What A Morning

7:38

8:39

It's 8:50 and I just returned from a forty-five-minute paddle. Getting up later than usual, at 7:40, I was in no hurry to get out on the lake. By 8:00, I was out paddling, the lake and sky gorgeous, with some fog rising off towards Long Point. Today looks like one of the best days of the summer, full sun, blue skies, and highs in the low 70s, a good day to be outside.

Kayak Morning

Tuesday was another fine day, with a long paddle to start the day because I was up early. Unlike today, I was able to photograph a couple of herons before returning. After a light breakfast, I was off to yoga at 9:10, always a challenging class with Courtney. It's nice to see it well attended, likely due to the influx of summer visitors. I skipped Wegmans and Ryder's Cup but stopped at Evans to pick up some box wine for the next couple of weeks.

I was feeling off much of the morning, so Evie made me scrambled eggs and toast for lunch, and I watched a show called Young Wallander. It's not my favorite, but I couldn't think of anything else to watch. I then got back to my history of the United States and alternated between it and Ghost Town, Tom Perrotta's new book. I napped and woke feeling better, and went outside and planted and watered the rest of the plants we bought from Mike's. I relaxed and read the rest of the afternoon, but by 6:00, we were both showered and ready to pick up our neighbors, Pat and Dave, and go out to dinner at Steener's Pub in Greenhurst. 

Steak/Fries Night At Steeners Pub

This seems to be our go-to place on Tuesdays because of the steak special. During Covid, it was maybe twenty-two bucks for two steaks and fries. Last night it was forty bucks. It was a fun night, catching up on their winter in South Carolina. We left around 7:45 and were home by 8:00. We sat in the living room reading until 8:30, when Evie went up to bed, and I watched a new series on Paramount+ called The Agency. It's confusing, but I am starting to get it.

From These Truths: "One million Europeans migrated to British America between 1600 and 1800 and two and a half million Africans were carried there by force over that same stretch of centuries, on ships that sailed past one another by day and by night."

Partly Cloudy And Occasional Winds

I just returned from a 45-minute paddle, and it's 8:00. Obviously, I was up early and out on the lake before 7:00. It looks like a decent day, mostly sunny with highs in the 70s. I have yoga at 9:30, and that's about it for the day, other than reading my book, These Truths, a history of the United States. I have vowed to read it for at least half an hour every day.

6:38

7:49

I woke yesterday morning to rain and a wet yard, as we'd received at least an inch of rain in the previous 24 hours, and we needed it. I couldn't kayak because of the stormy weather, so instead I had a prolonged coffee and listened to Michael Smerconish along with Evie until 10:30. By then we had a list for Wegmans, so I drove off, stopping for coffee, then shopping. Monday is usually a good day because most shoppers wait for 5% Tuesday, although some things still haven't arrived from the warehouse, like red potatoes, in the past couple of weeks. I was home just before noon, and Evie and I put away the groceries.

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

Blue Skies, Clouds, And Waves

Great Blue Heron Among The Grasses

When I left for Wegmans, Evie was hard-boiling eggs, so I was looking forward to egg salad sandwiches for lunch. While I started making kuru fasulye, basically a white bean stew, Evie made me sandwiches. Since we couldn't get the pressure cooker to close properly, I had to simmer the beans for a couple of hours. So I had lunch, watched my show, then read and napped until 1:30. Then I got back to the fasulye, sautéing uncured pancetta before adding onions, garlic, tomato paste, cayenne pepper, and Aleppo pepper. After that, I added the beans and water and let everything simmer for another hour, until the beans were tender and the flavors were right.

Great Blue Yesterday Afternoon

By the time I was done, the rain had stopped, and though the sky was still overcast, I went out for a half-hour paddle to get some exercise. While I was on the lake, Evie put together our dinner, a ham and potato casserole, and had it in the oven baking when I returned. By then it was 5:00, so we relaxed for a good hour and a half with wine before watching some TV and enjoying our dinner. For some reason, we really enjoyed the casserole and wondered why we don't make it more often. We watched a Harlan Coben thriller but got bored with it and ended the night watching Caitlin Clark and Indiana defeat Phoenix. After the game, I was ready to read and go to bed.

These Truths: The book's essential question feels crucial today and to democracy, with Trump attempting to govern like an autocrat:

"Can a political society really be governed by reflection and election, by reason and truth, rather than by accident and violence, by prejudice and deceit?"

Happy Rainy Day Monday

Our Granddaughters, 2007/8?

7:40

I woke up at 7:30 to rain on the windows, and it's now 8:20 and still raining and overcast. It's been a long time since we've had a day like this. Maybe it's the result of yesterday being the summer solstice — now each day will get shorter, and the sun will move from left to right when viewed from our porch. It's such a dismal morning that I thought a photo of our granddaughters would liven up the blog

Sunday was another perfect day to start summer, lots of sun and blue skies, with highs in the 70s. I got in a good, long paddle and shot photos of both an osprey and a heron on my morning paddle. We had our usual long Sunday morning coffee, listening to the pundits. By 10:30, we were on our way to Mike's Nursery to pick up some plants for the garden. We left with sixty bucks' worth of plants, stopped at Home Depot, then picked up a chicken dinner at Farmer Brown's Beef and More in Lakewood. We were home by 11:45, and since I wanted to waterproof the boat cover before lunch, I went out on the dock, pulled the cover off, brought it in, spread it out on our lawn, and sprayed it with waterproofing before leaving it to dry.

We usually have a big breakfast on Sunday, and Evie made one of our favorites: a Turkish menemen, eggs with tomatoes and feta cheese. Along with a bagel, the two of us were happy. All three of my kids wished me a happy Father's Day in the afternoon. I napped briefly, having fallen asleep while reading my book. Neither of us did much the rest of the afternoon — we watched TV or read, either on the porch or in the yard, getting some sun.

Around 4:30, I put the boat cover back on and enjoyed a glass of wine with Evie on the couch as it started to get cool outside. Dinner was the barbecued chicken from Farmer Brown's, and we watched a couple of HGTV programs and some soccer before Evie went up to bed. I finished the first season of Sugar and watched the first episode of season two.

Yesterday, I listened to a great podcast with Heather Cox Richardson. She talked about how liberals are seen by many people on the right, especially MAGA loyalists, as unpatriotic, which bothered me. I certainly love my country, and so do all my friends, but I'm upset with the way Trump and his loyalists are damaging it. So I ordered a T-shirt with an American flag on it, which I'll wear proudly, and I vowed to read Jill Lepore's history of the United States over the next couple of weeks. It's called These Truths: A History of the United States. I hope to add an interesting fact from it to my blog each morning.

Morning Fog

6:55

8:50
I am sitting here at 9:15, with Evie, listening to Jake Tapper and enjoying our coffee made in a Yeti container. I was up at 6:30, out on the lake by 6:50 for an hour, down Woodlawn, across to Long Point back to Sandy Bottom, and home. I started in fog and ended in muted sunshine.

Kayak Morning

Canadian Geese

Long Point Bay

Kayaking North

Osprey

Great Blue Heron

Saturday morning went quickly, the afternoon slowly. I woke late and didn't get on the lake until 8:00. After paddling, I had breakfast — cherry pie and ice cream — and Evie helped me finish up the blog. I wanted to mow the yard, but waited until 10:00 because the lawn was wet from dew. It takes me around forty-five minutes, with a break after mowing the front yard. It always feels good once I am done because the yard looks so good. While I was mowing, Evie cleaned out the fridge and gathered the trash for me so I could drive to the Transfer Station.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeck

I was back by 12:30 and made a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich for lunch, along with some chips, and watched another episode of my show, Sugar. I then read for a while and tried to nap but couldn't. So I came downstairs, and Evie and I watched Caitlin Clark and her team lose to Atlanta by 15 points. Clark scored 25 points but may have given up 20 with 7 turnovers and poor defense. You can tell I am losing interest in her play.

Yassou Festival

Enjoying Greek Food

By 5:30, we were ready to drive to Jamestown to attend the Yassou Festival, a gathering that celebrates Greek culture. We have attended it numerous times over the years, so we knew what to expect. It's on the grounds of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The streets surrounding the church were crowded with parked cars, but I was lucky to find a space nearby. We paid three bucks apiece for admission and then got in line for dinner. I ordered a gyro sandwich with a salad, and Evie had a chicken souvlaki sandwich with salad. We enjoyed our sandwiches with tzatziki sauce and watched little kids play on the dance floor to live Greek music. 

Dancing To Greek Music

Greek Pastries To Go

The highlight was Evie seeing one of her former kindergartners, who, upon spotting her, ran over and gave her a big hug. Unfortunately, the Greek dancing was at 5:00 and 8:00, so we were too late for one show and too early for the next. The venue had lots of Greek pastries and clothes for sale, along with a beer and wine bar. It's a popular event and well attended every time we've come.

We left around 7:00 and were home by 7:30. We relaxed in the living room, reading or on our devices, until 8:30, when Evie went up to bed. I then had dessert — cherry pie and ice cream — and watched two more episodes of Sugar before heading up to bed myself.

A Three Heron Morning

7:34

9:13

It's later than usual as I start this blog on a beautiful late Spring morning. I woke at 6:00 but went back to sleep a couple of times and didn't get up and make coffee until 7:25. I was out on the lake by 7:40 and paddled north into a light wind and met my kayak friends, Tina and Jim, on the way. It was a striking morning to be on the lake at 63º. As I finish this, I am enjoying my healthy breakfast, cherry pie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum

Kayak Morning

A Lake Eyesore (boat garage)

Great Blue # 1

#2

#3

Friday turned out to be a decent day, although I was not looking forward to it. I did get in a paddle before breakfast and the blog. I knew I had a doctor's appointment for a CT scan in Ashtabula at 1:00, which meant I had to leave around 11:15 to get there on time. So I spent the hour before leaving in the front yard picking up deadfall from Thursday's heavy winds. I filled two and a half garbage cans with the deadfall and took it up the hill when I was finished. I was out there for almost an hour and worked up a sweat and a sore back from bending over and picking up everything from branches to twigs to bark.

I was through just before 11:00, so I showered and got ready to drive to the Cleveland Clinic Ashtabula. Unfortunately, I ran into a traffic jam in Erie, so it was a good thing I planned on arriving at least half hour before my appointment. I got there at 12:50, ten minutes before my appointment, and waited maybe 20 minutes before getting called for my scan. It took maybe 15 minutes, and I was back to my car, on my way to the last stop in Ohio to fill up on cheaper gas and get a Whopper meal.

On my way home, I stopped at the northeast exit and bought a cherry pie, cookies, and chocolate milk at Orton's Fruit Market. I was home by 3:00, and Evie and I watched the US soccer team defeat Australia 2-0 before sitting on our front porch and enjoying a glass of wine and the view. Because I had a Whopper at 2:30, I was not very hungry, nor was Evie, so she made us fried bologna sandwiches, with mayo and pickles, her favorite sandwich from her childhood. I suggested watching an old film, from 2005, based on a Richard Russo novel called Empire Falls. We stuck with it for a little over half an hour before one of us admitted we were bored. We then watched a bit of soccer before Evie went up to bed. By then I had had enough soccer and turned to Apple TV and watched an episode of Sugar, with Colin Farrell. I think I am going to like it.

Autumn Looking Dusk, Thursday at 8:44

"The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long But It Moves Toward Justice."

Barack Obama's Library In Chicago

On the frontispiece of his library, are the blazoned following Words: 

You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention. Unencumbered by what is, ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken, there is new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We The People.’ ‘We Shall Overcome.’ ‘Yes We Can.’ That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours.”

Rather than writing about my day, I want to talk about President Barack Obama's speech yesterday afternoon, when he opened his library. What a breath of fresh air.

He talked for twenty minutes without once alluding to our present president. Instead, he talked about America — about what it means to people all over the world, a sanctuary of hope and dreams. He emphasized the beauty of American values: our diversity, freedom of speech, openness, truth, empathy, and kindness. No retribution, no whining, no swearing, no vindictiveness. In fact, he honored his two presidential opponents, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

He made the audience feel the audacity of the Declaration of Independence, where its second sentence declares that "all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights — among them, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Typically, his speech wasn't about him. It was about the country he sees in peril, and the people he loves. That's what he hopes his library embraces and teaches — not a paean to himself, but a living lesson in what we're capable of.

I was struck again by his ability to articulate complexity while still speaking to the common man, not just the intellectual. He remains filled with hope in the American people — that our best side will prevail, and allow us to live again in harmony, peace, and prosperity. No, Pollyanna, though — he knows democracy is hard and never guaranteed. But he believes in us, the American people.

Yes, we can.

Former leaders Angela Merkel from Germany and Justin Trudeau were there along with a musical performance honoring Obama by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Mark Anthony, Jennifer Hudson, and John Legend.

Partly Cloudy And Rain

6:38

9:07

By 7:25 this morning, I was already back from a half-hour paddle down to the reeds and return, and had managed to shoot two herons — one walking the shoreline, the other perched partway up our neighbors' front wall. It's 9:15 as I finish this. Evie was awakened at 8:00 to a torrential rainstorm while I was enjoying coffee in Bemus Point and was unaware of the rain and wind.

Kayak Morning

Into The Sun And Clouds

Great Blue

Great Blue In Bud And Debbie's Yard

Yesterday was one of those days with nothing we had to do, which is a particular kind of gift. We took a slow morning — coffee, the blog, the radio — and let it unspool at its own pace. Around 11:00, I decided to get out on the bike. I drove to Lakewood, parked behind the gas station, and headed down Summit toward Ryder Cup. I thought about stopping for a coffee, but passed. From there, I rode on to Celeron, locked up the bike, and sat for a bit with some water and a long look at the lake. Then I turned around.

Somewhere on the way back, I stopped for water and realized I'd left my bottle on the bench in Celeron — so I rode back to retrieve it. I was out 70 minutes, covered 10 miles, and as has become something of a law of nature, the return leg was straight into the wind.

Biking To Celeron's Harbor Front Hotel

Home by 12:30, I had the leftover pulled pork and macaroni and watched some soccer, hoping to catch Ronaldo finding the net. He didn't oblige. My legs were sore from the ride, so I stretched out with my book — The Water Keeper — and ended up finishing it after a nap. I'd liked it well enough right up to the ending, which seemed to go on long past where it should have stopped.

Late afternoon, I went after the weeds, though I gave myself permission to mix in some recovery time. It went: weed, chaise longue, book, weed, chaise longue. The clouds had been building and threatening all through happy hour, and sure enough, it rained later in the evening.

Dinner was the leftover meatballs with pasta and a salad. Evie had found a movie she wanted to watch — The Debt, the Israeli thriller about tracking down a Nazi war criminal — and it held up well. After she went to bed, I caught some more soccer, then an episode of Law & Order, then headed up and cracked the new novel: I Who Have Never Known Men, a post-apocalyptic story about 39 women held underground by silent armed guards. It has a premise that's hard to put down after the first page.

Usually, we have breakfast in an empty Lake Life Cafe during the winter. Below is what it's like in the summer. 

Lake Life Cafe