Fourth of July

Our lab got together and enjoyed a wonderful evening at the local Farm-team (Mudhens) ballpark. Highlights: We won the game, post-game fire-works were awesome, baseball buffet was very good, and I fumbled my funnel-cake onto the ground (Big dissapointment). Erin tried her best to downplay the tastiness of the funnelcake, as she devoured hers. In her defense she did offer Stef and myself some of it, but I'm pretty sure it was more a gesture of empathy.

At any rate it was a beautiful evening.

From Left to Right: Tom, Stef, Dr. James Willey (Advisor), Katie (with the big smile), Jon, Seth and Erin (lab manager).

Lab Party

The weather was nice and it was time for some food, drink and relaxation with my lab friends/family.

Tom and Stef:

Lindsey and Russ

Sophia and Lauren:

Katie being too cute.

New Laminate Flooring...

Costco had an amazing deal on laminate flooring this past weekend. Plank style, with beveled edges, already had padded backing, with click and unclick style connection, deep cherry red coloring, very warm looking. We bought 500 sqft for the entry way, kitchen and dining room. It was on the to do list, we(really me) decided to bump it up the list when we saw the deal. Below are the pictures.


Before:

Entry-way

Before: Stairs

Before: Living Room

Before: Kitchen from entryway view

Before: Dining Room from Living room view

Before: View of kitchen from Dining Room

During: Taking a break from laying down laminate in the kitchen - Talking with Mom while she's commuting home from work.

Current: view of kitchen from upper stairs

Current: View of Living room from upper stairs

Current: view of entryway, stairs and dining room from living room

Current: View of Dining room from living room

Current: view of Kitchen, entryway and stairs from Dining Room

Memorial Day...

The neighbors have been torturing us with the smell of grilled goodies when we get home from work, and we needed to put an end to our suffering. So, Stef and myself bought a gas barbecue. This weekend has been burgers, gyros with grilled pita and chicken, and filets with grilled portabellas, zuchinni and summer squash. MMMmmmmmm... I love the smell of grilled food. Oh, and the locally grown corn is soooo good/sweet.

We also went for a nice walk along a trail down by the Maumee river near our house.

I think I need to take up fishing. Looks relaxing, see pictures below.

Front Yard Work...

Flower Bed that Stef and myself recently deweeded. I tilled the following day. Also, new posts to replace the rusted rod-iron posts on the front porch. Still need to be painted.

Stef is plugging away at the edging. It's about 8:30pm in this photo. Behind Stef is a baby Alaskan Cedar, and planted in the bed is Sage and Lavender. Also, low voltage lighting.

Stef and myself laid the slate stepping stones. Very heavy.

Baby Japanese Maple to the left, and a dirt spot where we ground out an old tree trunk that I felled last Fall.

-Tom and Stef (TS)

Playing hooky...

Today Stefanie and myself decided to play hooky from work for the latter half of the day. We obtained permission of course, but it is nice to think we quasi-broke the rules a little. Not really breaking the rules... actually. But anyways. Whatever.

Our rebellion took us to the Toledo Botanical gardens were the local horticultural societies were showing their Spring time floral goods.

What we bought:
Carpinus Carolinia (Tree that has a dark trunk with green leaves during the spring/summer and red leaves during the fall; this will go in the backyard and will provide some needed shade)
Three Sage shrubs
Two lavendar shrubs
Two rosemary plants
Two different varieties of basil
One Chive
Three different types of hydrangea
And an assortment of native flowering plants

Rebels are we.

Backyard remodel progress...

Video tour of our backyard remodeling progress.

-Slate stepping stones and low voltage lighting for the pond.

-De-weeded backyard and roto-tilled dirt.

-Grass seeded with Stefanie watering.

-Lilac and cherry trees in bloom.

-Tala and Rusty hanging out in the yard.

-Tiny bunny eating greens.