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| 7:01 |
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| 7:05 |
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| Buffelheads Return |
Perhaps I am beginning to get in a early morning routine, getting up just before 7:00, to the beginning of pink/orange off towards Bemus. When I went out to take my first photo of the changing sky, I heard my first cry from a loon though I am not sure where they were.
Yesterday was mostly cloudy, like Saturday, though we had no rain, just a wet chill to the air. Lucky for Evie, she slept in so I decided to get up off my couch and kayak because once again, the lake was unusually calm, almost black because of the clouds.
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| Ducks Among The Reeds |
As I paddled off, I heard gunshots from duck hunters off in the distance, not hidden in the reeds just beyond Victoria like last year. It was in the high 30's as I paddled and because my metal paddle was cold, my hands were as well. I guess I need heavier, more waterproof gloves. As far as I could see, I was the only one on the lake this early, other than rafts of ducks, hiding out at the water's edges, or in the reeds. I went as far as Bootey Bay, then back along the shore, counting the houses that seemed to be occupied. I counted two, one at Wells, one just beyond the reeds until I reached our place. What is it that draws us out, in all kinds weather, to enjoy the natural world, its wonder? That's it, I guess, its wonder.
When I returned, Evie was up, enjoying her coffee but still uncomfortable from her dental work so she was not up for a walk around the Chautauqua Institute. It's been a week now but it may take another week or more before she's back to normal, alas. It takes me just under an hour to walk the loop of the CI. Very little action this time of the year, as most of the houses are closed up, huge swathes of canvas enclosing their porches, and only two new houses going up, as building seems to be slowing down in this area. I met only two other walkers on my loop. It was perfect for walking, however, a great temperature so I never really was sweaty.
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| Bell Tower At Chautauqua Institute |
Afterwards, I drove to the Lighthouse, to pick up some ground chuck for burgers for dinner. So far Ron has dressed 120 deer, just from bow season and this past weekend, some guy brought in a 580 pound moose he shot in Maine. Needless to say, they had a heck of a time dressing it. Ron says moose meat is supposedly tasty.
When I got home, Evie had our favorite meal of the week ready, eggs, bacon and toast. We enjoyed it, waiting for the Kansas City/Buffalo football game to begin. KC is my son Tom's favorite team as well as my son-in-law Drew's, so it was fun to watch. KC managed to hang in there, though Buffalo certainly had chances to win.
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch With A Sunflower Seed |
We just hung out in the TV room most of the afternoon, both of us feeling guilty for not getting something done or going outside for a walk. C'est la vie...it was Sunday, a day of rest. For dinner, I cooked burgers outside on the grill, and we had sweet potatoes and salad to go along with them. We watched the last two hours of Olive Kitteridge on HBO and both of us loved it, as we watched Frances McDormand (thanks Vic) change through the years physically but stay mostly the same character, outspoken, lacking empathy and understanding of others, a shrew to most, but ultimately by the end, sympathetic. Bill Murray shows up in the last half hour and plays a widower, lost and friendless like Olive and they end up connecting as the film ends. HBO has been a game changer on television for years and this is another example of great TV.
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| Sunday Dusk |
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