Lake Life Again

6:14

It's 6:50 as I begin this, having been up since 6:10, awakened by the sun. I shouldn't be surprised at how early it rose — 5:42, because it's June. One of the virtues of living on the lake is that we always catch the sunrise but miss the sunset. It's later than usual because I went to breakfast in Bemus at 8:00 and returned home around 9:15. I then went for my first paddle in June, across to Long Point, back to Sandy Bottom, and home. What a great way to start my day.

Kayak Morning

Kayaking To Long Point

A Great Blue Heron

I started this yesterday while sitting in the Dallas airport. We were in the Fort Worth/Dallas terminal, a sprawling place with concourses A through E. Our Uber ride was fine, though the traffic was relentless, especially looping around Dallas toward Fort Worth. For someone from Chautauqua County, it's unnerving — we simply aren't used to that kind of volume. Check-in went smoothly, a welcome contrast to our trip out from Buffalo, where we waited at least forty-five minutes in line. With nearly two hours before our flight, we settled into Terminal C and relaxed. The terminal was lively with shops and restaurants, and Evie made an early score: a stash of fireballs for her purse. The crowd was wonderfully diverse — young and old, all kinds of cultures — everyone just eager to get out of Dallas.

The flight home was uneventful, a few bumps but mostly smooth. The plane was packed. We had aisle seats, but Evie gave hers up so a father could sit with his wife and their little girl, who was three or four. Evie charmed her the whole flight and even gave her a pop-up bracelet we'd found at Beth's, which kept her happily occupied. We landed in Buffalo around 3:45, a few minutes early. Finding our hotel van took some doing — we wandered before locating the pickup area outside the concourse — but we were on our way soon enough. We took the scenic route home, exiting the freeway at Fredonia, because Chautauqua County in June is something else: a deep, rich green of trees, hills, and farms. When we stepped onto our porch, we found dinner waiting in a cooler, courtesy of Linda and Ron, and flowers from Barb and Jim.

We always come home with a little trepidation, but the house seemed fine. The flower beds are another story — overgrown with weeds — though the lawn looks great, thanks again to Jim for mowing. The dock is only partially in, missing the end piece, so we'll need to call our dock guy today. 

7:32

Once we unpacked the car and did a walk-through, I retrieved the porch cushions from the attic and we settled outside with a glass of wine under a late-afternoon blue sky. Dinner came later — the chicken Linda and Ron left us, with potato salad and chips. Evie was worn out from the day and headed up to bed at 8:30, just as the Knicks-Spurs game was tipping off. I watched the first half but ran out of steam by 9:45 and went up to read and sleep.

Once More To The Lake

Thanks For Putting Up With Us For Three Weeks

It's early — 6:30 — and we have a couple of hours before our Uber picks us up for the Fort Worth/Dallas airport. We're basically packed and ready for breakfast. Our flight leaves at noon, and we should be in Buffalo by 4:00.

Tuesday was a quiet day for Beth, despite it being her birthday. We were up by 7:00 and sat around as usual with our coffee, talking, while I worked on the blog. Once Evie woke up, we finished it up with photos of Beth that Evie had collected over the years. What memories. Unfortunately, one of Beth's teeth was giving her trouble, and despite the Advil, it wasn't letting up — so she managed to get a dentist appointment at 1:00. Just what you want to do on your birthday.

Knowing it was going to be another 90° day, I harnessed up the dogs and took them down to the lake for one last walk. We were out only 25 minutes, but both dogs were huffing and puffing when we got back and made a beeline for their water bowls. Evie and I did some window washing before tackling the less glamorous task of packing for the flight home. Just after noon, Evie checked us in with American Airlines, and I made myself some Asian soup for lunch. Beth had left around 12:30 and returned at 2:30, bringing sandwiches and fries from Chick-fil-A.

We spent the afternoon reading, napping, packing, and waiting for Marisa to return from her final med school exam. She has a couple of weeks off before her second year begins. Around 4:00, I took the dogs out and let them sniff whatever they pleased in the two yards — until thunder sent them scrambling for the door. Marisa arrived around 4:30, and we helped her bring in her cats and bags, keeping the dogs corralled in a bedroom.  

We had our wine at 5:00, and Marisa caught us up on her classes, exams, friends, and the world of her 50-person med school cohort — a selective group, no question. Beth ordered Mexican, delivered by Uber Eats at 6:15, and we gorged on various delights — the highlight being fried plantains with a dab of sour cream. Beth also received phone calls from both Tyler and Mitchell wishing her a happy birthday. We watched a couple of episodes of Malcolm in the Middle, but by 9:45 we'd all had enough, and everyone headed to bed, tired and full.

Happy Birthday Beth Lynn

Prom Night - Dress By Vickie

It's 7:15, and I've been up for an hour already — going through old photos spanning the past fifty years,  starting with Hawaii in the late 1960s. Today is our daughter Beth's 60th birthday, but we celebrated it early with a birthday dinner on Sunday.

Monday was largely a lazy one. I was up at 7:00, and Beth joined me at 8:00, having slept in for the first time in weeks, maybe months. I had my two cups of coffee and the last of the scones for breakfast. Once the blog was published and everyone was up, Beth and I took the dogs for a long walk down to White Rock Lake and back. It was already in the 80s, and we were a bit worried about Tin Tin, who doesn't do well in the heat on long walks, so we kept it to just over half an hour.

Walking Tin Tin

Walking Kaia

Around 10:30, Beth and I headed out. We stopped at Wells Fargo for some banking, then decided to get a coffee at El Porton, one of the many coffee shops in the area. It wasn't very busy, so we ordered and sat down and talked for twenty minutes before braving the heat and driving over to Curiosities and Oddities — a not-so-thrift shop, literally across the street from Beth's neighborhood. The shop is unbelievable, packed with just about everything you could think of that you don't want. How they've accumulated all of it over the years is a wonder. After a good half hour of browsing, we drove home.

Need Anything

Clothes, Jewelry, Knick-Knacks

Lunch was easy — just a package of dumplings from Trader Joe's, heated up. Plenty if you weren't too hungry. Afterward, I watched some tennis during the early afternoon, then took a nap with Tin Tin.  Even Evie napped in the afternoon, which is unusual for her. While Beth worked through some baskets of things — sorting and tossing what she didn't need — I sat out on the front porch and read until 5:15, which meant wine time.

Reading on the Front Porch

We had a couple of good cheeses and crackers as an appetizer, then an easy dinner: leftover chicken, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts with rice and a salad. We finished Margo's Got Money Troubles and ended up really liking it. We closed out the night with a couple of episodes of Neighbors and Friends, with Jon Hamm.

This Morning's Moon

94º In The Shade (Sunday Afternoon)

Celebrating Beth's 60th Birthday

It's a bit unusual, but I'm starting the blog on Sunday afternoon, sitting on Beth's front porch in 94° heat — which sounds like the title of a novel I've read. Between the sun and the stillness of a Sunday, not a soul has passed by. I'm warm but not terribly uncomfortable as I sit here writing and reading, having just finished November Road a few minutes ago. I liked it. Tonight we're going out to dinner to celebrate Beth's 60th birthday, two days early, at a restaurant she recommended called The Lounge. We are looking forward to going out to dinner, especially Beth. 

For some reason, the heat made me think of my first swim in the lake, usually sometime in late May or early June. It's so cold that I ease down the ladder one body part at a time — feet, then legs, then stomach and back, getting my arms and chest wet — before diving under all at once. The shock of it is both stunning and exhilarating, and after two or three strokes, I'm used to it. I will give it a go this coming weekend. 

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It's now 8:10 Monday morning. Tin Tin just ran in, which means Beth is up, having slept in for once. I was up an hour ago and have been sitting here reading the newspapers on my Mac, waiting for someone to stir. Kaia is out in the yard, being a good boy and not barking. Yet.

Sunday was a warm one. Beth and I were both up early, and I got the blog written and published before Evie woke around nine. We had no big plans for the day other than the birthday dinner at six. Once everyone was up, I had breakfast — a couple of scones with coffee — and by 9:15, it was already warm enough that I decided to take the dogs out early.

The walk was warm but still manageable. We headed down to the lake, hugging the shade where we could, and came across a couple of women out on horseback. Tin Tin, naturally, went into a barking frenzy and lunged toward them, so I had to haul him back. The path around White Lake was busy, probably owing to the Sunday crowd. We were out for about 25 minutes and were glad to get back into the air-conditioned house.

Horses

Bikers

We managed to knock out a couple of things before lunch — Evie vacuumed while Beth and I set up a printer in the spare bedroom. By midday, Beth and I were hungry, so she offered to make BLTs. Most of the afternoon, we sat around on our devices, watched some tennis, and waited for late afternoon when the three of us would shower and get ready to go out.

By 6:00, we were showered and comfortably dressed and drove the half mile to The Lounge. Walking into the air-conditioned restaurant after even a short drive in that heat was a genuine relief. We were happy to snag a booth and settle in with drinks and menus. Beth ordered a dirty martini; Evie and I went with beers. We loved the feel of the place, and within the hour it was packed — tables full, bar crowded, people waiting at the door. The menu leaned Southern and retro, with most entrées in the twenties, which felt right. We were in no hurry, lingered over our food, did some reminiscing, and finally headed out around 7:30.

Back home, we changed into something comfortable and stayed up until ten watching a couple of episodes of Margo's Got Money Troubles. It turned out to be a really good day.

Making Cookies

A Wonderful Gift From A Parent

It's 8:10, and Beth and I have been up since 7:00, talking, with Tin Tin settled on my lap. It's another sunny, warm morning — high around 94° — so I'd better get my walk in early. Beth has started a fresh batch of cookies to give to the neighbors, so it's going to be a busy morning for her. I'm sitting here watching her, writing the blog over a second cup of coffee and a scone.

7:20 AM

Morning Coffee With Tin Tin

Yesterday was a hot one, though the locals don't seem to mind. Beth and I were up early and on the road to Central Market just as Evie was getting up. It's always busy on Saturday, so we wanted to get a head start — though I'm not sure 9:30 was early enough, because it already felt crowded. We took our time, got what we needed along with a few things we didn't, like more fresh scones and a pound cake.

Fresh Bread At Central Market

More Bread

We also stopped at Beth's former house to let the cleaning crew in for a final cleaning before the new owners take over. By 10:30, I was ready to take the dogs to White Rock Lake, which was busier than usual for a Saturday morning — lots of bikers and runners, so many that I had to be careful crossing the paths with the dogs. We were out for about 25 minutes, and by the time we got back, they went straight to their water bowls, panting.

Biking White Lake Paths

Since I'd had two kolaches for breakfast, I wasn't very hungry and skipped lunch. The French Open was on, so I watched it off and on through the afternoon as an American came back from two sets down to win a three-and-a-half-hour match. I took a decent nap around 1:30, and when I woke, the match was still going, so I got to see the finish.  

Tin Tin Relaxes

Around 3:30, I made a quick run to Tom Thumb for Diet Coke and Fresca — a 20-minute errand. Around 4:45, Evie put together dinner: chicken with mushrooms and artichoke hearts, into the oven for an hour. We had our wine until 6:30, then sat down to eat. It hit the spot, as my mom used to say. Afterward, we watched a couple more episodes of Margo Has Money Problems, and I caught the Spurs defeat the Thunder in Game 7 — moving on to the Finals, where they'll face the Knicks.

Another Warm, Humid Day In Texas

Sunrise At 8:17

It's 7:45, and I've been up since 7:00, Beth since 6:00, both of us on our devices, occasionally letting the dogs out into the yard. It's already 74º, overcast, and we're heading to Central Market at 9:00, hoping to beat the Saturday crowd. If we get there early enough, I'm counting on a fresh kolache — a sausage in a sweet roll. They sell out fast.

Our days haven't changed much this past week. Beth's up early, then me, then eventually Evie. I got the blog written and am waiting on Evie to choose photos, though I don't have many these days, so I'm pulling from lake photoss taken a year ago. Once that was done, I toasted a couple of slices of bread Beth had picked up at Whole Foods and called it breakfast.

Beth spent most of the morning on the phone — Texas Retirement, Charles Schwab, and a financial advisor her realtor recommended. I took the dogs out for our usual morning constitutional, down to the lake and back, taking our time, letting them lead, sniffing every tree and bush along the way. The trail was busy, as always — bikers, runners, the occasional couple walking, most of them wearing headphones. There's also a road that runs alongside the homes, seldom used, but a truck came by slowly, stopped, and the driver asked me where the Arboretum was. Completely lost, but I was able to point him in the right direction.

When I got back, Evie was busy cleaning up the kitchen and doing laundry, keeping things running. I settled in with my book, helped Beth with the occasional question, and drifted along until lunch — chicken salad sandwiches Evie had made earlier. I read a bit more afterward and managed a short nap.

Interesting Smells

Checking Out The Front Yard

Around 3:30, I thought about taking the dogs for a walk, but at 90º, that idea died quickly. Instead, I let them wander and sniff around Beth's yard and the empty lot next door. Twenty minutes of meandering, and they were perfectly happy. So was I.

Dusk At 8:57

Beth finished her calls by 4:00, and we held off on happy hour until 5:00. We still had a couple of good cheeses left, so we had those with crackers to start. Dinner was easy and just right — Beth fried up bacon, Evie made BLTs, and nobody complained. We watched the last episode of Landman, then started a new series whose name has already escaped me. Beth and Evie turned in at 9:15. I stayed up and watched forty-five minutes of the new Jack Ryan film with John Krasinski. I wouldn't recommend it.

Top Of The Morning

Kayak Morning 5/29/2025

Osprey: 5/29/2025

It's 8:45, and I've been up since 7:20, trying to help Beth with some questions about IRAs and inherited IRAs. I'm not much help on that front and usually point her toward ChatGPT.  It looks like a sunny morning ahead, turning overcast in the afternoon, with a high of 90°.

Tin Tin

Thursday was another busy day for Beth. She left for school at 8:00 to work on her classroom — getting it set for next year, securing books, and taking home what she needed before summer school students move in. So Evie and I held down the fort. I took the dogs for a 25-minute walk, and Evie tackled a mountain of laundry, both ours and Beth's. I also finally found a book I'm enjoying: November Road by Lou Berney, set in Dallas during the Kennedy assassination.

Lunch was another round of sweet potatoes, ground beef, black beans, and sweet corn — and there's enough left for today if I want it. The afternoon moved quickly. I read until Beth texted at 2:30 asking for a pickup; the school is only a mile away, which is handy. We watched another episode of Landman — one Beth had missed — and I took the dogs out again, though we kept it short since the heat had both of them laboring.

Watching Landman With The Pups

Earlier in the afternoon, Evie had put together a pasta sauce with eggplant, so dinner practically took care of itself — just boil the noodles and throw together a salad. We had a glass or two of wine beforehand, then ate and watched a couple more episodes of Landman. We have one left for tonight. I also caught some of the NBA game — the Spurs thoroughly dismantled the Thunder, which I enjoyed. By the end of the evening, I was happy to climb into bed and get back to my book before drifting off to sleep.