Memorialize This!

Mom and Lisa drove in from Michigan to visit Megan and I.

We visited the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center (http://www.hillcumorah.org/) in Palmyra.  There was a 19-minute video on "The Restoration," an education center, and historic sites.

 The Moroni Monument on top of Hill Cumorah.

The statue is at the site where Mormonism was founded.

 Headed down south to check out Canandaigua Lake.  Here we are at Kershaw Beach Park.

And what's a trip to the Finger Lakes Region without a sampling of wine?  Had a wine (and beer) tasting at the New York Wine and Culinary Center (http://www.nywcc.com/).  Desert wine, and Rieslings, and beer.  Oh my!

Walking along Main Street for a little food and shopping.

Perfect Memorial Day weekend weather!

Took a little trip to the Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens (http://www.sonnenberg.org/).   According to the sign, everything is to the left...

 Megan in the greenhouse

 Lots of flowers

Lots of cactus!

 Lots more cactus!

Even the statues are shocked at how many plants there are.

This is the Japanese Garden portion of the estate.

Bridge over the pond.  And, I just realized these are the same people in my picture from Main Street.  

Little bridge leading to the tea house.

What mansion is complete without a Roman Bath?

Collapsed portion of a small temple.

Lots of geometry.

Lisa and Megan on top of a rock structure in the Rock Garden

 You know you are properly visiting a site when they tell you "Good work getting here!"

Inside the Sonnenberg Mansion.  Just a cozy living room.

Dining room table being waited on by headless women.

The library.

The den.

This is a view from a bedroom porch overlooking the gardens.  

The exterior of the Sonnenberg Mansion.

Another exterior shot.

Most importantly, funny taxidermy

The Flower City Days and the Public Market (http://www.cityofrochester.gov/flowercitydays/)

Lots of colors and smells.

And quite a few people too.

 Tons of vendors selling just about anything that goes into the dirt.

 Mom should have received a commission for all the marigolds she sold.

Bright pink and red trees and bushes.

Hunting for the perfect hanging baskets.

 Flowers so red that my camera can't handle it!

"THE WHISKEY IS COMING!  THE WHISKEY IS COMING!"

A little hike along the canal in Fairport before the cookout.

THANKS MOM AND LISA FOR VISITING!  Hope you had as much fun as we did!

Please check out my art at:

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

Don't see anything you'd like, let me know and I could create something special for you!

Tree in Albufeira Portugal, Mixed Critter, and Seaside Swirl.

Tree In Albufeira, Portugal, 2014

oil pastel on paper

8" x 10" in a 9" x 11" frame

© copyright Mike Kraus

To Purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/190352538/tree-in-albufeira-portugal-original-8-x

Hiking along the Atlantic coast in southern Portugal.  The only shade from the intense sun is a tree.  Every so often, there's a cool breeze from the water to provide some relief.  It's a great place to drink vinho verde.  To plan our life together on the other side of the world. 

This drawing would great in almost space that is red, pink, violet, yellow, or blue.

For more information or custom order, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt 

 Mixed Critter, 2014

crayon on paper

© copyright Rachel Bell

What lurks in the Amazon rain forest?  Even scientists aren't completely sure.  There are many regions where humans have yet to visit.  There have been rumors of a Mixed Critter. A beast that only wants to snuggle.

seaside swirl, 2014

glazed play-doh

© copyright Rachel Bell

Collection of Megan Bell and Mike Kraus

She dreams of the ocean.  Lying on the beach in the warm sun.  Not having to worry about the controversies at her job.  The tropical waters are every shade of blue.  Flamingos glide through the clear skies

Megan's Happy Birthday!

Started off Megan's birthday with drinks at Hogan's Hideaway (http://www.hoganshideaway.com/).  You can tell she's excited about her French Martini.

Sitting outside on Megan's bday?  Weird.  Usually there's some kind of awful weather that ruins everything.

 Checking out the new sculpture park at the Memorial Art Gallery.

Us: "Weird little Lego-ish guy, why are you so sad?

Lego-ish Guy: "'Cause I saw the weather report..."

Mmmm...  Poutine.  Really, really great poutine at Lento (http://www.lentorestaurant.com/).  Another reason we need to go to Montréal sometime in the near future. 

Pasta and burgers all locally sourced and delicious!  I highly suggest Lento at Village Gate

Megan enjoying her new gliding love seat for the patio.

ACTION SHOT!  Scout received a new pair of lips in the mail!  THANKS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!

 And, she's down for the count...

 First fire of the season.  Not so much for fun, but to clean up some of the mess in the yard...

Night rabbit curious about Scout

 Looks like we're going to get some fawn soon.

The deer are not scared of us...

Perhaps because they are possessed by the devil...

 "Instead of watching the movie, do you think you guys could just go to bed instead?

 Scout loves cleaning up the yard.  Specifically helping pick up the sticks and gnawing them to hell.

 Look what I found in the garden!

Lots of rain came down right after we finished Megan's b-day dinner.  Lots of flash floods all over the place.  Sounds like it took out Penn Yan, NY.  This is the Irondequoit Creek by our place, which flooded much of Panorama Plaza

Where the Sideway Ends.  Ummm...

Heading home and checking out the flooding.  This is the trail I usually take home.

Saw a few Blue Heron hunting along the creek

At the top-center is usually an island with a bench.  No more island and I doubt there's a bench anymore...

Another new river created in the flood by the "Hillbilly Hot Tub."

No, graves didn't float down the river.  This is the "Loop Trail" sign that was uprooted from about 1/2 mile upstream.

 Ranging waters at the bridge

Panorama of the river at the parking lot of Linear (Channing H. Philbrick) Park.  Usually, the river is half as wide.  

 Old mill foundation under water

Something's odd about this myrtle...

Scout's first time on the hammock.  Not so sure about it yet and doesn't have her sea legs yet.

Please check out my art at:

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

Don't see anything you'd like, let me know and I could create something special for you!