EARLY RISING ON CHAUTAUQUA LAKE: A Nifty Fifty Degree Morning

A daily journal of our lives (begun in October 2010), in photos (many taken by my wife, Evie) and words, mostly from our home on Chautauqua Lake, in Western New York, where my wife Evie and I live, after my having retired from teaching English for forty-five years in Hawaii, Turkey, and Ohio. We have three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson, as you will notice if you follow my blog since we often travel to visit them. Photo from our porch taken on 11/03/2024 at 7:07 AM

Saturday, September 3, 2016

A Nifty Fifty Degree Morning

6:37

6:55

6:57

6:58

Wow, what a morning sky, of fog rising, sun rising, a lake like glass and 50º. And nothing but clear skies and 70 + weather through the holiday weekend, just what the doctor ordered for Evie's sisters. I should be out kayaking through the rising fog but instead, here I sit with Evie and Henry, my brother in law, writing my blog for the day.

Kayak Morning

Yesterday was a full day with the sisters, starting with a gradual waking up. I was the first up, then Henry, then one sister after another, all having slept well because of the cool evening. We just sat around talking until a quick and easy breakfast of bagels and melon, enough to keep us happy until lunch. After breakfast, four of us went kayaking on a still fairly empty lake; I don't think it will be that way today. We fought some waves and wind over to Long Point but it was easier returning to Woodlawn. We then took it easy, either on the porch or yard or dock, enjoying the coolish weather. Around 1:30, all of us started to get hungry so Evie got out the sloppy joe's she had made in June for when our kids were here, but we never ended up having them. So we had them for lunch, with dill pickles of course and everyone loved them, not having had them I think in years. Real comfort food.

Swimming Before Lunch

After lunch, the sisters moved the table out to the lakefront and played a rousing game of Scrabble, Claire winning and bragging mightily about it. Henry and I stayed in the house, and I took a brief nap then read some, he played poker on his iPad. We all played some bean bag getting us ready for many more games this weekend.

Scrabble By The Lake

About 4:30, the lake calmed down enough for us to gather in the boat and go for a nice booze cruise to Bemus Point and back along Lakeside Drive, ogling all the neat houses, luxuriating in the warm sun.

Jean And Elaine

We did not get back until after 6:00, so it was time to get busy in the kitchen. Evie put all three sisters to work, making fresh pasta, as she seared the shrimp and scallops and made a wine, garlic, lemon and shallot sauce. It was fun with all of us in the kitchen, Henry and I watching the sisters kibitz as they worked. We sat down to a great homemade pasta and seafood dinner around 7:00 and by the time we got up, nothing was left. Need I say more about the dinner.

Pasta Sisters

Hanging Out With The Pasta

Scallops And Shrimp

Dinner, Again

We then sat in the living room, listening to music, playing a game as a group on the computer called Heads Up, waiting for the Cassata cake to come to room temperature. Finally, it was time for the cutting of the cake and it was amazingly good. How could it not be with cake, strawberries, ricotta pastry cream filling and tons of fresh whipped cream for frosting. It was one of the best desserts I have had in awhile. Around 10:30, we started going up to bed, the thought of a cool night of sleep beckoning us.