China: day one

We're at the airport and excited about this trip. We've got one carryon each with extra empty bags packed within them for Melanie's shopping.

 

Getting ready for air quality issues in China. Do they have a smaller size?

 

Made it Detroit and got our Yuan

 

next post from Beijing!

 

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Prepping for China

I'm using Melanie's birthday as an excuse to do a test post using a new (for us) blogging app and a new system of getting photos from the Cannon on to the iPad. So far so good.

We spent the weekend in Rochester at a hotel right on the Erie Canal. Melanie stared off with a great massage. Afer a quick nap and a birthday drink we took off down the Canal trail for dinner. We were struck by a wonderful scent of what we think were Linden trees.

The next day she had a visit from the Rochester crowd.

 

 

Someone else enjoyed the flowers!

 

Then off to lunch

After goodbyes and a makeover it was off to Syracuse to see the Lone Ranger (which we loved), a quick dinner, an attack by an escalater which drew blood and home to respond to birthday greetings.

All and all a good day. Now to figure out how to move and resize these photos.....

 

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Getaway!

We ducked out of town for a couple of days and turned off our phones.

Soaked up some positive ions and took a few walks.




Walked along the falls, passed dinosaurs,

 went down past Ripley's and the Wax Museum to the Rainbow Bridge.

 Crossing under the bridge you come to Bird Kingdom where Melanie got to talk to and feed the birds.














Then back up the hill to pick up a candy apple, some lemonade and settle in for a few books while watching the water fall.



Had dinner in a spaceship

Killed off a few more books,


 

Hiked down into the gorge,

till you get to the water.  Then back up the hill till you get winded and are relieved to find 





the shortcut

Then to feed David's geekdom a quick trip to Lock # 8 on the Seaway 

Enjoyed High Tea at Queen Charlotte's 

and managed to just miss the rain on every foray out of doors.  Home now, recharged and ready.....

(perhaps for another book)

Weekend in Ma.

blogger upload, a set on Flickr.

Pictures say it all

The nine months of waiting concluded with a call from Ellie last Tuesday night announcing the birth of  Charlotte Sophia Provan.   David hopped on an early morning flight to meet the newest addition to the clan.

Sarah looked great but most eyes were on Charlotte - all 7lb 15oz and 21 inches of her. 

Hospital and nurses were very impressive

                                              As were the parents:

On the way back it became clear just how early I  left.  The Syracuse guys just laughed.  The Madison security team kept taking them on and off the belt and rescanning.  They couldn't quite believe it.

Catch our breath

It's been a wild ride since we returned from Africa and I feel like today is the first day we've been able to catch our breath. After breakfast I canoed over to our neighbor to the south who captured our wayward raft last month. He rigged up a new anchor system and we paddled the raft out and tossed it overboard. The cable is about three times thicker than my last effort and he put a 6 foot length of chain between the 100 lb cement anchor and the cable. Last anchor lasted two years maybe this setup will last 6.

We went into Tully for the annual festival. Bought some used books, checked out the offerings and headed out to the orchards for some apple tastings. Once home Melanie caught some rays, we grilled some fish for dinner and kicked back. A nice day.

Since we got back a lot has happened. We had a visit from Gabby and her family








then it was off to Madison to see Max and his crew: Then of course there was Boston with Eva and Noah and the gang > Next up were Dylan an Ollie but wait..... It turned out we met them in NYC for Z & A's wedding:

And to finish out the month can you believe Dylan turned 5? She's started Kindergarten! Bring on September! - Posted from the ipad

Location:Tully, Ny,United States