Chautauqua Calm

7:06

7:08

7:30

I am up at my usual, 6:00,  a band of pink of Bemus Bay, then a light blue sky.  It sounds like this will be the last clear day, as much needed rain is predicted for tonight and tomorrow. Right now I am enjoying the moment, waiting for the sun to rise above the sky line in 15 minutes or so.  A few guys are out on the lake fishing, a few sea gulls flutter by, a typical morning here at Chautauqua Lake

We got a good paddle in around 10:00, after I went off to breakfast in Bemus at 8:00, with the guys, breaking my healthy breakfast routine of yogurt and granola by having two poached eggs on hash, in fact, all three of us had the same thing. Yum.  While I was gone, Evie got busy, cleaning the kitchen and downstairs while I was living it up with breakfast.  So, we took off towards Maple Springs in our kayaks, on a smooth, windless morning, heading straight across the lake, not our favorite way because we like to hug the shore.  When we got to the Eastern shore, the water was clear, the shore surprising shallow in some areas.  It makes one wonder how some of the boats are able to get out from their docks.

The afternoon went too quickly, as we read and swam, the lake amazing, clear and calm, no algae either. There were more boats on the lake than usual for this time of the year because it was another perfect day on the lake.  We were going out for dinner at our neighbor's at 6:30 but we couldn't resist a cruise around 5:00 for an hour, down to Whitney Bay and back.  The wind picked up just before we left but it was still nice to be out on the water.

Dinner with Charlie, Ken, Marjorie and Mary Ann

At 6:30, we walked over to Margie and Ken Scholtz's house, three doors down.  We have become good friends over the past couple of years since we have both retired.  And we both have a teaching background, so we have lots in common.  And their good friend, Charlie Tea, also a retired teacher, is usually included.  Marjorie's sister, Mary Ann, also joined us.  We got together last week at our house and intend on going out next week.  We are becoming so social that I can hardly stand it!  We sat out on their great porch for wine and appetizers, then had a great dinner of sauteed vegetables, a spiced and grilled chicken breast and peach short cake for dessert.  We never lack for something to talk about because we all have teaching stories, numerous grandchildren, and are fairly liberal so we had a good time talking about the previous night's debate.  It's always uncomfortable talking about politics if you not sure of your friends politics. Fortunately, we all seem to agree.  Religion, however, is off the table (for now).

We got home about 9:30, in time to watch the Chiefs/Broncos play for a quarter before going upstairs to read and sleep.

I am driving into Erie today for a yearly doctor's appointment, perhaps a stop at Dick's Sporting Goods and Wegman's, and then I have an oil change scheduled for my Honda Pilot.  Not my favorite way to spend a Friday morning and early afternoon.