Sunny And Warm

6:22

7:34

Morning Moon

It's 7:35 and I just returned from a 55-minute paddle, on a practically empty lake,. I was able to shoot a couple of herons and, I think, two eagles. This morning, I have a nine o'clock appointment for my Outback at Finns, in Niobe, about a 25-minute drive.

6:33

Kayak Morning

North

First Eagle

Great Blue

Heron On A Dock

Another Eagle

Sunday was a day of rest so we took full advantage of it. I paddled for an hour, then returned and enjoyed coffee time with Evie as we finished the blog and I had my breakfast. I was ansty and wanted to do something, and Evie was happy with my not bothering her, so I  drove to Lakewood and had coffee with friends, John, Neal, and his wife. As we were talking, Neal mentioned that his son had just won the National Walleye Tournament in Dunkirk, New York. His prize was sixteen thousand dollars and a ninety-thousand-dollar bass boat. Clearly, they were proud parents, and I was shocked at the prize, wondering where all the money came from, probably sponsors like Cabella and Bass Pro Shops. After coffee, I vacuumed my car and got it washed before driving home. Evie was already out on the dock, enjoying some sun and reading. 

She briefly returned around 1:00 and made me a bagel with tomatoes and avocados. I watched my show and then read some and briefly napped. When I woke, I set up the watering system, bringing water from the lake to our yard and trees. I then joined Evie briefly on the dock, but we had enough sun and moved to the side yard, sitting in the shade of our Tulip tree, where it was more comfortable.  

Around 6:00, Evie put together a taco salad with ground beef, lettuce, avocados, tomatoes, and Chulula sauce. It was just what we wanted, and I had two helpings. We watched a couple more episodes of Season Five of The Resident until 8:30 when Evie went up to bed, and I watched another episode of First Unit. After watching an episode, I went up to bed and read before falling asleep.

Sturgeon Moon

An Empty Place

7:29

It's 9:00 and I paddled for close to an hour, starting around 7:35. I was able to shoot a couple of herons and an osprey. And it's strange to have an empty, quiet house after this past week with Evie's sisters. It always takes us a couple of days to become comfortable with our old routine, without family. I usually listen to a podcast while kayaking, and one of the commentators brought up the question of what Stephen Colbert will be doing after his show ends. They mentioned his running for Senate or even becoming a presidential candidate. It's a radical idea, having someone so smart, articulate, and knowledgeable running for President, the antithesis of Trump. I love the idea.

Kayak Morning

Eastern Sky

Heron Along Woodlawn

Same Area But in The Trees

Osprey

Sandy Bottom Heron

Yesterday was a sad day, especially a depressing morning, as the six of us sat quietly in the living room, sipping coffee, waiting for 10:00 when Evie's sisters were leaving for the Buffalo Airport. We hugged, said our goodbyes, and promised to see each other sooner rather than later. Once they were on their way, to fill the void, we spent the next half hour, changing sheets, washing and drying, and putting the house back in some order. We always do this after the family leaves, as if it gives us some solace for their having left. After that brief flourish of activity, we collapsed and did little if anything the rest of the day. 

For Evie, she went out on the dock, opened a chaise lounge, and read much of the afternoon under the umbrella, cooled by a nice breeze. I spent most of my time in the house reading, having lunch of leftover corn chowder and a hot dog, and finishing my series, Cape Town. I took a half-hour nap, woke groggy, and gradually got some energy back, enough to join Evie on the dock. Around 5:00, I took a shower to wake up, and Evie put together an appetizer, guacamole, and our dinner, peameal bacon and egg sandwiches on brioche buns. 

We then sat on the empty front porch, with our appetizer and a Manhattan, and talked about the fun we had with Evie's sisters during the past five days. While we were on the porch, it began to cool off so we didn't need the fan. Dinner was easy, just heat up the sandwiches. We watched another episode of The Resident before Evie went to bed. I started a new series from Denmark, called Unit One, and so far I like it. 

Sturgeon Moon Hanging Over A Southeasterly Sky  At 9:28

Not A Happy Day

6:33

Sun Rising Over Long Point

It's 7:36 and I just returned from a 35-minute paddle. Henry and I are up, but I can hear stirring upstairs because the gang, alas,  will be heading home this morning, leaving at 10:00 for the Buffalo Airport.

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

Heron On Boat Cover

In The Woods

Yesterday was another perfect August day, lots of sun and not too warm. My day started as usual with a paddle, then coffee as one sister after another woke and came downstairs for coffee. We sat around talking, figuring out our day until 10:45 when Henry and I drove off to Lake Erie, and the sisters drove to Lakewood for a walk through our Wegmans grocery store.

Trail To Lake Erie

Mouth of Chautauqua Creek

Lake Erie

Bros

Henry and I drove the backway to the parking lot, where we walked along Chautauqua Creek out to Lake Erie. The drive is neat because we have a view of Lake Erie and vast fields of grapes before we get to our parking area. The walk out to the lake is short, less than a quarter of a mile. It was a beautiful day on the beach and I wish I had brought my bathing suit because the water looked so inviting. After walking back to the car, we stopped at Jack's Barcelona Drive-In, sat outside, and had great perch sandwiches with curly fries. Henry loved the sandwich. On the way home, we stopped at Portage Pie in Westfield and came home with a blueberry pie for dinner. 

2016

The Petkovsek Sisters: Jean, Claire, Evie, Elaine: 2025

We didn't get back until 1:45, and the girls were having lunch, the corn chowder or lentil soup, and sandwiches. I was tired and tried to take a nap to no avail. When I came downstairs, the sisters were playing Scrabble on the dining room table. Around 4:00, Henry and I took the boat out and cruised the east side of the lake to the Viking Club, then crossed the lake to the CI and cruised home on the west side. Evie's sister, Elaine, is a swimmer and wanted to swim across the lake. We settled on her swimming for 15 minutes out, and 15 minutes back as I followed her in a kayak. It took a little over half an hour, and she swam probably a half mile. 

Elaine Stroking

Loving The Water

When we returned, it was happy hour, and we sat on the front porch talking and laughing until after 7:00. We then got dinner ready. Henry and I grilled the juicy lucys and hot dogs, and the girls steamed the corn and put together the condiments for the burgers and dogs. 

Ready To Grill

Dinner

Once again, we were able to sit outside and enjoy dinner as the sky began to darken. We ended up in the living room, having blueberry pie and ice cream around the dining room table about 9:15, and then most went up to bed. I closed up the downstairs around 10:00 and went up to bed.

Sturgeon Moon

A Four Osprey Sighting Morning

Osprey

Happy Birthday To Our Neighbor, Missy

8:49

It's 8:56 and I was out on a bright, sunny 64º morning for 50 minutes, down to Sandy Bottom and back. A few boats were out, including one kayak, which was following someone swimming across the lake from Victoria to Long Point. 

Kayak Morning

Osprey # 2

A Male Merganser

A Bevy Of Mergansers

Osprey # 3

Three Ospreys

Yesterday was another day in full, as we made the most of Evie's sister's stay here at the lake. I got in my usual paddle on the lake before most of the crew was up. Again, no formal breakfast, just grab what you want because we were having a big lunch. Evie's sister Elaine, was up before me and went out for a walk around the neighborhood. By 10:30, we were coffeed out and three of us decided to walk Webb's Trail in Mayville. So we parked in Mayville Park and walked the trail, basically a mile out and a mile back, following what used to be a train track and is now part of Rails to Trails. On the way home, we stopped at the Lighthouse Grocery to pick up tonight's dinner, ground chuck for burgers.  

Hiking Webbs Trail

We were home by 11:45, relaxed until 12:30, when all six of us drove to the Ashville Country Store for lunch. It's a great store, deli, and luncheon spot, and probably has not changed in the past 30 years. Everyone loved their lunch, from soup, to fries, to salad, to my brother-in-law's favorite, The Eyetalian sandwich. 

At The Ashville Country Store

Lunch

We didn't get home until close to 2:00 and then the group either sat on the porch, enjoying the afternoon, or like me took a nap By 4:30, I was ready to do something so four of us jumped in the boat and went for an hour boat ride, over to Bemus, crusing along the shore, up the lake to Magnolia and home. Despite the wind, it was a pleasant cruise. 

Sister Claire, Porching It

It was perfect timing because we returned at 5:00, time for cocktails and or wine. We sat out on the porch until 6:30, then made a salad and pulled the baked ziti out of the oven for dinner. Once again, we ate outside on a pleasant night, and dinner was the best: Evie's famous baked ziti and a salad. Once dinner was over, we sat on the porch until it got dark, around 9:00, and slowly, the group went up to bed after a full day. I was the last one up again and joined them at 10:00. 

Night Time

Full Moon