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<\/a><\/p>\nIt was strange to compare nature\u2019s amazing creation with man\u2019s creation a few blocks away. Several blocks of tourist trap spectacles, like wax museums and haunted maze houses. After a few minutes of wondering about the neon coated jungle listening to streetside talking mummies, we escaped back to nature\u2019s creation, much more impressive:<\/p>\n
Our host was the area\u2019s head Jewish Rabbi, an amazing guy who knows a bit about everything and can do just about anything. Including cook. Helen picked up a few tips:<\/p>\n The north escarpment of Lake Erie has a mild climate, good for growing fruits, so we toured a few wineries. Here the daughter of one of our friends is explaining to me how wine is made (it had something to do with horses and dancing):<\/p>\n And here their other daughter is serving me up a freshly baked cake made from chocolate butter and M&Ms (those without imagination will claim it looks more like wet Canadian dirt):<\/p>\n Last weekend we went to NH to celebrate Helen\u2019s Mom\u2019s birthday. We met up with Noah (here practicing for one of many upcoming concerts at Bolder) and Aya, doing some acrobatic French braiding of Casey\u2019s hair (a college friend she brought along from RISID):<\/p>\n A charcoal Casey did of Aya:<\/p>\n There were lots of Russian friends, and that led to lots of Russian music, which led to lots of dancing, although I\u2019m not sure this was Russian: <\/p>\n We brought Vira, a family friend who was visiting from Moscow, back to Syracuse for a few days. Inspired by the jeans blankets that Judy Adams made Nick\/Zach when they were little, Helen and Vira attacked some worn out jeans to give them a 2nd life:<\/p>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n