Andy & Shannon feeling at home in Upstate NY

Dan & Julie paid a weekend visit to Andy & Shannon in their new home in the Albany area. As previously reported, Andy is now working at Conduent in downtown Albany. The two have a spacious apartment in Guilderland, a suburb just west of the city, and are settling in nicely - although with very little furniture, as they await delivery of items like sofas and a dining set.

Since moving in a month ago, they've already explored some of the attractions of the surrounding area, including John Boyd Thacher State Park. On Saturday, they brought Dan & Julie there to take in the view from atop the Helderberg Escarpment, a steep rock-faced ridge that rises above the Hudson Valley.

Sunday was a somewhat rainy day, but D&J and A&S were able to visit the indoor Discovery Center at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, just a couple of miles from their apartment. The preserve is an area of sandy soil, pitch pine and scrub oak that's home to the endangered Karner blue butterfly and more than 45 other rare plant and animal species.