Welcome to “Firefly,” a beautiful Year-Round Cottage in the southern
Adirondacks with Water Views from every room.

Built in the 1920’s at the junction of East and West Caroga Lakes,
and completely renovated in 2004, this Architectural Gem features a
great room, two sun porches, a spacious deck and large yard. It
Sleeps 8 in three charming bedrooms and a sleeping loft.

Renovated from the ground up, with all new utility
systems, “Firefly’s” Vintage Character has been enhanced with Modern
Features from a gourmet eat-in kitchen to lighting on dimmer
switches. Its fine woodwork includes hand-oiled mahogany floors and
wide windowsills built like the arms of Adirondack chairs to hold a
drink or book. Oversized sliding glass doors and contemporary window
walls combine with multi-paned windows, French doors and a sunshine
yellow cathedral ceiling to flood the rooms with glowing light.

The Great Room alone has 17 windows with views of both lakes and the
tracery of leaves and an ever-changing sky. The dramatic cathedral
ceiling has four fans and a bank of traditional schoolhouse lights.
An 8 x 8 glass door leads to the south-facing Deck, furnished with
all-weather wicker. The Private, Fenced Yard has a croquet lawn,
picnic table, gas grill and outdoor fireplace with Adirondack chairs
for storytelling and star gazing. Broad flagstone walkways edge the
level lawns; plantings include colorful window boxes, lilac hedges,
a rose-covered arbor and borders of peonies and hostas. A driveway
provides parking for a maximum of three cars.

The great room’s Sitting Area has a comfortable L-shaped sofa
upholstered in plush microsuede, cushioned wicker chairs, gas
fireplace, unique pink leather desk, and entertainment center with
basic cable TV, DVD, VCR, CD. Wireless high speed internet is
provided for your laptop computer. Vintage bridge lamps provide
reading light.

The great room’s spacious, well-stocked Kitchen has an island with
breakfast bar. It is fully equipped with gas stove, refrigerator
with ice-maker, dishwasher, and double sink with drainboard. A
country cupboard serves as pantry, supplementing ample cabinet
storage. There’s a breakfast and beverage center with stainless
steel counter, bar sink, coffee grinder, coffee maker, microwave,
toaster, blender, food processor and recycling bins.

The Dining area’s oak table seats 12, with attractive china and
glassware.

The Bedrooms are airy and bright, with ceiling fans, sheer curtains
and blinds for maximum control of light, air, privacy and water
views. Each room has vintage-style floral wallpaper, reading lights,
antique beds, dressers and bedside tables, charming accessories,
feather pillows, down comforters, fleece blankets, and vintage
coverlets. You provide sheets, pillowcases and towels.

The south-facing Master Bedroom, with queen brass bed and painted
cottage dresser, has a beamed ceiling and beadboard walls. Glass
sliders lead to a tile-floored sun-porch with sleeper-sofa, gas
fireplace, and 11 windows, creating a master suite with lake views.
Custom draperies on the sliders provide privacy and the potential
for using the sun porch as a separate bedroom.

The “Finns & Flo” Twin Bedroom, with two cream-colored antique iron
beds, has amusing dog-themed accessories in honor of the owners’
favorite pets.

The “Anna Schmidt” Queen Bedroom, named for the seamstress who
stitched an 1882 sampler hanging in this east-facing bedroom, has a
blue painted iron bed tucked in an alcove with bedside shelves, a
quaint painted dresser and rocker.

An oak library ladder leads to the adults-only Sleeping Loft With
Queen Bed overlooking the great room. It has sunrise lake views from
the dormered window seat.

The Asian-themed Bathroom has a pedestal sink, mirrored window,
crackle-glazed vintage dresser, and shower/tub with hand-held shower
massage.
The Game Room, with two walls of windows, is furnished with painted
wicker and classic mid-century rattan. Board games and a second
television make this an ideal designated “kids’ room.” In winter, it
provides storage for snow-sports gear.

It’s a short walk across the road, down an unpaved country lane and
a well-marked path to the Dock With Aluminum Rowboat. (Kayaks and a
canoe may be rented for an additional fee.) Shallow water with a
sandy bottom makes this a great place for children to play and swim -
- Adirondack chairs are provided for watchful parents. A panoramic
view of West Caroga Lake, surrounding hills, and the vintage
carousel and Ferris wheel of historic Sherman’s Park is picturesque.

Additionally, “Firefly” has beach rights at a private association
Swimming Beach on East Caroga Lake, a three minute drive.

Outdoor Activities span the seasons with swimming, boating, fishing,
water skiing, golf, hiking, mountain biking, ice fishing,
snowshoeing, snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing all
available locally.

Essential services, dining and taverns are within walking distance.
From Caroga Lake it’s 15 minutes to Gloversville, 30 minutes to the
NY State Thruway, an hour or so to Saratoga, Cooperstown, Lake
George and Albany, and four hours to NYC, Boston, Niagara Falls and
Montreal.

"Firefly" is a short walk from "Cat's Meow" and shares the same
neighborhood waterfront and dock. For families vacationing together,
renting these two cottages would provide generous and varied outdoor
space as well as six bedrooms accommodating up to 14.

“Firefly” accommodates a maximum of 8 guests at all times; there is
parking for a maximum of three cars. Sorry, no pets and no
smoking. “Firefly” has a NO SHOES policy: bring slippers or flip-
flops for indoor use.

Visit our website for an extensive photo album, guest book and
regional tourism information. Email owner for link.