Oswego Harborfest Fireworks

Still the best fireworks I’ve ever seen!  My camera battery ran out so there are two videos to watch.

Oswego HarborFest

Last night we went to the Oswego HarborFest to see the fireworks. Here’s the fireworks barge:

Waiting for the sun to set, hoping those mean-looking clouds don’t decide to pour on us:

There were three sailing ships in the harbor, which I didn’t get to see sailing (because I was working), but here they are resting. I was on the fort side of the harbor, so I didn’t get the photos I wanted to get:

Sun has set, mean-looking clouds still hanging around:

And finally it was dark enough for the fireworks. There are hearts, flowers, stars, smiley faces and so many phenomenal fireworks, and for some reason my first video (with all of these cool things) didn’t download, but here’s the ending (sorry for the wiggly video – an ant was crawling on me and I couldn’t get rid of it!):

The Thousand Islands – Friday Night

We went to The Thousand Islands on the New York State side this past weekend for a much needed two day vacation (I actually need a week long vacation, which will hopefully come next year), where the earth was my bed for two nights, which I haven’t done since I was a kid, and after getting used to how to arrange my body parts so I could sleep the first night, I slept like a log the second night.  Except I got rudely woken up by rain and getting dry clothes off the line so I didn’t have to cart around a bunch of wet clothes.

Anyways, on Friday night after we arrived, we went snorkeling / swimming across part of the St. Lawrence River to this island, of which I could figure out the name and I will, I just don’t have the map on me right now.

View from our campsite to the island.

Once we reached the island we saw a freighter go by – awesomely close, and I wish I had the camera on the float. We got back just before dark.

Sunset view from our campsite.

We had a great view of The Thousand Island bridge from our campsite – I just needed to bring a tripod for the night shots I took!

The Thousand Island bridge – really blurry, but the only photo I have of it!

We then went into Alexandria Bay, where Bill Johnstons Pirates Days was being held, and the streets were teaming with (drunk) people.

Yes, I need to work on my night shots.

After we found a parking place just inside of town, we walked down to Scenic View Park, window shopping along the way (stores stay open late and open early – very convenient!). This was my first view of Boldt Castle.

More to come on the castle in another post!

We then went back and fell directly to sleep on the ground underneath a sky full of stars. It was great seeing stars!

Do you know how many islands are in The Thousand Islands?

First Week in August

I’ve never really been a big fan of August.  Too many family members have died in August. And the minute it hits, my eyes start itching, the air feels yucky, and the worst part is, I didn’t know how cold it was to swim in the evening in August.   I thought September would be the month I wouldn’t be able to swim anymore, who knew August was it?  Unless it really warms up.  So now I have to find another form of exercise.  But I love swimming so much – wah!  And swimming in the pool at the Y is just *not* going to be the same.  Which reminds me, I need to go to Dicks and get a swim cap and goggles so the chlorine doesn’t kill my eyes and hair.

Anyway, we went up to Sylvan Beach for the car show again, and it is getting boring because we’re seeing the same cars every week, so we’ll give it a rest this week, unless Oneida Lake is still very warm and I need to go swimming there.

This is a sweet Ford Fairlane that we haven’t seen before.

Don’t you love the simplicity and largeness of the interior, and that bench seat, good for smooching at the drive-in.

Love the T-Bird insignia on the sweet, light blue T-Bird I showed you last week.

Afterwards, we went looking for the old bathhouse that was converted into something that we had to figure out, and we finally found it!

The bathhouse was cut in two and made into the Laff House. So of course we had to take the ride, and laughed our butts off because it was so hokey. But as a kid, I’m sure it’s scary as all get out. Or not.

I don’t care, I love the amusement park:

It reminds me of Suburban Park in Manlius, where my Mom used to take us every summer until it was closed.

We saw the tugboat Urger which I guess is an educational tugboat.

I wonder what those horns sound like. Nobody was around to “educate” us! But I guess it used to be a steam-powered tug in it’s day.

The tug was sitting in the canal:

Saw a big, puffy cloud:

And blazing, hot, sunset:

Saturday evening we tried to go swimming and froze our buns off – well not froze, but I was shivering even though I was moving. So Sunday we went to the Polish Festival, got sauerkraut and potato pierogies (yummy!), and ate them at the Inner Harbor,

where we saw a dredge:

And behind where we sat to eat are these things in the cement:

An apple,  LaFayette, where I grew up, is known as apple country

The Weighlock Building in downtown Syracuse.

Canal Boat

Salt Evaporation Vats; Syracuse was known as “The Salt City.”

One of the few buildings for boat repair still stands here:

I took a much needed nap on my new sleeping bag (nice and comfy) and when I woke up, the sky looked like this:

And this week, I have to get the camera batteries all charged up, cuz we’re going someplace I’ve never been to before!! I’m so excited!

Festival of Sail, Port of Oswego

Saturday night we went to the Festival of Sail at the Port of Oswego.  The sky was overcast so there weren’t very many people there, but I enjoyed it – it was the perfect temperature!

The Lynx was sitting beyond the break wall for a while.

Here’s the Pride of Baltimore II:

And the Tallship Unicorn:

The Syracuse of Syracuse, NY:

And the LT-5 Tug Major Elisha K. Henson:

A derrick on land:

The Lynx heading back, motoring because there wasn’t much wind.  I was disappointed because I wanted to see the sails!

We had sweet potato fries – these seem to be becoming more popular!  Then we went swimming in Lake Ontario – well, I hung my feet in the lake, because the lake kind of grosses me out – while others went swimming.

And then we went to Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-In – I was so hungry I forgot to take pics!  But we sat next to Lake Ontario eating our fish sandwich, mmmm.

We then walked around Oswego, but it was too dark to take any more photos, but we’ll be going back!

Jamesville Balloon Festival

This past weekend, after work, we went to the Jamesville Balloon Festival.  We caught it at the perfect time, when the balloons were being filled and taking off! They’re so pretty!

Goodbye balloons! ‘Til next time!

Happy Holidays!!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas day!

Love,

from me and one of my little (distracted) friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

From some of the cute little children that I have the pleasure of working with! They were about to give a play, so there was Mr. Turkey and some Pilgrims and Native Americans.

I sincerely hope everyone has a wonderful, happy and healthy day!

This Week’s Plants in Bloom

Mom and I were going to go to the Lilac Festival last week, but the day we picked to go it was all of 50 degrees, so we’ll go to the park this week or next to see what’s in bloom there. For now, here’s some more of what’s in bloom this week at my Mom’s gardens, starting with one of her lilac shrubs, which smells as good as it looks:

Her little irises are in bloom and beautiful:

Her one rhododendron is in full bloom:

While another one is just starting to bloom:

The quince tree is just starting to come into blossom, maybe this weekend they’ll be out in full force:

It’s been fun watching the ferns unfurl over the last couple of weeks:

Even though the sun wasn’t shining the day I took these photos (Sunday) it is today, and I also “wrote” another haiku in my sleep about my Dad:

Sunny skies
Beautiful days without you
Life goes on

Hmmm, that wasn’t it exactly, drats, you know, I need to write them down as soon as I think of them.  It is in the ballpark, though.

I hope you enjoy this beautiful week, wherever you are!

Gambrinus Brew Fest at OHA Museum

Last Friday evening (Friday the 13th) Dad and I ended up at the Gambrinus Brew Fest held at the OHA Museum. I was invited and allowed to bring a guest as a result of the volunteer work I’ve been doing at OHA since February. As we were walking down Montgomery St. towards the museum in Syracuse, the first thing we encountered in front of the museum was this beautiful 1925 Franklin Auto:

The Franklin Automobile was manufactured in Syracuse.

The owner was more than happy to answer all of our questions. Here’s a front view of the auto:

This Franklin Auto has a wood frame and aluminum body. I didn’t realize wood and aluminum would hold up so well.

When we went inside, we heard the music of the Soda Ash Dixieland Jazz Band.  These guys were excellent!

They had a Police Constable on site who was there to have fun with people – and he sure did with me! We’ve attended other events together which is why I’m sure he felt free to kid around.

There were over 70 silent auction items to bid on – some amazing stuff!

And then there was so much good food and beer it was phenomenal! Now I don’t drink beer, but if I did I would support the local breweries like what were at the fest instead of the big corporations.

And last, but not least, here’s Gambrinus:

In case you wondering what the heck Gambrinus is, this was written in the back of the silent auction brochure: “He is the unofficial patron saint of beer brewing. Many view Gambrinus as a mythical Flemish king, and it is possible that he is only a myth, however several theories abound as to the real identity of Gambrinus. Some attribute the invention of beer to Jan Primus, a Duke of Brabant and believe he was the original Gambrinus.

Gambrinus is often depicted as a knight or king of the middle ages. The statue of Gambrinus located on the second floor of the museum comes from the Haberle Brewing Company in Syracuse. The 12-foot, 1500-pound statue was restored by OHA in 1999 through a generous gift from a descendant of the Haberle family. The Haberles operated the Haberle Brewing Company in Syracuse from the late 19th century to 1962.”

Here’s a list of the restaurants and breweries represented at the fest:
Ambrosia
Brick Alley Grille House
Carnegie Catering Company
Clarke’s Ale House
Cooperstown Brewing Co.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Kitty Hoynes
Landmark Brewing Co.
Liehs & Steigerwald
Middle Ages Brewing Co.
Nick’s Tomato Pie
Pastabilities
P.J. Dorsey’s
Sackets Harbor Brewing Co.
Syracuse Suds Factory
The Matt Brewing Co.
The Mission Restaurant
T.J. Sheehan Distributing Inc.
Weber’s Restaurant & Catering

If you’re ever passing through Syracuse, please be sure to stop in any of these excellent places!