Home

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." - Maya Angelou

My daughter is home with us this week :)  It will be a week of family, friends, food, bonfires, walks, dogs, Olympic qualifiers and fireworks.  It will also be Miley's first visit with her cousins.  Here's to a great week!!!

A Quick Trip to Germany

Care to take a trip with me to Germany?  You can come if you want.  We'll be there in less 30 minutes.  We'll go to a wonderful restaurant where we can dine either outside...

Alfresco style...

or inside...

Where the amenities are wonderful...

Both happy and weary travelers...

The happy, weary traveler - Dave

will enjoy...

a fine selection of beers and wines...

I ask, "Is there anything better on a hot summer day, than Heffen-Weisse?"  I think not!!!

and authentic German cuisine...

The Rosenthal for Me  - I ate every, last bite :)

that is superb...

Trout for Dave

And, we'll end our meal with coffee...

Coffee for Me :)

 and dessert...

Raspberry/Almond Tart  for Dave

I hope you enjoyed the jaunt.  
If you are ever in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State and want to enjoy a simply, wonderful German meal, go to Rheinblicks.  You will be so glad you did :)

A New Hiking Trail

You know I love to hike.  I hike all the time.  If I'm not cleaning the house or preparing food, you will find me outdoors on the trails.  In addition to my hikes through my woods with the dogs, I hike to the airplane field almost every single day.  It is good for me - both physically and mentally.
Sometimes, however, I get a little bored with the same old, same old.  Last night that was true.  I was out the door heading up the hill when I looked back and saw Violet's sad little face watching me through the glass front door.  So I turned around, walked back to her and said, "Violet, do you want to go for a ride and a walk?"  I swear she said, "Yes!!!"
I said, "Come on, then.  Let's get your brother (DJ) and go!!!"
Tail wagging (Violet's that is :), off we went - to Sandy Bottom Beach.
I love it there.
It is beautiful.

Look at the cute couple holding hands...
I don't know who they are, but I snapped the photo anyway :)

We walked along the trail which looks back at the lake...

through wetlands...

down a new trail to this...
a newly acquired parcel of land purchased by my town...

mowed trails surround the acreage making walking very enjoyable.
We stopped to rest...

and enjoy the daisies...

and the creek...

While Violet enjoyed the bunnies...

both little...

and big...

DJ and I were most amused by the woodchucks.  There were quite a few there.  I wanted to get an estimate of just how many were there so, I asked DJ to whistle.  Thinking if was for Violet (who was standing right next to him), he asked, "Why?"
I said, "Just do it."
He whistled and up popped five or six chucks scattered across the field.  DJ had never seen that before and we got a good laugh out of it.

Adventure awaits.  Now get out there, go exploring and experience something new.  It's all good :)

Kayaking

Last fall I took a one-day kayaking class at a local college.  I was so excited to take it.  I thought I would be learning basic strokes, proper hand and foot placement, back paddling, etc.  Instead, I learned how to roll.  Oh, and I mean roll!!!  Flipping the kayak, somersaulting out of of the kayak and then getting the kayak (which is now quite full of water) out of the pool and back onto solid ground.  And, I did this not just once or twice, but 12 times and that was before I left.
That's right.  I left.  Half way through - so much water up my nose that I had a headache for two days, bloodshot eyes and numerous bruises - I left.  Outta there.  See ya.  Wouldn't wanna be ya :)
Fast forward to this week.  I still want to kayak.  I really, really do.  Not white water (which apparently the class was catered to), but open water.  I live in a beautiful area with pristine lakes and I think it is a shame to not enjoy them.  So, I decided I was going to get myself (and Dave) a kayak.  I went to the Dick's Sporting Goods website and learned that kayaks were on sale.  Half off for the two that I purchased.
Last night, we christened them :)

No white water here...

Just blue skies, flat water and inlets...

just waiting to be explored...

Most importantly, it was peaceful...

Simple, utter peacefulness...

Was it everything I hoped kayaking would be?
It was more :)

At the Pond This Sunday Afternoon

I am enjoying the bright sunshine...

A good book and Pandora playing on my iPhone...

The bright orange of my marigolds...

My H20 on the Go bottle of water...

And a cast of characters from my own story...
The loyalist...

The spy...

And He Who Croaks...

Look at his reflection in the water.
Isn't it great?
Enjoy the rest of your day :)

Around the House This Sunday Morning

It is absolutely beautiful here this morning.  The sun is shining, the skies are blue and the woods are succulent from the rain we received earlier this week.  I weeded, edged the flower gardens, mulched and mowed the lawn yesterday.  If I do say so myself, I think it looks pretty darn good.  Mulching not only keeps weeds at bay, but I also love the way it makes everything look so neat and crisp...

I am a morning person and I love the way the sun shines down and casts shadows upon my home...

Very shortly, my delphinium will be in full bloom.
I love the blue of this flower...

My herb garden is doing great...

Just look at the sage...

My friends enjoy the morning sun as much as I do...

Good morning Suzie!!!

There's your brother and your sister - Snoop and Violet.
My two best friends.
Doesn't Snoop look handsome with his new haircut?

Don't worry Stripes I haven't forgotten about you.
I am coming to get you.

I am off for a pond sit...

And then it is back to the house...

where I will stop to admire my Radio Flyer wagon and think about my kids...

and then it is back inside...

where I will watch the men's finals of the French Open and then head back to the pond with my suntan lotion, a cool drink (it's supposed to be in the high 80s here today) and a book for the afternoon.
Enjoy the day!