Sleeping In!

Photo by Evie: 7:26

Watching Football at LakeView in Mayville

Hiking in Woodlawn

I actually got up at 8:10 this morning, the latest I have arose in years or so it seems.  Evie was up ahead of me, the coffee was brewed, the morning at started, alas, as I slept.  It did feel good; am I starting a new cycle?  I don't it.  It's a gray day, with rain forecast this evening, 35 outside, with a couple of sunny days to come, Wednesday in the 60's, time for yard work and getting ready for winter.  I have friends on the East coast who were hit hard by the storm and it sounds like they won't have electricity for a week or so. We were lucky to avoid it here though most of the leaves are gone, so it would not have been as bad.

No plans for today as of now but Evie will, no doubt, have something up her sleeve.  Actually, I am going to insulate our basement windows, buying some foam insulation, cutting it to fit the outside of the window and hoping I can figure out a way for it to stay put.  I also thought of putting hay bales in front of each window, kind of an old fashion way of insulating the basement of a house.  We'll see.

INTERNET PROBLEMAS RUIN THE MORNING

7:54

8:14

Well, it's  2:00 in the afternoon and I just reconnected to the web after an hour talk with Apple, then completely erasing and redoing my operating system, I finally got on.  Something happened earlier when I was downloading some updates; the computer quit and I was never able to get on again, alas.  Let's hope this fixes things up because it completely upset my day.

Right now, it's all blue skies, a few clouds, a blue lake, and some colors still on the trees across the lake.  We did take a walk through our woods this morning but because of my computer problems and Evie's talking with our friend Vi in Ohio, we have not been back outside.  We are going for a walk soon, as I am getting antsy sitting inside without having enjoyed the out of doors much today.  It does seem strange having the sun out. Although I have not thought about it, I don't think it's been out since we returned on Monday, almost a week ago.

We went for a walk up at the Mayville end of the lake, starting at the Lakeview, walking around the north end and back.  It was a lovely day, time of day, to walk there, cool, sunny, the lake a bright blue, no one around, little traffic on the road.  We had a beer at the Lakeview, watched some of the Steelers and Bills games, then came home around 5:00 and Evie's starting dinner, a good day after a bad start.

The Colors of Autumn Leaves

One of the joys of autumn is taking a walk in the woods, listening to the crunching of the leaves, watching the trees and their leaves change colors, until only the skeleton of the trees remain, haunting the sky line with their scribbles and lines.  I have carved out a morning walk her at Woodlawn, heading up the road on a pathway made by our neighbors the Kinney's, then crossing the road at the top and heading south through the Woodlawn woods, tramping a path through the woods, forming a circle, ending up around Victoria, then circling back to Theissens and down to the Woodlawn road and home, about twenty minutes.  It's nice not to have to jump in a car and we can expand it to include the campground as well if we want to walk farther, or head out Victoria, if we want to go that way.

Creek at Chautauqua Institute

Fallen leaves

More Fallen Leaves

The Woods of Woodlawn

Chautauqua Gray at 8:45

I was up at 6:00, no snow on the ground but during my walk there was some sleet, a bit of ice on the ground.  It's another Chautauqua gray morning, as you can see, and I had better get used to it as the days of autumn are coming to an end and then it's lots of gray, little sun until May, hard to believe.  But it makes you cherish the few winter days of sunlight even more.  Snow or sleet is forecast for most of the day though tomorrow is supposed to be partly sunny, the highs in the upper 40's.  When I got up it was 33 degrees and now, at 9:00, it's 36. One of two fishermen were out earlier but for now, the lake seems empty, placid, the sky windless.

THE ENGLISH MAJOR: JIM HARRISON

This book was recommended to me by two of my breakfast club friends, Joe Johnson and Dick Redington, both avid readers.  I had never read Harrison before but I had often heard his name and his books recommended so I decided to give it a try, why not if it was called THE ENGLISH MAJOR.  Fortunately, it had little to do with English, rather it chronicles a few months in the life of Cliff, an ex English teacher, then farmer in the Upper Peninsula, who at sixty, divorces, is forced by his ex wife to sell the farm and thus, finds himself cast out, with little money, no job, just an urge to travel with what's left in his bank account after his divorce.

So, like many novels, he yearns to be free, jumps in his old car, and takes off West, with little direction in mind.  He just happened to keep in touch with a former student, Maybelle, a woman of course, and she wants to go with him to Bozeman, where her husband is invovlved in a 'dig.'  Cliff, seemingly forever randy, finds just the right companion in Maybelle and they screw their way to Montana, without a thought of either one's mates.  Sex is about all they have in common and after awhile even Cliff tires of it, wonders how nice it might be to be left alone to just enjoy the going.  But then 'biology' as he calls it steps in and they are in bed again.  Eventually, he leaves her in Bozeman, hits one state after another, stopping briefly, ending up in San Francisco with his gay son.  Maybelle pursues him, ends up convincing the son to fly her to San Francisco.  Cliff, not ready to settle down or travel with Maybelle, ends up leaving for Arizona, to visit a buddy.  Meanwhile, his wife finds out her lover is cheating on her, calls Cliff, wants to reconcile.  I leave it to your imagination to figure out what happens, who he ends up with, if anyone, and where.  The novel does not have much of a story, more picaresque, as they say but the musings of Cliff about life, farming, living alone, marriage and, of course woman and 'biology' are what kept me interested until about the last third when it became more of the same, not a lot different to say.  I really liked it at  first but gradually lost my fire for it; still I would say it's worth reading.  

Fog Rising on the Lake (Hiking Long Point)

7:26

Well, we did not get any snow last night though it's 30 degrees this morning, thus some frost though it's hard to tell.  We did bring in our geraniums as a precaution.  Lots of thick fog on the lake before sun rise and now, at 7:43, I can easily see the other side though rising fog is moving just above the water, from south to north.  Today is supposed to be sunny in the 40's and it looks like this nice weather will continue through to next week.

7:37

Below are a few pictures from our walk yesterday at Long Point in the rain.  It was a light but constant rain, yet we enjoyed it immensely, our first time in the woods in two weeks.  The walking paths were covered with leaves of all colors, as you can see, and the vinca ground cover was spectacular, a dark shiny green, so evident now that most of the plants have died out.  There are lots of areas we have yet to hike, some organized by Chautauqua Hikes almost every weekend, so we are going to have to get involved as they sound really fun.

Long Point hiking trail

Evie in the vinca

We ended up going shopping yesterday afternoon late, to Sam's and Wegman's, then went to the Rod and Gun for stuff pork chops.  Of course, when we walked in, Sam and Donna Nelson, from Busti, were sitting at the bar, so we had a beer with them, and ate dinner with them as well.  Sam, as usual, talked about being a poor farmer, how they just want to enjoy life, his mantra the last few years.  They a good people, fun to be with, and generous, as he always wants to buy our meals.  So we let him, and buy his next time.  The pork chops were average, reminding me of institutional food.  I assume they were bought stuffed and the gravy was packaged, still for 6.95, I should not complain.  We were shocked at how crowded it was on a Thursday evening, the parking lot almost full when we arrived.  Others must have been excited by stuff pork chops like us.

Just returned from a good hour of kayaking, up north to Snug Harbor and back.  It was cold, our paddles had frozen ice on them when we started out, and on the way back, the wind blew the rising fog/steam in our faces, brisk and invigorating.  By the time we returned, our toes and fingers were pretty cold but it was great paddling, the only people on the lake as far as I could see.  We also paddled around a least a hundred ducks, feeding in the water, a rare sight as they are usually just in families.

Wet and Gray and 38 Degrees

More leaves, lots of gray at 9:30

Back at the lake, up later than usual, about 7:00, mostly because I woke at 4:30 and didn't get back to sleep till who know what time.  I don't get it.  Why do I wake so early?  It's now about 7:40 and I have breakfast at 8:00 at the Bemus Point Inn.  Eveything's gray outside, the sky, the lake, the shoreline, however, is dark, with an occasional light flickering, the tree limbs in our yard, fingers reaching down from the sky as I look outside from my chair.

This past Tuesday at 8:04....what a difference from today's gray!

Other than breakfast, nothing seems to be on the agenda.  I do want to hike, even in the rain, get some exercise since I feel as if I have done little but eat and drink the past two weeks, a result of our trip East to visit friends and family.  Sunrise is at 7:44 but there's little evidence it's about to rise other than a lightening sky.  Today's high is supposedly 40, the low 27, with snow forecast for this evening. Amazing to think summer's gone, fall just about, and winter's on its way.

We took a walk in the rain at Long Point, in the high 30's, came home to homemade vegetable soup and toasted cheese.  Spent the afternoon reading and watching the rain turn to sleet, occasionally to snow though nothing stayed on the ground.  We are going off shopping around 5:00, then dinner at the Rod and Gun.  There special tonight is stuffed pork chops for 6.95...a bargain.

In Memorian: Lloyd Buck (June 20, 1943-October 20. 2011

Vi and Lloyd Buck, 7.10.2011

My good friend, Lloyd Buck, a teammate from Ohio University, will be laid to rest today in Old Souls Cemetery, in Chardon, Ohio. He loved coming out to Chautauqua Lake, sitting in the yard, taking in the view and ending the day with a burger at the Seezurh House in Bemus Point.

We went into Cleveland on Tuesday, attended the wake, met up with five couples, all who played on our 1964 championship team.  We get along really well and Lloyd was one of the mainstays.  We spent the evening at the Buck's house, catching up and helping Vi, Lloyd's wife stay centered.  Then, today we attended the burial in Chardon, where I gave the eulogy, and we then all went to Hellriegal's restaurant in Painesville for lunch.  About 1:30, we along with the other couples said our good byes and headed home, one to Florida, one to Texas, the other two to southern Ohio.  Our group's attending both wake and funeral really meant a great deal to Vi and her family.  My eulogy follows:

Lloyd Buck led a hardscrabble early life in West Virginia, unimaginable to most of us, then spending his high school career in an orphanage before matriculating to Ohio University

For me, he was always the big guy, in fact, the biggest basketballer I had ever seen, 6’7, 240 pounds, a rock.

He was the kind of guy you wanted on your team; I learned that early when I undercut him.

He had a nice way of telling me to not do it again or else: I didn’t.

He was easy to underestimate, the big dumb jock, but he breezed through his classes, played basketball for four years (held NBA star Nate Thurmond under his average), led ROTC, loved reading, and remembered everything.

He seemed older than the rest of us freshmen, more confident, more responsible and independent.  He had to be: he was literally on his own.

He fell in love his sophomore year, married the beautiful Finn,Virpi  Pakala, the summer before his senior year. We envied him.

He graduated, then taught and coached, then decided on a career with the FBI. 

He moved around with the Bureau, then settled and raised his family in Painesville.

We were out of touch for 30 years, then reconnected a number of years ago and found we had much in common: great wives, family, grandchildren, Ohio University, and a similar view of life, but not politics!

We would meet in Athens, for Ohio University basketball games.

We gathered at Ohio Hall of Fame Banquets in Columbus, with teammates and wives.

A couple of times a year he and Vi would visit our house on Lake Chautauqua and eat at the cowboy place.  Good fun.

The last time he came out was July 8^th---three months ago…he seemed fine.  Brought his own chair!

We let our wives go shopping that day and we sat in lawn chairs, contemplating the lake, and laughed at how smart we were to stay behind and let our wives shop to their hearts content.  We talked, as always, of our grandchildren, what a joy they were, how life was moving quickly, and politics, of course, as he always good-naturedly mocked my liberalism.

Mostly, I loved to hear Lloyd talk about his grandchildren, Nate and Catherine, how proud he was of them, their grades, successes in the swimming.

We didn’t know it but this was his last time at the lake.

He went into the hospital 45 days later. The day after his operation, he texted me: News Sucks, Talk Later----vintage Lloyd

The last time I saw him, lying semi conscious in the hospital, he managed to give me that Lloyd smile, ironic and dry, as if to say: GET ME OUT OF HERE, the Lloyd I loved.

When Kelly, Nate and Catherine, walked in, He lit up.

That’s the last time I saw him alive.

Later in the week, when the Doctor told him his cancer was terminal, he said, “I want to live, what can I do?”

Resigned to the inevitable, he went to physical therapy to placate his family, died two hours after his last session.

Lloyd was a wonderful husband, a loving father, most importantly a living example for Nate and Catherine, of a father, grandfather, a man, fearless and independent, yet generous and caring

And he was a loyal friend to all, especially his Bobcat buddies.  ----------

We will miss him dearly.

The Joy of Sunrise on Lake Chautauqua

7:24

8:04

Eleven Days of Leaves

I was up early, about 5:40 to, as usual this time of year, a darkened house.  About 6:30 the darkness began to soften and now, at 7:20, it's light orange on the horizon, giving way to a light blue, as the lake shimmery and orange, is empty of boats though occasional gulls or ducks flap above.  It's 39 degrees, clear and crisp, and I want to go outside and enjoy the morning.  Aften ten days of travel, it's nice to wake up to a vista, the lake, sky and quiet of Chautauqua.  As I sit here waiting for the sun to peak over the horizon, I orange begins to fade, lighten, waiting for the sun.

Heading Back to Lake Chautauqua

At Marisa's soccer game with Fox News Gretchen Carlson in Purple Jacket

Our Favorite Newscaster, Fox's Gretchen Carlson, up Close in Greenwich, CT

With Hasan Teoman,  our good friend from Turkey

Brunch at Albarrans with Hasan Teoman

We had a busy Sunday, Rami and I off to the store early to pick up goodies for our brunch with Hasan at 11:00.  It took more time than I thought to get ready for a not so simple brunch, especially for Beth and Evie, but he really enjoyed it and it was nice.  He is in Greenwich, visiting a friend who is quite sick, so it was a nice break for him to come over for a couple of hours.  We enjoyed talking about Turkey, catching up on our  friends and his travels, and he is a lot of fun to talk with, interesting because he travels so much and knows what's going on in Europe as well as the Middle East.  He left about 2:00 and said he would meet us at Marisa's soccer game in Greenwich, since that's where his friend lived.  And indeed, he and his friend's wife came and stayed for most of the game.  She is an artist and interior designer in Greenwich, has done many things for Hasan's house in Gocek and runs the Lillian Vernon furniture store in Greenwich.  The three, Beth, Evie, and Catherine, spent most of the game talking, while Hasan and I got caught up on each others lives over the past two years.  Hasan had quadruple by pass surgery a year ago, so he had lots more to talk about, but he seem fit, aware of eating healthy and exercising, so it some ways, this was a real wake up call for him.

We came home from the game, which Marisa's team won, and Rami was putting up all the Halloween decorations, quite an ordeal but really cool in the end.  We had take-out Chinese for dinner, put Marisa to bed and then all of us watched the last hour of Little Miss Sunshine, laughing ourselves sick, especially towards the end.  We were all tired so all of us were upstairs by 10:30, after watching the boys favorite show, The Living Dead, a new series last year where zombies have taken over the earth and there are only a few survivors left, whose lives we follow.

MARCH VIOLETS: PHILIP KERR

A writer recommended by my friend, Ron Mc Clure, kept my interest, mostly because of the setting, Hitler's Germany in 1936, the summer of the Summer Olympics.  This is Kerr's first Bernie Gunther novel, and it's a bit overwritten, as he cannot pass up an analogy, page after page, some appropriate, many overdone.  Ron has assured me he finds his voice in the later novels, so I will continue on in this series because I like the German atmosphere.  In this novel, industrialists Herman Six's daughter and son in law are murdered and despite the Gestapo and various police, he brings in Bernie to find the murderer, to keep things quiet.  Bernie ends up getting in over his head, mostly because he is logical and follows the facts.  Unfortunately, it leads to both the communists trade unions and the Gestapo.  After a brief spell in Gestapo prison, he ends up working for them momentarily, to save his ass as it were, and ends up surviving, but just.  In the mean time, his girl friend disappears, various bad and good guys are murdered or killed, and he never does find out what happens to her.  It creates a very realistic scene of Germany in the 1930's, lots of bad apples, and we do meet both Goering and Himmler, which seems a bit exotic for a dick, but Bernie Gunther appeals to the bad guys, because he's mouthy and gutsy, which gets him more in trouble and some admiration.  And he ends up bedding at least a couple of chicks, to keep the reader interested.

A Busy Sunday in Darien

Evie and Marisa Walking Cody

I slept in a little, getting up at 6:45 and Rami was already up, working at his computer.  It makes you wonder what we did in the mornings before we had computers?  Sleep more? Watch TV?  Probably read the newspaper, which I now do on the computer.  Maybe talk more?  Probably.

Beth and Rami returned from a great day visiting Dartmouth and Amherst College on the way home yesterday.  Tyler likes Dartmouth quite a bit, thought Amherst might be too small but still has Princeton as his favorite, all very difficult schools to get accepted.  Beth and Rami are smart looking at colleges so early, making it easier for all next year. He can apply early decision to the school of his choice, about the only advantage there now seems to be in the college game.  Nothing seems certain anymore except that whether you get in or not seems to be a crap shoot.  So many bright kids, with straight A's and high scores apply to the Ivy's that I assume they don't even have a rubric for choosing other than subjective choice...this kid sounds interesting, fills this nitch (black, athlete, Asian, etc).  I don't envy Tyler.

We ate burgers last night for dinner from a local bar called Rory's, expensive but good, a half pound of meat, with fries.   We all felt  stuffed afterwards, perhaps because we are not used to that much burger or we had been eating sticky buns on and off all day.  Marisa had a friend over to make posters and Mitch spent the morning at his pottery class.  He made a couple of vases and a tray, at least he shaped them out of clay and will have to rework them next week before putting them in a kiln.

Marisa and her friend Magaret

Mitch's Pottery Class

Today, my good friend Hasan Teoman, a former Turkish student, now living in Budapest, comes over to the Albarran's for brunch.  I have not seen him since 2009 when he had us down to his villa/home on the Mediterrean in Gocek, Turkey, on the southern coast.  Finally, we get to return a modicum of hospitality for what he showed us then.  He's been here on business for about a week, in Miami, State College, now NYC, where he has businesses.  He's a great guy and we look forward to seeing him.

View from Hasan's villa in Gocek, Turkey, Mediterranean Coast

I also spent some time in my favorite other grocery store, Fairways, in Stamford, picking up some Kashkaval cheese(Turkish) and coffee.  It's an amazing store as you can see, with all varieties of foods.  It's easy to spend lots of money there.

Coffees at Fairways Market

Darien Saturday

Marisa and Evie making Sticky Buns

Up at 7:00 to a quiet house, how different from a weekday, when everyone is up and getting ready to head off, all in different directions, the guys by 7:10, Marisa by 8:00.  Marisa got up about 7:30, Mitch and and Evie about 8:00.  It's a partly cloudy morning, the only thing I need to do is take Mitch to his pottery class in Stamford.  He is the only student in an adult's only class.  It lasts from 10:00 to 12:30 so I am going to stop at this amazing grocery story called Fairway in Stamford, pick up some Turkish kashar cheese, perhaps some coffee to bring home. Marisa may have a play date with a friend from her class but that's still to be determined.

We relaxed last night, an easy dinner of BLT's, Mitch's favorites.  Marisa was exhausted after a day of school, then hip hop, so she was ready for bed by 7:45.  I took her up, we both read on her bed till 8:00, then Evie came up and put her to bed.  We then watched the first two episodes of 24 with Mitch, then went to bed by 10:15, all of us tired.

Mitchell Albarran (right) and Long Board Buddies

We are not sure when Beth and family are returning, either today or tomorrow, depending on how their day goes, whether  they want to stop at Amherst or not.  We heading back to the lake on Monday, sad to leave here but we always look forward to returning to our home.

A Lovely Evening in New York City

Dinner at Pera Mediterranean with Robert College graduates

A busy morning, as Beth, Rami and Tyler left about 7:30 and headed off to Dartmouth for a college trip.  Evie and I walked Marisa to the bus and now we are home, in an empty house, how strange, until about 3:00 when the kids return, Mitch with skate board buddies, and Marisa with hip hop at 4:00.  It's a lovely, cool morning, about 45, sunny and blue skies.

Last night, we took the 5:43 train into NYC for dinner with some of my students from Robert College, class of 1972.  It's been only 39 years but we had no trouble talking and laughing, catching up and telling stories until we almost missed our train at 10:22.  Roni Detoledo brought his wife, Nora, along which was nice for Evie.  All three guys seem to be doing amazingly well, no shock for RC graduates. Two, Roni and Ali Iz live in the city, and Sant lives in New Jersey.  They all agreed that their years at Robert College were wonderful, that the Istanbul they grew up in, was uniquely different, that the city has changed so much today that it's almost unrecognizable.  All three are now American citizens and only visit Turkey occasionally, as they have become much more American now then Turkish.  I knew Roni pretty well, taught him, went out a couple of times with him into the city, as he reminded me, to a couple of restaurants.  He was a very bright, smart ass kid and we really got alone.  As his wife said, he has not changed.  They have two children, a son 23 and a daughter, 16, who is a National champion horse back rider, competing in events almost every weekend.  Where do you keep your horse if you live in the city?  They also have a summer house on the Long Island Sound.  Nora, Roni's wife, has an interesting story; her father was second to Castro in Cuba during the revolution.  When Castro decided to go Marxist, her father broke with Castro and was thrown in jail, though eventually friends raised enough money to save his life, and the family went to Spain, eventually the US.

Heading into NYC

We ate at Pera  Mediterranean, an upscale Turkish restaurant on Madison Avenue.  It was very crowded, even though it was a Thursday night.  We ate Turkish style, ordering dishes to share, as the table was filled with conversation.  The food was all shi shi Turkish, as they called it, not what we were used to in a restaurant in Turkey.  All Turkish specialities were redone so I cannot say I loved the meal.  It was good but I would have preferred the good old Turkish boreks, or sweets, or mezze.  But the good part was the gathering with new friends, with old ties, something that has been one of the best parts of retirement, getting together with various folk from the past, finding you have lots in common and enjoy each others company despite not having seen each other  for years.

Leisurely Day in Darien, Dinner in NYC with Robert College friends

Ready for school

The usual morning, very busy from 6:45-7:10 as the boys have to be fed, dressed, lunches packed, bags filled and off to the train or bus.  Then, it's relaxing till 7:55 when we walk Marisa up the street to the bus. Fortunately, it looks like a nice day, high in the 60's and sunny, a great day for a walk. Now we are home, trying to figure out what to do during the day.  Later, about 5:00, we head into the city to have dinner with some of my Robert College students, who I have not seen since 1975.  We are eating at the best Turkish restaurant in NYC, the Pera Mediterranean, so that should be fun.  Yesterday, as I mentioned, it rained most of the day, so we shopped and relaxed.

Cody patiently waiting for breakfast

We did have a great prime rib dinner last night, with popovers and brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes, my favorite and the boys devoured it, especially the popovers.  We have enough left for a dinner today as well, if we want though we are heading into the city.

I played some math games with Marisa, which make numbers fun, and Mitch and Tyler both disappear without asking to go do their homework.  I forgot how busy today's kids are, all of them, with school, activities and homework.  And the parents, too, seem just as busy, the men our the door early, home late, the Mom's busy all day with appointments, picking up kids, shopping, making dinners and lunches and making sure the kids are organized and happy.  I cannot believe we once did this as well.  How easy it is to forget the madness of mornings in Hudson, with three teens, one bathroom shower and all of us off before 8:00.

Gray and Rainy in Darien

Ron and Vickie with the Hepatia, Emmie, and Aida

We like other people's dogs

Mitch Making Chocolate popcorn

A rainy day here in Darien as I am up early, about 5:30, with Rami.  He just took off for the city, about 6:15 after getting home last night around 7:30.  I don't know how he keeps up this pace, home late, off to work early, the life of a banker in NYC.  Mitch is up now, taking a shower, and I just woke up Tyler. Both have to be off for school by 7:10, Mitch to the bus, Tyler to the train for Fairfield Prep.  Tyler, too, gets home late, about 7:00, eats dinner, then goes straight upstairs to do his homework, coming down when it's down to watch some TV.  All the kids are busy, Marisa with soccer and dance, Mitch with his pottery, and Tyler of course, with crew.  I guess if you were involved in sports back in the late 50's, you were just as busy, not getting home from practices till 6:30 or 7:00, with games during the week as well as every weekend.  But we had none of this business until high school.  These kids start their sports and activities in the 2nd or 3rd grade and it continues, as long as they stay interested, until high school.

We had a great dinner last night, shrimp marinated in chipotles, olive oil, and cilantro, grilled and either put in tortillas, or on rice, along with black beans, a green salad, and all the condiments.  Yum.  We then relaxed with the kids, as Marisa read upstairs for quite awhile before going to bed.  She is becoming quite the reader as a third grader.  

I assume we will be off to our favorite  grocery store this morning, Stew Leonard's in Norwalk, a landmark here, still looking like it did 30 years ago, like a huge deli, as you wind your way through the store, past the bakery, the dairy, the fish, meat, and vegetables.  You can only go one way, never back  pedal, or you upset the other shoppers.  It's kid friendly as well, with wood marionettes above the stocks, playing songs and singing.  I assume they have been there for ages.  Anyways, it's a great shopping experience, amazing food, especially take outs, manned entirely by minorities I think, mostly Hispanic and Black.  We love going there, picking up some of their coffee, bagels, and specials.

Well, we went to Stew Leonards, picked up a prime rib for tonight since it's the only night we all will be together.  We also stopped at Penzey's to pick up some spices that we needed for home, no doubt some we did not need.  Then, we came home, had lunch and while I stayed home and read and napped, Evie and Beth went out shopping at TJ's and other stores.  Since we are going into the city tomorrow to have dinner with some of my Robert College students, she wanted some new and nice to wear and they were successful.  Now, we are sipping a merlot, the prime rib is roasting, Marisa has buttered the popover pans, and now we have to wait for Tyler and Rami to get home.

The Girls at Trouts in Maine

A Day of Travel, Lake Thompson Maine to Darien, CT (315 miles)

Lake Thompson from the Trout's Beach

Nomad Cafe in Norwalk, ME

Relaxing after a Hard Day's Night

Evie Loving It at the Lake

Up at 6:30 to the sounds of dogs eating, prancing around upstairs, excited as usual to be up and out. Emmie slept on the floor in our room last night, at least for awhile.  We are off to Darien today, about a five or six  hour ride I think, and we should arrive around 4:00 if we don’t hit a lot of traffic in Hartford. 

A lazy day yesterday, except for Trout who put down some carpeting on the stairs.  We went off to the Noman Coffee Shop in the small town of Norwalk, where they shop for groceries.  We also dropped Trout’s boat off at the Marina.  We had a great sandwich there, good coffee and a reliable wifi as the wifi here in Trout’s house is the next door neighbors and it is not very reliable. 

We then relaxed all day, a beautiful day outside, doing little .  Trout and I did hit the hot tub after the carpeting, quite nice really, outside, the view of the lake and sun setting.  Then, for dinner, we went in to Auburn, about 45 minutes away, where we ate at Pat’s Pizza, a great place right on the river. 

We came home, watched TV and were in bed by about 10:00, a  great day, great weekend.  We already made our RESERVATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR!

We left the Armontrout's about 8:30, hit the NH liquor store about 9:30, bought 250 bucks worth of wine and booze, saving over a 100 bucks!  O, yea.  We then left for Darien, arriving about 2:30, about a six hour drive, even quicker if we had not stopped.  

We just got back from taking Marisa to soccer, Mitch to physical therapy, and now it's time to have some Saint Andre and sip some wine.  Tyler doesn't get home till 7:00, so we will pick him up then, eat around 7:15.  

A Beautiful Day on Lake Thompson, Maine

At Hardej's 

Up at 7:00 to sounds of Ellery and Christine packing, coffee brewing, just Vickie and me and Christine and Ellery.  It’s a beautiful crisp morning, great view of the sunlit eastern side of the lake.  Evie and Trout got up soon, as Christine and Ellery were heading back to  Portland alas and Ben was taking off for northern Maine, to hunt grouse, courtesy of LL Beans policy to give employees time off to pursue outdoor, Bean-like, activities.

We had a great day yesterday, perfect for walking, crisp air, leaves crunching, and four dogs chasing through the woods as we walked in the morning. Linda and Hobart Hardej, friends from Reserve and neighbors of the Trouts, had us over for a lovely brunch.  They live right on the lake, in the woods, a great house and view.  We had brunch there last year as well so this trip east is becoming, we all hope, a tradition.  Linda made an amazing pastry like borek of cheese and ham, along blueberry pancakes, fruit salad, and a huge plate of bacon.  Hobart made the omelette, of cheese, meat, and other goodies, so we had a feast for the morning, as the dogs sat outside on the porch looking in.  They live about a mile away so we walked over and back it was so nice outside.

We then spent the afternoon putzing around, Evie cut the lawn,Trout and I raked some leaves, some of us watched football, others took naps, while Christine and Ben got dinner ready.  They had planned out this dinner way ahead, started shopping for it on Thursday, worked on it Friday afternoon as well as a good part of Saturday and it was worth it.  Like last year, it was a five course feast, starting with appetizers around 5:30, as we sat around talking. It was the Trouts, Christine and Ben and Ellery, of course, the Hardej's, and friends from Groton, Jake and Sally Congleton, who also live on Lake Thompson, same group as last year.  We literally sat and ate and drank from 6:30 until about 9:30, with one course outdoing the next.  The coup de grace was grilled marinated rabbit, a cross between perhaps a turkey and pork, though it was hard to tell.  Check out my pictures of the meal on the next blog.

The Guys

The cook gets ready the mimosas

Painting pumpkins with Evie and Ellery

The girls want inside!