Chillin As Fall Arrives in July

A Happy Evie Surrounded By Grandchildren

Sunrise, 6:40

Evie and I are up at 6:30, mostly cloudy but some sun rays peak through above Long Point, a new and different day from yesterday's rain and wind, gray skies, living inside with an occasional swim by the crazies, Evie, the girls and boys, out to the dock for a quick dip, shampoo, and out.  As we were sipping our coffee, Marlena came down, in a half daze, and Evie talked her into going back to bed, to see if she could sleep...so far, so good at 7:20.

So the rain and gray skies defined most of yesterday but did not eliminate the fun.  With the grandchildren around, it's hard to get depressed by the gray weather, as they are always up to something, usually with or a result of their Granny.

Tom and Marisa Take A Morning Swim

Around 8:30, both Tom and Marisa jumped in the lake, despite the cold weather, briefly I might add.  We hung out early, enjoyed freshly made banana muffins made by Beth, and goofed around, trying to figure out our day.  The girls wanted to go in again, so Evie braved the winds, jumped in  with the girls, and enjoyed it as long as they stayed in the water; it was the wind that was cold.

At The Ashville Library With Libby

Around 11:30, Evie and I took the girls to the Ashville Library; they wanted mostly to see Libby, the library cat, but also took out some books and a couple of videos. We had a nice talk with Tabby, the librarian, and she mentioned that people come from afar just to say hi to Libby.  While we returned from the library, Tom and Mary drove off to work out at the YMCA, then did another mega shopping trip at Wegmans. We had a lunch of leftovers, as Evie took everything leftover out of the fridge and said 'this is lunch.'  So we had tuna salad, three soups, brisket, and cheese sandwiches for Marlena. Tyler and Helen took off to visit the Ashville Country Store, and other sites. I drove to the Chautauqua Marina to pick up a new valve for another tube, just what we need, bringing the number up to six floaties.  Beth did some crocheting, relaxed, and I took a brief power nap, regaining my energy.

Marisa

Marlena

Evie, With Her  Granddaughters, Helen and Isabelle

By the time I woke, Evie and the grandkids were out on the dock, in the water, despite the gray skies, occasionally rain drops, and wind.  They always manage to have fun, regardless the weather.

Checking Out The Casino Menu

Waiting For Wings

Everyone was back in the house by 4:00, and we then got ready to go to the Casino for the annual Monday wing night, some thing we have done each summer for thirty three years.  I cannot say each year it gets better but at least it's a fun night.  The kids love playing the games while we wait for our wings, playing out side in the playground after dinner but yesterday it was too cold for that.  Our wings, unfortunately, were not 'hot off the fryer' as we pointedly asked because last time we were there, they were also cold.  So, we ended up talking to the manager, got another couple of 'hot wings' and they comped us twenty bucks.  Big deal.  We would rather have wings right out of the fryer.  And they have tried to make the experience more up scale, getting rid of baskets for fries and wings, putting them on ridiculously small, square white plates.  And they have changed the sizes of an order, no doubt, to charge more.  We may look for another wing experience though the Casino, especially when you can boat there, is a great time even if the food is fair to middling.

Catching the Big Ones

Tyler Redux

We of course walked to the grocery store's open counter for ice cream cones, on a chilly night, so we did not linger in Bemus.  When we returned home, it was 7:30, so the boys, Tommy and Helen and I  decided to go fishing.  We took the cover off the boat, drove off to Tom's Point, then our sweet spot by the reeds, then along Woodlawn but had no luck, surprise.  And even though it was a cloudy, cool evening, it was great to be out on the lake at dusk.  When we came back to the lake, those crazy granddaughters were in the lake again, swimming for at least fifteen minutes, waiting for us to return. Evie showed some sense for once and just watched.

Bananagrams With The Grandchildren

After swimming and fishing, the gang played Bananagrams, the highlight being Mitch's imaginative spelling of words.  Around 9:45, Rami drove in after a quick day trip to New York City and back to the lake.  He seemed surprisingly chipper for a drive to and from Buffalo, as well as a plane ride to New York and back.  While the games were going on, my son, daughter, and daughter in law were all transfixed for two hours, watching the last episode of The Bachelorette, a thrilling reality show.  We all went up to bed around 11:15, clearing the TV room so Tyler, Helen and the boys would watch a movie.  Not sure what time they ended up going to bed.  I do know that when I came down this morning, the lights were still on in the living room and kitchen. Doesn't anyone no how to turn off a light when they go to bed.  Do I sound like an old grandfarter as my father in law used to say?  Yes to both.

Monday Night Dusk

Some sun forecast for today but cool, but that will not stop us from enjoying the water.