TheSwirl.org

Home Re-Modeling Phase 1

We have been planning our home re-modeling for the past couple years. This remodeling breaks down into two major projects. One major project is to built an attached garage with a mud room, pantry, laundry and 1/2 bath connecting it to our house. This past summer we began contracted to have our basement drainage re-done, [...]

Leprechaun Trap

Last night Eric built a leprechaun trap. His plan was to capture a leprechaun and hold him captive until the leprechaun revealed the location of his pot of gold. The trap was checked frequently during the evening with no results.

However, an examination the next morning revealed some torn green cloth. Apparently, a leprechaun was trapped [...]

Backyard Olympics

Our large snow pile and slope have been perfect for sledding. It has been the site of several Olympic competitions. Below Eric and Trevor build a jump to sled off.

Since the big snowstorm 10 days ago the days have been sunny with temperatures in the mid-30s, making for packy snow. These conditions are perfect for [...]

Our Weekend

Thursday night Kathryn went to play volleyball and Eric and I started a marathon Monopoly game. We set up on the dining room table which was more “cat proof” than other locations in the house. We played about 30 minutes, recorded our locations, stored our holdings and set it aside until Friday night when we [...]

Science abounds in Ithaca

Saturday morning Kathyrn, Eric and I took a short vacation to Ithaca. In the AM we visited the Museum of the Earth an earth science and natural history museum affiliated with the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) and Cornell University. We had lunch at the State Street Diner and in the afternoon we visited the Sciencenter. [...]

Tiger Cubs Learn About the Newspaper

Eric’s Tiger Cubs Den invited Michael Parker to learn about newspapers as part of their merit badges. Below Eric, Mitchell and Janero listen intently to Michael describe the process of getting news into the paper.

Alice Muller 90th Birthday Party

Saturday night the family of Alice Muller assembled to celebrate her 90th Birthday.

Eric and Friends

Over President’s Day Weekend Eric had Trevor come over for some ice skating and a sleep over. The flooded park in Holland Patent has rough ice and slopes quite a bit, but that didn’t deter them.

There was a lot of falling.

On Monday Kathryn, Eric, Margaret and Harrisen went XC skiing on the Egypt Hill Trails. [...]

Exploring Pen Bonc Hill

Kathryn had been XC skiing across the road and encountered several new snowshoe trails. We asked our immediate neighbors about them, but no one claimed credit. So we decided to track them down. But 1st Chimchar decided to hijack my down vest for her amusement.

The snowshoe trail branched off our normal “Appliance Alley” trail. Going [...]

1st Grade Valentine’s Concert

The week of 8 February I got stuck in WDC during a big snow storm. On Thursday 11th Eric’s 1st grade hosted a Valentine’s Day Concert. Unfortunately I missed it, but Kathryn took some pictures. The kids performed several songs a couple of dances.

SCS Reunion Planning

During the Howe Cavern’s Reunion in July 2009 I talked with Martha (Tripp) Garing about a multi-year SCS Reunion. We held planning meeting in early December and resolved to have a 1970-75 reunion scheduled for 18 September 2010.

We held a 2nd planning meeting on 6 February. I spent the night prior in Cobleskill with my [...]

Wolverine Ski Club

Every Thursday after school Eric goes XC skiing with the local chapter of the Wolverine Ski Club. They play games and learn skills to help them prepare for skate ski racing when they get older. Below Eric poses with some of his team mates after winning a relay race.

Rochester Museum of Play

We planned a vacation with Helmers to visit the Rochester Museum of Play to see the Lego exhibit. Jim and Pam took their grandson Vance,. We met in Syracuse and drove out on Friday morning. We spent 4 hours in the museum in the afternoon. We enjoyed the Lego exhibits and the rest of the [...]

Shaker Place

Martin Luther King weekend Skip, Jim, Matt, Mark, Len, Rob and Wayne hiked into Skip’s cabin at Shaker Place. We towed our gear on sled, because it was a short distance and level path. On the way in we passed nice slopes left on the sand pits. We looked at the steep slopes – then [...]

Snowshoe Hike

I took a snowshoe hike across the road and went past our ‘Cook-out Corner’. It’s looking a little desolate and cold at this time of year. The fire pit is filled with snow. The table is covered with the lawn chairs stacked below. The frame for our tarp is awaiting summer. I had thought about [...]

Eric’s Birthday

Eric hit the grand old age of 7 and we celebrated his birthday twice. On the weeknight, after his 1st XC ski club meeting, with Jennifer and the Skelly family.

Then on the weekend Eric invited some of his closest buddies for an afternoon of bowling at ADK Lanes followed by pizza and cake.

Nativity Scenes

Kathryn does the bulk of the decorating in our house. She set up the nativity scenes that my mom made and the one she received from her dad.

Pictures From Thanksgiving

Billie Jo, Dakota, Ed, Kelly, Izzabella, Barb, Joe, Mom, Rob, Linda, Kathryn, Eric and I met at Barb & Joe’s house for Thanksgiving Dinner. I went to Barbara’s house on Wednesday to help set up and peel potatoes. Wednesday night I spent at Mom’s. Thursday AM Mom & I went to Rob & Linda’s for [...]

SU Lemoyne Basketball

I share season tickets to the SU basketball games with three others. That means I end up with 5 home games. This year the two exhibition games (Cal State & Lemoyne) were lumped as one game I chose to go. I like the early season games as an opportunity to see new players/freshman that are [...]

Bittersweet

We have a healthy growth of bittersweet in several trees across the road. Kathryn harvests it for fall decorations. This year she had a bright sunny day for collecting the vines. She and Linda collected it on Friday, gave it a week to dry out and then on Sunday she went to Rochester to visit [...]