The Big Melt Cometh

7:10

7:52

Dinner with Donna and Sam Nelson

Sparrow and Finches

Walking in the Campground

Up at 6:30, to what appears to be a clear sky, and stars were out when I picked up the paper.  It's 14º outside, the coldest day since we have returned to the lake, but it's supposed to warm up over the next couple of days, in the 30's today, perhaps 40's tomorrow, so we may be out kayaking by the end of the week.  That would be cool.  Today is supposed to be clear, so a hike is in order somewhere as my yoga class has been cancelled, for the third time in the past few weeks, aggravating because I had planned on it.  Go with the flow, right.

The lake is beginning to show large cracks in front of our house and it's open down towards the end of Woodlawn, moving south towards us.  There were still fishermen out yesterday along Long Point but I assume this will change as it warms up.  Yesterday began with a 9:30 Yin Yoga class, my favorite class because it's restorative, long poses, and I like the teacher, helpful and in no hurry.  I think I am getting more and more into yoga as I sat down and started reading my yoga manual with pictures, trying to understand and pay attention to the poses, to the various aspects of yoga, asana or the physical part of class being only part of the whole experience.  I still am not in to practicing yoga at home on my own, I suppose that's the mark of a serious yoga student.  Not there yet.

I got home around 11:30 and Evie and I were planning on walking Long Point Park, but she had a couple of long telephone calls with friends so we decided to stick around our area, so we walked the campground, a nice walk, some of it in the pine woods which I love.  As usual, we were the only people around, all the snow mobilers home till the weekend, and no activity that I could see in any of the RV's.  I was thinking about this, our always being solitary and alone when we go on walks, whether the woods, Long Point, the CI, whatever.  We seem to be one of few people who hike in the area, which I know is not true, but it sure seems that way.  We see an occasional dog walker at Long Point, or a couple of people at the CI on Sundays, but that's about it.  No one has the time we do, as most are working, and all they want to do is fall in a chair and relax after a day of work.  We are lucky to have such 'large leisure."  Gratitude, my focus in yoga class yesterday!

We had our old friends, Sam and Donna Nelson over for dinner.  Both are retired, Donna a librarian, Sam a teacher at BOCES.  They live in Busti, have lived in this area all their lives.  We got to know them at Bud's Carriage House restaurant, in the late 1980's and early 1990's when Bud's was a destination for us most Friday nights.  We have seen them off and on over the years, in fact, they helped us get our Rod and Gun membership.  Donna works part time now at the independent bookstore in Lakewood, and Sam cuts hay for farmers during the warm months.  Both like to keep busy.  We had a great dinner, breaded pork shops. home made pumpkin rolls, apple sauce, and brownies for dessert.  Sam's a martini man, so I finished up my bottle of Beefeaters.  They always bring us something when we have them over, a water pitcher for Evie, a bottle of Old Amsterdam vodka for me.  We had a fun evening, reminiscing about the old days at Buds and the Ironstone.  They left about 9:00, just right as all of us had a long day.  Good people.