A Bright Shiny Labor Day Morning

My Girlfriend and Me

6:58

7:00

7:00

It's almost 9:00, and we are both up, as the sun fills the lake with its reflection. I was up just before 7:00 as the sun was rising and out on the lake for close to an hour and a half, relishing such a spectacular lake morning.

Kayak Morning

Sun Rising Over Long  Point

Paddling East

Into The Sun

Eagle

Heron

Osprey

Sunday turned out to be a good day, starting with our usual long paddle. The morning was typical for a Sunday, I think — we both listened to various news programs on Sirius, often hearing the same story repeated hour after hour. We published the blog around 9:30, later than usual, and then I wanted to get in some exercise, so I decided on a hike around our neighboring woods, Victoria and Woodlawn. I was a bit worried about ticks, so I wore treated pants and a long-sleeve shirt. It was a good walk; the paths were partly overgrown but still visible. I was out for a little over half an hour, basically walking a circle. When I got home, Evie had just showered, and I decided to take one as well rather than wait until later in the day. I felt great afterward and was ready for a good, relaxing day.

Kinney's Run

Victoria Woods Trail

For lunch, Evie made me a western with the leftover meatloaf, and I loved it. I then read and napped but was up by 2:30, ready to watch the US women's basketball team play Italy in the FIBA World Cup in Germany. They were lucky to win by three points and played terribly, unable to hit threes or even layups. Only one player was in double figures, and Caitlin Clark scored one point. After the game, I went out to our side yard and started raking up stones, getting it ready for power seeding. It's going to take a while to get it done.

We left at 6:00 for Linda and Ron's house for dinner. It was nice enough to sit on their front porch and enjoy a libation or two, along with a Bloody Mary shrimp and avocado cocktail. Our dinner was great: meatloaf, carrots, and mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes, and we loved it. Linda was upset because we'd had meatloaf the previous day, but it didn't matter — it was delicious. For dessert, she made a chocolate cake and served it with ice cream, and we got to bring half of it home. We stayed until 9:30, and it was a great way to spend my 83rd birthday. Dining at Linda and Ron's is always a delight, with great food and lots of laughs.

We were home around 9:40. Evie went up to bed, but I stayed up until 10:15, then joined her, tired from the day.

Seksen Uc

7:09

9:10

It's 7:30, and I've been up for a half hour, waiting for the fog to lift so I can see Long Point. It's a chilly, fall-like morning of 54º, and highs will be in the low 70s — our favorite kind of day. It's 9:15 and I just returned from a paddle, as the fog has practically disappeared. I got out on the lake around 7:00, talked with Jeff, my neighbor, for 15 minutes, then paddled down to Wells Bay as the fog lifted. On my paddle home, my phone suddenly went quiet, an emergency sign came on, and it said the phone was too hot. So I turned it off, waited 15 minutes, and it was fine. I guess having the phone in the pocket of my fleece, in the bright sun, caused the heat.

Kayak Morning

Wow

North With Long Point On The Right

Cormorant

Fog, Geese, Trees

Osprey

Juvenile Eagle

Saturday was a busy day on the lake, as Labor Day Weekend and the 4th of July are the busiest days on the lake, especially with nice weather. I was up and out on the lake yesterday just as the sun was rising. I paddled for 80 minutes, a joyful way to spend my morning. When I returned, the wind was starting to pick up. Evie was up, so we finished up the blog, and I had breakfast. I'd listened to a gerontology talk during my paddle, and the speaker emphasized that exercise is key to aging well. So even though I didn't feel like doing anything, I decided to ride my bike. I drove over to Bemus, parked by the bridge, and rode through Bemus, down Lakeside Drive, then around Long Point State Park, then back to my car. I was out for 50 minutes and did well. I'm glad I went. When I got home, we got the trash ready, and I drove off to the Transfer Station, my one routine I keep each week.

Long Point Trail

Evie had a couple of walleye sandwiches ready for me for lunch when I returned. Yum. I watched another episode of Goliath and a few minutes of college football. I can't believe the college football season has already begun. I was happy to lie down upstairs, read my book, and take a short nap. Around 2:30, I called my sister Ellen and we talked for a good half hour, while Evie put together two dishes — broccoli with bacon and mayo, and an Asian cabbage and chickpea dish — for a side or lunch. Yum. Then Evie and I decided to sit out on the dock and read, and though it was windy, we stayed out for a good hour. The clouds were amazing, the sky was blue, and the boats were zipping back and forth by the tip of Long Point. We didn't come in until it was time for a glass of wine.

Afternoon Clouds 

We had the leftover meatloaf for dinner. I had mine with mashed potatoes and gravy, and Evie made herself a sandwich with lots of ketchup. We watched the usual until Evie went up to bed, and I am almost finished with Goliath. I then went up to bed and finished my novel, Heather, liking it more than I thought I would.  

Said in 2018 by Four Star Admiral Mc Craven:

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.