Memorable Memorial Day

Let's get Memorial Day weekend started on the right foot at Steve's Diner (http://www.originalstevesdiner.com/).  Mom and my sister Lisa came in to visit to see what my life is now like in Rochester.  A giant pancake and a Steve's Special will fuel this day's adventure


Lisa in the mob at the Public Market (http://www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmarket/)


I wonder how much spice it would take to make road kill taste delicious?


$5 for chicken poop...


Yep, we're in apple country.


All my ladies


Martha Jane's Bakery.  
"How long have you been here?"  
"Ummm...  Three years..."
"Really?  Man, I guess I haven't been paying attention."
Smelled awesome.  Have to remember to try this place the next time I'm at the market


Nothing says Memorial Day Weekend like a tiny skateboard with a screaming eagle!


This is not the Susan B. Anthony House.  But, this is their visitor center and Sue's sister's house.  Don't know who she is?  Then you are required to read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony

  
The Susan B. Anthony House (http://susanbanthonyhouse.org/index.php) just off of Main Street in downtown Rochester.  It was really interesting and our docent gave us a wonderful 45 minute private tour.  They have done a great job restoring the house.  Sorry, no photos...


Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass having some tea together in the park


Three people with no family resemblance at the High Falls on the Pont De Rennes Bridge


Panorama of the High Falls gorge.




Ginny Light!  Checking out the new brew house of the Genesee Beer Brewery.  They seem to have done a nice job in spite of demolishing a historic structure for another parking lot.


Waterwheel




Mt Hope Cemetery (http://www.fomh.org/)


Well, if you're going to see where Susan B. Anthony died, you might as well see where she's buried.  Unfortunately, the good photo of my mom and Lisa posing with the headstone is on my mom's camera...


Susan B. Anthony's tea partner, Frederick Douglass


Xzomia does not exist on google, therefore it does not exist.  


Mount Hope Chapel


Fountain sculpture


Well, they were a week late for the Lilac Festival (http://www.rochesterevents.com/festivals-events/lilac-festival) in Highland Park, but we could still stop by and check out the blossoms


One of the countless flowers in Highland Park (http://www.monroecounty.gov/parks-highland.php)


Highland Park Reservoir.  Looks way more tropical that in was...


flower...


Pittsford Farms Dairy.  It's funny how it takes people visiting from out of town to go some places...


Schoen Place in Pittford along the canal


There was a high school crew competition while we were there





The George Eastman House (http://www.eastmanhouse.org/).  This is one of my favorite places in Rochester.  Who's George Eastman?  Well, he's pretty much the guy that made this blog possible (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Eastman)


Lisa and George reading the paper.



Not a bad estate, eh?


Got ta stop 'n smell da roses...


Found Oscar the Grouch wandering around the side streets downtown


A little bit of shopping on Park Ave before going over to the family BBQ (oddly enough, a Cinco de Mayo themed dinner on Memorial Day.  Not complaining as I love Mexican).


THANKS MOM AND LISA for coming to visit us!  I hope you enjoyed your time here and we hope to see you soon!!!


Ugh...  Since the ladies left it means I have to do chores.  There's a lawnmower somewhere in that grass...


Well, we ran out of time, but the little Christmas tree has been planted. 


The fire pit has been christened!  BEHOLD ITS GLORY!


YES!


Jessie from Breaking Bad and my wife...  

Digging My Own Grave

Must of done something wrong to be digging my own grave...  With Megan's b-day shovel...

"He knew he had it comin..."

That ain't no grave, it's the early stages of a new fire pit! 


It's getting there...


Oh boy, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend!  (For instructions, please visit: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-build-simple-fire-pit.html)


Oh happy wife.  A new fire pit and hammock all in the same weekend.  Must of been a good birthday!

Now for some randomness.  And, what could be more random than cuddling chincillas?

Deer hanging out on a driveway on our walk.  The eyes tell me he's a robot


Bobette and Bob chalk drawings at Cobbles Elementary


What does this mean?


The new petunias seem to be holding their own.  


Poppies (which can only be said in the Wicked Witch of the West's voice.  Sorry)


Waiting to vote for Penfield's 4.4% property tax hike, there was a little art show that featured my niece Rachel's awesome rendition of Hokusai's Great Wave.  There's framing.  The color gradient in the sky is well done.  The marker line work is beautiful.  
Looking forward to the long weekend.  A MUCH, MUCH needed weekend and should be a lot of fun.  Hope yours is too!

When Wishes Come True!

Celebrating Megan and Dave's birthdays!  So many cakes, so little time.


Cabin Fever maple flavored whisky.  The question is this a small bottle or a really large hand?


She'll never look this new or shiny again.  Broke out the Honda HRX217HZA lawnmower and took it out for a test drive.  See what it could do.  Lots of child safety features.  Never thought I'd have to read an instruction manual on how to pour gas from a gas can before.  Some trial and error on the multiple levers and buttons on the mower itself.  The kids may be safe, but the adult driving the mower is in way more danger just keeping track of all the switches...



Choose your own adventure: Honey I Shrunk the Kids or Mike's Front Lawn?  HERE COMES THE MOWER!


The lawn is even.  My life is now complete...


Getting ready for Mike and Rosie's wedding at the cabin...

Detroit Red Wings vs. the Chicago Blackhawks starts tonight.  Megan's trying to convince me that "playoff beard" isn't as effective as "playoff clean-shaven."  But, I think she has motives other than hockey...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

"There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be."

Welcome to the Purr Imagination benefiting Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester!

Round the world and home again
That's the sailor's way
Faster faster, faster faster
There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining, is it snowing
Is a hurricane a-blowing
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of Hell a-glowing
Is the grisly reaper mowing
Yes, the danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing


I think Susie stole Johnny Depp's costume...


Susie and I showing off our outfits


Pam and I.  


Good people watching.  

 
The Skycoasters (http://skycoasters.com/) put on a great show as always  


Look at all that candy!


Violet Beauregarde as played by Audrey.  As you can tell, a good night was had by all!!!


Speaking of Lollypop Farm, time to paint the exterior




Megan hiking in Linear Park with Irondequoit Creek behind her.


A River Runs Through It.  What?  Penfield of course...



Legion Eyer Park.  As you can tell, there are a lot of parks near our house.  I discovered this one on Google Maps trying to find something else.  It appears there's a bike trail around here too.  Something else I have to research.


A panorama of Eyer Park


An old railroad bridge running over Irondequoit Creek


David the Gnome's house.  Possible something more vicious...


Another bridge over Irondequoit Creek


Tried out Crust Pizza Kitchen at 115 West Commercial St in East Rochester.

Good Italian sausage pizza in Edmund Lyon Park.  


Checking out the rest of town...


Busy week last week and still catching up.  More of the same this week.  Stay tuned for my next adventure: "Mike Uses His New Lawnmower."  It promises to be a dangerous experiment...