We took a little trip...

In early August we took a trip up to the Northeast. On Wednesday we flew from Atlanta to Rochester, NY. We picked up our rental car at the airport and set out for Toronto. The drive is approximately 170 miles with a stop for the border crossing. I found it humorous that Andrew wanted to switch the GPS to metric once we were in Canada. (Note from Andrew: The metric system is cooler!) Mark, Janet and Parks were in Toronto when we got there so we met up with them for a late dinner. They had already spent the day in the city so they left after dinner to head back south towards the US. We would see them a few days later at the reunion.

During our first night, there was a 2:30 am hotel fire drill but we didn't let that dampen our spirits. We woke up Thursday morning and rode the subway down to the ferry to Centre Island. There we rented bicycles and did some geocaching.

Here is a view of the Toronto skyline from the ferry.

Afterward we wondered over to the CN Tower but didn't feel like paying $20 cad to go up.

Instead we toured the Steamwhistle Brewery and were happy with our decision.


That afternoon we went over to the Kensington Market area to visit a cute little yarn store called Lettuce Knit. Then it was back to the hotel for a rest. For dinner we decided to to to the Historical Distillery District. We had a nice dinner at the Mill St. Brewery with some tasty food and good local brews.


Friday morning we left Toronto and made a stop at Niagara Falls on our way to Geneseo, New York for the Bickel Family Reunion. We spent some time taking in the beauty of the falls and snapping some pics. We thought about riding the Maid of the Mist or doing the tour behind the falls but decided to save the money and head out for the reunion.

Geneseo is a cute little college town (SUNY-Geneseo) about an hour south of Rochester. The weather there was great! Sunny and warm with little humidity. We spent most of the reunion weekend outside under a tent visiting, eating, playing Euchre and horseshoes, and even playing Wii with the younger folk. This was our first experience with rock band and it was a hoot! Here's the whole group.


While in Geneseo, we rented the world's smallest cabin in Letchworth State Park. How cute!

This park is beautiful with an amazing gorge and nice scenery. We were only in the cabin a few hours at night for sleeping so the size didn't really bother us. We spent the rest of our time in the park hiking, geocaching, and of course taking pictures.


All in all it was a great trip and I enjoyed getting to meet the extended Bickel family. We're looking forward to the 2010 reunion in New Mexico!

Orchids!

Orchids...the largest family of flowering plants...over 20,000 species.

I've always had an interest in growing plants, starting with gardens growing up, a middle school hydroponics science fair experiment, and now orchids. Logan first bought me a generic white Phalaenopsis hybrid a few years ago, we named it Bob the Orchid.

These hybrids are the most common type of orchids you see at the grocery store, Home Depot, etc. Phalaenopsis adapt to the home environment pretty easily and their blooms can last up to four months or so, both of which makes them pretty popular. After Bob's blooms died and fell off, our mission was to get it to rebloom. This is where orchids can get their reputation of being hard to take care of. Most of the "pretty" orchids are naturally found in tropical environments. Lots of light, lots of humidity, and a sizable temperature swing between day and night.

To achieve these needs, our guest bedroom does double duty as the orchid room.
Light: the room faces south and gets all of the afternoon sun. Check!
Humidity: found a huge tray with a grate meant for muddy boots online. Set orchids on grate, fill with water, water evaporates, humidity. Check!
Temperature swing: open window, close AC vents, keep door closed. Check!

With the three main criteria met, Bob rebloomed right on schedule the following winter. Now we were in business. Our collection has grown since then to a little over 20 orchids. Most of them have come from Carter & Holmes, an orchid nursery in South Carolina. If you are ever driving on I-26 between Greenville/Spartanburg and Columbia, make a stop. They always have orchids in bloom and it will make a nice rest stop for your road trip.

One of the orchids we bought at C&H in April has just bloomed. It is called Brassoepilaelia Fiftieth Anniversary (when you create a new orchid hybrid, you get to give it a silly name, like race horses or purebred dogs). This one is a hybrid of orchids from three different genera: Brassavola, Epidendrum, and Laelia.


Some other pictures of our orchids are here.

Andrew

Guitar Hero for Kate

This is for you Kate! I first played Guitar Hero two years ago at the Kendall family beach week. All of my younger cousins could easily kick my butt, most of all Kate. I talked a big game, but in truth I was really lousy. Fast forward and now Logan's mom has a Wii with Guitar Hero. Tonight Logan and I are over here for dinner and decided to play some Wii. We took some funny pictures of us playing Guitar Hero to help cheer Kate up. Kate, I've been practicing, so when you are all better and out of the hospital I hope you're up for the challenge.

Andrew

July 4th Extravaganza

This morning my Dad, Andrew and I woke up at o'dark thirty to run the Peachtree Road Race. It's the largest 10k in the country with 55,000 participants.

We jumped on Marta and rode down to the start at Lenox Mall. We sent in previous race times so Andrew was in time group 1A and my Dad and I were in time group 2. It was much better than last year when we were in time group 9 and didn't start until after 8:30. We started off a few minutes after 7:30 am.


The race goes south on Peachtree street through Buckhead. Its pretty much downhill for the first 3 miles. Then you hit Cardiac Hill in front of Piedmont Hospital.

Once you get up that hill, you run right past the building I work in. My Mom decided to come watch this year and she set up camp there. It was nice to hear people cheering for you as you run by.


A little past that you get a nice view of the Hotlanta skyline. Before you know it, you are turning onto 10th Street. New this year, thanks to the drought, the finish line was moved from Piedmont Park to the Atlanta Civic Center. So you have to take the next right onto Juniper. Unfortunately, the race course immediately goes uphill again. Then shortly after that you see the finish line!


We all made it! The race is a lot of fun and it helps you not feel guilty while indulging in Independence Day treats!

Smoked beer can chicken - Yum Yum!