We buried Godric, a sweet little tiger cat, yesterday after Angelika found him dead by the side of Route 366 near Saunders Greenhouse. It looked like he'd been hit hard and thrown into the ditch. Keeping cats here is difficult....
When I lost my beautiful Spring dog in February, I knew right away that I wanted to do something permanent (as such things go) in her memory. Spring keeping an eye on the neighborhood. In May I bought a bench...
I am happy to report that the technicolor mailbox saga has come to an end for now. This morning, in Town of Ithaca Court, I accepted an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal which ends the trespassing violation charges developer Otis...
A few months ago, David Makar made the mistake of venturing into my avalanche-prone office. Out of the many things available to complain about, he noticed my growing pile of unrecyclable coffee cups. I've been visting the XtraMart on the...
Spring enjoys my parents' porch, shortly after we got her. When Tracey and I first met Spring, at Blue Jay Kennels outside of Corning, she was happy to see us. She'd apparently been picked up on East 2nd Street,...
Konrad and Sungiva, of course! Konrad, Sungiva, and a big doll....
No more articles today, just some happy pictures. Konrad sleeps. Sungiva enjoys some water....
There's a lot going on in Dryden that I need to catch up writing about. For right now, though, it's time to pause a minute and put up some happy kid photos. Konrad rests on the lawn. Sungiva contemplates a...
Well, okay, Konrad's a little young for it still, but Sungiva's certainly happy and Konrad will grow into it. New sandbox. Sungiva tests out the sandbox. Family sandbox. I mostly built the sandbox out of parts salvaged from last year's...
I'm happy to report that Konrad is spending most of his time eating, sleeping, looking around, and getting bigger. Konrad where he likes to be - with Angelika! Konrad rests....
Sungiva tangled a phone headset in her hair, so we had to trim it, and Angelika took it further to give her a real haircut. Sungiva's new haircut. Sungiva at the Dryden Community Center Cafe. I kind of think she...
Konrad came home yesterday afternoon, and has been entertaining us ever since. Konrad gets ready to blast off from the hospital. Spring and Sungiva talk about Konrad. Sungiva and Konrad with my parents....
My mother, Sungiva, and I set off for Cayuga Medical Center this morning to see Angelika and Konrad. Sungiva and my mother had to meet our new arrival! Sungiva gives her little brother Konrad a kiss. Angelika hugs Sungiva and...
He was a little early, but Angelika realized this morning at church that little Konrad wanted to see the world soon. Thankfully, he was quick, and we now have a delightful son to raise. Little Konrad. Vital statistics. Konrad tries...
It's been busy around here, but we did notice that Sungiva's now 19 months old. Her favorite word, unfortunately, seems to be 'no', but hopefully her vocabulary will expand. Sungiva loves swings. Sungiva enjoys Cheerios. Sungiva builds a removable carseat...
Sungiva celebrated her eighteenth birthday yesterday, well, eighteen months. We haven't posted pictures in a while, provoking all kinds of protest, though I don't think Sungiva herself has really noticed. We have a bit of catching up to do, so...
After years of saying "no" to running for office, I agreed tonight to run for Town Board this November. I'm very happy to be running with incumbent Town Supervisor Mary Ann Sumner and Town Board Member Jason Leifer, and hope...
I'm getting back into blogging, but right now I'm pretty distracted by the lunacy of our so-called New York State Senate. It's more a state topic than a Dryden topic (and Jim Seward has only played a bit part in...
Sungiva's teenage months are flying by. She started the month with her grandparents visiting, then her aunt, uncle, and cousin arrived, and she's been busy ever since with friends, animals, toys, and us. Reading with her aunt Mirjam, cousin Jonathan,...
I know, I know. I'm late. We're almost halfway into her fifteenth month, and everyone wants pictures. Finally, here they are! Sungiva's fourteenth month included lots of visitors and visiting. Her grandparents came from Germany, and we all went to...
Now that Sungiva is over a year old, it was time for her to explore more of the world. She might have been happy just playing nearby, but we took her on a 3000-mile journey from Dryden to Biloxi, MS,...
It's almost been a year! Sungiva wonders how that chicken snuck in. (The back door blew open, but still...) Sungiva and Angelika watch ducks where they belong - outside. Mother and daughter in heavy-duty outerwear. Sungiva and her friendliest pet,...
She just keeps growing, and exploring more and more. She figured out crawling, is working on standing, and seems to be getting ready for walking. Sungiva explores the contents of her changing table. Sungiva chooses seeds for the garden. Sungiva...
There's a little girl starting to emerge from our baby Sungiva as she crawls around, pulls herself up on a regular basis, and gets better at making it clear what she wants. Sungiva tries sidesaddle on the rocking horse. Sungiva...
Yesterday afternoon, I looked down at my computer to see a notice that someone had pushed the power button on the server that hosts this site, shutting it down. I drove into downtown Ithaca, wasn't too surprised that it wouldn't...
Sungiva is nine months old today. She might have mistaken Christmas for her birthday, as she got a lot of things and had a lot of fun, but I don't think she quite figured out what it was all about....
Sungiva just keeps getting cuter. Sungiva talks during a meal. Sungiva investigates carpentry. Sungiva dressed for Thanksgiving. As always, there's a gallery of photos for those want to see more Sungiva!...
Sungiva just keeps growing! Sungiva with sippy cup. A very self-assured pose. Enjoying an apple. If you'd like to enjoy more of Sungiva's seventh month, I've posted a gallery....
Today, little Sungiva is six months old. She's done a lot of growing, and is picking up new activities. Sungiva reads (sort of). Sungiva looks out at us. Sungiva gnaws on an apple. The apple thing was unexpected, but she...
Yes, it's been very quiet on this blog. It hasn't been so quiet at home, though, where Sungiva is figuring out more and more exciting things about the world every day. Sungiva celebrates. Sungiva with Rowena. Sungiva with Angelika. If...
There seem to be two schools of thought about Living in Dryden at the moment. One wonders why I'm so distracted by our new baby and not posting. The other wants all Sungiva photos, all the time, and wonders why...
Today was Sungiva's two month sort-of-birthday, which she celebrated with lots of screaming, but also with some playful fun and with a surprise, turning herself over from "tummy time" to her back. Sungiva smiles. She's had a busy month, eating...
Everyone I talk with wants more Sungiva photos. I'm continuing to build a collection, so here's a gallery of her first twenty-six days, with new photos starting here. Here are some previews of Sungiva at her baby-finest. Sungiva makes a...
I've had lots of requests for more photos of little Sungiva, and I've posted a new gallery of photos. Some of them have been up before - new photos start on page 3. Simon, Angelika and Sungiva....
Angelika gave birth to Sungiva Marie St.Laurent, our first baby, Thursday morning at 3:32am at Cayuga Medical Center. We just came home today. Sungiva arrived as a tiny little cutie at 5 pounds, fifteen ounces (2684 grams), and 17 inches...
In case anyone's wondering where I've been, I'm sick and in bed. Friday was a mad rush. Saturday was flooring - I almost finished the room. Sunday was a very shivery Quaker Meeting and the rest of the day in...
I warned some friends today that there's likely to be a lot less "hard news" on this site for a while, because we're preparing for one of life's great disruptions: our first child. Angelika's expecting our baby around March 30th,...
2007 had its heart-breaking surprises and its wonderful moments, some strife, and some victories. 2008 will likely be the same - but all different. There's going to be a lot of change around here, as Angelika is expecting a baby...
My name is Dave and I'm blogging for Living in Dryden on special assignment. Simon and his fiance Angelika got married this afternoon (Saturday). Later this week they are off on a multiple week honeymoon and vacation. Simon asked me...