Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! We had a fire pit and handed out candy for Trick or Treat. I didn't take very many pictures!!

Vana and Jasper! Jasper is in a big Ghostbusters phase.

Scott and Michele! Look at that cute little policeman!

Trick or Treat!

Porch Breakfast

I scored another of Dad's delightful porch breakfasts this morning!

The Magnificent Bryozoan

Today we gathered for what will probably be the last paddle of the year. Sigh! It's been a great season!

We were especially excited for today's paddle, because Valerie had told us that she'd discovered some mysterious blob things that look like egg sac! We couldn't wait to explore.

After some research, she discovered these are called Pectinatella magnifica, a species of freshwater bryozoan. Bryozoans are a phylum of simple, aquatic invertebrate animals, nearly all living in sedentary colonies. They're a little bit creepy!! But they are good news because they indicate a healthy ecosystem. Keep up the good work, little bryozoans!

Rainbow sparkle cake!

This has been an amazing birthday week, and the icing on the cake (sorry, had to) was Emily surprising me with this rainbowlicious birthday cake today at Summer's pool party! The cake itself was SPARKLY.

Emily taking the first cut into her masterpiece.

Nailed it!

A five-layer rainbow cake, covered in sparkly bourbon buttercream, with rainbows and sprinkles. I love my life!

What a special birthday treat. I love you, Emily!

I just happened to be wearing a necklace that exactly matched my surprise birthday cake. What are the chances!?

Incredible!

I also had a nice celebration earlier in the week with my family. Mom and dad cooked up a taco bar dinner, and a delicious Texas sheet cake for dessert!

Spooky!

What a great week. Thank you to everyone who helped make it so magical!

Porch breakfasts

We've been keeping up the pandemic tradition of occasional breakfasts on Mom and Dad's porch! Here's one from last weekend.

And this one is from today! Dad's breakfasts are always delicious.

Happy Birthday, Pete!

Happy 51st birthday to Pete!

Kate made this beautiful cake. Make a wish!

Happy 70th, Cheryl!

It's Cheryl's 70th birthday this week! We got together at Kayla and Derrick's tiny house to celebrate. I made a lemon cake and decorated it with butterflies.

Happy 70th birthday!

I love the color of this punch.

Their tiny house is adorable! And their outdoor space is beautiful.

Attempt at a serious group photo.

Alright, smile!!

Ohio Brew Week 2021

Happy Ohio Brew Week! I met up with Abby and Sarah for a Brew Week happy hour at Jackie O's. Yay!

It was hard to pick four beers to taste, but I made excellent choices. Lagercello, Flamestitch, Cross Stitch Rich, and Kind of Blue. Cheers!

After the happy hour, I headed over to the parking garage for the Top Deck Dinner. The weather was perfect!!

Such a lovely evening for a dinner on top of the parking garage!

We ran into Lauren Dikis! What a fun surprise!

The dinner was five delicious courses prepared by chef Andrew Wenmoth of Cutler's Restaurant. Each course paired with a delicious brew from Jackie O's Brewery. 

Course 1: Grilled shrimp + house andouille over 3hr shagbark grits. These grits were so amazing that during a moment of silence, dad hollered "THESE ARE THE BEST GRITS I'VE EVER HAD!" Paired with Chomolungma.

Course 2: Wedge salad with bacon, local chive, local tomato, Shagbark popcorn croutons + Snowville white cheddar dressing. Paired with Livelihood.

Yum!

Course 3: Tuna poke bowl, avocado, fresh local sweet corn, local cucumbers, baja sauce. Paired with Tepache Perpetum.

Course 4: RL Valley hanger steak, chili corn sauce, chili crisp, squash. Paired with Mystic Mama.

Course 5: Smore's Napoleon with toasted almond and Jackie O's Stout caramel. Paired with Bourbon Barrel Dark Apparition.

Happy Ohio Brew Week! Cheers!

LOLOL. At the 2019 Top Deck Dinner, it was quite stormy so we ate one level below the top. Dad was being hilarious and pretended to be stranded on the curb as the rainwater gushed by...

...and tonight, he reenacted that moment. "Help! Help!"

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July! Summer had an afternoon pool swim. Cheers!

Then we got together at Mom and Dad's for a cookout!

Happy fourth!

Mmmm! We had grilled beet burgers and delicious summery vegetables.

Breyer Horse Photoshoot

Emily and I played a LOT of Breyer horses when we were little. We would spend all afternoon in the yard, developing complicated storylines for the horses. Sometimes, we'd get lucky and Mom would order us pizza!

When Summer saw that photo, she knew we would have to do a recreation. She put her art director skills to good use and helped us recreate that magic moment! I think it turned out pretty great!

Davis Visit

The family got together over in Davis, West Virginia, for a visit! We got in on Friday afternoon and kicked things off with a dog walk.

 

Mer cooked a delicious falafel meal this evening and I only got this one sad photo of it! Does not adequately represent the deliciousness.

Mom and Dad rented a house near Mer's house, and Ben, Felix and I stayed there too.

Dad cooked a delicious breakfast on Saturday morning!

Then we did some sightseeing! First we headed to Lindy Point.

Look at how beautiful!

Mom and Mer!

Ben and Felix!

Lucy makes the funniest face when she gets picked up.

Next we went to Blackwater Falls. Felix and Lucy enjoyed the hike!

There it is!!

After all that sightseeing, we were hungry for ice cream.

Then we headed to the ski lift!

The boardwalk to the view at the top!

There's the valley.

Going back down.

Whee!

We had cheeseburgers for dinner!

Best life ever.

After dinner we played Bowl of Nouns.

Then we took a soak in the hot tub!

The next morning we found Lucy walking around with a noun in her mouth!! Dogs are so silly.

Dad made another delicious breakfast.

That morning we went for a hike at Dolly Sods!

Pete and Mer are making the same gesture!

It was a rainy afternoon, so we played some euchre.

Mer, Mom and I got matching hoodies in town!

Bowl of Nouns rematch!

Winning.

Felix enjoying the deck.

We got out the BB gun and did a little target practice.

Pew pew!

We had pizza from Sirianni's for dinner. Yum!

The rental has a Skee-Ball machine, so that was fun! 

We had a great time!