Partly Cloudy But A Righteous Sky

Our Favorite No Kings Protestor

7:11

8:04

8:32

It's 8:20, and I've been up since 7:00. I came downstairs with no plans to kayak, but the lake was so inviting that I was out paddling by 7:20 — thirty-five minutes down to Sandy Bottom and back. The sky has been amazing once again, filled with vast clouds and the sun doing its best to break through.

Kayak Morning

South

Northern Sky

A Bevy Of Buffleheads

Sunday turned out to be a decent day, though temperatures lingered in the 30s through the morning before climbing into the 40s by afternoon. I got in a good paddle and was in no hurry to return. Back inside, I wrote the blog and relaxed until around 10:00, when we finally published it. Since it was Sunday, I usually make the walk to the Chautauqua Institution — so why break tradition? I walked for over an hour, but instead of strolling the streets lined with Victorian homes and their welcoming front porches, I took the lakefront path this time — past the bell tower, then back along the brick walk to Thunder Bridge and my car.

Thunder Bridge

Lake Front

Bell Tower

The Atheneum 

Walking Along A Ravine

Home again, I settled in with Evie, listening to CNN cycle through its news loop every three hours until it was time for breakfast. I had a hankering for pancakes, so out came the griddle, and Evie made a batch of  buttermilk pancakes. I love them — ate a couple of stacks with butter and maple syrup while watching the first half of UConn women take on Notre Dame. By 1:30, I was ready to read and nap. It was Sunday, a day of leisure, and neither of us got much accomplished. I'd been looking forward to the UConn–Duke game at 5:00. I caught the first half while Evie made dinner — Wiener Schnitzel with applesauce, broccoli, and baked potatoes. Wonderful. With maybe ten minutes left and Duke ahead, we paused the game to watch the final two episodes of Season Two of Landman.  My sister Ellen had predicted we'd love it, and she was right. It took us a little while to get hooked, but now we're hoping for a Season Three.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of scrolling through my phone and saw that Duke had lost. So when I went back to watch those final ten minutes, I already knew UConn had pulled off a stunning comeback — down 19 points at halftime. Even knowing the outcome, it was thrilling to watch. I still couldn't quite see how they'd managed it, but they did, on a 40-foot three-pointer by freshman Braylon Mullins, Indiana's High School Player of the Year. Poor Duke — they also lost last year after what looked like a commanding lead.

After the game, I watched another episode of Detective Hole, then headed up to bed.

No King's Protest Saturday

All In The Family

7:39

8:03

9:18

I'm starting later than usual today — I slept in until 7:30, had my coffee, and didn't push off for my paddle until 8:15. It was a lovely 50-minute kayak down to Bootey Bay. The wind is picking up now, so the timing worked out well.

Kayak Morning

Into The Sun

Looking South

Yesterday was a full and satisfying day. It began with a good morning paddle, and when I returned, I made breakfast and finished up the blog. By 10:00, I had gathered the trash and driven to the Transfer Station. At 10:40, we headed out with our neighbors, Barb and Jim, to the No Kings Protest at Jamestown's Dow Park — our third rally, and the best-attended yet. The energy was high, the signs were creative, and the outfits were imaginative. Our neighbors Joe and Betsy met us there, and the six of us enjoyed the cold morning together, listening to the speakers and joining in the songs. I ran into a couple of my yoga friends and several others from the area. Most of the crowd lined the sides of the street, cheering for honks from passing cars. The rally started at 11:00, and we left around 12:15, nudged out mostly by the cold. By the way, Donald, we are still waiting for our checks for attending from George Soros. 

Typical Street

Woodlawn Gang

Yep 

Some Of The Protesters 

Back home, I heated up leftover pizza for Evie and me, then watched another episode of Detective Hole. Having just finished The Terminal Man, I started a new thriller, Guess Again, and I'm enjoying it so far. Around 2:00, I took a brief nap, talked with my sister Ellen, who is flying to Paris for a week with her daughters' family. 

Ellen And Our Family in Paris, 1974?

I then happily read for most of the afternoon. At 4:45, Evie gave me a much-needed haircut, after which I showered and got ready for dining out.

We picked up Ron and Linda at 5:40 and drove to Westfield to Brazil's — probably our favorite restaurant in the area. Linda had called ahead, and we had four reserved seats at the bar on a bustling Saturday night. Brendan, the bartender we've gotten to know, promptly brought our drinks and menus, and we had a great time chatting with a couple seated nearby. Everyone enjoyed their dinners. For the first time, I ordered a steak. When it arrived, the server mentioned it might be a bit overdone and offered to grill another — I agreed. Ten minutes later, I was happily working through a strip steak with vegetables and mashed potatoes.

We said our goodbyes to Brendan and another couple we'd befriended at the bar, then left at 8:15. After dropping Ron and Linda off, we were home by 8:30. Evie headed up to bed soon after.  I settled in to watch most of Arizona's win over Purdue — a trip to the Final Four. I went up at 10:45, read for a bit, then turned off the light and hoped sleep would come quickly.

A Cold, And Bright Shiny Morning

7:46

9:06

It's 7:45, the sun is flooding both the lake and our living room with light, and I'll need to move to another chair in a few minutes. It's 20° out with little to no wind, so I think I'll go for a paddle. Now it's 8:00 — I've finished the first draft of the blog, so out I go. It's 9:30 as I finish this after a 50-minute paddle down to Wells Bay and back. Of course, the wind picked up on my paddle back. Fortunately, I had on four layers and wore mittens, keeping me warm. It's not as much fun this time of the year because there's a lack of birds, no ospreys, herons, or eagles yet.

Kayak Morning

South To Wells Bay

Heading Back To Woodlawn

Northern Sky

Buffleheads  Cruise

Buffleheads Take Off

Woodlawn

Friday was not the best of days. I was up at my usual time, wrote the blog, had breakfast, and by 9:15 was on my way to pickleball. I should have stayed home — my play was abysmal. I should have left after the first game, but I stayed for more punishment. Oh well, at least I got some exercise, which is a fine way to rationalize the whole thing. I stopped for gas on the way home: $3.85 a gallon, and I imagine it'll keep climbing.

I was home by 11:45. Evie was upstairs culling her closet, and I wasn't ready for lunch yet, so I read until 12:30, then enjoyed the last of the chicken, mushrooms, and artichokes. I've started a new series called Detective Hole, based on the Joe Nesbo books, many of which I've read. So far, so good. Afterward, I went upstairs to read and promptly fell asleep — despite one assassination after another in The Terminal List (all deserved, I might add). The rest of the afternoon was leisurely: reading and lounging, until around 3:30 when the sun came out and I went for a walk through the neighborhood's front yards, photographing some buffleheads with my camera as they clustered along the lake wall. It was good to be outside in the fresh air.

Late Afternoon Sky

Woodlawn Creek

Around 4:30, I called the Asheville Country Store, ordered a large pepperoni pizza, and drove the six miles to pick it up by 5:00. When I got back, we were both hungry, and by 5:30, we were settled in front of the TV with pizza and a salad, watching a couple more episodes of Landman and then The Pitt. Evie headed up to bed after that. I caught the second half of the Duke/St. John's game, decided I'd had enough basketball, and watched another episode of Detective Hole before finally calling it a night.

 “I built this great military,”  I said, you’ll never have to use it. But sometimes you have to use it. And Cuba is next, by the way. But pretend I didn’t say that. Pretend I didn’t. Please, please, please, media, please disregard that statement. Thank you very much. Cuba’s next.”

Windy And Cold, Again

7:09

8:28

Windy Morning

It's 8:15, and I've been up for over an hour watching the sky lighten — the flag snapping in the wind, the lake ruffled and restless. Right now, both the sky and the water are a flat gray, though the sun may break through later. I checked the rain gauge this morning (a frozen 24°) and found we'd gotten an inch and a half overnight.

Yesterday was a weather-wild day. The morning, though, was sunny and delightful — I got in a paddle and took some great photos. We were both up early, Evie for school and me for yoga. Class was the usual: crowded and seemingly endless. Afterward, I made a quick pass through Walmart and left with little to show for it — just 20-pound fishing line to string along the lawn and keep the geese away.

I was home just after noon, hungry, so I heated up leftover chicken, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts and settled in for another episode of my Romanian series. The sun was still out when I decided to nap. I woke to thunder and lightning. Downstairs, Evie was already home from school. It rained, then stopped, and as the afternoon wore on, a heavy fog rolled in and swallowed much of the shoreline. The view during wine time was so striking, I grabbed the camera.

Long Point

Choppy Waters

Wind And Rain And Long Point

Dinner was Greek feta-and-turkey burgers from Wegmans, with French fries. We watched Landman as the wind picked up and rain hammered the roof. Evie turned in after a couple of episodes, and I finished my series before catching the end of Purdue's win over Texas.

A Spectacular Morning Sunrise

8:15

It's 8:20, and I've been up since 7:00 — out paddling by 7:20 for 45 minutes on a placid, empty lake, save for the ducks and geese. I was excited to hear the cry of a solitary loon, a first this spring. 

Kayak Morning

Sun Rising At 7:23

Looking South Towards Sandy Bottom

North Towards Woodlawn

Turkey Vultures Are Back

Wow

Common Mergansers

Wednesday was another pickleball day. I was up around 7:30, read, wrote the blog, and had breakfast before heading out by 9:15. I'm never quite certain I'll go until the last minute, and then finally think, why not. I played a bit better, though I had some spectacular whiffs. I also realized that the real trick to winning is having a good partner — one who covers for your mistakes. It was nice to linger afterward and talk with a number of the players; a good group, and getting to know them better was a bonus.

I was home by 11:30, earlier than usual. Evie was having a leisurely morning — much needed after a day of kindergarten. I made an easy lunch of the leftover eggplant pasta and watched another episode of my Romanian thriller. I'm also into my new book, The Terminal List, despite having seen the film. After a decent nap, I came down to read for a while, noticed the lake had settled, and headed out for an afternoon paddle despite the overcast sky — down to Sandy Bottom and back.

Kayak Afternoon

Buffleheads

I returned in time for happy hour, and while I'd been out on the lake enjoying myself, Evie had been in the kitchen putting together dinner: chicken with mushrooms and artichokes. It's one of our favorites — a dish we started making back in Honolulu in the 1960s. We enjoyed it over rice and watched a couple of episodes of Landman, which we're warming up to, especially the episode set around a funeral in the Panhandle. After Evie went to bed, I caught an episode of my show, watched some basketball, then headed up early to read and sleep.

 “They say if you use the word war, that’s maybe not a good thing to do. They don’t like the word war because you’re supposed to get approval. So I’ll use the word military operation, which is really what it is. It’s called a military decimation.” DJT