The Schroeders visit

It was a rollicking visit with gray skies and drizzle!!  Most of the action was moving lips while talking, carbon transfer activities with crossword puzzles, peering eyeballs while reading and of course the bouncing of adam's apples while eating and drinking!!

Yep, we "birthday challenged persons" really know how to liven up a room!!

Thanks to Jay, we did get a pontoon ride to Millionaire's cove and back with only one large wave to cross when a sea going vessel crossed in front of us.

The ribs from Oklahoma Joes were delicious, the muffins nutritious and the chocolate dessert cake yumdillyicious.  Thanks Bob and Pat for also bringing the 0.35 inches of slow rain -- it came so slow that none was runoff!!

More Wedding Prep

Ritchie is in the large trailer that Eric B had borrowed from tall Eric B.  It had been loaded with stuff.  We are removing the gazebo and lawn furniture prior to assembly.

A vineyard to the north of the area was using an air cannon to scare birds from the grapes.  About every 3 minutes we were "treated" to a LOUD boom!  They did stop this by afternoon and evening.

Eric is staging the gazebo supports.  The rooms for the winery/event setting/inn overlook some vineyards to the left of this screen.  It was interesting to look at the vines, as the grapes on the upper vines (that had been harvested leaving the stems???) were purple, but at the base of the vine were some white grapes that had not been harvested.

The event building and the beginning of the "smoking" gazebo.  Eric in black, Ritchie in green.

Sorry about the color change, I forgot to correct before condensing photo.  Gazebo is now up and some lawn furniture is visible.  The main "event" took place on the second level with the railing.  Yep, those steps can wear old people down quickly!!

As with most items -- SOME assembly required!!  Go Eric.

While we were setting up outside, Vickie, Kelly and Danielle were covering chairs, tables, setting up a candy table and all the other activities that preceeded the main event.  I visited the candy table in mid evening and obtained a "stash" to keep me awake while driving the next two days.  Yummmmmm

Corning Museum of Glass

Carol on the walk to the museum.  We learned to park under the trees on the south side of the lot and not take the shuttle bus at the entrance to the site.  The use of grasses to soften the grounds was evident at the entrance and below in the cafeteria.

Ron at the entrance where the fees are paid to enter and enjoy.  This glass sculpture was done by the artist who made the MONSTER glass sculpture in the Joslyn Art gallery in Omaha.  If you haven't seen it I can provide a photo or you can visit the museum.

The glass dress was done by the artist who provided another in the Crystal Bridges Museum in NW Arkansas.

"Floating boats" of glass.  They gently moved as doors opened and the air movement entered the room.

Yes, it is RED

A light chandelier using the form of an inverted octopus.

One of the most photographed objects in the US.  It is a Tiffany.  Note the lady hiding to the right!!

Some fishes for Sara and the boys.

Form and color.

A clear glass sculpture which Carol liked as much for the form as the title.

Anthem of JOY!!

Mundane metal forms with molten glass draped on them.  A chain hook and a compound pulley.

A hoe, a bent wood bit and another hook.

If you get anywhere near Corning, NY we highly recommend you stop and enjoy.  The lunches are fantastic and huge in portion.  We recommend sharing.  Oh, Yes, DON'T forget the gift shop.  Hard to do, as you go thru it to get to the main food!

If you can think of a form or function, It probably exists in this museum.

The demonstrations on working glass objects and industrial uses of glass were excellent.

The Batchelor Party

Kelly, Vicky & Grandma Mary (hidden behind Vicky) in the kitchen at the Seneca Lake home that was rented for the wedding week.  It was 5 miles south of Seneca on the west side of the lake.

Carol and Eric at the kitchen table which had a full view of Seneca Lake.  The living area is behind Eric.

Uncle Dennis preparing the chicken, hot dogs, and burgers on the deck with Seneca Lake and some of the water toys in the background.

Eric lighting some of the candles before the guests started arriving for the Batchelor Party.  Carol and Ron had brought 11 large pizzas (Lalli's favorite) from Corning NY pizza place that was "famous" in the area.  Eddies friends brought Maryland crabs (his favorite) when they came to the party.

The inside serving table.

The outside crab cracking table.  Eric and Justin are setting it for the party.

The crab table in full use.  I can hear the wooden hammers fracturing the skeletons of those crabs. 

The 5 bedroom house which could sleep 10 easily and many more if you used the floor.

The deck loaded with some of the wedding party.  With 6 attendants for bride and groom and their families, the place was hopping.

Eddie is in the white shirt, helping with some of the guests.

Carol, ?, ? and Anna (spelling) who is Lalli's sister.  She was scheduled to donate a kidney to her mom the week after the wedding.

Wedding Take "Two"

An example of a tall floral display on a long table setting.  This is the large room of the Glenora winery party facility, near Watkins Glen, New York.

A round table floral display with a seating assignment on the "charger".  Each person picked one up in the lobby and found their assigned location.  The card on the plate had the meal selection in code.

The wedding cake.  After the bride and groom cut it, it was taken to the kitchen, cut and brought back to each place setting.

The young ring bearer who "pulled a Max"!!  Yep, he saw all the people and was carried crying from the church sanctuary by his dad.

The outside venue of the winery.  Eric and Kelly's family are standing near the lemon water stand and the VERY delicious sangria table.  There was a cheese and cracker table and a beer/wine serving area on this outer balcony.  Most of the dancing took place out here, as the dance floor was much bigger and the disc jockey was present with his laser lighting.  By this time of the evening the temperatures had dropped and it was very pleasant.

Wedding Take "One"

Eric, Carol and Sammi at the church, waiting for the bridal party.

Reception:  Setting and flowers.  Michelle and Kelly to middle right.  The sit down dinner was for approximately 140 people.  Kelly's family had ironed all the chair covers and table cloths during the week at the lake before the wedding.

The bride and groom take the first dance with lots of onlookers!!

Kelly and Eric dancing at the reception.  I hope to have more wedding ceremony pictures.  Eric asked me to use his camera and I don't have access to it just yet!!

THE FALLS

We took LOTS of pictures but we will only post a few.  This shows some flowers by the edge of Horseshoe Falls.

A couple of "goofies" very close to Horseshoe Falls.  We were getting spritzed by the mist at this point.

Sammi is watching the tour boat take a really close look at the falls.

The Maid of the Mist with a load of blue raincoat clad tourists. The trip costs about $40, but the lines were long, so we opted out. Their are tours that go behind the falls, too. We are on the Canadian side looking toward Buffalo, NY.

Just to prove we were all there!!

              

Niagara Falls from our room

We walked into our room on the 11th floor of the Marriott Gateway, Canada side and this was our VIEW!!  American falls are to the left and the Horseshoe falls are straight ahead and frothing!!  Picture is dark as the windows have a dark film on them.

Eric, Carol and Sammi enjoying the view.

Grandma, isn't that cool???

Thanks, Kelly for the neat reservation!!  Remember to tell everyone there are TWO Marriotts at the falls.  We went to the wrong one even tho you had given us the correct address!!  Staff at Marriott on the Falls was very gracious about our blunder.

Lee's Game in new Stadium

Just before we left for NY Finger Lakes Region I went to Lee's first football stadium at the new field behind the jr hi.  Parking was scarce and I ended up by the cemetery and walked a ways to the VERY nice stadium with wide aisles and normal aluminum seating.  They played a private school from St Louis which is notch higher in the size of schools than Eldon.  Held there own til third quarter.  The mostly black team has a quarter back that can throw a pass 60 yards with accuracy!!!  Very interesting to watch.  Lee recovered an onside kick in the first half and when I left with 8 minutes to go in the final quarter he caught a pass.  I should have left at half time!!  He always does better when I'm leaving!!  Just kidding, Lee!!