No, not that kind of pound, Dogamous Pyle

Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, had her regular check-up at the vet’s yesterday afternoon. I marched her up on the scale, and she sat pretty still, as far as big rescue mutts in the vet’s office go. The nice lady behind the desk asked me the verdict, and I read out, “77 pounds.” Then we…

‘El Jefe’ feeds the soul of father, son, audience in ‘Chef’

There is no such thing as dabbling in social media. Or fatherhood. Or running the menu of an L.A. restaurant. So learns Carl Casper, the very hard way, in the movie “Chef.” It’s a total creation from Jon Favreau, producer, director, writer, star, and it’s quite fabulous, a little movie that’s hugely satisfying. When you…

A new game to the Backyard Olympics …

At our great friends KP and Sue’s big shindig Sunday afternoon, I discovered a new sport in the Backyard Olympics collection. Elisabeth knew it. My wonderful daughter picked up one of the stringed things and took aim. Her solid boyfriend George knew it. He enthusiastically stepped up for the two-person contest using the six swingie…

A Saturday night party sounds good

With all the digging in the garden dirt my dear wife Karen and I have been doing of late, we figured a Saturday night trip to the Syracuse neighborhood of Tipperary Hill would do us well. Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub was throwing its kickoff edition for its weekly outdoor block party. Yes, thank you, said…

Now we await butterfly bushes and butterflies

The team gardening effort for my dear wife Karen and I focused this afternoon on the butterfly garden triangle in the backyard of our home in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. I planted the last two newbies, a pair of lavender plants to take the place of a previously hardy spreader that up and…

At Green Lakes, it’s all about your viewpoint

The people of Central New York flock to Green Lakes State Park for all sorts of recreation. There are beaches for swimming. Two lakes, Green and Round. Camping. Bikers all around. Runners and hikers and hills. Snowshoe and cross-country skiing trails come winter. Yet this is still the fourth installment of “Golfing with KP, Tater…