Top Of The Morning

6:44

6:44

8:47

So far, it's been a stellar morning — lots of sun, clouds, birds, and a light wind on the lake. I was up at 6:30 and was out on the lake just as the sun was rising. I paddled over to Long Point, then to Tom's Point and home, and was out for an hour and twenty minutes. It's 8:55 as I start the blog, and Evie's up, enjoying her morning coffee. I'm not sure what the day will bring. I listened to a geriatric doctor talk about how important it is to exercise every day. I wonder if kayaking counts, because I don't feel like biking or hiking.

Kayak Morning At 6:59

Sun Rising Over Long Point

Like A Blake Painting

Into  Clouds And Sun

Bridge

Juvenile Northern Goshawk

Heron Morning

Dad And Daughter

Osprey

Same guy

Friday began with a good paddle, as usual, and I took some amazing morning sky photos along with a few shots of eagles. When I returned, I made breakfast, wrote the blog, and then thought about what I wanted to do, if anything. I finally decided on a 25-minute drive to Westfield, then biked around the area's grape vineyards, something I've done before. I took the long way, along Hardscrabble Road, then Rt 20 to Prospect Road, and parked in my usual spot at a tractor sales lot. Unfortunately, I lost my mojo and didn't feel much like biking, so I was out for only a half hour, riding into just one of the fields. After biking, I drove into Barcelona, stopped briefly at the harbor, then at the beach, before buying three frozen walleye fillets for our dinner.

Vineyard As Far As Eye Can See

A Bit Tart Concord Grape

Beach Next To Barcelona Harbor

Deadwood On Lake Erie

I was home by noon and just wanted to lie down for a while, so I went upstairs, read, and fell asleep briefly before coming back down. Evie knew I was feeling lousy, so she made me a great lunch — egg and cheese sandwiches on English muffins. I watched the final episode of Season Three of Goliath, then went back up to read and nap. I came downstairs around 2:30 and felt better after napping. I thought about doing something, then thought better of it, so both of us just sat around waiting for wine time. By 5:00, the walleye fillets were breaded, tartar sauce made, and potatoes scrubbed and in the oven. We sat out on our front porch until 6:30, when Evie baked the walleye fillets and pulled the potatoes out. We loved our dinner — fish and potatoes — and watched another episode or two of ER. I finished the night with some tennis, watching Serena and Venus play doubles, then another episode of Goliath.

Parly Cloudy And Occasional Sun

6:20

8:04

Majestic Bald Eagle

It's 8:15, and I just returned from an hour-long paddle over to Long Point, across to Sandy Bottom, and back home. I was up at 6:15 but didn't get out on the lake until 6:50 because it was still too dark. When I started, the sky was filled with cloud banks, but once I got beyond Long Point, the sun occasionally broke through, lighting up the lake and shoreline.

Kayak Morning

Western Sky

The Sun

Eagle High In Trees Of Long Point

Heron

Finally, An Osprey

Heron On Neighbors Dock

Yesterday was a tiring day for both of us. I was up early and kayaking by 6:20 because I wanted to get in a paddle before driving to Bemus for breakfast at 8:00. Breakfast was surprisingly crowded and loud, so we left early. When I got home, Evie was up, and we worked on the blog and published it before I left for Yin Yoga at 9:40. Tara, our teacher, saved me a spot since class was so crowded. I was on my way home by 11:20, relieved, because I was really tired. Evie was busy cleaning out the refrigerator, so the kitchen was a mess. She was taking a time-out, and I joined her, hoping she'd volunteer to make my lunch. She did, and I was happy to have soup and a couple of tomato-and-salami sandwiches. I couldn't wait to go upstairs and read and nap; I was so tired, and hoped the nap would leave me with enough energy to mow the lawn.

After my nap, I relaxed and read until 4:00, then had enough energy to start on the yard. I took a couple of water breaks and worked up quite a sweat; it was so humid. It took about 45 minutes, breaks included. Once I was done, I cooled off with a quick shower and felt much better for it.

By the time I came downstairs, it was time for a glass of wine and to enjoy what we'd accomplished during the day. Evie had been busy in the kitchen and, by 5:00, had a meatloaf in the oven for dinner. By 6:30, we were enjoying meatloaf with ketchup, of course, mashed potatoes, and a salad. We watched TV the rest of the evening, our usual shows, and both looked forward to bed.

Late Evening Thunder And Lightning

6:10

6:24

7:38

It's 6:28 and I am waiting for it to get a bit lighter before I kayak. The sky is gorgeous, mostly heavy clouds with a vast streak of light over the eastern shore. Late last night, it rained an inch, but the thunder and lightning were amazing.

Kayak Morning

South

North

Looking Towards Woodlawn

North

Some Blue

Great Blue Heron

Same Guy

Yesterday began with a whimper because it rained much of the morning so I never got out for a paddle. It was strange to sit in my living room for a couple of early-morning hours without getting out on the lake. Evie and I listened to the radio, wrote the blog, and got ready to do something. Evie had an appointment with a hearing aid specialist in Falconer, and I made up a reason to go into Lakewood to pick up prescriptions at Wegmans. Evie left at 10:00, and I didn't leave until 10:30 because I wanted to get a few things done around the house. Fortunately, when I stopped at Ryder's Cup, three of my friends were sitting on the front porch and I was able to pull up a chair and talk with them for a good half hour. They are all retired like me and have nothing better to do in the morning than get a coffee.

The Regulars 

After coffee, I stopped at Ollie's, a store that discounts just about anything, to check on prices for coffee pods for a Keurig but left without getting anything. I wanted to see what the mall looked like, so I walked through the Samurai restaurant, still open, and walked down the practically empty mall, with only one or two stores left. Sad making. I then drove to Wegmans, picked up my prescription and a few other things, and drove home, pulling into our park area just as Evie returned from her appointment.

She was frustrated because they were unable to help her adjust her hearing aids and told her they weren't what she needed, but they had a pair that would fit her for 4500 bucks. I had a chicken pot pie for lunch, easy, and watched a show. Then I read and napped, and neither of us did much the rest of the afternoon. Around 4:30, however, Evie put together our dinner: salmon, spinach, and rice. We then had a glass or two of wine, and when we were hungry, dinner was already done. It hit the spot, as my Mom used to say, and we watched a couple of shows. 

Stormy Weather

Last Night's Lightning at 10:30

Around 10:30, I sat out on our front porch for a half hour and watched the lightning light up the sky every five seconds. It was amazing to watch as well as hear, the occasional thunder and rain hitting the roof. I finally went to bed at 11:00, and it was still lighting up the sky.

As of September 2, 2026, CBS News identifies at least 20 senior military and civilian defense leaders who have been fired, forced out, or departed since former Fox News Host Pete Hegseth became defense secretary.

Senior military leaders

Leader	Position	What happened
Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.	Chairman, Joint Chiefs	Fired by Trump in Feb. 2025
Adm. Lisa Franchetti	Chief of Naval Operations	Relieved by Hegseth Feb. 2025
Gen. James Slife	Air Force Vice Chief	Pushed out by Hegseth Feb. 2025
Gen. Timothy Haugh	NSA Director/CYBERCOM commander	Fired Apr. 2025
Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse	Defense Intelligence Agency director	Ousted Aug. 2025
Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield	U.S. representative to NATO Military Committee	Relieved Apr. 2025
Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore	Navy Reserve chief	Relieved Aug. 2025
Rear Adm. Milton Sands	Naval Special Warfare commander	Relieved Aug. 2025
Gen. David Hodne	Army Transformation & Training commander	Removed Apr. 2026
Maj. Gen. William Green	Army chief of Chaplains	Removed Apr. 2026
Gen. Randy George	Army Chief of Staff	Asked to retire immediately Apr. 2026
Gen. James Mingus	Army Vice Chief of Staff	Forced into early retirement
Gen. Christopher Donahue	Army Europe & Africa commander	Forced into early retirement
Gen. David Allvin	Air Force Chief of Staff	Retired early; Pentagon reportedly planned to ask him to leave
Adm. Alvin Holsey	Southern Command commander	Retired early
Lt. Gen. Jennifer Short	Senior military assistant to Defense Secretary	Left position Feb. 2025
Lt. Gen. Joseph Berger III	Army Judge Advocate General	Fired Feb. 2025
Lt. Gen. Charles Plummer	Air Force Judge Advocate General	Fired Feb. 2025

Rain And 71º

7:03

7:54

I am sitting out on our front porch, listening to thunder, lightning, and rain at 7:30. It's been raining since I woke at 7:00, having slept in again. . It looks like today will be a warm one, with highs in the mid-80s. I just looked at the map, and it may keep raining for the next hour or two, so no kayaking. It's 8:06 and still raining, but off to the north the sky is clearing. Sitting on my porch, I look due east, toward Long Point. 

Tuesday was a good day, and as always, if I have a good paddle, it's a good day. I was out for close to an hour, with four other paddlers and no fishing boats. I got a couple of great shots of an eagle enjoying a fish dinner in our maple tree. When I finished, Evie was up and feeling good, which was a relief after a bad day or two. After the blog and breakfast, I decided to skip yoga and go for a walk in Dobbins Woods, about a ten-minute drive. It's been one of our favorite walks, but not yesterday. First, the humidity was at 89%, so I was uncomfortable before I even started. I had forgotten that at least a quarter of the trail is boardwalks, and the rest often involves navigating tree roots, so most of the time I had to keep my head down and watch where I was walking, oblivious to the woods. I was out for just over a half hour and was happy to finish and get home. When I walked in, I did a thorough tick check, then took a shower since I was so sweaty.

A Good Walk Spoiled

Trying To Keep My Balance On Boardwalks

Lots Of Leaves

Navigating Tree Roots

While I was gone, Evie was in the attic, going through all the toys we've accumulated over the years for our grandchildren's visits. Since our great-grandson Rhys will be visiting in late September, she wants to have lots of toys available for him. Right now, I'd say she has enough toys for four or five kids! She took time off to make me a salami and tomato sandwich, and with some chicken noodle soup, I was happy. I'm watching the third season of Goliath and am not taken with it, but I'll stick with it.

Our Neighbor, Joe, Out For A Sail

I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, reading, napping, and occasionally checking in on the guys doing the sewer hookups in our neighbors' yards. They're good guys and fun to talk with. Evie finished organizing her Toys "R" Us by 3:00 and took a shower at 4:00, since we were meeting two couples for dinner at Steeners at 5:30. We were fortunate to find a place to park, and Tom and Julie were already there, saving a table for the six of us. Jane and Jerry joined soon after; four of us ordered the steak special — a filet or Delmonico with fries — for forty bucks. They were great, and so were the fries. Because both Tom and Jerry have lived and worked in the area, it was like old home week for them, with numerous friends sitting at the bar.

Oldies But Goodies

We were home by 7:15 and sat in the living room, enjoying the early evening, reading or on our devices. After Evie went up to bed, I watched an episode of Reacher, then another episode of Goliath, before heading up myself.

And So Much More!