Stirring the rhododendron

Early riser. And so now I wonder how all the early warm weather and subsequent cold will affect the rhododendron and our other yard plants through spring and summer.

Backyard color

Perseverance. Our backyard daffodils have strength in numbers.

We’ll take a pop of yellow

Bright spot arrival. The up-and-down temperature game this spring caused a bit of breath-holding between the sprout of green and the appearance of the yellow flowers of our front-ard daffodils.

Discovering the tasty Owera wine and new winemaker Shannah Cheney

Shannah Cheney with her first Owera Vineyards vintages. As a gift back when we worked together back at the Liverpool Public Library, my communications department boss included a bagged bottle of Owera Vineyards Cabernet Franc. When I pulled it from my little collection and uncorked it, I was smitten. In fact, I liked it a…

Safety counts

Don’t go there. Our Town of Salina code enforcement officer took a look at our fence gate and set me straight. Because we have a backyard pool, the gate calls for a tall latch with a lock and spring. These ensure best safety practices for short younger ones with younger minds who might wander by…

One heck of an Easter brunch

Family style seating. Easter brunch at Heritage Hill Brewhouse was a treat for my dear wife Karen and I. Why cook when you can make reservations, suggested I a week out from the holiday. She was all in. The pretty Brewhouse up on a hill that we’d enjoyed for Karen’s company picnic last summer had…

That’s the pitch

Hey batter batter. Why did I strive to snag individual game tickets for the Syracuse Mets opening day 2024 the moment they became available? So we could be right here to see the first batter of the season. Yes, that is the Mets dugout. Friday’s game at NBT Bank Stadium was blustery and delightful both…

Cold weather, hot team

A different tailgate. It was so cool outside at noon Friday that we decided it was wiser to partake in our traditional Opening Day tailgate pregame festivities in Elisabeth and George’s living room rather than the stadium parking lot. That doesn’t mean we gave up on pregame festivities altogether. 39 degrees and here we are.…

End of this loop

Long and winding trail. Theoretically, I could start at the visitor’s center much closer to my dear wife Karen and I’s house and walk my way on our side of the shore of Onondaga Lake all the way to here. Actually, I’ve jumped in my car and parked in three different parking lots as I’ve…