Beach, Baseball and Boats

Ask the locals around Buffalo, and they'll tell you what a miserable summer they've been having this year. Ask Clare and Danny and me, and we'll wonder what all the fuss is about, because aside from that one rainy day I mentioned, we've had glorious weather! As a result, we've been able to hit Bay Beach in Canada, Danny has attended his first real baseball game, and the two made an expedition to the Naval and Military Park with Grandpa.

I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who raise your eyes skeptically when I mention the words "beach" and "Buffalo" in the same breath. Which is fine, because the somewhat hidden nature of Bay Beach is part of the charm. Located on the shores of Lake Erie, the beach extends as far as the eye can see. But better yet, the water remains extremely shallow for a hundred yards or more, providing the kids with plenty of protected independence. Happily Clare and Danny were more than content to play any number of games together in the water, leaving me free to chat with Donna, Jean Ward (our gracious host) and other local ladies. The Wards have a stunning "cottage" (Tudor-style building to the right) that is about a two-minute walk from the beach, and it's been hosting Seymour offspring since Larry was a babe in arms. Pretty cool that the tradition carries on with Clare and Danny.


Danny has been in sports heaven since we arrived, too. Grandpa took him to a Bisons game, and they both had a ball. Danny even met Buster Bison! Meanwhile on Sunday morning the two of them went to watch some local kids play hockey, and then that evening Danny made his golfing debut at the Park Country Club. Not a bad life for a three-year-old!


Intrepid individual that he is, Grandpa opted to take both kids on an adventure on Saturday morning. The Navy & Military Park has all kinds of military "boats" to be seen, and they had a grand time. I figured Danny would enjoy it, but with Clare you just never know. However, since she came home and began to dress her Felicity doll in a dress that she thought would be appropriate for her role as a captain, I could tell she enjoyed herself, too. Maybe even as much as Grandpa.