Gentle Rain, Gentle Rain, Finally!

Evie's Garden (Photo by Patsi)

Evie's Garden This Morning at 8:15 a.m.

7:55 a.m.

A gray, wet morning, and it's been awhile, perhaps a couple of weeks since it's rained...not very Chautauqua like.  It's still a bit sticky, with a slight chill, at least early in the morning and the rest of the day looks like more rain and clouds, not that I mind.  It sounds good to sit inside and read, perhaps go for a walk when there's a break in the weather.  And I am listening to Fareed Zakaria review Soviet scholar George Kenan's Diaries and Donna Tartt talks about her novel The Goldfinch on Sonos radio, both are podcasts.  It's amazing what is at my finger tip with a click of my mouse. And I have yet to explore the other 99% of options available through Sonos Radio.

Saturday at the lake, especially on a Labor Day weekend is busy, lots of visitors and, alas, the end of the summer for many part time residents.  Thus, our neighbors, the Aultz's, brought in their dock in the morning and the Theissen's will no doubt bring theirs in today or tomorrow, a sad reminder that summer is ending, fall and winter are coming.  We don't take our dock out until mid October usually and one year, it was even snowing when the guys pulled it out.  So this Saturday was a bit different, though I did take a trip to the Transfer Station and we both sat on the dock a good part of the afternoon, watching mega boats cruise by and seadoos cut hard turns in the middle of the lake.  It was a busy, noisy day, then, here at the lake.  It will last for another day, slow down some late afternoon Monday, then Tuesday the lake will be basically empty, with some action on weekends through September but basically, the summer residents are home for good.

Around 10:30, I drove off to Lakewood, to pick up my bike and shop for a few things at Wegmans.
It was surprisingly warm and humid in Lakewood, at Wegman's parking lot, so different from the breezy warmth here at the lake.  When I  got home, I had lunch, tuna sandwiches and cauliflower soup, then joined Evie outside, to enjoy the busy afternoon on the lake.  We either read on the dock and when it got too noisy or busy, we adjourned to the shade of our maples, cooler and quieter. Around 4:30, despite the heat, I went for a bike ride, through the campground, then back RT. 394 to Carpenter Pringel, then Stow down to the ferry, then back home via the same route, but down Victoria.  It had few hills, my nemesis, and was enjoyable despite the heat and traffic on 394.

Evie then started dinner, chicken and black bean enchiladas, prepped them, and then we sat on the dock, a quieting lake, having a beer to end our day.  It felt good to just sit and enjoy the lake, the clear sky.  Around 7:00, we went in, Evie finished the enchiladas, and I husked the corn and we had a great dinner.  I have been wanting these enchiladas for a few days and we were not disappointed because they were really good, restaurant quality and cheap.  We watched some Stewart and Colbert, then the final episode of Rectify, which answered few of our questions about what was Daniel going to do, no doubt, prepping us for next year.  We were in bed by 11:00, to read and sleep, a humid night but our house was comfortable  because we kept the windows closed most of the day.  It was as if we had air conditioning when we walked in the house from outdoors.

Bright Sun, Glistening Lake, And Windy

7:11 

Slept in some, till 7:10, came downstairs to a living room filled with sunlight, a ruffled lake surface, and a morning much warmer than yesterday's 48º.  It's supposed to get hot today, in the 80's, then rain tonight, something we need as it has not rained in at least a week.

Yesterday was delicious, sunny but cool, a perfect fall day in late August.  And the morning sky, now my blog photograph, was glorious, small puffs of clouds, like Zeus dropped cotton balls down from Mt. Olympus.  And I did not have to leave for yoga until 9:10 because I convinced Eight Limbs Yoga Studio to move their Friday class from 8:15 to 9:30, making everyone happy.  A couple of new students even came, and one had never been in a yoga class before but seemed to love it.  After class, I went to Ryder's for a cup of coffee, then went across the street to a house that sells and makes stained glass.  I have seen the sign for years but never went in to the house/shop.  I met the couple who own it and both make the stained glass.  Both are retired, and I talked with the wife for about 15 minutes, as she showed me everything in the store as well as some photographs of stained glass panels they made for a house in Chautauqua institution.  I want to go back with Evie because she would love browsing it as well because it also has lots of miniatures, dishes, antiques.

I then went to pick up my bike at Hollyloft but it was not ready even though they told me it would be ready yesterday.  They don't remember telling me that.  I asked the owner when they stopped selling kayaks because I bought my Pongo from them and was not sure how old it was.  He estimated he stopped 15 years ago, so my kayak is at least that old, an antique, old and ugly but still serviceable.

I stopped at Aldi's because they had sunflower birdseed for a good price, picked up some cheap items, mostly canned stuff like black beans, thirty or forty cents cheaper than Wegmans.  We will have to see the quality but it is usually quite good.  When I got home, Evie was already on the dock, in a fleece and wrapped in a blanket because of the coolness, reading her Richard Russo novel.  And that was about it for the rest of the day.  A brief respite for cauliflower soup and a cheese sandwich, and I joined her on the dock, and we spent the afternoon, going back and forth, enjoying the sun, coming in for some water or a respite and then back out.  I did go for a paddle because the lake was so blue, the sky so clear despite the wind and ended up working up a sweating because Long Point protected me from the wind, making it much warmer than on our dock.  Go figure.

The Comfort Of A Vista That Never Seems To Change (thankfully) - Tom's Point and Bemus Point

View From Our Porch, 7:52

Around 6:00, we relaxed on the porch for over an hour, sipping a couple of glasses of vino, taking photos of the lake, as the sun lingered on various coast lines on the opposite shore.  It was a  great way to end the day.  We had the leftover moussaka for dinner, with a salad, just as good as two nights ago and watched a movie that radio host Michael Smerconish thought was the best political/presidential movie ever made, with Jeff Bridges as the President, Joan Allen as the Vice Presidential candidate.  Both battle the opposing party who dredge up all kinds of rumors and accusations about Allen's early life, none true but she refuses to refute them because she believes one's personal life is none of anyone's business.  It seems dated and implausibly idealistic and moral for today's disgusting world of politics.  It was, however, comforting to view a politician who is willing to stand up for what she believes in, even if it costs her the Vice Presidency. She extols the attitudes and beliefs I embrace, few of which  are in the vanguard of today's world,  things like a clear separation between church and state.  We both  liked it,  recommend it; it reminded me of the TV series The West Wing, a liberal interpretation no doubt but a President who you can admire.

Chilly Morning (Kayaking Cassadaga Lake, Visiting Lily Dale)

6:46

It's 7:30 and the clouds have just shrouded the sun, on a 48º morning here at the lake.  Perhaps the Farmer's Almanac knows what it's talking about when it has forecast an early and cold winter.  An empty lake, another picturesque sunrise earlier, and I just noticed, dah, how far south the sun has moved since the 21st of June.  It's now to the south of Long Point and before long, it will be December 21st, time to reverse it's course.

Yesterday was a busy day, not that we are usually a couple of laggards.  My day began with yoga, a small class, lots of work on the spine, many positions I don't particular like.  And I found out that even our teacher's back hurts after class at times, then gradually feels better as the day goes on.  I thought I was the only one with some discomfort after class.  I hurried home after yoga because we were taking our kayaks to Cassadaga Lake, about thirty five minutes from here, a lake we first cruised back in August of 2009.  I remember because it was one of my first blog posts.

Water Lilies at Cassadaga Lake

Enjoying A Scone on Porch of Cup of Joe's

Lily Dale

We had our boats in the water by 12:30 and kayaked the lake's circumference, taking about an hour and a half.  At times, there was a heavy wind, making it unpleasant and I have to say, other than the narrow channel, connecting the two larger areas, one filled with water lilies, the paddle was boring.  We had forgotten where Lily Day was located, so we ended up back where we started, went under the bridge over the road, and viola, there was Lily Dale.  We quietly pulled up our kayaks, at the park at the far end, and began to explore the grounds.  As I mentioned, we were there five years ago and it hasn't change.  It's an interesting contrast to the much wealthier Chautauqua Institution, like a poor relative.  The cottages and grounds are unkempt, few if any well cared gardens fronting the homes, more weeds, and uncut grass, with a couple of exceptions.  Most buildings are older, some need paint and fixing, others are neat, like the library.  We browsed, had a piece of pizza and a four fruit scone at Cup Of Joe's, a neat little coffee shop and bakery recommended by our daughter Beth.  We hit a couple of shops, and Evie ended up buying eight mood rings for the Treasure Chest, as the eight we previously bought are now gone.

A Black Cat Boating at Lily Dale

Washing Up

 We were home around 4:30, exhausted for some reason, perhaps the two days of kayaking did us in.  We relaxed, Evie on the dock, me on the couch until 6:00 when we both showered because we were fortunately, going for dinner at our neighbor's home, the Scholtz's at 6:30.  We usually get together with them after the summer's over, when our families have visited, and share summer stories.  We sat on their front porch, with jackets because it was cool, with Mary Anne, Marjorie's sister and Charlie T. a colleague of Ken's from Pittsburgh.  This is I think the third year in a row that we six have gotten together.  We had a great pasta with veggies and chicken in a cream sauce and short cake with fresh blue berries and cream for dessert.  It was a fun evening, lots of laughs about school superintendents or Headmasters, as we wondered how these jerks were ever hired.  A mystery.  We were home by 9:30, watched Jon Stewart's amazing rant on Ferguson, then went upstairs to bed.

Our Hosts, Marjorie and Ken Scholtz

Porch Sitting on Lake Chautauqua

We are both looking forward to spending the day at home, a venture only to yoga, perhaps a short bike ride for me.  Maybe not!

An Autumn Sky and Temperature (Kayaking the Chadakoin River with Evergreen Outfitters)

7:02

Our Friendly Neighborhood Crooked Bill Duck

 Puffy clouds, a 52º temperature welcomed me when I got up this morning at 6:30.  At the moment, 8:04, the lake shimmers, reflecting the sun, the flags waving in the breeze.  A good day to be outside and, fortunately, we are taking our kayaks to Cassadaga Lake, where we will kayak as well as visit Lily Dale, leaving around noon, after my yoga class.

Yesterday began with an overcast morning, a slow wake up, before driving off to yoga at 10:00.  Any earlier and it seems like I rush my morning.  After yoga, I stopped and got a coffee at Ryder's, then dropped my bike off at Hollyloft and found I need a new chain and gears, both worn out after six years of use.  I guess its about time.  I then did some quick shopping at Wegman's before heading home as it began to clear up, heralding another sunny and warm afternoon on the dock.  I stopped, unfortunately, at the new vegetarian restaurant, also Stedman Coffee, and ordered a falafel wrap.  I was one of three people in the restaurant but it took 15 minutes to get my wrap, the kitchen help looking as if they had no idea what they were doing.  It was small and they forgot the tazikiki sauce. Never to to a newly open restaurant!  This one won't be open long I fear.

When I got home, my bread, which I put in the oven just before I left, was sitting on the rack, looking great.  Evie baked it an extra ten minutes, making sure the internal temperature was up to 200º before taking it out.  I had my wrap, and Evie went out on the dock, to enjoy her book and the afternoon, much like the last few days.  We want to take advantage of the fine weather while it lasts.  I joined her eventually, but did not stay long, as I get tired of sitting in the sun.  That's about it for our afternoon, lunch, reading on the dock, eventually a swim for Evie before coming in around 4:30, to get our kayaks out of the water and on the roof rack of our car as we were going on a evening paddle on the Chadakoin River with the Evergreen Outfitters.  We had a quick but tasty dinner, an omelet with my bread, toasted, and both were great.  We drove to the McCrea Landing in downtown Jamestown, arriving around 6:30 and were surprised to see at least twenty kayaks already in the water, waiting to begin  their journey up the river.  We took our kayaks off the rack, parked the car, and joined the gaggle of kayaks.

Ready to Kayak

An Old Great Blue Heron

One of the boats was appointed the leader and about twenty six of us paddled off, along the dense woods of the river, with occasional homes or cottages but mostly a swamp like paddle, reminding me of some of the scenes from the movie DELIVERANCE. We could go at our own pace, but most stayed together and I struck up a conversation with a woman who had driven here from Olean, to be part of the group.  She is an avid hiker and biker as well, and was interesting to talk to.  After an hour, everyone but Evie and I turned around, as we wanted to meander back, allowing the other twenty four to get their kayaks out of the water before us.  The leader of our group, however, waited for us as we took our time.  We finally convinced him to let us be, that we knew the way, had a head lamp, so he took off.  When we arrived at the launch, he was waiting there, just as the last kayak was taken out of the water. Perfect timing.  When we got our boats out, one of the leaders thanked us for coming, pretty nice.

Reflections at 8:15 PM on Chadakoin River

On the way home, Evie suggested we stop at The Swamp, for a beer, a mistake as I feared but Evie wanted to stop.  Imagine stopping in a moldy, smelly basement, underwater this past spring and you have the decor of The Swamp, perfectly named.  Only two people at the bar, we ordered a beer, and I refused to drink out of a glass though Evie dared to drink out of one.  The barmaid, however, was very talkative, fun in fact, and we talked with her for twenty minutes.  She told us all about their Buffalo wings, which are supposed to be quite good if you can stand the smell of the joint.

The Infamous Swamp

We were glad to get out, safely, with no infections, and rewarded ourselves with a Big Mac and fries at Mc Donald's.  For a fast food, almost empty restaurant, it was not very fast.  We got home around 9:45, after our varied and exciting night out on the river, the swamp, and the fast food restaurant.

A Gray, Dreary Morning

6:24

8:04

It’s 7:00 and I have been trying to get on line, with no luck, and called Time Warner to let them know the Internet is down but no luck.  The number is always busy.  Not good news.  It’s overcast, hazy, and cooler, though it did not rain last night as forecast.  Perhaps this morning as it’s supposed to get cooler over the next few days. Quick note...it's 7:20 and the Internet just came on.  Yippee---life is good, again.

Yesterday, and I know I keep saying it, but it was a perfect day, sunny, warm not hot, a slight breeze occasionally to cool you off if it got too hot.  Our electrician was supposed to come early to put in new smoke alarms but by the time I left for yoga, he still had not arrived.  Yoga was fine, just the two of us but it’s good to be getting back in a routine.  Courtney told me a new vegetarian restaurant had opened in the Stedman Corners Coffee shop so I checked it out but the one at Stedman Corners had not changed.  Perhaps she meant the coffee shop where Super Duper used to be.  When I got home, Evie had put together a moussaka, using leftovers from the past few days and an eggplant.  Around 11:00, the electrician arrived, and within an hour, had put in the fire alarms, crawled under our house to see if he could find the electric line that goes into the garage, and mentioned a couple of things I should keep an eye on, the ceiling beginning to weather or rot where the hose for our well goes into the house, and some small puddles of water on the floor, probably a result of condensation.  No luck with an easy fix for the line to the garage. While he was working Evie decided to try her French baguette recipe from years ago, and put it together, to let it rise, just before she went out for her afternoon on the dock.  

When our electrician left, I decided to make my bread, a healthy round no knead loaf which we really like, with quinoa, flax seed, and oats, healthy and tasty.  I put it together quickly and this morning, I have a huge sponge of bread, ready to be baked any time.  I had leftover koftes and sauce for lunch, watched some Sports Center and US Open tennis, then read, napped because it seemed to hot to go outside.  Around 3:00, it seemed cooler so I went out to read on the dock.  Evie was on the phone talking, to both Beth, then Dot, her step mother, who lives in Scottsdale.  After a half hour  I was starting to sweat so I jumped into the lake, the water as clear as its been all summer.  Go figure.  

Taking A Break At Long Point

When Evie got off the phone, we both decided to get active.  Evie wanted to cut the lawn, and I wanted to ride my bike in Bemus, so we decided to meet in an hour and a half, on the dock, for a beer, pretzels, and blue cheese dip, a goal for the afternoon.  My ride though Bemus, Lakeside Drive, and Long Point was great, and took about an hour.  Bemus is starting to get quiet though this weekend, it will pick up, then settle down for good after Labor Day.  When I got back, Evie was almost done with the lawn, so I uncorked a Corona, got out the pretzels and dip, and went out on the dock, followed by Evie within 15 minutes.  We loved the dock, at this hour, no breeze, comfortably warm, blue waters, clear sky and only an occasional neighbor paddling by in their kayaks.  

Black Locust Bike/Hiking Trail

About 7:00, we jumped in the refreshing and clear water, to invigorate ourselves, then went in to have our moussaka dinner, which was ready, bubbly with a crusty top.  With the French bread, buttered of course, and moussaka, we were in Chautauqua heaven.  We watched, I hate to admit, for the first hour, the Joan Rivers rift of the Emmy Awards dresses worn by various actresses.  She is vulgar, nothing is sacred, but she makes us both laugh out loud, embarrassed at times to do so, as are her colleagues.  We also watched a couple of week old Stewart and Colbert before going up to bed to read.  

Waiting For The Sun

7:02

7:03

I was up at 6:30, a very quiet morning on the lake, no boats, a slight wind, the sun hidden behind a bank of clouds.  So, I walked out on the dock, sat down and watched the sun slowly rise above the clouds.  It was unusual to sit on the dock and watch the tips of the clouds turn light, then brighter, until the rim of the sun, then the orb, rose above the cloud bank, blinding me, so that I had to view it's rise through my camera lens.  I then went inside, got my coffee, turned on NPR and started my usual morning routine.  It's a chilly 57º, a great day forecast, a high in the 80's.

Yesterday began with buttermilk pancakes with the Bottiny's, to fortify them for their trip back to Herndon, VA. They, as well as us, had a great weekend, of leisure as well as boat rides, visits to our clubs, and a concert at the Chautauqua Institution.  It's hard to beat that.  When they drove away, we felt, like always, when people leave, empty, not sure what to do with the rest of the day because it's just us, no plans, noone to entertain.  So, we did the logical thing, cleaned up the kitchen, straightened up the house, and then I had the bright idea to call a electrician to fix our smoke alarms, something Jill has been bugging us to do. So I called one, recommended by my breakfast club buddies, and he was here late morning, to check out the house.  He will be back today, with six new alarms and put them in. A nice guy, who does much of the work in the CI,  he also seemed to be a great talker.  It was hard to get a word in.

By the time he left, it was time for lunch, a chicken sandwich, with avocado and tomatoes, then I watched Ray Donovan.  Evie, however, bundled up, and went out to read on the dock, hoping it was not too windy.  She lasted about an hour then came in and sat in the sun in our side yard, avoiding the wind.  After finishing my show, I decided to get something done, and went off to the Tri James Gravel pit, and picked up two loads of stones for our driveway, making it wider and some for our road, where the grass was beginning to take over.  Getting ready for winter I suppose.  When I finished, the wind had died, so both Evie and I went out to read and relax on the dock, the sun warm, almost hot. Around 5:00, we both jumped in the lake, algae free, so nice that we could see the bottom at the end of our dock. It was so nice that we stayed out and I went in and got us a beer and pretzels.  By 6;00, the wind had died, the lake was empty, so we both decided to take a kayak paddle, off to Long Point and then to Wells Bay and back.   At this hour the sun is so bright that it's difficult to paddle west on the lake, so we paddled hard to get in the shade, close to the docks, where the trees act as a barrier.

Kayak Afternoon: 6:30

By 7:00, we were back in our house and Evie warmed up the shrimp and pasta from Friday, made a salad and we were ready to watch the Red Carpet show for the Emmy's, then the Emmy's until about 10:00 when we both got tired of the same shows and people winning the awards.  What a bore.  I am heavy into my John Le Carre novel, so I couldn't wait to get upstairs to read.

An Early Morning Sky Of Red, White and Blue

6:20

6:21

6:40

Awakened around 6:30 by the honking of Canadian geese, a huge flock floating by our dock.  When I came downstairs, Evie was already up and had taken mega pictures of the morning sky, like something out of Arizona.  It looks like a great day for the dock, a boat or kayak ride, or just relaxing.

Yesterday was forecast to be warm and sunny the entire day; surprise, the sun did not come out until around 2:30, the morning cloudy, the lake choppy, reminding me of a fall day.  I was up early, before 6:00, so I was up for a couple of hours before my sister and her husband arose.  The lake air must be good for their sleeping because Walt often gets up at 4:00 to head in to Washington, DC, to avoid the heavy traffic.  Anyways, around 9:30, I drove into Mayville, to shop some for dinner at Tops, then stopped at the Lighthouse Grocery, to pick up ground chuck, peameal bacon, and ice.  When I got home, everyone was up, relaxing over a cup of coffee.  We decided to have a late breakfast, so  I decided to get the ice bucket challenge over with, not something I was too thrilled about doing.  First, Evie practiced taking a video with the iPad and we went outside and filmed it, then putting it on Facebook, and challenging three more people.  I don't think they were too thrilled to get the challenge.

Ready to Cruise

We then had a great breakfast, of pea meal, eggs and bagels.  And just as we were sitting down, friends of my sister's from Chagrin Falls, the Netschke's, stopped over, so they sat with us and talked for about forty five minutes, mostly about their trips to Africa.  After they left, we cleaned up and got ready to boat to the Chautauqua Institution, despite the cloudy sky, choppy lake.  Fortunately, the sky began to clear up as we cruised along Prendergast Point to the Institution.  We docked, walked up to the bookstore, ran into the Leonards, then went to the Amphitheater to listen to Razz, Pete Pepke, and their Dixieland Band, a free concert on the last day of the season. We had seen them before at at restaurant in Frewsburg, even talked with them some, and they were amazingly good, with the help of three other really talented musicians from the East Coast.  We stayed for an hour, then wanted to get back to the lake because it was a beautiful day.

Razz And Pete Pepke

We decided, however, to show Ellen and Walt the Viking Club so we cruised over to the lake's east side, docked our boat, and went inside, signed in, drew stares, ordered a couple of beers, got some free popcorn, and sat outside on their terrace, in the shade, enjoying the view, the club, and lovely sunny afternoon.

Enjoying Beer and Popcorn At The Viking Club's Porch

We returned from our voyages around 5;30 and we were all hungry so we started to get dinner ready. The Bottiny's shucked the corn, Evie put together the koftes for Iskender Kebab, and then Walt and I grilled the koftes, which took about ten minutes.  We put together our kebabs on the island in the kitchen, took some corn and salad, and adjourned to our front porch, for dinner and a chilled white wine.  We are beginning to really enjoy eating on our front porch. After dinner, we took our wine out on the dock and sat their for an hour, until it got too dark, sipping wine, then coffee, then eating brownies and cookies as the sky changed colors and we talked about Ellen and Walt's visit to Acadia Park, in Maine, hopefully our destination in October sometime.  We came in around 9:30 and stayed up talking politics, the state of the world, until 11:00 when we all went to bed.  We all agree on most things politic so there were no fisticuffs! And we did agree that the world looks particularly troubled this summer though nothing like living under the threat of nukes during the Cold War.

Ellen and Walt are just getting up, as it's 7:30, and Evie making pancakes for them before they head back to Herndon, VA, after a weekend filled with FUN...a couple of clubs, a concert, and great food.

Overcast Early, Sunshine To Come (Woodlawn Picnic and Rod and Gun Club)

Ellen and Walt

7:03

It was 5:50 when I woke, much darker outside then I thought it should have been.  It reminded me of a winter morning, pitch black when I rise, but it's still August.  It's now 7:15, overcast but light enough inside if I wanted to read.  I have been listening to C-SPAN for an hour, an interview with James Tobin about his book Roosevelt With Polio.  It was really interesting to hear how Roosevelt overcame his paralysis, to become one of our greatest Presidents.  It made me want to read the book, or at least a book about Roosevelt and visit his library and museum in Hyde Park, NY, an easy stop on our trip East to visit our daughter Beth in CT.

Docking At Bemus Point

Yesterday was another one of those days where rain was forecast but it never materialized.  We had a relaxing morning with my sister Ellen and her husband Walt, as we planned our day around what they wanted to do during their weekend here at the lake.  First, we had our coffee, then Evie made a Turkish omelet, a menemen, for breakfast.  Yum.  We then decided to take a boat ride over to Bemus, a bracing morning, with blue sky, a nice breeze.  We easily found a slip to put our boat, and walked down Lakeside Road and back, about forty five minutes, talking about the changes that have taken place over the past few years, the houses that were renovated or sold.  We then stopped at the Seezurh House because Ellen remembers our always going there when they visited, so we had a beer, in their nicely air conditioned bar, a respite from a surprisingly warm day.  As we walked back to the boat, there was a water skiing show going on in front of the Italian Fisherman, free to the public.  They even had a ramp in the water for the skiers.  We listened to the public announcer build up each skier, then watched them do their tricks for around fifteen minutes.  We then boated home, cruising around at least thirty or forty boats, parked to watch the show.

With Ellen, Nancy and Barb

Wine Is Fine

Newest Woodlawner, One Month Old

The Fox and The Leonard

Evie made us chicken/tomato/avocado sandwiches for lunch and then we either relaxed or read on the dock, on the porch or in the house.  By 3:30, Ellen and Evie were toasty, so they decided to take a dip, perhaps the only two to do so in the lake.  The lake, however, was seemingly algae free and refreshing. And we began to get ready for the Woodlawn picnic which we were hosting at our house from 5:00 to 7:00, the third picnic of the summer.  We were not sure anyone would come because you never know who is up for the weekend, who is busy and we had missed the previous two ourselves.  So we were surprised when people started arriving with drinks and appetizers around 5:15 and they kept coming, so it was really a quite large and fun group of neighbors, getting together to celebrate or bemoan the end of summer.  Everyone gets to see neighbors they may not have seen all summer because we are so busy with family and friends, so it's always an interesting gathering. Friends and families are always welcome, too, so Ellen and Wally fit in easily and got to know lots of our neighbors.  Must people stayed until 7:00, then headed home, ready to go out for dinner or begin there evening.  There's minor cleanup, which is nice, so we had the house and yard in order by 7:30.

Marlea And A Few Of The Boys Of Summer

Walt and the Neighbors

Kathy, Paul,  Joyce, and Barb (The Beatles?)

Evie and Mary Ann, Woodlawn Cuties, With Friends and Family

We wanted Ellen and Walt to experience our club, The Rod and Gun, in Lakewood, so we drove there along the lake road, looking at all the great houses in Lakewood.  When we got to the club, unfortunately, the parking lots were full, as was the bar and all the tables in the bar, so we had quite a wait for dinner, close to an hour.  It went fairly fast, with the help of a couple of beers and some wine, and around 8:30 they called our name.  Three of us ordered the prime rib, one, Walt, had chicken and all our meals were great, the best prime rib we have had at the club.  The highlight of the evening, however, was the music and the dancing which began at 9:00.  Every Friday and Saturday night at 9:00, the Rod and Gun has a band.  Last night if was the O'Jays, a pretty good band playing songs mostly from the 50's and 60's.  The fun was watching the joy of the couples, most in their 60's if not 70's, enjoying dancing, putting on the moves, or just moving to the sounds.  Some were pretty good, some were not very good.  My favorite was a little, white haired couple who looked to be in their seventies. They just hugged each other tightly, then danced and danced and danced.  We even got up and danced to a couple of tunes.  After the first session( the band plays till 12:30), we headed home, full and happy after a fun night at the Rod and Gun. Ellen and Walt can see why we enjoy it so much.

Dancing The Night Away

We got home around 10:15, and Evie served us brownies and ice cream for dessert because we all came home with a sweet tooth. We stayed up talking until 11:00, mostly about the ALS bucket challenge a friend of mine, John Green, sent my way yesterday.  I am not too excited about it but we may come up with a way to fulfill it today.

I am hoping today will be as nice as predicted but at the moment, it's still gray and overcast.  Sun, where are you?

A Morning of Clouds And Fog

6:31

August, 2011 

Listening to Only A Game on NPR,  and they are talking about Ohio State football, yes, summer is over if they are taking football.  It's a gray on gray morning, a lack of clarity to our lake vista, the only action, bass boats roaring out of the Marina at 6:30 and like clock work, our neighbor, skiing by on a slalom, raising rooster tails as he goes.

Yesterday was getting ready for the arrival of my sister Ellen and her husband Wally, from Herndon,VA.  I decided to skip yoga, mostly because it was early, 8:30, forcing me to rush my morning and I 'preferred not to,' echoing Bartleby, a character in a Melville short story I always liked to teach.  So, we gussied up the house, vacuuming, straightening, making sure the bedrooms were in order. And Evie put together our dinner, a vodka shrimp pasta sauce which we always have enjoyed. And we both worked some outside, Evie cutting the lawn, me watering, doing some weeding, washing windows, though there's not a lot to do in the yard this time of year.

For lunch, I made fish tacos, finishing up the tilapia from a couple of nights ago (waste not, want not). And we spent the afternoon relaxing, reading both in and out, waiting for the Bottiny's to arrive.  They finally got here around 5:30, a much longer drive than they expected, partly because of a violent rain storm in Warren, forcing them to pull over and wait it out.

Since my sister Ellen is a great gardener, we had to walk the yard, looking at the various bushes, shrubs, some in bloom like the hydrangeas, which surround our house, and of course, Evie's garden. You have to see my sister's yard to appreciate her green thumb with flowers.  We then cracked open a couple of beers, got out the pretzels and veggies and dip, and sat on the front porch, enjoying the late afternoon, catching up on the lives of their two children.  They have not been to the lake for at least a couple of years, so they were excited to be here.  They first visited us with their then infant son Brooks, back in 1981, the year we bought our house.

Making Fresh Pasta

Around 7:00, we went in, and everyone pitched in and helped Evie make the fresh pasta for our dinner involving everyone in the process.  Once the fettuccine was made, we quickly dropped it in boiling water for a few minutes, then added it to the vodka and shrimp sauce, letting the noodles and sauce sit for a few minutes while Evie got the salad and garlic bread ready.

We decided to eat on the front porch, rather than the yard, afraid the lake flies would be a nuisance.  It was a good choice and easy as I just set up a cardtable, set it, and we already had the chairs, so within five minutes, we were out on the porch, enjoying our dinner, a glass of wine, and great conversation, mostly about both of our kids and our grandchildren, their travels to Maine.  Ellen follows my blog so she knew quite a bit about our grandchildren's visit in August.  For dessert, Ellen made cookies, so we finished off the wine with cookies, then went inside to wash up the dishes.  Then, we adjourned to the couch, so Ellen and Walt could 'ooh and ahh' as they admired the Shutterfly album Evie made of last summer's visit of our kids and grandchildren. It is an amazing photo book.  We actually got the idea of using Shutterfly from Ellen, as she made an albums for each of her kids, of their first twenty years. Neat.

Not sure what's up for the day.  We have the Woodlawn picnic in our yard from 5:00 to 7:00 and then we are going out for dinner at the Rod and Gun but that's about it.  The day is open...hope it clears up so we can go for a cruise.  If not we will have to go to Ryder's Cup because Walt is a coffee lover.  O, yea, perhaps stop at the Transfer Station, too.