Bikes and flowers and markets and autumn leaves

On Sunday we woke up to a beautiful, crisp, sunny day and headed down to the market.  Sarah and Emmett and I have been impatient to get back on the Waterfront Trail and do some more exploring, so instead of parking at the market, we parked at the Children's Garden on the far side of Cayuga and road over the inlet and around to the Farmers Market.

We're really happy with the bike trailer.  Em. C. Harrington fits in their nicely inside his carseat and the seat snugs in tightly with the lap strap across it.  I'm surprised at how smooth the ride is.  The Dude was awake and looking around for some of the ride, which is super cute, and then he fell asleep in his chariot.

The market was busy, but we managed to get all the food we wanted anyway.

Cormorant on the lake.  Waiting for a fish to swim by.

Friends ride bikes together.

Boo had to head home at noon on Sunday, so we said goodbye to him in the parking lot, but we hadn't had enough bike riding yet.  Sarah says, "Let's go!"

These are some photos I took in the Children's Garden.

I like this one a lot.

On the way home, we had to stop and take a picture of our bucolic valley. 

Getting ready for the next season.

After a long, wonderful day, we're ready for bed.

Emmet's first 100 days marked by a trip to the plantations and a wild hat

This weekend was an exciting one. Grandma Neta was in town and so was our friend Boo. Nai nai also told us that the 100 day milestone was an important and fortuitous one for babies. She gave Emmett a gift of a couple of good luck tassels, with which we adorned him, along with the first wearing of his tiger hat.

On Friday evening, we built a magnificent fire and caught up on news with Boo. Sarah and Emmett went to bed a little early to catch up on rest and fight the plague that has descended upon the house. For some reason, Boo decided to sleep outside in his tent.

On Saturday morning we got up, got dressed and headed out for a day in the fall weather. Here's Emmett all snuggly and warm in his flannel pants and Danish sweater. He's always ready for the adventure ahead!

I'm bummed that this picture is blurry, but putting it in anyway, as it is one of few full family shots.  We got some rain, which we're all hoping is an indication of a snowy winter. Any reason to throw on the galoshes is good enough. Here's the family in front of the beautiful redwood tree at the botanical gardens at the Cornell plantations.

All dressed in green. 

Brilliant fall flowers

The secret door to the magic shade garden kingdom. Lots of wild ginger, too. 

Striking fall colours!

An interesting fern in a beautiful autumn woods

That's a big pumpkin, papa!

After the botanical garden, we headed over to Dano's for OPT brats and German fare.  This was a first trip for both the Dude and Boo.  Technically, the Dude has been there before, but only as a passenger in Sarah's belly.  He was amazingly well behaved despite the leisurely pace of service.  Boo was a pretty good boy, too.

At dinner, I had a Lucky Hare Brewing Fall n' Oats that was so good we drove straight to the brewery after.  I got a regular sized beer, but Emmett can only handle small glasses at this point.  The brewery is in the brewers' former rental property.  Boo and I waxed philosophical about the buildings in which breweries exist.  It's a testament, I think, to the quality of the brew that, despite the humble abode in a region lousy with million dollar chalets, that the street was lined up and down with cars.  Our advice to brewers, spend your time, energy, and money on the beer, not the building.

When we returned home, we dressed Emmett in his lucky tassels and tiger hat for his hundred day milestone.

Then we were all whooped and it was time for bed.  One more change for Chopper for the day; this time, into some sweet PJs that his aunt and uncle sent him.  Thanks guys!

If I have anytime this week, I'll share photos of our bike rides, the market, children's garden, and fall foliage drive on Sunday.  Today, was more of a business day.  We visited another day care provider, met with an HR person for Sarah, picked up diapers (cuz running out would be a true disaster!), chopped wood, cleaned house, and worked on our budget.  I'll provide one sneak peak since it's unlikely I'll ever get to that blog:

The family working on the budget.  "It's ok, momma.  Try that calculation again.  I'm sure it'll work this time!"

Epic Fall Post

As usual, there's a lot going on here, but we just call it life, so until I look back at the pictures, I can't figure out why I'm so tired at bedtime.  It's been awhile since we posted at all and even longer since I've written anything, so I'll try to add some stories to this one.  Some of this might have to be made up as I honestly can't remember it.

These were the first two carrots we pulled up this harvest.  I thought it was really cool that they had intertwined and assumed it was because of the love that Sarah and I shared and sowed in the garden.  Of course, that doesn't explain the  bubonic plague that swept away our tomatoes, or the pestilence that befell our brussell sprouts, but still, it was cute.

School started back up on September 8.  This year I am an administrator at the High School.  Here is a picture of me dressed up as best I can as an adult.  It feels really really weird to be the Dean of Students... I seriously don't feel old enough to be a teacher, let alone a Dean... Whatever...

There was a weekend that we were supposed to go to PA to see Boo, but my end of it got screwed up by my new gig.  Luckily, Sarah got to go still.  And I received photos of them having fun while I was at work, which is always cool.

They really did have a great time, and I'm always so happy to see Sarah relaxed and smiling.  Next summer, beach!

This is from a fire at Jenn's house.  I don't remember what we were there for, maybe just a visit.  At any rate, raising the flaming christmas tree over my head seemed like a great idea at the time... and it was.  I felt like a viking god.

Mom and Dad came up for a visit what seems a lifetime ago already.  We made our own version of the haj to Ithaca Beer Company and had a great meal outside.  The weather was really pleasant as I remember, and I know the conversation and company was fantastic.

Once out of the big city, dad could unload his big bore Red Ryder.  The world is still safe from the can-zombie apocalypse.

Struggling to put this stuff together, I just asked Sarah, "Wait, I remember these green beans... Were my parents up for my birthday?"  She looked at me the way I remember looking at Eva when she once again ran out into the cacti fields.  Sympathetic, but also a little annoyed.  So, anyway, now I remember that we had a really nice campfire that weekend, too.   The guest list included Livia and Darren, Yao, Zach and Kristen, Erik and Margaret, Bob and Jenn, Mom and Dad, and an incredible assortment of small people, too.  Sarah did a great job pulling things together and making everyone feel welcome and at home.  We didn't set up any obstacles this time, but the kids seemed to have a good time anyway.  Memorably, Yao roasted a marshmallow on the end of a hot dog.

 That weekend was also Homecoming and Sarah had to "work".  Fortunately, her partner that day was Minnie and it rained and she got to come home early... so, all in all, not the worst work day ever, in spite of being on a Saturday.

After she dried off, we headed back into the rain for an evening release party for the Nat Geo Wild premier of Vet School, a reality show about surviving vet school that was shot at Cornell last year.  Sarah was a part of making the show run smoothly by scheduling and organizing and communicating with interested parties, so we were all eager to see the outcome.  If you haven't caught it yet, and can, it's worth a viewing.  We were impressed with what the students have to do, and it was definitely cool to see it in an audience of veterinarians and people who knew the clients and back stories.

At some point, this happened.

And then it was October 3 again!  Franktoberfest!  Erik and his dad (grumpy looking guy up front) and I set up the tent and put up railings along the hill and lots of other things to get ready.

Sarah was a cooking machine!  Knödl and spaetzle and an AMAZING beef and pork goulash.

Frank loves Sarah.  He does miss her red hair, though and never misses an opportunity to ask about it.  Here they may be exchanging recipes.  Sarah's secret was she used 50/50 beef and pork.  Frank's secret ingredient was the fresh squirrel.

So, I've made a couple fires in my life that I'm pretty proud of.  This is one of them.

We're plumb in the middle of my favorite season, now.  Nothing beats working in the yard during the day with a fire going to keep warm by.

Love this girl.

A couple weeks ago Veneta came up.  We thought that was a great reason to check out a new place we heard of called Atlas.  It's a bar and a restaurant and, oh yeah, a bowling alley.  Very cool little set up.  Only has about four or five lanes.  The bar is made of an old bowling lane, too.

 Strikes and gutters.

"Mark it zero."  Zhora and I had a good time trying to figure out how to add up the points.  It seems like maybe Sarah was the winner, but neither of would stake our savings on that.

Umm... this happened one morning.  That was fun.

Oh man!  I forgot about this.  Beth, who Sarah works with, brought us a couple beautiful salmon fillets that her husband caught.  Actually, he caught the fish, the fillets he cut for us.  Sarah found a recipe for a marinade and a side called sauteed corn and edamame.  We grilled the fillets... man was it a good dinner.  We have a lot of memorable dinners.

Seems like every year we do at least some of our farming in the snow.    I love that farm girl!

Saturday we went out to Pat's and checked in on the horses and went for a walk with Little Bit and Rocky.  Not sure where Rocky is in this pic.

Later that day we cooked up some of our carrots with honey and curry and honey to take to a dinner party at a friend's house.

I won't lie, this new cutting board is amazing.  Thanks Adam and Leanna.

Well friends, that's it.  That's all I've got for now.  Some of those stories coulda been longer, for sure, but I hope keepin 'em a little brief made it easier to get through and maybe it gives us something to talk about over christmas break.