The Days That Get Away

Everyone looks forward to their off day. Laura's traditional Wednesday off has given us many a joyous afternoon's exploring the local markets or simply touring the mountain passes. Yesterday was not one of those days. We found a moment or two to relax and enjoy the sub 80 temperature, but mostly it was work. These storms have done a number on our once peaceful neighborhood. Last I counted there were 17 trees down within eyesight of our backyard. Yesterday I dragged six or seven of them out and started to trim them down. I have mad firewood, some would say. Laura spent most of the day trying to once again transplant a few things here or there. It has been the summer of relocation. Let's hope the deer relocate somewhere else for lunch. And then around 2 I started mowing the lawn. I realized that I may be the only person to step foot on every square inch of this property. Plus I'm using a lawnmower that is exceedingly more proficient when being pulled as opposed to pushed. So technically I kind of mowed the yard twice. But I didn't finish and I barely raked so... there's still more to do. Laura made a delicious lamb for dinner, and then we had to run some very small and cheap errands. I think we set a new record. Went out to three stores and only spent $7.34. Looking forward to her week off. As long as we don't let those days get away.

And Whoops It's March

We've got the spring fever. We've had the spring fever for a while now. We've been talking so affectionately towards the day when we can get back outside and start working in the yard, the day we can begin planting flowers and vegetables in the garden, raking leaves and the day we can finally start work on this list of projects that's sure to never be complete. That day comes in March when the ground begins to thaw and the weather starts to heat up. Oh we just can't wait for March.

This morning we woke up and realized that it is March. What are we waiting for now? We finally have 95% of the stuff we want in storage actually in storage, so even tho it was a little brisk out this morning we took our first steps into spring and did a little work in the yard.

Got busy cleaning out gardens and burning dead things.

I tried to get Yuula to mow some grass but her mower was clearly unfit to take on the job.

So mostly we just wandered around the yard making mental lists of all the things we'd like to accomplish this summer while Yuula pet/chased the cats.

Weekend Rocks

This weekend was about rocks. It started round 5:30 Saturday morning and stopped round 6pm tonight, with a real wormy one. I went thru four pairs of shorts, socks and t-shirts and took 4 showers. I still smell like rock and I masehd my finger real good between a couple. The pointer. But we fixed the property walls and finished off the patio and added a wall to that, and lined a bunch of the gardens. We've always had a lot of rocks. Now they're just in the right spots.

Chinese, Unisphere & The Like

Since the traffic outside Shea is notoriously bad, we decided to show up for the game a little early the other day, park, and take the opportunity to explore the area a bit. We were hungry and I thought Fran may get a kick out of the old grounds of the Worlds Fair. So after a quick detour thru the "Iron Triangle" (think over 250 body shops crammed in one 2-block radius greatly resembling the streets of a third world war-torn country; Charming) we decided to park the car and head to the streets.




We headed down Roosevelt Avenue under the LIRR tracks in search of foods. I have a fondness for the meshing of metal & nature so I snapped a few nifty shots, or what I think are nifty shots. You make not think them too nifty. Nifty.




After passing a few blocks full of signs that were I believe in Korean (we couldn't tell if they were restaurants or laundromats or what) we spotted like an oasis coming into focus from across a barren desert none other but the New King House Chinese Restaurant. This was to be the high point of the day.




We also discovered how the inhabitants of Queens dispose of their garbage. They don't bother with giant dumps that pollute the Earth no, they reinforce the railroad supports. How eco-friendly.



Then we got on to the heart of Flushing Meadows. First we spotted the Unisphere, a 12-story replica of the Earth. I like it.






We live here


Fran liked the gardens


We headed towards the Observation Towers but they were barricaded and you couldn't get very close. Kind of a bummer.





We started back and passed by the Rocket Thrower and wondered how he's gotten away with flicking everyone off all these years. And check out those monkey toes.





A few random shots...






So.. yeah good times.

Now... not that that particular neighborhood in Queens isn't charming in its own little way, it's just that now that we've been thru Flushing Meadows, seen the historic sights and all... let's just say that I think next time we'll sit in the traffic.

Off, To Indiana. BUT FIRST.....

We're packing. Scratch that. I'm packed. She's been packing since Tuesday. We're going to Indiana with the folks for the weekend to visit the elder siblings Brad & Erin & their boys Braden (4) & Dylan (9 months). It promises to be an adventure, complete with pontoons, ice cream plants & the like.

So I thought I'd take this moment to kinda catch up with what we've done the past few weeks, as it has been full of it's own adventures, treasure hunts, & rainbows [literally].

So...

I went on tour. Look at me go


Fran joined me at Giants Stadium, Yeah!


We had giant ice cream cones with Mike in NY. We each had two


A barge was on fire in Rhode Island


We saw fireworks


Then we assembled a posse and took to the streets for the 4th of July


Eric Brust picked us up that night and we spent the next day with him, first just driving around Boston...


...and then we rented kayaks and took to the Charles River


We came upon a remote island and discovered a hidden treehouse, in which we decided to stay & start our own civilization


Exploring ensued



We tamed the river. KayaKINGS!!!!!


We topped that day off the only way we know how; with some of the best Indian food in New England...


...and some Ben & Jerry's


We returned home, rather exhausted, to the basement in Georgia just in time for Madison's 3rd birthday party


For fun we took Madison to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens



And then some ice cream (a reoccurring theme)



That pretty much brings us up to date. Click on the pictures to take you right to the photo albums for the full experience.

Wish us luck.