Three More Days

7:07

7:27

7:53

It's 8:45 and we are listening to NPR interview the actors from Netflix's new series, "The Queen's Gambit" which we liked and finished last evening.  We loved the last episode even if it was predictable.  I paddled for forty-five minutes, the first really cold paddle of the fall, a chilly 32º.  Fortunately, the wind had died, the lake was smooth, making for an easy paddle.

Kayak Morning

Duck Blind Along Victoria

Yesterday was wet and gray, no surprise as it has been that way for the past couple of days.  It was so bleak early that I decided to skip kayaking, something I rarely do.  The morning seems much longer when I don't get out there on the lake so I filled in the void with a yoga practice in our living room, listening to Pure Yoga on my headphones.  Once I finished up, we both wanted to get in a walk so we drove off to the Chautauqua Institution, thinking it would not be muddy like the woods.  Fall has waned, as most of the trees have lost their leaves covering the walks.  We walked for close to an hour and it was a good choice, as there is always something to look at, something we have not noticed on our previous walks.  For the first time in months, we did not need a pass to enter the grounds, as things are settling down.  

Wearing My Deer Season Hat

Brick Walk

I was looking forward to lunch because Evie had hard-boiled some eggs earlier in the morning,  She made me three small egg salad sandwiches and I was happy, watching my show and looking forward to an afternoon of reading and perhaps a nap.  I did read and nap and when I woke Evie had taken off to return some things to TJ Maxx and, no doubt, bring home some new clothes.  This time, however, she bought me some gloves which I wanted as well as a cool sweatshirt for her.  

Floating Dock Moving South

We relaxed the rest of the afternoon, listening to the news, having a glass of wine until 6:00 when I drove over to Bemus Point to pick up two fish fries from the Seezurh House, hoping they would be just as good even if they were not straight out of the fryer.  Evie put them briefly in a 400º oven when I returned and we really enjoyed them and will do it again.  

We watched another Colbert, a fun interview with Julie Andrews, energetic and charming.  We then watched the last episode of The Queen's Gambit, sad to see the series end  We finished the night with The Great English Baking Show and Hometown, both antidotes to the 'never-ending polls and maps' on all channels.  

Windy, Wet, And Cold(37º)

8:40

I slept in for the first time in years if getting up at 7:15 is sleeping in.  I also decided to forego a paddle because of the weather, wet, cold, and windy.  It's just too dreary out to motivate me.  It's been like this for a couple of days, what I call Chautauqua gray, with lots of drizzle, little accumulation of rain.

Yesterday was as I mentioned, overcast much of the day although I did get in an early paddle.  After our morning constitutionals, paddling, blog and breakfast, I spent a half-hour practicing Yoga With Adrienne, trying to get back in the routine at least three or four times a week.  I then decided to drive to Jamestown and mail a couple of packages at the UPS store on Foote Avenue, a half-hour drive. All went well at first; I ordered Chinese food for take out, then mailed my packages.  I came out jumped in my car, ready to drive a half-mile to pick up my take out and the car would not start.  Usually, when this happens, I can play around with the gear shift and the car will start.  This time it wouldn't so I called AAA and they said a tow truck would be by in forty-five minutes.  Fortunately, there was a Mc Donald's next door so I picked up a Big Mac and fries, waiting for the tow truck and fiddling with the key and gear shift when, to my surprise, the car started.  I quickly texted the tow truck to cancel the tow and drove home, enjoying my sandwich on the way. I parked the car so that I could easily get a tow if necessary in our parking area.  I then tried the ignition again and it would not start until I played around with the key and the shift again and it started.  I am not sure what I am going to do about it, take it to a mechanic, or ignore it.

Victoria Creek

That ended my excitement or trouble for the day.  While I was gone, Evie made our dinner, Santa Fe Chicken, chicken thighs with hominy, sweet potatoes, green taco sauce and chiles.  I was tired from my morning angst, read and napped as usual.  Neither of us did much the rest of the afternoon until 4:00 when the drizzle stopped.  I decided to get some exercise and walked to Victoria and the woods.  It turned out to be surprisingly pleasant, the woods still wet, the floor covered with leaves.

Fallen Leaves

Tree Trunks Rising

We had time to enjoy our wine because dinner was practically done and Evie made some popcorn for an appetizer, something we should do more often. Dinner was satisfying, loving the hominy, sweet potatoes, and chiles,  and we watched our usual shows, Colbert, The Queen's Gambit and The Great British Baking show before bed.

More Gray, More Rain

6:18

It's misty outside, both lake and sky gray on a wet morning.  It's 43º and it does not look as if we will see the Sun until Saturday.  Surprisingly, yesterday afternoon, the sun came out for maybe an hour, cheering us up, lighting up the lake and sky with blue.  I decided to get in a paddle despite the drizzle, donned my rain pants and slicker, and enjoyed a forty-minute paddle in light rain.

Kayaking Along The Shore

Paddling North

Eagle

Yesterday was a day for shopping, for stocking up after a couple of weeks.  I got in a paddle, down to Magnolia, then wrote the blog and had breakfast.  While Evie made up her shopping list and organized, I practiced yoga for the first time in weeks, watching a Yoga With Adrienne show called Yoga for The Dead. I needed it and felt righteous afterward for having done it.  Around 11:15,  I drove off to do some shopping, hitting Walmart to pick up a few things, then the booze store to stock up on Black Velvet for the long, long winter nights when a Manhattan is our panacea.  Everywhere I went, people are wearing masks which is good to see.  

When I returned, Evie had my lunch ready, a quesadilla filled with garlic spinach, a nice change.  She then left for a mega shopping outing, hitting both Wegman's and T, J, Maxx. I watched my show, then read and napped until a phone call woke me up.  I then relaxed on the couch until I realized that the rain had stopped and the sun had come out, seemingly drying up the yard.  Evie was still shopping at 3:30 so I went out and powered up the lawnmower and mulched our front yard and hour neighbors, both covered with leaves despite mulching a day or two ago.  

Late Afternoon Blue

Evie came home with lots of goodies, from both TJ and Wegmans, excited with some of her finds from TJ. We put away the groceries, and she tried on some of the things she bought, separating the keepers from those she will return.  Since dinner was already made, the beef stew from Monday, we were able to relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the brief blue skies and resting lake.  We ate at 6:30, the stew just as good if not better, the Brussel sprouts tender and tasty, the salad nice and vinegary.  We watched Colbert, Real Time With Bill Maher, The Queens Gambit, and The Great English Baking Show, quite an eclectic viewing for the evening. 

Gray Days

Still Spectacular/Last Four Dahlias

7:29

7:30

 It's 7:15 and I am regretfully listening to Morning Joe go over the same thing day after day, the polls that suggest Joe or Dump will win a particular state.  Seven more days and what will they talk about?  And how can I survive the waiting for Tuesday night? Doris Kearns Goodwin is speaking now, what a relief to hear a different perspective, one based on history.  I just walked out to get the paper at 7:30, and it's raining so I may have to delay my paddle. Well, I got a paddle in, north to Magnolia and back. 

Fall Filtered Photo 

Kayak Morning

Another McMansion In Magnolia

Yesterday was another gray day, with drizzle on and off although it did not stop us from getting outside.  After a good paddle, breakfast, and the blog, we got a few things done in the house and then decided to get in a walk.  We decided on Long Point despite the fact it might be muddy.  We drove over to the end of Lakeside Drive, parked, and walked for almost an hour on paths covered with leaves, as the trees are beginning to show their bones. 

The paths were fine and we only ran into another hiker when we walked out to the end of Long Point.  It was good to be in the woods again, such a contrast to our walks on the beach last week.  

Love It... On #394 Near Our House

We were back by 12:30, time for lunch.  I warmed up the leftover pork barbecue and made a couple of sandwiches topped with coleslaw and watched my show, back in the noontime saddle again.  I was anxious to get back to my book, The Gift Of Rain but quickly fell asleep as I obviously need some rest.  Once I woke, I got back to my book, watched some TV with Evie then around 5:00, when Evie started her Zoom call with her sisters, I went out in a light drizzle and mowed our neighbors' yard for some exercise and because the leaves were so thick. Of course, this morning it looks like it was never cut as does our yard after mowing it on Sunday afternoon.  Another week and we won't have to worry as the trees are on their last gasp of autumn.  

Late Tuesday Afternnoon

For dinner, we ordered take-out from Steener's Pub.  We order the Delmonico steak special with fries and it has become our go-to on many Tuesdays.  I was surprised at how busy it was when I picked up my order, the bar filled, the restaurant at least half full, almost normal, as if the virus had disappeared. I guess most around her at not that worried about it.  Our steaks and fries were good, the reason we order it quite often.  We got back in the groove by watching Colbert and particularly enjoyed his interviews, with Sasha Baron Cohen and Jeff Tweety, from the group Wilco.  We then watched two episodes of The Queen's Gambit and one more episode of The Great British Baking Show, always a good way to end the night.

Back To Routine

7:30

7:54

8:02

9:13

It's 7:45 as I start this blog and I have been up for an hour, watching the sky change from black to Chautauqua gray, sky and lake, with a slash of pink off to the south  Fortunately, the rain has abated, the winds died and I cannot wait to get out on the lake for a paddle.  I was out for forty five minutes, paddling down to Bootey Bay and back.

Kayak Morning

A Pair Of Great Blues

It was strange to be back at our home after a week of the good life at the beach.  We still have autumn colors although they are starting to fade.  It felt normal to be back out on the lake in the morning although I was alone, the only boat.  I did, however, hear a gunshot off in the distance, so duck hunters were up and out although I could not find them. My morning quickly reverted to form, up early, coffee, listening to Morning Joe, then kayaking, writing the blog, having Evie choose photos, then breakfast.  Once all that was finished, I did not know what else to do, typical for the first day home after a trip.  

Finally, I decided to get organized, to unpack my clothes, do up the dishes, get a few things done to feel useful.  Evie, as well, followed suit although she had a hankering for a good beef stew so the house was filled with the smell of sauteed veggies. I finished my Maggie O'Farrell novel, really liked it and downloaded another book I have been wanting to read, The Gift of Rain.  I had read the author, Eng Tan Twan's latest novel, The Garden of Evening Mists, and loved it.  Both are set in Malaysia before, during, and after WW II.  I need a good book to read, something I can turn to any time of the day if I feel like it.  

Lunch was a spinach and fried eggs, with toast, a nice change and I am back to my series, Babylon Berlin, the third season,  Things are not going well for Gereon, not surprising as it's the beginning of the rise of Nazi Germany.  I then started my new book, fell asleep for an hour, woke up feeling groggy, not wanting to do much except stay on the couch, and read.  Evie had finished the stew and was continuing to explore all the new apps on her phone.  She loves it.  Around 4:00, I was so bored that I decided to vote.  I drove to Mayville, wondering if there would be a line.  There was, one person.  I voted and was back in my car, heading to Tops Grocery within five minutes.  I picked up a few staples and was home by wine time, at 5:30.  

It was nice to sit in our living room once again, looking out at the lake, the changing sky and colors as the sun began to hide behind the trees.  Dinner was just what we wanted, a tender beef stew with veggies and mashed potatoes.  We started a new series on Netflix called The Queen's Gambit.  It's decent, not great so far but we will keep watching.  We also watched the opening of SNL which  was not up to snuff.  Maybe we are getting bored with politics.  We ended the night with The Great English Baking Show.  What a relieft to watch somethng other than breaking news.

Waking To Another World

Our Granddaughter Marlena's Tennis Team Finishes Third In State of Missouri

Back On The Lake

9:07

It's just starting to get light at 7:21 and I have been up for an hour. It feels like a different world from the past week of waking to a vast ocean and sky, a beach with a sun rising above the waves.  Here, I feel the edges, my view locked or limited by the shorelines, by Long Point across from me, by Tom's Point, the yards on either side, no longer the wide-open horizon of the ocean. At the lake, however, we have the beauty of trees, of the changing colors of leaves, of woods, meadows, valleys whereas the beach lacks that richness of summer and  autumn color.  Its beauty lies in the changing colors of the expansive sky and ocean, the shoreline bare, sandy beaches and dunes.

Home

Victoria/Woodlawn

Kayaking Colors

Bald Eagle

Yesterday we were up early, ready to head home to the lake.  We said our goodbye's to Jill's family and we on our way to Chautauqua by 7:30, driving off on a 45º day in the drizzle, a stark contrast to life at Topsail Beach.  It was overcast most of the day, making the fall colors less spectacular than they should have been.  Still, some of the views were blog-worthy, the hills filled with fall colors.  

Road Tripping

Trucking Through The Trees

We stopped twice, once, for breakfast, the second time at Gio's, for our take out dinner, barbecued pork and coleslaw. As a week ago, most of rural Pennsylvania is littered with Trump signs although when we drove into the center of Warren, PA, a group of about 15 people were holding up Biden signs, having great fun as the cars drove by honking if they supported Biden. We listened to the morning new programs on CNN and then it was comedy hour, as Trump spoke in New Hamphire, like an insult comic, aggrieved and unpresidential as usual. 

Long Point Sunday Afternoon

A Freshly Mulched Yard

We were home by 2:30, to a yard covered with leaves, a gray sky, and six inches of rain in our rain gauge.  I guess we picked a good week to go to the beach. We easily unloaded the car and Evie, filled with excitement, opened her new iPhone 12 Pro which had arrived in the mail on Saturday.  While I put things away, she started setting up her phone, not as easy as suggested but she had it working within a half hour. We looked at the weather forecast which said it was supposed to rain today so we fired up both lawnmower about 4:30, after relaxing for an hour, and mulched the leaves in our yard.  It's a good thing we did it because this morning, the front yard is once again filled with leaves, as our trees bare bones are basically showing.  

Geraniums On Our Porch

Dinner was microwaving the pork barbecue fron Gio's and making sandwiches topped with coleslaw.  We watched the 60 Minute interview with a hasty Trump, as he walked out of the interview because of the nasty and mean questions by Leslie Stahl.  What a whiny little b__ch.  We ended the night watching CBS Sunday Morning then some football before going to bed.