There will be no Vampires in our house this Halloween

I finally cleaned off the garlic I harvested a few weeks ago and have been drying in my shed.  I have been using it and giving some away so this is not even all of it.  It is wonderful in everything! 

That Fish Place

Since we had fish outside and would need to bring them inside, I bought an aquarium off craigslist.  When we went to pick it up Meme was here.  We told him we were going to get him a fish tank and he asked us if we would get him an aquarium.  Hmmmm..   I liked it because it was tall and bow front and would fit on a cabinet we already have in the living room. 

I decided to reseal the bottom and looked it up online.  It did not seem much different than sealing the bathtub and I knew I could do that.  Well, bending into a small space of a fish tank is a bit harder than moving around the bathtub but I finished it.  I filled it up on the driveway and it sat all morning and did not seem to be leaking.  I drained it and brought it inside. 

Today we went to That Fish Place in Lancaster to get the stuff we needed to set up the tank; filters, bubbler, decorations, and stuff.  We called Molly who met us there before her chicken gig at noon but more on that later.

There was a kid once that called the store that Shark Place because of the one over the door. 

I have not been in the store for about 10 years and it is not like I remembered it but it was still fun. We hi-jacked an employee who was very helpful in helping us find everything we needed to get the tank set up. After that was done we looked at the Pirate's Cove to see the sharks and rays.  It is a petting tank but Baylor was having none of it.  He was pretty whiny the entire time which was not helping the whole experience anyway. 

The shark is in the middle of the photo half under a rock.

Finally we made it into the fish room.  I thought he would enjoy it more but he pretty much whined the whole time to leave and go somewhere else.

The frog tank.

There were lots of interesting, creepy, and pretty fish but I was usually holding him trying to catch his interest in something.

After check out, we went with Molly to her church that was having a chicken dinner sale.  She was to be on the lawn inviting people in but after she suited up, they told her they were out of chicken and were going to clean up.  It may have been a good thing because it started raining anyway. 

Which made Baylor happy because he was able to use his umbrella.

 

We took Molly out to dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant, Hong Kong Garden.  I forget how good it is until I go back.  I love it!!  Then we went to Molly's to see her new cat who scratched Baylor's forehead!  Once he started getting out of control and throwing things, I took him home.  He was asleep within minutes and stayed asleep for 3 hours.  It was fun going to the store but even better to see Molly!  Next we get to start setting up the aquarium!!!



It rained and it poured into Mom's basement

One Fish, four Fish now We have no Fish

So this was the last photos of our fish as we are now fishless. Well until I set up the aquarium in the living room. 

After Fred II was found dead on the deck, we went to Grandma Karen's for another one.  Grandpa Ron had caught two fist for us to choose from and we decided to take both.  Four fish in our pond was a lot but I was caught up in the moment. They also gave me some netting to cover the pond so no more cats could have a snack.  This is Mark and Robin.

This is Fred III, he had no dot on his head. 

Robin again.  Karen the other new fish was very shy and rarely came out of the cave to see us. 

We had Dave feed the fish while we were gone but I forgot to have him add water so while we were out the pond became toxic.  We lost Fred and Robin on a Wednesday and Karen on Friday.  Mark seemed to be doing well and I had replaced a lot of water in the pond to clean it up.  Saturday I had to go to my parents because they were flooded in the TS Lee rain and needed help.  I know Mark was in the pond when I left at 830 and Meme and Baylor feed him at 10 but when I got home at 530 he was gone.  The netting was not put back on when I was removing the other fish so it is any one's guess what happened.    I checked the gardens around the deck to see if the tried to run for it but nothing. I asked Baylor if he took Mark anywhere and he did not he said.  I never found a body so it think he was abducted by aliens.

I am still going to set up the tank in the house and get some small fish. Hopefully they will fare better than my pond fish!! 

On another note, look who was living in the strawberries!  He was a good sized one too.

Our Fourth Day, but not on the island

Sunday to be a brunch on the island but when we got there a thunderstorm was rolling in.  Heather and family were packing up to go to Canada, Baylor was getting nervous because of the storm and Lori was antsy to get going home.  We said our good byes and headed off in the minivan.  Mom later told me it was about a 10 minute storm then blew in a beautiful day with people swimming and having a good time.  I am sorry we missed it but with two of them wanting to get going, I was out numbered.  Naggy Maggie said we would be home at 7:30 so with breaks that sounded doable in one day in my mind.  With the hotel disaster on the way up, I really did not want to go through that again. 

We headed down the road and when it came time for a break, the first rest stop was closed.  We held on until the next one which was open but then found out the bathrooms were closed because they did not have water.  They really should have a sign on the entrance! We let Baylor play a bit to stretch out and headed out hoping to find another rest stop and soon!  The next rest area was closed, shocking!!  So we decided the next town with signs for food and gas, we would get off and take our chances.  In northern NY there is not much going on for travelers. Or so we thought. 

The next exit was for Pottersville.  We found a place to eat, some biker bar with a restaurant.  It was a nice place and we all found something to eat that was tasty.  We had driven by a building on the way and I had noticed it said something about trains on the sign so I asked the waitress what it was.  She said it was a model train exhibit and it would be a good place to take Baylor.  So we headed up the street and Baylor and I went in.  Lori rested in the car as that is not her thing anyway.  And her toe was hurting so walking was not sounding very interesting to her.  The place is called Railroads on Parade.  It was a bit pricing to get in, $12.00 each.  The lobby had a store area but I shuffled him past that into the hall.  

Into a room full of train scenes! 

And diggers.

And more trains.

And Thomas!

It was an interesting stop but a bit much for a two year old.  Too much detail.  All he wanted to see were the diggers working because they were easy to focus on.  He played in the lobby on the train table while I bought him a few train track pieces.  He fell asleep right after we were back in the car and we headed home.  We had two more stops to eat and to 'rest' before we made it home in a thunderstorm at 10:15.  It was good to be home and good to still have one full day of vacation left to be together as a family!   

Day Three on the Island

 Saturday was wedding day but not until 4 pm.  We had planned to have a day at the hotel to try to get Baylor a nap.  He had to preform at the wedding and when he does not nap any time awake after nap time is a crap shoot. They slept in because he had a rough night and Lori just likes to sleep.  We left the farm after 9 and were in bed by 10.  It took Baylor 40 minutes of whining and crying to get it out, relax and fall asleep.  He talked a lot in his sleep too so I know he did not sleep well.  I woke up early as usual, showered, made coffee, and visited Mom and Dad before either of them woke up.  We went to breakfast and arrived the same time my parents were on their way out the door.  They were heading up to the farm to help out.  We asked the waitress about anything to do and she told us about a fair in Essex but I forget what time it was starting.  We ate and I ran into the thrift store to get a few gifts for Baylor for being a good ring bearer.  We just took a drive to know where basically, stopped at a grocery store so I could prowl around, and ended up back at the hotel. 

Lori stayed at the room and I took Baylor to the elementary school across the street to play on the playgrounds.  He ran around for over an hour going down all the slides, climbing things that made me nervous for a 2 year old to be navigating, and swinging as high as he could go.  Guess what, no one but Lori was napping that day.  I convinced him to go back to the hotel because it was getting time to start getting ready.  We showered, dressed and piled in the car to head to the farm. 

My cousin Heather, her family and her dad and step mom arrived about 30 minutes before we did.  They left on Thursday and took a scenic route stopping by the baseball museum in Cooperstown.  I helped get Connor dressed and we dressed Baylor and headed for the wedding.  Poor Baylor was so hot in his shirt, vest and jacket but he did so good and never complained. 

Nana Barbie drove in from her vacation in New Hampshire.  We have not seen her in several months and it was great she could come. 

Heather always says Connor is hard to photograph because he did not look at the camera.  I have found she is correct and most photos have him looking off somewhere else.  Baylor you can tell has had a camera in his face his whole life and knows where to look! 

Hello Brig, you looked gorgeous in pink! 

Mom and Lori. 

My family and lots of the house. 

The Hazel family.  Note Connor....

Heather, her kids, Bob and Estella.  Note Connor....

And finally, after 4 we were advised to head for the chairs and have a seat.  Jamie took his place looking nervous and working the crowd.

I had Baylor on my lap the entire time and could not take many photos.  Ida and Mabel were the flower girls.

And the bride appeared looking beautiful.

And Baylor appeared with the rings right on time. 

He handed off the pillow

 

and ran back to me. 

After they untied the rings, I sent him back out there to retrieve the pillow. 

Finally after their vows, Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Miller were introduced to the crowd.

My sweaty little man right before he opened his gift bag.  He did so good sitting in my lap for the ceremony and being the ring bearer! We were so proud of him. 

I picked out a John Deere Lindeman crawler, and JD hay wagon and a red Case tractor. I know my little man.

After photos, we changed him into play clothes. Which is good because he found the dirt and introduced his new toys to it. 

Dinner was catered so Jamie could enjoy being the groom and new husband.  We had the tables with a view of the lake, which was a bit hot until the sun went down but was gorgeous.

Baylor loved playing with his new tractors.  And as long as he was playing and not whining, I was happy to let him.

This sun set was much more red and beautiful but in the time it took me to walk down to the cliff it was almost gone. 

The tables looked lovely in the dusk light. 

Baylor spied the fire pit and the marshmallows and came to get me to roast marshmallows.  Which is nice when one is camping and in camp clothes but in a skirt, not so much fun.  But we made two for Baylor, one for Buddy and one for Grandma. 

Their first dance.

Baylor's first dance.

His first dance with Mamma. 

Josh and Nick dancing. 

Baylor with his Nana and Grandma. 

Laura getting down.

Little man with all the moves getting down again. 

Baylor was a dancing fool.  He spun past us and told us he was having fun! 

The party was fun and the people were wonderful to share such a wonderful event with.  The kids had fun running with abandon, playing with fire and eating all the candy and ice cream they could stuff in their faces. Baylor played with his tractors for most of it!  We left around 9 because of the sleep issues from the night before.  He was asleep before we were off the island and slept well all night long.