Summer Returns

6:52

Ladies of the Kitchen

Up later than usual, around 7:00 and Evie was already up, since 5:15.  We are switching our roles for a day.  It's a bright and shiny morning, still cool outside, 57 degrees, but they predict it will be in the 80's later in the day.  Time to keep the windows closed.

Yesterday was a busy day, starting with a kayak ride off towards Warner Bay, as we wanted to see how vast the algae bloom was.  There were thick pockets of algae off of the Long Point Beach but when I got to the homes beyond, the water was surprising clear, so the bloom is inconsistent, a heavy bloom in some areas, not so in others.  I wish I knew how long it lasts, when we can get back in the water.  Later in the day, we boated to the CI, where the water front was closed, lots of weeds and algae whereas farther down the lake, at Lighthouse Point, the water was clear.  Figure?

Around 10:30, we took the boat over to the CI, parked at their dock, and when in for a walk through the avenues.  It was a lovely day for a walk, though warm, and we just meandered up and down the streets, enjoying the front yard gardens, seemingly every house outdoing the next door neighbor.  Most yards have a good deal of shade, so there are lots of hostas, ivy, pachysandra, things that don't need lots of sun.  The hydrangea trees were the most spectacular, with their globes, a soft white and pink.  We walked for about an hour, went to the Smith Library, saw nary a soul we knew.  The CI ends it season Sunday, so we will be able to enjoy it more often once it closes.  It's difficult to believe that summer is ending.

Most of the afternoon was spent cleaning the back porch for Evie, taking off all the furniture, washing down the walls and floors, so that it now looks spiffy, no clutter, no mess, everything in its place...for a day or two!

Ron and Linda had invited us for dinner so, since it was a beautiful night, we took our boat down to their house, about a half hour ride, a lovely late afternoon cruise.  We had a great dinner, Italian appetizers, and a butterflied leg of lamb, marinated and cooked on the grill, one of our favorite meals.  Our salad was especially good, roasted eggplant slices, with a slice of tomato and mozzarella on top, with vinegar and oil.  A great meal.   We ate outside, as night descended, enjoying our food, catching up, until about 9:40 when we headed home.  It was a dark night, though a fair sized crescent moon hung over the west side of the lake and the stars were out.  We took our time going home, kept out in the center of the lake, used the Bell Tower, then Prendergast Point as navigational points, and got home around 10:30.  It was a perfect night on the lake, chilly enough to want a fleece even a blanket but not cold.  We wonder why we don't do this more often---perhaps we will.