Random Indoor Activities

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!!!!  CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE OUR PARTY!!!


NINE YEARS!  That's a lot of candles!


Bella loves to party



More cupcakes from Karen's daughter.  Karen, give me the word and we'll pull Jenny out of college and start a bakery.  Warning: I'll eat all the profits...


Crazy weather.  It's either nice and warm like this down at Canandaigua Lake or...



Nasty like this thunder, rain, and hail the other day.  It seems like we've had about 2-3 weeks of straight rain.  

Nothing else too much to report.  Kind of been cooped up in the house with the weather and all.  

How To Build a Simple Fire Pit

Updated by popular demand.  I've decided to put up a quick post because there has been a lot of interest in how I built this fire pit.  So, here we go.

First, dig a hole the size you'd like for a fire pit.  This is about 40 inches x 40 inches with a depth of about 9 inches.

Once dug out, tamp or pack the soil tight and level (Not really seen in this photo).

Lay out the cinderblocks in a square and level.  Fill in with some of the soil that you dug out.

Next, lay some decorative bricks on top.  Once in place, dump soil or sand on top of the bricks and try to rub it into the seams.

 

TA DA!  You have a simple, cheap fire pit that is easy to maintain, easy to fix, and easy to remove.  

THANKS and please let me know if you need anything or have any questions!

The Battle Against Beige Tyranny!

THE DAYS OF LIVING IN A BEIGE HOME ARE NUMBERED!


Before and after of the northeast side of the living room.  Since our home was built in 1951, we decided to restore the house to a fun 1950s style palette.  


Before and after of the southwest side of the living room


Sorry The Braithwaites Established 2000.  The Bell-Kraus' will finally claim this living room in the shade of Mint Milkshake!



While I'm at home repair, need to clean the gutters (which apparently have not been cleaned since 2005).  Can I do it from climbing out the second floor window?  Nope, need a ladder...


Now that the work is done, time for a fire!


Campfire Premium Quality Giant Roaster Marshmallows!  The mascot is accurate.  The marshmallows are the size of someone's head!  THANKS MARIANNE!



Mmmmmm....  Giant Smore!


Look who came to our cookout.  Megan and I were sitting around a nice fire talking when we heard some footsteps.  We saw one deer walk by and try to keep his distance.  Not this one.  He walked right up to us and the fire and didn't back off until we both shouted at him and banged sticks.  He only backed off about ten feet and we could not scare him off.  I literally have about 100 photos of this deer thinking I could use the flash to startle him.  Nope.  


The more I observe the deer at my house, the less impressed I am with deer hunters.  It isn't a sport if I can walk up to them, put a rope around their necks, and lead them into my garage.
  

Megan and I's anniversary is coming up in the next couple of weeks and we don't have patio furniture yet.  Saw this Gnome/Dwarf set at Topps for only $199.99!  This truly would be the gift we would never, NEVER forget!

That's it for this edition.  Thanks for wasting your time with me!

So a Priest Walks Into Bellhurst Castle...

Bellhurst Castle (http://www.belhurst.com/) on Seneca Lake.  Father Jack had his 50th anniversary of being ordained as a priest.  


For those who don't know Father Jack, he's the priest that married Megan and I.  Here we are dancing at our reception.  It was a great 50th anniversary celebration and we were honored to be invited.


A view of Seneca Lake


Mr. Fussy looks like a teacher I had in high school...


Athena seems to be waiting for 5 o'clock to roll around...


I can't wait for her to try to make this happen when she's 70-80 lbs.



I call this "Still Life of a Future Blog Post."  

That's all I have this week. 

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...