Fall leftovers

Leave us alone. How that great, big clump of dried leaves made it from autumn to spring on the shores of a lake is beyond me, I thought as I walked past the short tree And saw no other signs of such stubborn behavior. Nature sure is something.

Shadowy figures

Sun blocker. Walking around Onondaga Lake Park, it behooves this retired guy experiencing his first months away from the working days to stagger the hours visiting this grand expanse so close to my house. Different angles of the sun bring different views of the world to my senses (and iPhone).

You’re welcome

Stuck in the corner. Bird-nesting season has reached our side alcove, my dear wife Karen and I notice during our weekday late afternoon wind-downs on the futon. It’s a robin, we’ve been able to spot. We can’t cede the alcove to the birds, though, and mama takes flight often when we open and close the…

Practice, practice, practice

Nor completely random. I spied while walking over the pedestrian bridge back to the official parking lot after the Food Truck Battle, an interesting three-line pattern on unused lot below. And now we know where the painters practice their middle-of-the-road lines before traffic is stopped and they go out to put the important yellow or…

Catchy truck title …

If I was in the mood for breakfast … My dear wife Karen and I are always on the lookout for witty names while we circle the competitors at the annual Food Truck Battle. She quickly pointed to the Oh, Crepe & Waffles folks. Yeah, I agreed, but I was already set on the lobster…

Family time in the sun

Gotcha! Sometimes I get stealthy with my iPhone camera. I think terrific daughter Elisabeth and fantastic fiance George Three saw me before I clicked at the Food Truck Battle, though. A lovely time at the table we all had.

I know those sounds from Brownskin

Great job by a familiar band. I was happy that a band I recalled from my days covering music for the big daily took the Food Truck Battle stage while the six of us enjoyed our food and conversation on the grassy field at the New York State Fairgrounds. The Brownskin Band sounded fantastic, vocals…

A short drive adds interest to the PGA

Welcome to history. My decades-long friendship with Tater added another golf-based chapter this week when he invited me along to share in a very thoughtful Christmas gift. Chris’ wonderful wife Linda — OK, that’s what he’s known as in non-nickname moments — thought a day for two at the Tuesday practice round for the PGA…

Nursing along the strawberries

Berry promising. Terrific daughter Elisabeth and fiancé George Three brought in a car load of strawberry plants for this first spring in their new home spread. After they got them all in separate planters, we were offered a batch. Off I went to find a strawberry jar. Several spots into my search, I scored the…

It’s peony tree time

More backyard beauties. The latest addition to my dear wife Karen and I’s backyard blooming pageant are the huge and fragrant peony tree bursts. A half-dozen big flowers have added their gorgeous scent to the side corner, and more buds await.