Visits with Friends and Family

The kiddos had a good week with visits with friends and then Auntie Julie and Cousin Curran came for a visit on Saturday. We hope everyone is doing well and enjoying time with family and friends!

Ayson caught a fish on his first cast while at Emmett's Grandparents camp. The boys had fun exploring and working on their survival skills.

Ice cream stop on the way home from camp for everyone.

Addie's friends came over to swim and this time, Addie got in the pool with them! 

On Saturday, Amy and Mrs Oliver went to a Lavender Workshop at the farm where Ayson works.  The lavender and the bees were incredible! 

Lavender drying

Saturday afternoon, Auntie and Cousin Curran came over.  We swam, had a yummy dinner, went for ice cream, and Ayson made smores!

On Sunday, Ayson started getting the "playroom" ready to repaint.  Ayson told Adam that he wants to learn how to remodel a room - including drywall.  Ayson getting ready to fix a drywall seam.  We painted this room dark green when Amy was pregnant with Ayson!!!

A midafternoon swimming break. Addie likes to play a game where Adam tried to know her off balance by moving the swim matt.

Gorgeous blooms from this week

Berry Picking and Ice Cream

We hope everyone is able to enjoy time outside this summer! The week flew by with Ayson working, Addie at cross country practice, and meetings for Amy and Adam.  We had a great weekend of berry picking, sorting through toys (the kids), and we took the dogs for a hike.  We are sending good thoughts to our family and friends!!

Fifteen year old Ayson is giving away his treasured stuffed animals - and many did not go very far...to Addie :)

Addie helped to pick mulberries on Thursday

She got a little messy.

 Ayson had been waiting NOT so patiently for parts to arrive so that he could upgrade his gameboy.

On Saturday morning, we went blueberry picking at our friend's house (and a colleague of Amy's).  We picked about 7 pounds and purchased almost 4 pounds from Emma.  

After blueberry picking, we had lunch and ice cream in Cortland.  

Addie really enjoyed her Cookie Monster ice cream!

We walked over to the little park adjacent to ice cream shop.  The kiddos were tired of standing...hahaha.

Addie put all of her rubber duckies into the pool for a swim/bath.

On Sunday morning, Amy and Adam took the dogs to Labrador Unique Area for an early morning walk.  After the walk, Amy made blueberry muffins for the kiddos :)

Gorgeous flowers from the week.

This is the first sunflower (mini) bloom and check out all the bees on it.

This is the first bloom on the 2nd day

Meanwhile, THIS is the 2nd bloom - the flowers that are JUST opening must be extra yummy.

Native Plants and Food

A busy week with work (lavender farm and cat sitting) and cross county practice (Addie only) for the kiddos and Amy had a work trip to Buffalo.  We hope everyone is enjoying summer!!

Pictures from an Urban Nursery that is located in an industrial section of the City of Buffalo and is right along the Buffalo River.  Urban restoration methods have different considerations from our home gardens: poor soil (lack of nutrients, debris, fill) and sometimes land activity restrictions due to contaminated soil.  A few similar considerations include deer/rabbit browse and invasive plant species.

A labyrinth with native plants adjacent to grain silos along the river.

A shady area made by bending willow branches along metal.  Presentations to school age kiddos take place within the tree trellis.

View of the center looking up.

Another area of native plants that incorporates art: Again.

An amazing cotton wood tree!

Another restoration site along the Niagara River at a City of Buffalo Park (another Ralph Wilson park is located in Detroit). The larger excavator (left) is using the largest "claw" in the US for this project.  Large rock is needed to withstand the wind/wave erosion in the area. 

One section of the habitat restoration with the City of Buffalo in the background.

On Saturday, Ayson and Adam made homemade General Tso's chicken.  They even double fried the chicken!

 Ayson came to the garden to show Amy his amazing meal (our friend Kate took the pics of Ayson :)

Adam asked Addie what she wanted to eat over the weekend and Addie replied "pulled pork!"  Adam showing Addie the progress at the smoker.

Yum!

Sunflowers that Ms Annie gave to Addie and Amy,

Lots of blooming native plants in our yard from Monday afternoon.

The sky got super dark on Sunday late afternoon but we did not get more than a sprinkle of rain.