A Foggy Stillness

6:30

Up at 6:00, to a foggy morning, best described, I think, in today's poem from The Writer's Almanac by Wendell Berry.  The third stanza is particularly apt for this morning.

VII by Wendell Berry Again I resume the long lesson: how small a thing can be pleasing, how little in this hard world it takes to satisfy the mind and bring it to its rest. Within the ongoing havoc the woods this morning is almost unnaturally still. Through stalled air, unshadowed light, a few leaves fall of their own weight.                                        The sky is gray. It begins in mist almost at the ground and rises forever. The trees rise in silence almost natural, but not quite, almost eternal, but not quite.                       What more did I think I wanted? Here is what has always been. Here is what will always be. Even in me, the Maker of all this returns in rest, even to the slightest of His works, a yellow leaf slowly falling, and is pleased.

A great poem

Yesterday ended up being pretty nice, though the middle of the day was  all FUTBOL!!!! USA, USA, USA.  Morning began with yoga, a small class which is surprising for Thursdays, but Danielle is always inventive when class is small, so we did some interesting and different asanas, mostly what she called chest openers, some using the wall.  Then on to Wegman's, to pick up some things for dinner and a Danny's Sub, big enough for lunch for two days, and some chips, just the perfect lunch for watching the USA vs Germany, starting at noon.  The game was a bit disappointing as it was clear that Germany was far superior to the USA, with its individual skills and passing the best I have seen, but the USA hung in there, despite the German team holding the ball close to 70% of the time and outshooting the USA by a wide margin.  My favorite player, Mesut Ozel, a Turk born in Germany, is a pleasure to watch, a great passer, subtle ball handler.  Anyways, even though USA lost 1-0, they qualified for the Knock Out Stage because Ghana lost to Portugal, pushing the US into the second round.  It was great to see some of the outdoor venues in the States, Chicago, Kansas City,  and Buffalo go wild when the US took a shot on goal.

After the futbol game, our lunch, we both relaxed outside, on the dock till it got too windy, then in the yard, in the warm sun.  We are both now reading the same book, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. I am in the last quarter and just want to finish it, tired of fighting back tears, unsuccessfully I might add.

Late Afternoon Clouds: 6:30

Around 4:00,  I drove over to Bemus once again, and took the bike ride I wanted to take the day before but cancelled because of rain.  It was a windy ride the first part, but once I got on Lakeside and Long Point Park, it was fine.  And I was the only one riding on the road, in the park, which was nice.  A few hikers were out on Long Point but that was about it.  I checked at the Marina and they were having a band that night, a special dinner of two fajitas and rice for seven bucks. We thought about going but it was too nice in our yard.  When I got back, I joined Evie and we stayed outside until 6:30, as it was too nice to go inside and get dinner ready.  Evie made BLT's for dinner and a strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing.  We caught up on Stewart and Colbert, both seem a little tired this summer, then watched a new episode of Rectify on Sundance, a show worth watching.  This is the second season and it was picked up by Sundance.  I also read that our other favorite show The Killing, which was cancelled has been picked up by Netflix and will start anew in August.  Cool.