Almost Down To Eight, Alas

The Captain And Her Mate

Cruising To The Chautauqua Institution

5:45

A gray, overcast morning at 5:40, the lake calm, the temperature, 66º as the weather seems to have changed and we have rain forecast for most of the day.  Ramiro was to leave this morning at 4:00 for an early meeting in Indianapolis but he slept through his alarm and will leave later this morning at 11:30 for Dallas, skipping the meeting.  And both Tom and Jill and their families left Sunday morning, leaving their daughters with us until Friday. I paddled off at 7:00 in a light rain but it soon stopped so I had a good morning on the lake, catching two herons before they flew off.

Kayaking In the Rain

Old Henry

And Friend

So yesterday was not the most pleasant of days because some had to get home for work.  I was up early with Rami, went for a quick paddle, then drove to the Lighthouse Point Grocery at 8:00 to pick up a favorite breakfast meat, peameal bacon, a Canadian specialty.  We love it and usually serve it every summer so we wanted to make sure everyone enjoyed it before they left.  Beth, again, took over breakfast, frying eggs, the Canadian bacon, and toasting bagels as people wanted.  The car which was taking them to the airport arrived an hour early so he sat in our parking area until 10:15 when we bid the five of them adieu and then we were nine. 

Off On A Boat Ride

We decided to boat to the Chautauqua Institution at 11:00, a slow 25-minute cruise away.  It was a fine morning to be on the lake but we were joined by lots of boats, making the lake somewhat choppy.  We were able to dock our boat on their dock, then walked up the hill, just missing the morning service in the Amphitheater.

Enjoying The Grounds Of The Chautauqua Institution

So we walked around, enjoying the busyness of it before doing some browsing in the bookstore and a couple of more stores.  Beth and Rami found a neat antique plate, Marisa a sweatshirt, and the three girls found a bracelet they liked.  We then boated home as it started to cloud up and started to rain a half hour after we returned home, so it was good timing.

Cruising Home

Evie and Beth the made lunch, hot dogs, and Italian sausages as we had worked up an appetite walking around the CI. After lunch, there was a palpable drop in energy, mostly because Tommy and Jill and their families were heading home.  So the boys hung out, playing games on their devices, the girls sat on the front porch with Beth, braiding friendship bracelets.  

Making Friendship Bracelets

The rest of us did some cleaning up and prepping for dinner before relaxing as well.  Late afternoon, the guys went upstairs with Evie and put the bedrooms back together, moving mattresses back into the attic, rearranging the chests of drawers, putting them back where they belong.  It was a big help to get it done instead of leaving it for Evie and me to do.

The Thrill Of Bean Bag Victory

Before dinner, the girls and Evie went for a swim and played some beanbag.  Around 6:30, Mitch and I barbecued some chicken thighs while Evie and Beth made the noodles, simmering them in chicken broth, then making a salad and frying up some zucchini and roasted cauliflower. Again, this is a traditional summer dinner when our family is here at the lake, especially the noodles in chicken broth.  

The Reeds, Early Morning

After dinner, we sat around either playing games on our devices, reading or talking.  Around 8:30, the kids talked Ramiro into driving them to Boxcar Barney's ice cream stand in Mayville.  So they were happy and did not get back until 9:30.  Just after 10:00, the grandchildren went into the TV room to watch another scary movie but it was time for bed for the adults.  I have no idea what time the kids got to bed just so they were quiet...and they were.  

I am not sure what today will bring because of the rain but I am sure it will involve some shopping because homemade pasta carbonara is on the menu, a request of the boys.  And we will no doubt be baking something, perhaps croissants, perhaps another dessert with blueberries although the six pounds we picked last week is gone.