A Warm Sunday in November

7:00

7:30

Up about 6:20, to a partly cloudy sky, fairly warm, about 43 degrees with the highs around 59 later, very unusual for this time of the year but I will take it.  We are off for a walk with Ron and Linda at 10:00, around the north basin of the lake, then back to their house for bloody mary's and breakfast, a good way to start a leisurely Sunday.  It should be mostly sunny all day, with rain coming tonight and tomorrow, snow possibly later in the week.  We head to Kansas City on Friday, so I hope the weather doesn't deteriorate too much.

Yesterday morning, fairly early because it was so beautiful out, we decided to go kayaking before we went off  to the AAUW Fair.  As we were starting out, we heard shotguns going off and as we paddled down towards the end of Woodlawn, there was a camouflaged boat, with decoys floating in front, dogs, three hunters; the dogs had just come into the boat with some ducks, a couple of buffleheads as you can see from the picture.  We asked them if they ate them, but they said no, they were too gamy which made me wonder why shoot them then.  I suppose they were looking for mallards and took whatever came their way.  They were certainly outfitted to the nth degree and I am sure it's the same boat and group that we came across a couple of years ago because both times, a woman was part of the group.  We paddled on, down beyond the campground and talked to a guy who had just built a new home on the water.  His name was Greg Fish, and he built this home on the footprint of his old cottage.  They actually used this place as a summer home because they lived in Ashville and it was easier when their kids were in school.  Now their kids are in college so they plan on living on the lake full time and like us, they revel in  getting up each morning on the lake.  A bit farther down the lake from their house, we ran into another duck hunting boat, so we decided to turn around and head home.  We went out into the middle to stay away from the duck hunters and it was strange to be kayaking on a lake where the hillsides were snow covered, as were the roofs of most houses.

Kayaking in front of our House

Hunter's Blind

Hunter with Bufflehead duck he shot

We also went to the Fair at Jamestown Community College, and it was interesting enough to go back next year.  Lots of crafts of course, but of a decent quality.  We didn't end up getting much, some ear rings, a sign that says, LET IT SNOW.  But, it was fun to browse, talk with venders, and it was quite crowded, which was good for the scholarships.

We ended up going out to eat with Ron and Linda Mc Clure last night.  We went to Petillio's, about as fine a dining as you can find in the area.  It's like time traveling into the past, as the restaurant has not changed much in thirty years, dark paneled walls, red leather booths and chairs, small intimate dining, duck tape afixed to doors to keep the wind out, yet packed with people, a very intimate bar, excellent food, a good evening because it reminded us of our old favorite, Bud's.  We will go back, for sure.  The Mc Clure's mentioned that they had over 7 inches of snow, much more than what we have had here on Woodlawn, emphasizing how much more snow the Mayville area gets then the rest of the lake.

Dinner with Mc Clures at House of Petillo