This is what we found when the box that surrounded the main staircase in the front entry hall was removed. We searched the place stem to stern trying to find the missing newel post, to no avail. Then we were faced with this really nice, dramatic staircase in a very visible area of our home missing a key piece. It's about the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. You see it when you sit in the living room watching TV and when you're in the play area in the family room. Needless to say, it looked rather empty.


Enter my awesome Dad and his fabulous carpentry skills. He carefully studied and measured the existing newel posts, taking pictures of them for later reference. He found really nice oak to work with and made a few more visits for research purposes and test fittings (oh and maybe to see his adorable grandson too). He researched and recommended a line of finishing products from which we had to choose the best match to the existing woodwork. He applied multiple coats of finish, and waited for it to dry, and waited, and as I understand it, waited some more... With the new newel post carefully wrapped in a blanket, like a fragile, brand new baby, Dad brought it for it's unveiling and final installation.


Doesn't it look fabulous? Go on, click on that picture, you know you want to. Thanks Dad!!

Wait until you see the terrific record shelves he built for Chris's collection (Dad, the finish is on them and they are being filled with albums as I type this. They're bee-yoo-T-full!) Oh and no, I doubt he's interested in adopting you, dear readers, sorry.

My response to this Ithaca Journal article as sent to the Tompkins County Legislators, The Ithaca Journal, my State Assemblywoman, Barbara Lifton and State Senator, James Seward.


I was appalled to read in today's Ithaca Journal of the "no" vote by the Tompkins County Budget and Capital Committee on contributing to emergency funding needs for the Drop In Center. Surely this is what the contingency fund is for!

In these challenging times of state funding cuts to The Day Care and Child Development Council of Tompkins County, and horrific atrocities committed upon small children in our community (Grace Manos and the Dryden children the most recent examples) it is shocking to hear that residents of this community are on the verge of losing one of the county's few quality daycare centers.

I don't know how many members of the Budget and Capital Committee currently have small children and a need for trustworthy daycare, but as someone who does have this need, I can tell you that it is very difficult to entrust your child to the care of someone else. In Tompkins County it is even more difficult, as there is a terrible and worsening shortage of daycare centers.

The Drop-In Center provides an irreplaceable service to this community, and I'm sad to see evidence our Legislators may be unclear about the devastating impact the closing of this Center would have on Ithaca... and the ensuing ripple effect on the rest of the county... as fewer and fewer places are available for our most precious resource: our children.

When my family moved here last fall, we didn't know a soul, my husband had just started a new job and hadn't accrued any vacation time when I landed a job interview. We were so lucky to have found the Drop-In Center to care for our small son for a few hours, or I could not
have made it to that interview. Thankfully I was offered the job, but then was faced with a search for permanent daycare for our son. I soon became painfully aware of the paucity of daycare options available here.

Long before coming to Tompkins County we contacted the local centers, only to learn of lengthy waiting lists. Upon arrival we hoped for more luck, and searched in a widening radius from our work until finally finding a permanent space at the Drop-In Center. We've been very happy with the consistent, high quality level of care at the Center.

In addition to providing excellent childcare, the Drop-In Center promotes true diversity to our children, and provides care on a
sliding fee scale as a real lifeline to lower income families. While doing all of this, the Drop-In Center is committed to paying a living wage to their employees.

It would be a tremendous disservice to our community if the County were to turn its back on the Drop-In Center. I implore Legislature to look at the bigger picture and try to see how vital this resource is to our entire community.

Thank you for your kind consideration on this critical issue.

We're lucky enough to have four separate grape vines around the property. They're very pretty and this particular vine, which happens to be right near the outside water spigot, allowing it to get nice drinks on a regular basis, seems to be growing some really nice grapes. It remains to be seen how these grapes will taste, but I look forward to finding out.

Here are some insects I recently spotted in the yard. I think the bumblebee is visiting pink bachelor button and the wasp is on Queen Anne's lace. I'm in love with the digital macro feature on our camera for these great closeups.

Despite the ever present danger of varmints, i.e. the huge woodchuck seen lumbering around our backyard of late (happily avoiding the trap and eating my garden lettuce) the garden continues to do well overall. This is papaya pear hybrid yellow summer squash. The plant is loaded with blossoms and this one tiny squash so far. I don't think we have too long to wait until harvest though since it's recommended that they be picked at 3" and to keep picking for the plant to keep producing.

Happy Independence Day!

This cat hangs around our yard off and on. I'm not sure if he belongs anywhere, and he doesn't want to get too close, though the other night when we were dining al fresco in the secret garden, he was very friendly, much to the chagrin of our housecats who watched from the window. Mr. Friendly Kitty even got a little nibble of steak for his troubles. I know we'll never get him to leave now. If only he would use his hunting prowess to do something about the moles I keep seeing.