Weekend with the Grandkids (9/28-29/2013)

Saturday, September 28, 2013
We were very fortunate that Erich was able to take time to bring Dylan and Pierce (aka Pete) to visit us!
Today we made the trek out to Chesterland, OH to pick apples at the Patterson Fruit Farm.
We mistakenly stopped at their Fruit Market where they sell their fruit, gourds:

and pumpkins:

Finally ended up at the farm itself.
Pete shows off a couple apples:

The short trees were covered with apples:

They were growing so close together:

Dylan found an apple that had a stem that looked like a giant booger:

Big brother finds a branch that Pete can reach:

The boys tended to pose with things in front of their faces!

Trying a stealth approach to photo taking:

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Dylan and Erich on the wagon ride back to the parking lot:

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After lunch at the Great Lakes Brew Pub and a walk through the Westside Market, we had playtime in our backyard.
Pete with his Diplodocus:

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We know the Brontosaurus became the Apatosaurus, but its relative, the smaller Diplodocus, seems to be the dinosaur of choice for this generation.
Dylan points out the dome bubble:

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Erich gets to sit down for a few minutes:

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The magnetic blocks were a hit:

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Dylan helps prepare the filling for apple pie:

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Here is the resulting apple pie:

Sunday, September 29, 2013
We took a walk to the Lomond Elementary School playground:

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Dylan stands on the "log roll:"

Whoops!

Dylan discovered the conveyor belt slide:

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He encourages Pete to try it:

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Pete  approached the slide from the bottom:

Which meant Dylan had to try to climb up the slide from the bottom:

He actually managed to do it!

A moment of contemplation:

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Then Pete was off again; he walked along every wall:

And attempted the log roll:

We were sad to see them leave.
Until next  time!

Holden Arboretum, Willoughby, OH (9/14/2013)

Saturday, September 14, 2013
A pleasant sunny day for a walk in the Holden Arboretum, which also includes gardens.
The Arlene and Arthur S Holden Jr Butterfly Garden:

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Chelone lyonii/Pink Turtlehead:

We were looking for ideas for groundcover plants.
Heuchera 'Montrose Ruby'/Purpleleaf Coral Bells:

Sedum floriterum 'Weihenstephaner'/Gold Stonecrop:

Ajuga genevensis/Geneva Bugleweed:

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides/Leadwort:

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Veronica 'Waterperry'/Speedwell:

A new plant for us: Eryngium yuccifolium/Rattlesnake Master:

The root was once used by Native Americans and perhaps early pioneers as an antidote to rattlesnake bites.
Pond near the Butterfly Garden:

We followed the Leaf Trail. The trees on the list were marked with a numbered wooden leaf and a ribbon:

Diospyros virginiana/Common Persimmon fruit:

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Aesculus pavia/Red Buckeye:

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Salix alba var tristis/Golden Weeping Willow:

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Variegata'/Golden Sweetgum leaf:

And seed pod:

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Acer griseum/Paperbark Maple:

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A closer look at the bark:

This shrub was in the Hedge Garden: Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash'/Japanese Spirea:

We have some in the backyard, and it is being used as a hedge.
Display Garden:

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Lotus Pond:

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We still have not identified this plant (Perhaps Cornus kousa/Kousa Dogwood):

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Fagus grandifolia/American Beech:

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Saturday, September 21, 2013
We had lunch at Fatheads in North Olmsted, OH. Kent's sandwich was the "Southside Slopes:"

A cross section of kielbasa topped with fried pierogies. American cheese, grilled onions and horseradish sauce:

Named after an area in Pittsburgh, PA, it was voted #5 Best Sandwich in U.S.A. by Maxim Magazine.