5º And Overcast

7:00

It's 7:05, and Evie just came downstairs for coffee, so she will be going to school today. I was up at 5:45 and witnessed the miracle of dawn, beginning with headlights on a snowmobile around 6:00. At the moment, four tents are sitting out on the lake on this frigid morning. It's 9:20, and I just returned from breakfast in Bemus with the boys. Today, I  think I will drive up to Chautauqua Creek in Barcelona and hike out to Lake Erie. 

Thursday turned out to be a spectacular day, with lots of sun and blue skies. Unfortunately, I did not take advantage of it. I was up early, perused the newspapers, wrote the blog, and had breakfast, all by 8:30. I spent the rest of the morning deciding when to head to Erie for an appointment with my cardiologist. Should I leave at 1:00 for the 2:00 appointment, or leave at 12:15 and have lunch at the Turkish Bakery on Fifth Street? I chose the latter, so after a short walk around the neighborhood and spending some time reading, I left for Erie. I arrived at the bakery around 1:20 and ordered lentil soup and a börek with spinach and feta cheese. I wanted to be at the doctor's office around 1:50, so I thought I had plenty of time. After 15 minutes, I mentioned I was in a hurry and got the börek. Ten minutes later, I still had not gotten my soup, so I cancelled the order and bought a mille-feuille to take home to Evie. I left wondering how long it takes to ladle lentil soup into a bowl and serve it. I won't be back.

My appointment was a waste of time. Other than an EKG, I asked a few questions, and the PA had little to say other than that I seemed to be doing well. She had no idea if shoveling snow or hiking in sub-zero weather was dangerous. I guess not. I left under blue skies and stopped at Orton's Fruit Stand in North East and picked up a berry pie and chocolate milk for Evie. By the time I returned home at 3:00, I was tired, so I went upstairs to read but fell asleep for maybe 20 minutes, waking refreshed.

Blue Skies At 3:49

Looking For The Sweet Spot

We had our wine at 5:00, listened to CNN—creatures of habit—until it was time for dinner: Slovenian sausages and chips, easy and unhealthy but tasty. We decided to watch an old PBS series called Grantchester and watched two episodes before another episode of The Colbert Show. I ended the night with my new series, The Diplomat, and couldn't wait to get back to my book and sleep. The book is due in two days, so I'd better get going with it.

Trump was mentioned more than 38,000 times in the latest batch of the Epstein files released in late January/early February 2026, according to a New York Times review.

Gray And A Cold 6º

Something Fun Today: Son, Grandson, And Great Grandson

7:15

9:03

Wednesday Morning

It's 8:30, and light snow is falling. I'm listening to a Scott Galloway podcast while trying to read—an impossible combination. I'll need to choose one or the other. My day is wide open except for a 2:00 doctor's appointment in Erie.

7:15

Tuesday's Slower Pace

Tuesday unfolded differently because Evie stayed home with pink eye. After my usual early wake-up, I frittered away three hours on the computer before she got up and I finally got moving—publishing the blog, for instance.

I called my dentist about adjusting my new implant and managed to get a 10:15 appointment. By 9:45, I was on my way to Jamestown. Five minutes in the chair for a quick tooth trim, and I was done. On the way home, I stopped at my mechanic's to schedule a repair for the 12-volt charger in my Outback. Hopefully it's just a fuse—though I'm probably being overly optimistic about the cost.

Afternoon Reset

Home by noon, I heated up a chicken pot pie for lunch and started watching The Diplomat on Prime—the British version, not the Netflix series with Keri Russell. I'm enjoying it so far, though the moral lines stay pleasantly blurred. After my early start, I needed a solid nap before returning to The Island. I'm only halfway through, which surprised me.

Around 3:00, I'd had enough of sitting idle. I laced up my hiking boots, strapped on crampons, and headed into the neighborhood woods for a forty-minute trek. Much of it required trail-blazing through snow that swallowed my boots four or five inches deep, making balance precarious. Thank goodness for my poles. The temperature hovered in the 20s—perfect hiking weather. I came home across the lake, bushwhacking through six inches of snow covering the ice

Woodlawn/Victoria Woods

Victoria Path

Woodlawn

.Evening Routine

At 5:00, Evie joined her Zoom call with her sisters while I watched another episode of Doc. I'm not sure why I'm still watching—it's getting increasingly melodramatic. After her call, we shared our evening wine and half-listened to CNN until dinner: chili with saltines and an excellent salad. We sampled Untamed, a new series set in Yosemite, making it through two episodes despite neither of us being particularly impressed. I tried watching some NBA but grew tired of the isolation-heavy, pass-light style of play. I ended the night with another episode of The Diplomat instead.

Trump Fact:  Jeffrey Epstein quotation: "I have met some very bad people. None as bad as Trump. Not one decent cell in his body." from a private email exchange between Epstein and Larry Summers. 

18º And A Light Snow Falling

7:08

8:02

Early Birds

Fishing Tents In Red

It's just after 7:00, and for some reason, I was up early at 5:45 and couldn't get back to sleep. At the moment, the sky and lake are gray, and at least one tent is already out on the water. It's 9:15 and has been snowing for the past hour, with an accumulation of a couple of inches

Yesterday was a frustrating day for both of us. After coffee, the blog, and breakfast, I went out to try my new tire inflator on the Outback. Evie had a doctor's appointment for her pink eye in Westfield at 12:55, and I wanted to make sure the tires were properly inflated. I started on one tire, which supposedly needed three or four more pounds, but it took at least 10 minutes to get there. When I began inflating another tire, the inflator's battery died. Annoyed, I had to drive to Hogan's Hut and pay a buck to use their air inflator. I came home irritated, gathered all the packaging for the inflator, and prepared to send it back to Amazon. That was my morning, and I felt lousy and off for the rest of the day.

At least I had the car ready for Evie when she needed to leave. She left for her appointment at 12:15, only to find our road blocked by the sewer crew—she wouldn't be able to get through for half an hour. They were supposed to warn us, but never did. Our neighbors were trying to get to a doctor's appointment as well and had to cancel because of the blockage. Evie finally came home around 1:00, called the doctor's office, and was able to have a telehealth visit, and her doctor prescribed antibiotic drops for her eye. The crew had cleared the back road through the Pine Hill Cottages with a tractor, so Evie was able to get out and drive to Wegmans to pick up her prescription. She returned home at 2:30, exhausted and frustrated—just like me that morning.

We did nothing the rest of the afternoon. I napped, Evie watched TV, and once I woke, I spent the afternoon reading a book, The Island. At 5:00, I had a Zoom call with Schwab representatives who explained the value of having a Schwab advisor for my portfolio. I'll have to decide whether it's worth the money. The call lasted over half an hour, and once it ended, I was happy to enjoy a glass of wine with Evie before dinner. Dinner was easy: leftover spaghetti and meatballs. We watched a couple of HGTV shows and Colbert to finish the evening.

Snow Moon Rising

Moon Rising At 6:43 PM

6:58 AM

7:43 AM

It’s 7:45, and the sun is at its peak, flooding our living room and the lake with light. I’ve been up since 6:30, now on my second cup of coffee, on an 8° morning. A few fishing huts were already out on the ice when I woke. I was also surprised at the lack of birds at the feeder early on, but now, at 8:30, sparrows and finches abound. Finally, I can't believe it is already February. Where did January go? 

Sunday was a glorious day, with sunshine and blue skies for most of it, capped by a spectacular moon rising at dusk and well into the evening. I actually slept in until 7:45—a miracle—and, because it was Sunday, enjoyed a leisurely morning coffee (like every other day, actually). For some reason, Sundays feel different. What was truly different this time, however, was the absence of NFL football after 17 straight weeks of Sundays.

Dad Fishing, Daughter Playing In The Snow

Once Evie was up, we listened to CNN. There’s a depressing sameness to much of what they cover, although Fareed Zakaria seems to be an exception. After the blog and breakfast, I wanted to get in a walk despite the single-digit temperature. I decided on the Chautauqua Institution, thinking it would be at its winter best—snow-covered and quiet. And it was. I took numerous photos of the grounds and encountered only one other person out walking. It was cold but manageable, except when I turned into the westerly wind.

Thunder Bridge

Bike In Winter

Classic Church

Afterward, I drove to Mayville to see what was going on. Snowmobiles were everywhere—parked or zooming along the trails—and the lake was dotted with at least fifty fishing tents. I talked with one guy who had just come in; he didn’t have much luck. He was one of those fellows who sat on an orange bucket and mocked the “wimps” with tents, generators, and even TVs. It was good to see Mayville bustling. I remember two years ago, when there was hardly any snow, and the snowmobiles had only a single weekend on the trails all winter.

Mayville Fishing Huts

Man And His Bucket

Parked Snowmobiles

Snowmobile And Fishermen Trails

When I got home, I read for a while and then heated up leftovers from Saturday night’s dinner. That’s when I finally realized they’d given me the wrong meal. I’m still not sure what I had, but it definitely wasn’t pasta with asparagus, chicken, and tomatoes—there was no chicken or asparagus in sight. When the waiter set it down, I asked if it was what I’d ordered, and he said yes, so I assumed it was. It tasted fine, so I didn’t complain or even think about it until lunch the next day.

After eating, I read some more and then, to my surprise, took a solid hour-long nap, waking up a bit groggy. I considered going for another walk but opted to read instead and wait for wine time at 5:00. We had chips and dip before dinner and were stunned by the spectacular moon rising around 5:45. I kept stepping out onto the porch to take just one more photo—it was that wild.

Dusk

Moon Rising Over Long Point

For dinner, we had Evie’s chili with cornbread. Yum. We watched the Grammys, and I have to admit I’m beginning to feel like my parents did when they couldn’t understand rock and roll. Aside from Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish, much of the music was unfamiliar—especially rapper Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny. All I really know is that they’ve won numerous Grammys, and that Bad Bunny was a controversial choice for the Super Bowl. After an hour, we’d had enough; the commercials seemed interminable, longer than the awards themselves. I was happy to switch back to the NBA before bed.

Snow Moon

8:13 PM Moon Light

More Of The Same: Cold And Overcast

Da Boys, Our Great Grandsons Tommy and Rhys

7:18

8:01

It's 8:43 as I start this, and I've been up since 7:00, reading both the Times and the Post, getting my fill of politics—especially articles about Trump. Has anyone ever dominated the news like him? Anyway, it's cold: 4º now, possibly reaching 15º later. We have nothing scheduled for the day, just enjoying being home, I guess. And no football! I did try something different this morning—making coffee in a Yeti French press. Once brewed, it keeps the coffee hot for hours. So far, so good. I also filled the bird feeder, something I usually do every other day.

Saturdays don't change much, especially in winter, especially on frigid days like yesterday. I think I slept in some, so I had a couple of hours of quiet solitude before Evie woke around 8:45. Once she was up, I finished writing the blog while she went through the photos, deciding which to include. After that, I added the photos, let her proofread, then published it—our normal morning routine. Oh, yeah, I usually ask ChatGPT or Claude to proofread and polish my text. Cheating, I know, for a former English teacher.

We're never in a hurry on Saturdays—no yoga or kindergarten—but by 10:45, we'd gathered the trash, cleaned out the fridge, and I was on my way to the Transfer Station. There's a certain pleasure in this weekly task: getting rid of the trash and starting fresh, filling plastic bags throughout the week, knowing I'll get rid of them again next Saturday.

Afternoon On The Lake

Lunch was the last of Evie's curry soup and a couple of pieces of toast smothered with peanut butter and jelly. I watched some TV—probably college basketball—then grabbed my book, The Island, a historical novel about lepers on an island off the coast of Plaka, Crete. The island, called Spinalonga, served as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. After my nap, I went for a 20-minute walk in the neighborhood, getting some fresh air, and then I watched more basketball, a game between Kentucky and Arkansas. 

Working On Our Getting Sewers Installed

By 5:45, Evie had showered, and we were both ready to drive up the hill to Truffle Honey, a restaurant literally at the top of our hill that we'd never been to—not sure why. It used to be a bookstore, then a cheese shop, so it's strangely configured: a long, narrow dining room with a nook at the end. We had reservations with Linda and Ron, though it wasn't very crowded. The hit of the evening was our appetizer of truffle fries, along with wine (expensive) and draft beers. Three of us left with doggy bags, and our meals were decent, if not great. The highlight was Linda regaling us with her story of getting stuck in her car on a snowmobile trail. I won't go into details, but we had a good laugh. We were home by 8:30 and relaxed in front of the tv.

Warming Up To 1º

7:18

Long Point

Fishing Huts On Warner Bay

Another extremely cold morning, and light snow is falling—the beginning of a Chautauqua weekend. I slept in until 7:00, so I have only been up for a little over an hour. It was strange to come downstairs and find it already light out, not the usual darkness when I wake at 6:00. It's after 9:00 and I count at least 9 fishing huts out on the lake. 

Friday was a long day for both of us. I was up early and tried to fill the morning with the usual: reading a couple of newspapers (depressing), taking morning photos, and writing the blog. Then, deciding on what to have for breakfast—the usual yogurt with good stuff, or just a banana. All that was finished by 9:15, and I had the rest of the morning to fill until 12:30, when I was going to drive to Jamestown for my friend Paul's visitation at Lind's Funeral Home. So I read, finishing my book, Theo of Golden, and started a new one, recommended by my granddaughter Marisa, Listen for a Lie, only to discover after starting it that I had already read it a few years ago. Idiot. So I downloaded another book, The Island, set in Crete, in which a young woman visits and discovers her family's past, including a leper colony. I showered around 11:00, put on a good pair of pants, a button-down shirt, a tie, and a sweater, and had lunch: Evie's soup and pizza on pita bread. Evie had a busy morning, making a large pot of chili, then putting together our dinner of pasta and meatballs.

I arrived at the funeral home at 1:00, and a few visitors were already there. I was able to visit with a couple of Paul's relatives before spending time with his wife, Ellen, whom I had gotten to know over the past year or two. When I left, there was a long line of visitors, so it was a good thing I went early. 

Ellen And Paul At Ryders Cup In November

I stopped at Farm Fresh Foods and picked up donuts—their specialty sourdough glazed. I was home by 2:00, tired from my drive to Jamestown. I grabbed my Kindle, went upstairs, and read, then napped briefly. After a busy morning, Evie was happy to spend most of the afternoon relaxing.  When I came downstairs from my nap, I was tempted to go out for a walk but was too lazy. This weather is getting in the way of my hiking because it's too cold to be out hiking safely for any period of time. So I sit in the house, often bored, wishing I could hike Long Point or Webb's Trail.

Anyway, we enjoyed our wine time at 5:00, listening to the never-ending bad news. By 6:30, we were enjoying our pasta and meatballs and watching another episode of The Pitt. We are still not fans. We were looking forward to Colbert having Bad Bunny on his show, but it was not so much an interview as Stephen asking him a series of questions, supposedly helping us to get to know him. He asks the same questions of just about any famous person who comes on his show. 

Spotlight On Yard At 6:30

Evie went to bed around 8:30, and I watched some basketball, then happened upon a series from 2017 called The Good Doctor. It's about a brilliant young doctor who suffers from autism. It's melodramatic, cheesy and soap opera-like, but I watched it and may continue. My motto: crappy but cheap.

Trump's Unprecedented Lawsuits: 

"The president is demanding that the federal government pay him at least $10 billion over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns during his first term."

"President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department pay him about $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him."

If he wins, guess who pays: US taxpayers. 

Guess who decides if we pay: The Sycophants he nominated to head the IRS and Justice Department. 

Sun, Blue Skies, And Minus Seven Degrees

 

December 15th Snowfall

January 9th's Big Melt

7:05

7:46

7:50

7:50

7:50

It's 7:53, and I've been up since 6:15. At first, the sky was utterly dark, then dark gray, then light blue, and now bright sunshine—so bright I've had to move to another seat. I just filled the bird feeder, creating a frenzy as sparrows and finches alight and take off. Not much on the agenda today, other than paying respects to my friend Paul's family at Lind's Funeral Home this afternoon.

Yesterday was busy for both of us. I was up at 6:00, knowing I'd need to leave for yoga at 9:40. Getting up at 6:00 seemingly gave me plenty of time to get ready, read the newspapers, write the blog, take photos, shovel the driveway, and go to breakfast in Bemus Point at 8:00. But it never feels like enough time.

Blue Skies At Noon

I left for yoga at 9:40, and class was crowded. The asanas or poses are never rigorous in Yin Yoga, though I always seem to end class with a backache. Once I stand and walk, it goes away, so it's worth going. After class, I stopped for gas, making sure the tank stays at least half full in cold weather. I was home by noon, had Evie's chicken curry and pasta soup for lunch, and watched my show. By 1:00, I was on my way to the dentist to get my new implant—a process that's taken close to six months. I was in the chair for nearly an hour as they worked on the implant, making sure it wasn't too tight. Once I was done, I tried to find a bakery mentioned in the paper, Tilaro's on Willard Street, but couldn't locate it despite having the address.

On my way home, I stopped at Aldi and Evans before arriving around 3:00—a long day. Evie was home, regaling me with stories. The best was when the kids realized their teacher wasn't in class, so they all got up and ran to hug Evie. They'd been told not to do this when Evie first arrived, but yesterday was the exception. 

Dusk Begins

We had our usual wine time until 6:15, and because neither of us was very hungry after munching on chips, pretzels, and dip, Evie reheated the fried potatoes, topped them with eggs, toasted a couple of bagels, and we had breakfast for dinner. Yum. We watched Colbert and a couple of HGTV shows before Evie went up to bed. I then watched another episode of The Night Manager before heading up to read and sleep.