Two things I like about August are Watermelons and Sunflowers.

“August is here – the month of watermelon, falling stars and sunflowers, the last care-free month for the school children.”

It’s time once agaon for the Summer Olmpics, from 26 July 26 to August 11th. It’s an uplifting experience to see the world getting together for something positive like the Olympics. Especially since The USA and other countries seems to be divided as to what they believe in. To see sportsmanship and cheering for people all around the world is definitely positive. You feel inspired and hopeful in the trying times in our country and the world’s. LET’S GO TEAM USA! !

It’s been hot and humid here so we go to Dave’s sister’s for a swim.

Boy, it felt wonderful! We miss the ocean and going to Voyyager’s swimming pool.

Besides the pool it’s always great to see Karen’s impressive flower gardens.

She named all the flowers. Which I only know a few of of the basic, you know like roses, tulips, daisies and sunflowers. She laways does an amazing job on the gardens.

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What a great water front view of Lake Ontario.

Darcy made a delious lunch for us including a birthday cake for Mike.

It was a fun day celebrating a birthday outside, looking out on the lake. They have a beautiful home both inside and outside.

Hibbard’s has been in the same location since 1939. How does it taste so good? Frozen custard uses much less air than ice cream, Less air = richer flavor. And yes they have a secret recipe. My sister and I have been going there since we were little tikes.
Less air = richer flavor!

Walked around the Town of Lewiston for a bit. If your ever in the area, check out Hibbard’s and the historical town. The town and the area is full of history.

I didn’t get a chance to see a lot of the Olympics but when I did I felt “patriotic” you know a feeling of pride watching the US athletes and althletes from 206 territories compete in amazing sporting events. You felt as if everyone competing and watching from around the globe were a massive group united as one. A positive event that the all the world was viewing.

USA topped the overall medal chart with 126 total medals (40 golds, 44 silvers, 42 bronzes). Way to go USA!

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On August 22nd Dave went on another e-bike ride with his friends.

Dave went e-biking with his friends to Niagara Falls, NY.

They started at Gratwick Park in Wheatfield up towards the Falls and headed back the same way.

One of the stops along the way is the Old Stone Chimney.

The Old Stone Chimney is 31-foot-tall, 60-ton masonry chimney originally part of the barracks and mess hall of the two-story barracks on the site of the French “Fort du Portage,” or “Fort Little Niagara,” by Daniel de Joncaire in 1750, when the Niagara River and its shores were part of New France on the North American Continent. The chimney was primarily used for cooking and heating, and has been repurposed several times since by British and American interests. During the French and Indian War (1754-63), the barracks was invaded by the British and burned. Only the chimney remained. General Peter Porter incorporated the chimney into his private residence, which was eventually demolished except for the chimney.

Relocated three times (1902,1942, and 2015), the Old Stone Chimney is currently located between the Niagara River and the Niagara Scenic Parkway east of the Adams Slip along the bike path on the river. The new site is accessible from the parkway with a small parking lot. The bike path crosses in front of the chimney and the Niagara River is behind it.

Old Stone Chimney in its new location is close to the Niagara River in Niagara Falls USA. In the second picture you can see the skyline of Niagara Falls Canada in the background.

By Paul GromosiakTHE OLD STONE CHIMNEY
“There’s nothing in surroundings now
To match these time-worn stones,
The hum of commerce here has drowned
The rythm of nature’s tones;
Be quick to act, ye who have care,
‘Tis here your duty calls,
Or stones historic soon may grace
Some modern cellar walls.”
— John R. Barlow, Jan. 1, 1912

“Cool winds, open roads, and the gentle hum of an e-bike, that’s the recipe for a perfect day!”

Niagara Falls, where nature is the party and the mist is confetti. “Niagara Falls is the hanging tongue on the face of the earth, drooling endlessly over its own beauty.” – Vinita Kinra

A favorite Niagara Falls State Park attraction for more than 10 years, the Maid of the Mist, the journey begins at the Observation Tower, where guests are given a souvenir rain poncho to wear and board the double-deck Maid of the Mist tour boat. From there, the boat ferries past the base of the American Falls, and onto the basin of Horseshoe Falls–the dramatic passage leading you through the roiling waterfall whitewater and massive rock formations. The Maid of the Mist returns guests to shore with newfound appreciation of the power and grandeur of Niagara Falls.

“Electric bikes make every hill a thrill and every ride a cool glide.”

“Hear the roar of 600,000 gallons of water crashing down around you every second. Feel the mist as it drenches everything in its path. Feel the sheer might of Mother Nature. Seeing the water crashing down right in front of me gave me a sense of thrill, I felt like I was in a “Pirates of the Caribbean” film.” ~ Joey Hadden~ If you ever get to Niagara Falls check it out, it’s definitely worth it. Cave of the Winds in Niagara Falls is fun thing to do.

Niagara Falls was once considered the “Honeymoon Capitol of the World” one of the most romantic places back in 1801.

One of the saying you hear about Niagara Falls is from a little girl who lived by the falls who wrote letters to her best friend and always ended them with it’s “Yours Till Niagara Falls, Falls. Another says is “Yours Till Niagara Freezes Over.” Some people feel the need to go over the falls, either intentionally by daredevils in barrels or across a tightrope, sucicide attempts or accidentally. Some survive, but not to many.

The first recorded person to survive going over the falls was school teacher Annie Edson Taylor, who in 1901 successfully completed the stunt inside an oak barrel.

Sunday September first we went to Donna’s and Jeff’s Annual, we figure 20 years, Labor Day Party.

Along with the Annual Labor Party, is the Annual Kickball game.

When we’re in town Dave is always the pitcher for both teams. I don’t believe it’s an elected position. I think it’s cause he’s older, wiser and cute they let him. 😊

We had a picnic at my cousins on September 2nd.

My cousin got a surrey, with the fringe on top, for her grandsons. We were all excited because it looked like the one my sister and I had when we were little. Actually every little kid in the neighborhood rode the surrey, it was a good time.

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On September 7th I also visited Niagara Falls with my sister and her husband.

We ventured to the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, that is located in the 1863 U.S. Customs House that overlooks the former location of the International Suspension bridge, a point of crossing for many freedom seekers including Harriet Tubman.  The Heritage Center is an experiential museum that reveals authentic stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists in Niagara Falls.

During the 19th century, Niagara Falls was one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad – a network of secret routes and safe houses that allowed enslaved African Americans and others to escape into Canada. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad but a network of individuals, both black and white, who provided assistance to fugitive slaves seeking freedom. One of the most daring and dangerous routes to freedom involved crossing the Niagara River. Escaping slaves would often travel by foot or boat to reach the river’s edge, where they faced the daunting task of crossing the suspension bridge or taking a boat ride to to Canada. Niagara Falls was a strategic location on the border between the United States and Canada it was a vital crossing point for those fleeing slavery.

Harriet Tubman often led slaves to freedom by crossing the Niagara River into Canada. She crossed over the Suspension Bridge that once stood where the Whirlpool Bridge is today. This 1859 photograph shows the Suspension Bridge from the Americam side of the Niagara Gorge. The bridge was designed by John A. Roebling and built in 1855, supporting a railroad above and a walkway underneath. In 1897, a steel-arch bridge was built around the existing bridge. The Suspension Bridge was then dismantled, leaving the current Whirlpool Bridge you see today.

Another way to freedom was to go down the stairs to the river and get into a boat.

The stairs were very difficult to climb, especially in the dark, the only time the slaves could escape to freedom. Some of the stairs have been repaired but the trail is still described as a challenging experience particularly due to the steep steps and rocky terrain.

Augustus Porter, Parkhurst Whitney built the first stairs near The Heritage Museum in 1818. A similar staircase was built on the Canadian side in 1820.

The slaves at the bottom of the staircase are ready to get on a boat to freedom.

P. Whitney started a regular ferry service with small rowboats to carry passengers and slaves across the river to Canada.

The way to freedom was described as “a stairway which is laid in a deep excavation of solid rock. The bank was very steep, and was slippery with rain and half-melted ice. When we got down at the bottom we were drenched to the skin by the mist, walking over some broken rocks, deafened by the noise half-blinded by the spray, and wet to the skin, at the river getting into a row boat to freedom.”

We didn’t have time to take The Gorge Stairs Trail but we definitely want to.

True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

Free at last, free at last
Thank God Almighty
We are free at last.
— Martin Luther King

I went to the Buffalo Zoo with Gail and her two grandsons, Axel and Archer, who are both so cute . I can’t remember the last time I was at the Buffalo.

Originally a deer park in the northeast corner of Frederick Law Olmsted’s in Delaware Park, The Buffalo Zoo was established in 1875 and has really come along way since then.

This is a capybara, it’s a large rodent and it’s cute.

The Delta Sonic Heritage Farm recreates a historic farm from the mid-1800s with heritage breeds of domestic animals.

Lions, tigers and bears, Oh my . . . . . wait it’s Zebras, Giraffes and Otters.

And a Snow Leopard

The Zoomagination was impressive during the day, I hear it was awesome at night all lit up.

On a sunshiny day, September 12th, I got together with four awesome friends for lunch and a walk by the river.

We went to Woodcock Brothers in the old Wurlitzer building in North Tonawanda for our lunch, which we all enjoyed!

We started our walk from Webster Street, North Tonawanda and continued along The Shoreline Trail (part of The Empire State Trail) which is a continuous multi-use paved pathway along Lake Erie and the Niagara River, within both Erie and Niagara Counties. It’s a popular trail for biking, running, walking or just sitting, relaxing while enjoying the river.

“Life is much like a river. I can’t determine where the river comes from or where it’s flowing to. But I can immerse myself in it as it’s flowing by me.” – Craig D. Lounsbrough

We walked awhile on the path and then headed back, but you can ride a bike from downtown Buffalo to Niagara Falls NY, that’s the e-bike route that Dave took earlier with his friends.

It was such a great day we had to end it with ice cream at Platters! If you live near North Tonawanda, NY and you haven’t been to Platter’s don’t hesitate go now. The ice cream is great but the homemade chocolate is delicious.

We went to our friends Gail & Tim’s grandson Archer’s 1st birthday party on September 14th.

The party was held at Mayer Park, right nex tto the Erie Canal in North Tonawanda.

My Dear friend Tami, made me a drink called an “Aquarium,” made with fruit pebbles on the bottom of the glass, Tequila, some kind of juice that made it blue, and a gummy worm on top. There was probably other ingredients in it too. It was for sure a good drink for a hot summer day.

Archer birthday party was fun. We got to see people we haven’t seen in a bit and I got too see Tami and Gail, great friends that I’ve known most of my life.

May he have many, many more brthdays and be blessed with loads of Love, Happiness, Health and Success.

A Thanksgiving Dinner on a Summer’s Day September 15th.

Since we haven’t been here for Thanksgiving My cousin Kathy made a wonderful turkey dinner with all the trimmings for us.

Everything was delicious! Everyone couldn’t come but we were thankful for the ones who could.

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Today September 18th and every Wednesday since we arrived in North Tonawanda, Dave has joined his friends at Scooter’s Place for lunch. Scooter’s has been in Pendleton for a long time. It’s owned by a friend of ours and a great place to go, the food is always great!

Dave and friends (The Lunch Club) on Scooter’s porch. Sometimes, the men would let us join them, only if we sat at another table, just kidding.

Scooter’s always has fun things happening, and they had a birthday on August 8th, 1980. I can’t believe their 44 years old. Congratulations!

Before we left we went to visit Dave’s brother Jeff, sister Karen and sister-in-law Donna. It’s always nice to see how their yard is decorated for every season. The mums with the pumpkins between certainly gave a pleasant sense of Fall.

Dave always helps his brother Steve with projects to remodel his house when were back home, it’s an ongoing mission to fix up an old house, although their nearing the end of the mission One of the projects was to put in a new floor and ceiling. It’s lookin good!

Like the sign says “Summer Favorites” which they are. Before we left I got together with Gail & Tami for lunch and ice cream at Mississippi Muds.

That’s how we spent our Summer in New York, I left out some things because I just wanted to get the blog done since , what the heck, it’s already October 8th and we’re in Tucson Arizona!

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