little book.

The book is written by Larry Weill a man who was a park ranger in the Adirondack Park in the 1970s. The book is a compile of short stories about his adventures in the are when he was a Park Ranger. It discuses the many different people he met while working and the silly things he did as he hiked the trails on patrol.

From the different characters that he worked with to to some of the weirdest hikers he met, his stories are very delightful. Larry brings the area to life and makes you yearn to hike the trails and stay in the lean-tos along the way. It is clear by his stories that the area still, years later, holds a special place in his heart.

Though I live in the area, I learned quite about about the Adirondack Park that I did not previously know. From the hidden trails to the fact that the park offers many lean-tos, I learned many hidden knowledge that I will use in the future.

If you love the North Country or just want to learn something about this area, this book is a great read. It is delightful, entertaining, and humorous and will bring a smile to your face. It will also help you relate because many of the characters in the book are everyday people who will remind you of someone you know. From the storytelling caretaker to the know it all city hiker, Larry encountered them all during his three years on the job.

I highly recommend this book and encourage you to share it with others as it is a rare find. It is great for all ages and will delight them all. It may even encourage you to get out and see the beautiful area.

Buying and Selling a Home Yourself

2008-01-30T16:48:00.000-08:00

We are all aware of the housing crunch in this area. With being near Fort Drum, houses are at a premium and it is hard to find what you are looking for. It is equally hard to sell a house in another area when moving here. Many people are getting tired on lining the pockets of the rich real estate agents and have decided to take the selling and buying into their own hands.

There are two ways to handle this. You can advertise just locally in the newspaper and hope for the best or you can broaden your market by using a good housing resource on the Internet.

Advertising locally is OK if you have a lot of time and you are not in a hurry to sell. You may find someone willing to buy in a few months or years. Unfortunately, most of us are never quite able to sit and wait for someone to come knocking on our door.

By using the Internet, you can list your house and there will be literally millions of potential buyers who may be looking for a house in your area. You also can use the same site to look for a house in the area that you are planning to move.

If you want to do all of the selling or just parts, these websites will help you decide from the basic selling down to getting you in touch with the right real estate agent in the area you are interested in. The good sites will also offer the availability of legal documents if you plan to do the paperwork yourself.

Looking through the search engines, there seems to be millions of sites but I found one who has the whole package all in one site. If you are planning to buy or sell your house or if you are just looking, I provided a link to one of the companies I found in my search.

Good luck in your search and if this information was helpful, please leave a comment and feedback.

Drivers Education on the Internet

2008-01-29T01:24:00.000-08:00

It is sad that many schools are wiping out the courses that many teens need to function in society. Preparing a teen for their learning permit can be a dramatic experience and many parents are not prepared for the task.

There are alternatives. You can spend hundreds of dollars locally for a course that you will have to track your child back and forth to. This is both very costly and very inconvenient. Besides that, your teen child will have the added stress of going to yet another school to take the drivers education course.

I was curious when I had family members who had children reaching the age of getting their permit. I decided to look for alternatives to the traditional sitting in a class and learning to prepare for your permit.

I did some searching on the Internet and cam up with a site offering a DDS approved Georgia drivers ed program. I was surprised that such a course existed and for so much less cost than what you would pay locally. There are now many states approving these types of non traditional courses to educate your child in the rules of the road. The course comes with everything needed including videos so that the parent can educate their child in the convenience of their own home. If approved by your state, you child will receive a certificate of completion along with a wonderful learning experience at their own pace.

These programs will not only save you time from having to travel back and forth to class, it will also remove a lot of stress on your child. He or she can learn at their own pace and with the best instructor in the world, mom or dad. On top of all the other features, you will also reduce your insurance, because since this is a state approved program, insurance companies will give you a discount on your teen’s coverage.

If you live or have friends and family that live in Georgia, have them check out the link. The site also offers information about other states so you can check out and see what is offered for your state.

Prepare now to prevent problems in the future. Make sure your teen child is ready for one of the biggest adventure of his or her life; getting behind the wheel of a car.

Buying Kitchen Sinks On The Internet

2008-01-28T07:51:00.000-08:00

Well it time for another remodeling project and this time it is the kitchen. I went to Watertown to price things at Lowe’s and Home depot and was shocked at prices. I want to totally replace the sinks and I was amazed that for what I want, they are charging crazy prices.

I decided the best thing to do was search on the Internet for better prices. What I was looking for was the Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks. However, I did not want the cheap ones that are so thin they wear out in less than a year. For what I wanted, both stores wanted to order them and they would cost a small fortune.

I also did not want the regular drop in sinks; I wanted the undermount stainless steel kitchen sinks. These are nice and give a clean sharp look to your sink area. They are easier to maintain because stuff does not build up under the edges. They were a little more expensive than drop in sinks but that is what I wanted.

After doing some major searching on home improvement sites and all the search engines, I finally ran across Sinks USA. Their prices beat both Lowe’s and Home Depot for the same quality. I saved about $285 on the sink I picked out.

I saved so much that I was able to buy a Prep sink to go in my wife’s new juice bar that she wants to replace our current kitchen island.

I have shopped before on the Internet but not much in the way of home improvement stuff. This proved to me that maybe I better shop a little more on the Internet. If you are looking to remodel, I suggest the links I included to help you with your sink needs.

UK Secured Property Loans

2008-01-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

In today’s world, mortgages are becoming harder to get and we could spend hours traveling bank to bank to find the right loan. This is a reality everywhere and to find the right loan, I recommend using the Internet to save time and money.

Finding UK Property Loans can be easier on the Internet because you can get offers to match your needs. Unlike the traditional ways of filling out the application and taking what ever your bank offers you, you get several offers that you can decide on prior to committing to the loan. The link above is a service I found that offers you a professional advisor to help meet your needs and get the best offer. You then have the option to accept the loan or decline it. They do all the searching for the best deal and you save the headaches of feeling like you are begging at your local banks

There are some things to consider before securing a loan. You need to be sure what you can afford and how long you want the loan for. Getting in over you head could cause you to lose your property. There are ways to Stop Property Repossession that help you out of a jam. However, the best way is to avoid the problems in the beginning. Talking to a professional advisor can help you determine what you can afford and all the other things you need to know. Most banks are trying to find the best deal for them; a professional advisor will help you find the best deal for you.

Always be cautious when obtaining any loan. Do what is right for you and your family and you will live a long and happy life in the property of your choice.

High Definition Antennas

2008-01-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

High definition television has become the newest range in the search for the ultimate entertainment. Everyone wants to get the best picture quality they can receive. If you are like me and like to receive the free over the air signals, you will need to look for the best HD antenna in order to get a quality picture.

When looking for an antenna, you need to consider what kind you want, indoor or outdoor. With an indoor HDTV antenna, you can pick up close range signals but lack the ability to pick up stronger signals from stations that are further away.

With an outdoor HDTV antenna you can reach many more stations and it also increases the quality of the picture you will get. Most of the broadcast in HD are done through the UHF band. This also brings up the decisions of rather to purchase just an UHF antenna or to get one that covers all the signals in both broadcasting bands.

HD broadcast bring life in to your old drab television and brings you entertainment world to life. With the new availability of free broadcast of HDTV, we can now all enjoy the effects without paying someone every month to use it. I for one am glad to see this technology available for the cost of an antenna. Even in our rural area, the networks are broadcasting in HD. It is time for you to consider getting your own HDTV antenna.

Found Cheap Car Hires

2008-01-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

Traveling out of the area is a pain with all the arrangements that need to be made. It is even harder when you plan to travel to Europe. There are many things that are different there and it is hard to get everything arranges to your satisfaction. I do not like booking everything through a travel agent because that can get expensive. I am always trying to save where I can.

I have found some great deals on airlines tickets and my hotel was a pain but I did manage to get that straightened out. The hard part was finding a car for hire. I looked all over at the places I was going and it was a nightmare until I ran across Car Hire France. They do all the work for you and have a car ready and waiting at the airport. I am always a little skeptical but they even allow you to book now and pay when you arrive. You can figure out the rates using any currency in the world and they even offer package deals. I was so excited because France will be our first stop.

Well that part was solved but I will be traveling all over Europe and I found out that they have the same great services in other places. Car Hire Belfast covers all my rental car needs in Ireland and Car Hire Spain covers all my needs in Spain. Not only do they make the job of finding a car easy, they offer great prices and do all the work for you.

Now I am really excited to book our summer trip to Europe knowing that all my travel needs are taken care of and I did not need to pay a huge travel agent fee.

Feel free to share some other tips for great travel bargains in Europe.

Voting on Tuesday Novenber 6th

2007-11-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

Please be sure to get out and vote on November 6th. Though we are voting for only local elections, they are the most important ones. Your voices are truly heard and you get a say on how your town or village is being ran.

This year I am running for the Town of Diana Justice and am hoping for the best. My main goal is to the people of my Town a choice and may the best candidate win in all of our elections.

Hot Hot Summer!

2007-06-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

By the looks of the weather so far here in the North Country, we are in for a hot summer. This seems to be good for the gardens and everything is growing good but it takes the toll on the body.

I plan to spend a lot of time swimming this year and I am looking for those little hidden places that are nice and clean and safe to swim.

I enjoy Sand Bay at Lake Bonaparte but I am sure there are a lot of other nice places in this beautiful area. If you know of any, please leave a comment so others can check it out!

Get out and enjoy the beauty of the North Country!

Lewis County General Hospital

2007-06-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

I had surgery a little less than two weeks ago to have my Gall Bladder removed. I have to say when I first moved to the area, Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville was rumored to be the worse in the area and when my surgeon said that was where the surgery was to be performed I was not overly excited.

I was wrong and so were the rumors! The hospital has the state of the art equipment and I was treated with smiling nurses a very friendly staff and a I was treated with total respect.

The surgery was done by Dr. David Rosner and he done a wonderful job. The Anesthesiologist was Dr. Robert Martinucci (Dr. Bob) and he was great and very entertaining. He ran into trouble because he could not get the breathing tube down my throat and instead of giving up, he managed to get it done and finish the job so I would not have to go through it again.

Throughout the whole ordeal of surgery, I always felt like I had a very caring staff. The prep and follow-up nurse, Mary, was like having your mother there to take care of you. The doctors were all very up front and explained what was happening to my wife when they ran into the breathing tube problem.

I would highly recommend this Hospital to anyone needing surgery or a hospital visit.

St. James Fair

2007-06-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

The St. James Church in Carthage hosts the 33rd annual fair on June 14th, 15th, 16th in the main strip of Carthage. This is a great little fair with rides for the kids, food and gaming for the adults and just an all around great time to get out and be social.

The fair is open Thursday and Friday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Saturday, Noon - 10:00 pm.

The food includes Italian food, Lebanese food, American food, Shish Kabob, Clams, Fried Dough, Ice Cream and more. The games of chance include Black Jack, Money Wheel, Bix Six Wheel, Pull Tabs, and more. They will even have a dunking booth.

On Saturday, take the kids because it is a one price wristband for rides from 12 noon till 4PM.

Get out there and enjoy what the North Country has and I will see you at the fair!

North Country Author - Marcus Mastin

2007-05-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

We went to a few yard sales this weekend and what a treasure we found while out. We stopped at the home of a very proud father. He had the right to be proud as his son is the author, Marcus Mastin. For anyone unfamiliar with this author, he has written the books, Don't Pay the Ferryman and Don't Fear the Reaper. These are the first two of a planned series of books that are set in small town Carthage, NY. Although both are fictional tales, it is great fun to read about someplace near by.

We bought autographed copies of both books while at the sale and are currently reading them. My wife also e-mailed Mr. Mastin to tell him about how we came across his books and he responded promptly with a very pleasant e-mail. It appears the third book in the series is on its way ou very soon. It is very exciting to have a successful author here in the North Country and I hope if you get a chance, you will check him out. His books are available at the book stores as well as on Amazon.com. Along with the two mentioned, he has also written a compilation of poems. Isn't it lovely to live in the North Country

It's time for the Farmers Markets!

2007-05-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

It is that time of the year for farmers markets to start to open. This Friday, May 25, 2007 the Carthage Farmers Market opens for business and the Watertown Farmers Market is already open on Wednesdays.

Farmer markets are something special that we here in the North Country are lucky to have in abundance. Please get out and support your local farmers and growers by as much as you can from them.

I was recently reading an article in one the major news magazines about buying your produce locally versus buying organic. They said research shows that because of the way produce is stored and shipped, local produce can be healthy than buying store bought organic. To cover both bases, try to find an organic farmer locally. There are a few popping up in our area and I am sure there will be more as the demand keeps growing.

Be sure to visit your closest Farmers Market and enjoy what the North Country farmers have to offer.

Summer Fairs

2007-05-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out all the local fairs coming up in the next few months. All of the local counties have nice fairs and some offer free admission.

One of my favorites is the Lewis County fair in Lowville, NY. They have a lot of fun stuff to do and will not hurt your family budget. They offer free admission and many animals for the kids and adults to enjoy. The fair runs from July 17-21, 2007.

Another fair that offers free admission for the first time this year is the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence Fair in Gouverneur, NY. To be honest, I heard this is a nice fair but I have never been because I am a cheapskate and do not like to pay admission, this year I will be there. The fair runs from July 24-29, 2007.

The Jefferson County fair is the oldest continuous operating fair in America. It was founded in 1817 and is worth a trip to go. The fair is located at the fair grounds in Watertown, NY. This one is loaded with rides and events but lack in the animals. They have more different kind of animals but they are all under a tent so they don't stay for the whole fair, the animals rotate depending on when the various shows are. This fair runs July10-15, 2007 and they do have an admission charge of $5 and $4 on Sunday to get in. The only reason I go to this fair is because my in-laws have Alpacas and they show them at the fair. It is a nice fair but as I stated earlier, I hate to pay for admission.

These are just a few of the local fairs going on, there are other outlying counties and there are local church fairs.

Please let us know if you know of other fairs you want listed on our what's happening page and we will list them.

Get out and enjoy you summer and with the local fairs your family can have fun in the North Country without breaking the bank!

Watertown Wizards Baseball

2007-05-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

One of the great attractions in the area for many of the North Country Residents to do is to watch a baseball game played by our very own Watertown Wizards. This is a great time for the family and doesn't break the bank. What little boy (and big ones) don't like to watch a good baseball game? It is like having the excitement of the major leagues right in our backyard.

The first game starts at 7PM on June 8, 2007 and will continue till the end of July. Get out and enjoy yourself and come back here to let everyone know about the fun you had. Here is a link to the full 2007 schedule so you know when to plan your outing : Watertown Wizards Schedule.

This is one of the fun things to do in the North Country so get out there and enjoy what the North Country has to offer!

Dining Cards for the North Country

2007-05-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

As you all know from my earlier post, I have been watching the PBS auction. One of my wins included a dining out membership card from PBS. This card is awesome and includes buy one get one free deals. This such a great value that it is well worth the cost. The card is free with a $70 or higher membership pledge to WPBS TV and you can save way more than that in dinners and many attractions that you receive 2 for 1 deals on. They also have many Bed and Breakfast Stays that are also 2 nights for the price of one.

All the deals are one time use and expires April 2008. If you are interested in taking advantage of this offer and becoming a member, please go to the
WPBS Website .

We all need to support the station that brings great shows to our North Country Families.

PBS Auction Under Way!

2007-05-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

The PBS auction is under way and runs until for a total of nine nights. The bidding is tough this year but we have gotten a few deals the first two nights. My wife and I are off the summer and we are always looking for things to do. We have bid and won a couple of tickets, dinners, and hotel nights in the general area. We figure if we can save a few bucks on something we would do anyway why not bid and donate to a worthy cause.

Please watch and bid often on this great auction on PBS TV.

Did you get a good deal on the auction? Share with others here by leaving a comment or two.

New Events Page added

2007-04-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce that we have just added an all new events page to our blog. All you have to do is click on the link on the side of the page and it will take you to the page.

If you are interested in listing any of your local events, please just email us from the What's Happening page.

We will list all non-profit events in the local area. This includes church dinners and events, fire department events, charity events, and much more.

This will help everyone with getting out and enjoying what the North Country has to offer!

Best Chinese Food In Northern NY

2007-04-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

We all love a good night of Chinese food. Whether you are in the mood for your single most favorite Chinese meal or you want an array of choices that a buffet can offer, the north country has two places for you. Don't hesitate to travel a few extra miles for these places, it will be worth it.

In Gouveneur, NY is The Asian Buffet. This buffet is fairly new and it is the best tasting, freshest buffet that I have ever been too. The pricing is reasonable and the atmosphere is casual. When you first enter, the actual buffet is shaped as the bow of a ship. There is something for everyone including a wide variety of traditional Chinese dishes, American favorites, seafood, fresh fruits, salads, and desserts that include pastries, ice cream, Chinese donuts, and cheesecakes. If you leave this establishment hungry, it is your own fault.

Not in the mood for such a large and heavy meal? Make your way to the main street of Carthage, NY and order your favorite dish at Golden Cheng. There are places to sit and eat or you can take your food to go. Either way, it is the very best quality of Chinese take out that I have ever had and I have visited many establishments. They have some great lunch specials, so visit before 3:00 PM if that is of interest to you. Not sure what to have, our family favorites include General Tsos, Chicken and Broccoli, or the House Lo Mein. Once you stop at Golden Cheng, you will taste the difference.

Whatever way you want to eat Chinese tonight, take the time to try one of these two places and let them know that I sent you.

Get out and enjoy what we have in the North Country!

5th Annual Taste(s) of the Town

2007-04-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

This coming Saturday April 28th is the 5th annual Taste of the Town at the Dulles State Office Building in Watertown. The event is 11:00am through 3 pm and benefits the Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County. There is a $2 donation at the door and it is $1 for a sample ticket, 15 tickets for $10, or 35 tickets for $20. Military families get a discount.

Every year something comes up and I can't go. I was so looking forward to going this year and had it all planned. Well like previous years, something came up. I have to be a on a liquid diet all weekend because I have a medical test on Monday. I love to eat and was looking forward to trying places that I have never tried. I guess there is always next year!

My lost should not be yours, so get out and enjoy yourself. If any of you go, please drop in here and leave some feedback for me and others. I hear the event is loads of fun and well worth the time and money.

For more information click here .

As always, get out and enjoy what the North Country has to offer.

Heart Walk

2007-04-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

Be sure to get out and support the Heart Walk this Saturday April 28, 2007. You can register at 8 am and the opening ceremonies are at 9 am. This walk is very important and my mother in law will be walking as part of one of the teams from Carthage Area Hospital. If you can't walk and want to donate please donate through my mother in law Stephanie Clarke . Please donate to the worthy cause and if you can join a team and help raise money. Any amount will help to try to fight the nation's leading causes of death.

If you want to donate please click on Stephanie's name above, if you want more information click here.

Good luck to all walkers and please help out of you can !

Tax Filing Extension

2007-04-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post for those who have not heard. The IRS has issued a tax filing extension to people of our area due to the storm . We now have until April 19th at midnight to file our income taxes. If you chose to use the extension, just put snow storm April 16th on top of your tax form.

Get those taxes done to avoid any tax penalty!

I'm on Farm Duty

2007-04-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow the neighbors leave on vacation and that puts me on farm duty. I really love the North Country. LOL I will be feeding and watering chickens, rabbits, and goats.

The one thing I love about the area is that you can count on neighbors and I am doing farm duties but my neighbor will be tilling my garden and he plows my snow, so I guess that is a good trade.

I love animals and use to own a couple of goats but hay got a bit high too years ago so I had to get rid of them. Anybody else in the North Country want to chime in on the animals they own?

Is it Spring?

2007-04-16T17:08:00.000-07:00

Wow look outside and what do we see; snow snow snow. Is this April 16th or March 16th? I can not believe all the snow we received. The good news is that it melting fast. I am hoping it helps a little with the Maple sap. I drove by a few sugar shacks today and I seen the steam rising which means lots of yummy Maple Syrup.

I guess it was one last fun time for the local kids. I seen my neighbors kids out making snowmen (was great snow for that). The downside for some was that a lot of people was without electricity. Quite a few families in Lewis County was out for most of the day.

At least all the roads are completely cleared so you can still get out and enjoy the great North Country.

WPBS All Star Auction

2007-04-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

It's time again for the great auction on PBS. This auction features great merchandise and gift certificates to local merchants. You can find many deals and save lots of money by bidding. The money goes to a great cause, Public Television.

We all grew up watching shows like Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, and the Electric Company. We now need to do our part for the next generation. The auction is a great way to donate while still getting a great bargain in return.

The auction is on the following channels:
UHF Channels 16 & 18 /Digital 41 & 23

The auction will be held Saturday April 28th through Sunday May 6th from 6:00 P.M. to Midnight all nine nights. You can visit WPBS and preregister for a bid number so you don;t miss out on any of the bargains.

As always, get out and enjoy the North Country.

Friday the 13th..Is it Unlucky?

2007-04-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

You may wonder how Friday the 13th became associated with bad luck. here is a little history. The Knight Templar was once one the most powerful and riches order in the Middle Ages. They were very powerful and also a target of much jealousy by some of the Monarchs of Europe and the Pope.

When King Philip IV of France become overburden with debt owed to the Templar and he was refused a further loan, he took action. In 1307, Philip conspired with Pope Clement V to wipe out the Templar and seize their property and wealth. There was a plan of action that on October 13th (a Friday), 1307 a simultaneous attack would happen in different parts across France. This crippled and later wiped out the strong Order of the Knight Templar and forever scarred history with the bad luck of Friday the 13th.

I thought this would be a neat little history to post for the perfect day Friday the 13th.

As always get out and enjoy the North Country which in its self is full of rich history.

Blog has got it's own domain name now.

2007-04-13T02:31:00.002-07:00

We have just merged the blog into it's own name! It is easier to put into the address bar and easier to remember. www.northcountrydirectory.com

Please feel free to leave any suggestions on what you would like to see here.

Getting a Doctor in The North Country??

2007-04-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Wow, I just ran into a major roadblock! I am having a bit of a health issue and I went to Urgent Care and they are trying find out what is wrong but suggested I get a regular doctor.

Well I moved here 5 years ago and I don't use a doctor often and I could not find one, so I don't have a regular doctor. I figured no big deal, I have a medical problem and I have one of the best medical insurance companies so I should be able to find a doctor right? Well not so easy, I called a list of doctors in Carthage and Watertown and guess what, 8-10 weeks before they can take a new patient. This is the craziest thing I have ever heard.

This is what I ran into, with great health insurance, what do people do with medicaid, medicare, or no insurance? Something needs to be done to fix the problem. No wonder when you walk into Urgent Care, they are so busy. Of course now they don't except patients with medicaid. It is becoming an area where the emergency room is your primary care giver.

The answer I get is that is the standard practice for doctors to except new patients. I also get the answer that we don't have enough doctors in the area. It seems strange that as I look down the list in the yellow pages, there seems to be quite a few to handle our population.

How many people call a doctor when they are not sick? The other thing I ran into is that if you get a doctor and you don't go with in a year period, they drop you and you have to go through the waiting period again when you are sick. This makes even less sense than the waiting period itself.

All I keep saying is something has to be done!!

Does anyone know if this is a common problem in other areas of the country?

Shades of Spring in the North Country

2007-04-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

By looking outside, it does not look much like spring. We got more snow and it is cold again. However, there are some signs of spring in the area. The Black River Drive In is reopening next weekend. This was a big hit last year and I bet this year will be the same. It's nice to a little of the past reborn.

Another sign of spring is that the Treats and Tiques Ice Cream Parlor in Natural Bridge has reopened again. We have been there a couple of times already and it is as good as ever.

Maple sugaring is another sign of spring and I hear that it is a fair season. the up and down weather has hurt a little but the rain and snow has provided the needed moisture.

For me and my family, the signs around the house are getting ready for the garden. This will be my first big garden since moving to the North Country and I am looking forward to it. Of course some plans may be on hold because I have to go in for an Ultra Sound on my gallbladder. I go Monday, so wish me luck and I will keep you all updated.

Please stop by here and share what your signs of spring are.

Take care and get out and enjoy the North Country!

Greek Goodies

2007-04-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

I made it to the Greek Pastry sale yesterday. Wow, talk about sugar rush. The sweets were great and it is nice to have something I don't normally get. The Greek culture is a small part of the North Country, but it brings uniqueness to our area. If you missed this sale, there will be another one right around Christmas time and at that one they also have Spinach/Feta Cheese Pies (yum yum).

All the pastries are made by hand and take a lot of work. I am glad the church shares this with us every year and I hope the sales last for a long time.

As always, take the time and enjoy what the North Country has to offer!

Spring is here!! I hope.

2007-03-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Wow what a beautiful day in the North Country. Karen and I got out for a nice walk. It was a little chilly but the sun was nice. We also seen the true sign of spring in our neck of the woods; the ice cream store opened up in Natural Bridge. I had a Banana Boat and it was yummy. If you never have been to Treat and Tiques in Naturla Bridge, make it part of your todo list for the spring or summer. You will not regret it.

If you have some good ideas of things to do for the summer drop me a comment on here and share with the rest of the North Country.

My to do list for summer so far:

Find and explore Bonaparte Caves
Visit all of the local museums that I have not yet visited
Swim at Lake Bonaparte (do this every year)
Blog Every day on here (or at least try to)

Greek Pastry Sale

2007-03-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Saturday March 31 st is the Greek Pastry and Sweet Bread Sale. The wife and I always say we are going to go but always forget, not this year. We are heading there in the morning. Our friend Olga works with us and she tells how great it is every year and she makes some of the goodies. This is a great culture event and a great gem for the folks of the North Country. Don't miss it!! The sale 9a.m. till 6p.m. and it is at the Greek Church:

St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church

502 Franklin Street

Watertown, NY

We are going so I hope we see all of you there. Get out and enjoy the great event and support them so they continue to offer this great gem to the people of the North Country. I will try to get some pictures to share on here.

What is going on in the North Country

2007-03-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

The North Country is one of the few places left that is small and quaint. Why is so much crime hitting our great area? Seems every week you are reading about more robberies and fights. This area is small enough that our law enforcement should be able to get the crime under control. Are the judges allowing to many people to get away? Every week you see the same teenagers names in the paper. Maybe we should start to look at stiffer penalties when you commit crimes. We need to work together to restore this area to the family values that many of you and your ancestors grew up on.

I am curious to hear others opinions of the problems facing our area.

North Country Artisans

2007-03-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

Here is another little gem of the North Country located on Route 3 in Natural Bridge. The little store called the North Country Artisans opened up last year and features many products made right here in our own backyard. The North Country have many very talented people and this store gives a consignment type market place for these artists to share their talents. They offer anywhere from soap to pure maple syrup all made right here in the North Country.

Stop by and take a look see and tell them you heard about it on the North Country Directory.

While your in Natural Bridge, be sure to stop and pick up an ice cream at Treats and Tiques located just across the street about half a block up. If your really want some ice cream order the Natural Bridger, it has your favorite sundae put on top of your favorite milk shake. Enjoy !!

There is so much to do in the North Country and the weather is getting nice so go out and enjoy yourself.

Ruby Tuesdays

2007-03-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

I finally broke down and visited the new Ruby Tuesdays. I have heard mixed reviews, some love it and some hate it. My wife and I had a combo which included two mini burgers, fries, and all you eat salad bar. My wife loved it but I had mixed reaction.

The salad bar is one of the best in the area. They have real greens like spinach and not just plain old iceberg lettuce. Most items were fresh on the bar and they have a pretty good variety of stuff. The fries were very good and extra crispy like i like them.

The burgers did not impress me. They were a little under done and a bit mushy. I do not like to see red in my burger and I did see some in these burgers. You would think for the size they could get them done all the way.

I love sweet iced tea and most of the bigger places are offering it on the menu. Ruby Tuesdays does not have sweet tea.

The waitstaff did a good job but did not seem to have the professional standards typical of places like this. If you walk into Texas Road House or Red Lobster, you can see what great training can do for a waitstaff, I did not see that at Ruby Tuesdays.

Overall I would not rule out eating there again but for the cost, I would rather go to Texas Roadhouse, Cracker Barrel, or Red Lobster.

"If you love to visit forums and love to save money, visit our new website at http://www.frugalwiz.com "

Texas RoadHouse

2007-03-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the Texas Roadhouse in Watertown. I am very impressed! I lived in South Carolina for 15 years and we had one there and it was great. I was afraid when they arrived that it would not be as good but the food is awesome. My wife, my mother, and I went to dinner there. My wife and I had a half slab of ribs and my mother had salmon. The ribs are the best anywhere in Watertown, the meat is full of flavor and falls right off the bone. The baked beans have a bit of spice and chunks of meat and they are one of the best beans I have eaten. My mother was extremely impressed with here salmon and she had a huge baked sweet potato.

As in the tradition of the south, they also have sweet tea(iced tea), which makes me a happy hyper man. I love sweet tea.

The service was very good and they make an effort to ensure you have plenty to eat and drink. The wait is long, but well worth it. We arrived at opening time 4 p.m. and they were already getting busy. By 4:30 the place was packed. They do offer call ahead service so you don;t have to wait.

One of the big draws is that they stock your table with peanuts in the shells and you can just throw the shells on the floor. The problem is that you sometimes eat too many peanuts and it ruins your appetite. I would never do that! (OK I do it every time and feel sick all night from too many peanuts)

I can not say enough about the Texas Roadhouse and would highly recommend that you make a trip there. Our bill for three came to $42.00 plus tip but we left full and happy and I have lunch left over for tomorrow.

Get out and enjoy what the North Country offers!!

Operation Pat Em' on the Back

2007-03-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

The North Country was founded by simple folks who cared about one another and done what they could to help a neighbor or a stranger. You can still see it sometimes but not like it once was. As more and more people moce in the area, that warm friendly feeling strats to fade. I was inspired a couple of days ago while I was eating breakfast at the Chatter Box (see previous post). An eldery gentleman came in and sat with a young couple he did not know and ate breakfast. This man comes in all the time and treats everyone as a friend. When the young couple finsihed, they went to pay and without saying a word to him, they paid for his meal, said their goodbyes to him and left. When he went to pay the waitress told him his meal was already paid for by the young couple. Now there was no glory sought on their part, they just decided to do something nice just to be nice. Well this got me thinking and I came up with a challenge to everyone in the Nort Country and around the nation.

Here is my thinking, I am starting a movement called "Operation Pat Em' on the Back". I think if everybody who reads this and takes the time to do just one nice thing for someone for no reason, we would see an improvement in the North Country and in the nation as a whole. What do you get out of it? You would be surprised how good it will make you feel to do something for someone else. It can be as simple as you want and can cost as much or as little as you can afford including nothing if it is just a service.

If you wish to particpate, just go out and do it and if you want to share your experience, I have set up a board on my forum for everyone to share their experience.
http://frugalwiz.com/forum/YaBB.pl?board=fru33

Let's all join together and put the neighbor back in the neighborhood and let's improve our community and the nation as a whole.

Brand New Frugal Wesite

2007-03-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

I just got our brand new website up and running. It has to do with living a simple and frugal life. We include tips for budgeting, gardening, saving money, and we have tip of the day and more. Please try to support the new site by stopping by and registering for the new forums. I also have included a free directory to list your website and/or blogs. I will accept any family friendly site.

Home of the Frugal Wizard (that's me)

Free Link Directory (add your URL now) Will accept with in 24 hours and most days sooner.

Free Frugal Forum (register and get things going)

Chatterbox

2007-03-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

Just want to give a little review on another little Gem of the North Country. The little Chatterbox diner on the main street in Carthage. It is located in the storefront where Intorcia's Donut Shop use to be.

For breakfast, they offer great pancakes, omelets, french toast, and more. They have lower price than most other places and give you a good hearty meal and you will not leave hungry. They are open for breakfast and lunch everyday and dinners on Wednesday through Saturday. It is a small place but bring a good appetite and cash or check because they don't expect credit cards.

Don't be surprised if a stranger talks to you because everyone seems to know everyone and they all make you feel at home. The owners name is Gail and if you tell her Tom sent you, well you won't get a discount but you will get a "Tom who". LOL
All joking a side, my wife (the great cook she is) and I eat there at least a few nights every week and it is well worth the stop and I recommend the Sauage and Cheese Omelet or the pancakes. The omelet is loaded with meat for $4.25 and short stack is huge for a mere $2.95 including real maple syrup.

Go hungry, leave full, have some chat, and as always Enjoy the community you live in because it's all you got !!

Please start posting leaving your hidden gems of the North Country.

Making a little extra Cash!!!

2007-03-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share this with my friends at North Country Directory. There is a forum that has a lot of cool interest and it pays you when you sign up and post to the forums.

All you have to do is post a response to any discussion at least four lines and realted to the topic and you get paid.

This is not a get rich quick gig but you can make a little extra cash while having fun. This is not a scam either, my wife uses it and they do pay out. They pay the 15th of every month following the month you earn at $10 and if you don;t earn that, it carries over till the next month. You can make a few extra dollars and it is fun, I have yet to find any topic that isn't covered on the forums. Check it out and have fun.

Here is the link !!

Want to make some extra cash? Earn money just for posting on their forums. Click here and sign up!!

What's in your neighborhood?

2007-03-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hey I am always looking for new experiences and some places are hidden gems waiting to be discovered. If you can help by pointing me and my readers to a good place to eat, to play, to have fun, or just to hang out please let me know and post it on here for all to see. The North Country has lots of hidden treasures, lets discover them together.

Here's one from my neighborhood:

Sandy Acres Alpacas is located on Route 3 between Natural Bridge and Harrisville. They sell Alpacas and have some wonderful deals on them. They do not have a sign up but they sell carports and just look for the green carport out front. These are neat animals so stop and check them out!!!

TGI Fridays Update

2007-03-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

Well my in-laws went to their free dinner at TGI Fridays. They said it was great. I found out later that they were still giving out free tickets if you just showed up. Dang, I missed that deal.

My in-laws said it was a great meal and they had great service. After dinner, the server came by to let them know how much their meal would have cost and it was around $145.00 for 4 people. They didn't skimp on the meals. I guess I will have to try it when I have to pay but I am looking forward to it.

If any of you have tried it yet, please let me know your reaction.

Take care and the snow is MELTING!!!

Free Dinners at TGI Fridays

2007-03-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

It seems that TGI Fridays gave away a bunch of tickets for free dinners so they can train their new staff. I missed out on that one. Did you get any of them?

My brother-in-law got four for his family and they are going today. I will let you all know how he liked it. My wife and I go when we go to Syracuse, but the places are not always the same when they come to the North Country.

If you get to go for a free dinner post here and let everyone know what you think.

I'm back after a long break.

2007-03-09T16:59:00.000-08:00

I am back on blogger and ready to talk North Country!!

Snow...cold...snow...cold...LOL That covers the news for the North Country!!

No really winter in beautiful here and it is a nice place to live.

What about all the new eating places, wow, we now have Texas Road House, TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesday, Panera Bread Company and more... My favorite is Texas Road House. We had one when I lived in South Carolina and I love the peanuts and I love the ribs. Warning though be prepared to wait..sometimes a couple of hours. Rumor is they offer call ahead seating, so try it and let me know.

That's it for now be good, be warm, and be happy!!

Candy...Chocolate..Carthage Merge

2006-05-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

I just got the news!! Croghan Candy Shop is opening their new store in Carthage next weekend on June 2nd. Wow, I have been waiting for this one. The good news is that all their chocolate is fat free and calorie free (just kidding). Well at least that’s the way I look at it. If you have ever had their candy, you will know how good it is. If you have not had it, you’re in for a real treat!

Welcome
and the
Best of Wishes to the Candy Shop!!

New Movie Drive-In

2006-05-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

As I was eating my food at N.Y.P.D., I got into a conversation with one of the new owners of the Black River Drive-in. She tells me that they are shooting for a June opening and hope to have everything up and running by then. I for one am very excited that we will have the great treasure of the past back up and running. I hate to go sit in a movie theater, but I love the drive-In. The new owners are from Fulton.

I look forward to the warm summer nights sitting at the drive-in and enjoying the movie.

BIG
WELCOME TO THE
NEW BLACK RIVER DRIVE-IN

Thank you Newzjunky!!

2006-05-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

I want to thank one of the most popular websites in the North Country, Newzjunky, for listing our blog on their website. Hopefully we can attract more people from the area and build a great directory to help out our neighbors. We do not have a big budget for advertising considering our services are free and we are new, so any help we get, we appreciate.

With that said, if enjoy what you have seen so far, please tell your friends. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know.

Thanks for all the support so far!!!

We just had a Great meal! (Red Lobster)

2006-05-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

I am the first one to try to support the local business owner. However, with that said, sometimes I am sucked in by the big chains. I just got done eating the featured meal at Red Lobster in Watertown. I had the 30 shrimp for $11.99. Wow the food was great and the service was great too. Our waitress Heather was attentive without being overbearing and when I needed a refill on my drink, she was there to take care of it.

My number one gripe when I eat out is when a waiter or waitress does not refill my drink. I cannot stand eating my meal and choking on my food because I have an empty glass sitting on the table. This is where Red Lobster has it going over the local places, they know that their customers should have a drink in front of them and not have to track someone down to get it.

Just a tip: if the prices at Red Lobster scare you away, go before 4PM and you can get the lunch portions and can enjoy a good meal for about $8.25.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!!

2006-04-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, today it's in the 70s, great day for Ice Cream. I have two favorite places. I like Stewarts because there always there and easy to get to. However, my favorite place is in Natural Bridge and it's called Treats and Tiques. Today, I really wanted some Ice Cream but it was so busy there that I ended up back at my own stand-by Stewarts.

Do You have a favorite place for Ice Cream ? Post a comment!

Welcome Northern New York!!

2006-04-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

This blog is dedicated to all the folks of Northern New York. We are a hidden jewel waiting to be dicovered. Please feel free to post and enjoy.