A Reminder To Appreciate Summer

It's been a while since I've done a personal post.  The good news is that my work is keeping me very busy.  But, here's what I've been up to:

HOT TUBBING in the snow at Mirbeau    

http://www.mirbeau.com/

 The frozen waterfall

 Doesn't it look just like southern France?

 I guess it's as much like Southern France as snowy Hogsmeade is in Orlando...

 Our room

 Monet Pond

 My bones still ache from the record cold we had this year.

 The architecture of this place is interesting.  Obviously, it's modern construction.  But, they did a real good job at making it seem authentic.

 trellis above the hot tub area

 Poor frozen tree above hot tub

 HEY!  THAT'S MY WIFE!

 If you didn't figure it out by now, I spent a lot of time in the hot tub.

A nice escape from the brutal winter.

Dog sat Bella (the boxer) in the Spring.  Tried to get these pups to keep playing so they'd sleep through the night.  But, after my second attempt, they ran out the doggy door so they could sleep outside...

 PUPPY TORTURE!

GET THAT MEGAN!

 Bella knows to look at the camera.  Scout's all business...

Launching the fire pit for summer 2015.  SUCCESS!

 Lilac Festival (http://www.rochesterevents.com/lilac-festival/) in Rochester.

 Had some nice blooms this year

 Hashtag Lilac Fest!

 College Town (http://www.collegetownrochester.com/) development in Rochester.  I was very surprised at how well designed it is.  It's probably the best development in Rochester and Monroe County since World War II.

Celebrating Megan's Birthday with some fancy coffee at Joe Bean (http://www.joebeanroasters.com/)

That about sums things up for now.  Better get back to painting...

Puppy Torture [VIDEO]

Thanks to Katie and Vern, Scout now has a pair of socks to wear around the house.  I'm pretty sure she has a more extensive wardrobe than I do now.

Video of Megan and I making Scout run around the house in her socks.

At least you always know how she feels...

action shot 

All she's missing is an elf hat (Katie, don't buy her an elf hat...) 

Please stop. 

[Mike] How ya doin', Scout?
[Scout] If this is what it's gonna be like with you bein' home all da time, ya need ta get another job.
[Mike] Aren't ya havin' fun?

[Scout] Don't push it.  I know where ya sleep...

Added another eight inches of snow the other day.  Started off with a nice ice storm for a good base.  It ended up being the heaviest snow I've ever shoveled.

 Pine trees are pretty weighed down.

With the ice, the snow really grips all the trees and bushes.  Thankfully, it's been nice for the last few days and this has been melting pretty quickly.  We've had about 112 inches of snow this winter, which is only about 18 inches more than average.  Ready for spring...

 More canvases on the assembly line.  If you haven't noticed yet, I've started my own Etsy page.  If you are on Etsy, I'd appreciate if you "favorite" my shop and follow me.  I'll return the favor.  Any suggestions would be appreciated as well.  Please visit at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

 My new boss reviewing my work.  "This is nice, but I'd prefer more treats."

Even the daffodils are a little too eager for spring.

That's about it for now.  Been pretty busy lately.  THANKS AGAIN and please let me know if you need anything!

Spring 2: The Reckoning

A butterfly on a lilac bush.  The only thing that could make this be more Rochester is a garbage plate.


Meg and I found a new trail near our place.  Who would have thought this would be behind Tops?


Looks like the set of Mad Max.  It's the bridge on Penfield Rd going up the big hill that will be under construction for the next 6 months.  


Wee-Wee Diapers for dogs.  The picture of the dog is hilarious...

Busy week coming up (as if things have slowed down).  There's a few birthdays.  Several work events.  Lots and lots of projects I have to get done.  and all.  Oh adulthood...

A Night of the Unexpected!!!

Le B.A.R.C. (Bohemian Arts Revival Cabaret), Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester's fundraising gala.  It was amazing!  Sword swallowing, baudy women, contortionists and so much more.  


  
The entrance.  If only I had a pic of the guest as they walked in.  I think we really lived up to the motto of "a night of the unexpected."









before opening



So red!



I wish I had more time to fiddle with my camera to take better pictures of the evening.  Sorry...



Here I am with Joanna, who's all over the news today for our rescue of eleven more horses from Riga, New York



VIP cocktail event before Le BARC in the main lobby of the Memorial Art Gallery



Juggling.



All the lights in the chandelier.  Details in everything.  It was like going to the theater for a show and ending up on stage






Aerialist on those ribbon things on the boulevard






Contortionist! 



Escape artist with baudy woman!






People actually had to leave the room when he dislocated his shoulder to get out of the straight jacket.  



The whole time this was going on I was thinking "oh no, what is she going to do to our donor?"  It only got worse when the whip came out.



Making final adjustment to the rose before she whips the bud off



Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.



I forget what was going on here.  I'm thinking magic.



Sword swallowing!






The live auction by Pam Sherman, the Suburban Outlaw.  



Norma and Andrea Holland.  Norma is a local news anchor and Andrea is a comedian/video producer.  They were hilarious and I guess they got their outfits from a theater in Chicago.  Norma and I also share a love of coffee. 


  
Here's where the real work gets done.  Checking out all the auction items and everything else at the end of the night.



This is what was happening outside the window during check-out.  At the end of the night, people were already asking "how are you going to top this?"  Good question...



All good things must come to an end and here are some of the guys lugging out the trees...


It was a great night.  Thanks to all of our guests, sponsors, volunteers, artists, staff, and anyone else that made this such a wonderful night.  



The Lilac Festival in Highland Park.  It has seriously rained in Rochester for about a month and a half straight.  It's rained so much that they had to cancel several days of the Lilac Festival, which is about 10 days long.  We finally made it out on the last day and it even rained then...



Megan and I went back to the scene of the crime for the first time.  This is the sunken garden at Warner Castle in Highland Park, which is maintained by the Rochester Civic Garden Center.  This is wear we took our wedding photos almost a year ago.



The art fair portion of the Lilac Festival



handsome carriage



Tomorrow afternoon, I will be saying "I knew her when..."  This is Minnie and she's going to be Lollypop Farm's "Pet of the Week," which means she'll be on TV tomorrow and on all sorts of things.  She's 15-24 lbs (depending on your source of information and easy going, friendly, loves dogs, and food.  And, I like her too much to keep her in our office any longer.  Hopefully, she'll get a forever home tomorrow!



Ok, Minnie is done with the photo op.  Whoever gets her will be very lucky!