Spring Temperatures Return For The Week

Mallard Mom And Her Ducklings

Northern Sky at 7:25

Southern Sky At 7:38

It was quiet and cool, 57º, when I came downstairs at 5:50.  No observable sunrise this morning because of the clouds.  A light wind rustles the flag, the lake, as the birds sing their early morning songs.  It's 8:00 and I am back from a paddle.  It's worth the effort each morning, especially if I get a  good photograph of a heron.  It was difficult today because the lake was choppy and it was difficult to steady the camera.  Fortunately, I was able to photograph a mallard family, practically hidden by the shoreline.

Heron On Driftwood

Heron Among The Reeds

We planned our Sunday around the weather report, as usual, a mistake.  It was supposed to start raining at 11:00, so after a paddle, after our coffee and breakfast, we both went outside intent on getting things done in the yard before the rain.  Well, it didn't rain at 11:00, in fact, it waited until 5:00 to start a drizzle.  As a result, we pulled weeds, dug up the ground and spread mulch for most of the morning, trying to give to health to the red twigs we chopped down yesterday.

Gourd (present from Ellen)  In The Garden

Around 12:30, we had our big breakfast, eggs, bacon, and for a change, naan.  We watched CBS Sunday morning and loved the section where they discussed the putting of pianos all over New York City, to encourage people coming together in music.  They even have volunteers who will cover the pianos with a tarp if it rains.  This is why CBS Sunday Morning is such a good show; there's always something uplifting, in contrast to the usual political news.

Amsonia or 'Bluestar" from Sandy's Perrenial Garden

Namaste

Our afternoon was not much different from the morning.  Because we felt we had to get things done in the garden before the rain, we ended up outside the rest of the afternoon although I did get in a nap and some book time, as I am reading the biography of Wilt Chamberlain.  I was curious about his life and requested it from the Olean Library.  For Evie and most gardeners that I know, the garden always needs more work, more digging, weeding, trimming, or planting.  So she spent the rest of the afternoon doing just that while taking frequent breaks.  I, however, went back to my old tricks, cleaning out the garage, reorganized the shelves, throwing out things I no longer need, then sweeping it out.  In other words, getting it ready to get messy again.

7:33 PM

7:36 PM

It actually did start to rain around 5:00, continuing into the early evening, but a measly eighth of an inch fell if that.  We hoped to sit on our front porch and watch the storm come in but found it was too windy, even cold to sit outside so we had our libations and appetizer inside, listening to music.  We watched it rain, then clear up a bit and enjoyed out pretzels, radishes, carrots, dips and almonds.  By the time we finished our wine time, we were not that hungry so we ended up having burgers, done inside in pan, for dinner, with a helping of coleslaw.  We watched some of the Cavs, a Colbert, some news before going up to bed.  In my book, at the moment, Wilt is in a fraternity at Kansas in 1957, seemingly just one of the guys, enjoying college life despite his notoriety.  He's well-liked, obviously, a superstar on both the basketball court and track yet seems to be a normal college guy.