Football Sunday

6:56

7:38

7:42

It's another cold morning on the lake, 3º, the temperature brightened, however, by a gorgeous sunrise over Tom's Point, with mostly blue skies and a bank of clouds hanging over the Bemus shoreline. A few guys are out ice fishing already, braving the cold, some sitting on buckets, distaining a tent, 

7:46

7:56

Yesterday was a good day for the Joey Bimbo in us, sitting around doing little other than starring out at the frozen lake, replete with ice fishermen, cross country skiers, snowmobilers and hikers.  We, however, decided it was just too cold to get out there, with wind chills in single digits most of the day. I felt guilty about it but hardly budged from my couch other than to get something to eat or take a shower. 

Sitting On A Bucket In 5º

So the highlights of the day were having a big breakfast after a morning of finishing up the blog, then a quick run to Mayville to pick up a prescription for Evie and a few things at Tops so Evie could make Slovenian beans and potato soup for our dinner. I was home by 11:30 and decided since we were not going to ski, I would get in some Yoga With Adriane which made me feel better about myself. 

After yoga, we had a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast and watched CBS Sunday Morning, our Sunday routine. After breakfast, I returned to my Lousie Penny mystery, still not sure who was the killer, and promptly fell asleep.  I was up in time to watch the Chiefs lose a nail bitter to the Bengals, a huge disappointment for Chief's fans like my son Tom, who lives in Kansas City. 

Neighbors Cross Country Sking On A Canvas Of White

After the game, Evie put together the beans and potato soup, boiled up the Slovenian sausages, then reheated them in a bed of sauerkraut and we had a delicious, "healthy" dinner.  We then watched the Rams beat the 49ers in the last few minutes, another nail-biter, to end our evening of football.  Evie was relieved to end the marathon and we turned to another episode of Hometown before ending our day of TV and going up to bed. 

Below Zero Morning

7:44

7:49

7:49

7:50

It turned out to be a beautiful morning although it started with threatening clouds off Long Point but by 7:20, blue skies began to appear and the sun rose above the clouds by 7:50.  It was -3º when I got up at 6:45 and an ice fisherman was already walking out, putting up his tent in front of our house, a football field's length away. As I finish this, it's warmed up to 3º. 

Up And Out At 7:00

Saturday was a bore, mostly because we both thought it was not safe to go cross country skiing in single-digit weather, with a wind chill below zero much of the day. So we amused ourselves with some cleaning and organizing in the morning before gathering the trash and my heading off to the Transfer Station, my only jaunt of the day.  

A Sunny And Cold Saturday

Lunch was a tuna sandwich with another bowl of lentil soup and another episode of The Sopranos.  Thankfully I am enjoying my Lousie Penny book so that took up much of the rest of the afternoon as well as some TV watching with Evie. We wanted to watch a film but could not find something we liked so we went back to a series we stopped watching a couple of years ago, Ozark, to see if it piqued our interest.  

Saturday Afternoon Fishing

Around 5:00, Evie put together our dinner, a French recipe for a chicken curry that we liked.  It has apples and bananas as well as cream and we usually have it with leftover lamb but Evie used chicken this time. Once it was simmering and the rice was on, we enjoyed our wine as herds of snowmobiles zipped past Long Point, heading to Mayville we assumed.  

Snowmobile Lights

Around 6:30 we ate our curry over rice and had a heck of a time finding something to watch. We started with Showtimes Yellowjackets but it was too violent.  Then, we tried Netflix's "The Woman In The House..." but it was silly and predictable so we watched a couple of more episodes of The Good Fight and we are now into Season Two.  

Brrrr

Skiing Long Point (photo by Evie)

7:51

8:10

It's just 8:00 and I have been up since 7:00. watching the ice fishermen trudge out in 1º weather, with a wind chill factor of -20º. A few breaks of light in the gray sky suggest the sun has risen.  

Yesterday was darn cold, like the past few days making it difficult to want to get out in the woods for cross country skiing or snowshoeing.  It took us a while to get up the courage after breakfast so while Evie got a few things done in the house, I went out cross country skiing in the neighborhood and campground and ended up skiing on the lake which was not bad. As I tried to ski up the steep bank to our yard, I fell into three or four feet of snow, laughed at my awkwardness, and struggled to take off my skis so I could stand up on the slope. What a clutz. I had to brush snow off my pants and coat, empty some out of my boots when I got home. I did, however,  get in a mile of skiing.

Trails Groomed By Ice Fishermen

By 11:30, Evie was ready to get out there, so we drove over to Long Point State Park and thought it would be fun and easy to ski or snowshoe out to the point and back.  Well, it was fairly easy but the wind as we went out was bitter and we couldn't wait to get out to the point and head back on the other side of the peninsula, protected by the trees. We did feel righteous afterward for braving the cold and getting in some exercise, 

We were home by 1:00 and Evie made me a schnitzel sandwich and heated up the lentil soup cleaned up the kitchen.  I loved my lunch, watched The Sopranos, and was happy to get back to my Lousie Penny novel and fall asleep, taking a nice nap.  We did not have to worry about dinner because we had plenty of chili and noodles leftover from an earlier dinner.  So we wasted the afternoon, looking forward, however, to happy hour, with a Manhattan, and a good cheese, crackers, and cashews. It was a good way to spend a cold Friday night.  Dinner was just right, the chili with a salad and a Pepsi and we watched the usual Friday shows before bed, The Good Fight and a couple of episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. No Jeopardy because it was preempted.

A Nymph In The Woods

 

Warming Up To 20º

7:38

7:55

I was surprised by the 20º temperature this morning but when I looked at the forecast, the temperature is going to drop during the day down to 5º tonight. A single ice fisherman is out already in the middle of the lake, with more to come no doubt as the lake is at least 6 inches thick according to a couple of snowmobilers who have been on the lake. 

Yesterday was too cold for us, so we didn't get out in the woods or walk anywhere.  I did have an eye appointment at 10:30 to pick out new frames as I am getting new lenses so Evie came with me and helped pick out some frames.  It's always hard to make a decision for us but we finally did it and walked out happy with our choice and bill, supposedly saving six hundred bucks if we did not have insurance. No doubt that's bs but it still felt good. We then made a quick run-through Aldi's, picking up a few goodies and essentials, then TJMax's, where Evie returned a bunch of things and browsed a bit before we headed home, having had enough shopping for the day.

For lunch, I had the lentil soup and flatbread pizza and finished up a Soprano I had started Wednesday afternoon. After our morning out, we were both lazy so the afternoon was basically wasted, either watching TV, reading or napping, what else.  I even left a few dishes in the sink, too lazy to do them up. By 5:00, however, we got moving because we were picking up our friends, Linda and Ron, at 6:30 and we were going to dinner at a local bar called The Lakeview in Mayville. It started to snow as we left but it did not affect our drive there or home. We were the only ones to sit at the bar which made us happy until a bunch of snowmobilers came in and sat next to us so we moved to a table, not wanting to be close to anyone who might not be vaccinated. All of us ordered burgers and fries after a fried pickle appetizer and the burgers were good, done just right with lots of condiments on top.  We stayed until 8:15 when we dropped Linda and Ron off and drove home, seeing lots of deer on the way.  

We ended the night with some TV watching, a boring Jeopardy without the brilliant Amy Schneider and a somewhat silly The Good Fight but we will stick with it, hoping for the best in Season Two. Dining out was a good way to end an otherwise cold, gray day on the lake.  

Rosy Fingered Sky And Zero Degrees

7:13

7:28

7:42

9:05

It's a beautiful sky this morning, blue above, rose-colored just above the horizon, Venus bright in the southeastern sky.  It's 7:00 and I have yet to see an ice fisherman trudge out on the lake but I am sure they will be out there soon. It's 9:30 as I finish this.  I had breakfast in Bemus and when I drove off, my car read -14º and when I arrived it had risen to -4º.  I have to admit it's the coldest I have ever felt outdoors. 

Chartreuse Man

Thunder Bridge

Hall Of Philosophy

Yesterday we woke up to a couple of inches of snow so, after breakfast and the blog, I went out to clear our parking area once again, as keeping up with it makes it easier in the long run.  Evie joined me and we worked for about 15 minutes, clearing it and sections of our road where the plow created mounds.  It snowed on and off as we worked so we decided we had to get in some exercise and I thought it would be scenic at the Chautauqua Institution and the roads would be plowed, making it easy to walk. So we drove over there and almost turned around after the first 100 yards because the wind and snow were hitting us in the face but once we turned the corner, it was more bearable. We weren't out long, walking just a mile but it was enough to make us happy,.

Episcopal Church At CI

Snow Covered Walk

For lunch, Evie made me a couple of toasted cheese sandwiches and I finished up the matzo ball soup from a couple of days ago, still tasty.  I had an appointment to get a new battery at my car guy at 1:30 so I was off by 1:15.  It didn't take more than 20 minutes to get the new battery and replace one of the fog light bulbs yet I spent over two hundred bucks.  I then spent another fifty filling up my Outback so I was an expensive but quick outing. I was happy to get home to my Louise Penny mystery and fell asleep of course, waking refreshed. While I was gone, Evie had made some healthy cookies, with nuts, oats and apricots, perfect for tea time.  

Around 5:00, we enjoyed a glass of wine while Evie prepped out dinner, Wienerschnitzel, fried potatoes, and Brussel sprouts. We ate at 6:30, enjoying our Wienerschnitzel with applesauce, of course.  We watched Jeopardy and were shocked by Amy's loss after a forty-game winning streak to a librarian from Chicago. He was shocked as well. We ended the night watching a wordy, slow but interesting film from Iran called A Hero, on Prime Video.  We enjoyed the setting, reminding us of our days in Istanbul back in the 1970s. We ended the night with a home improvement show before bed.

Waking To A Chautauqua Winter Wonderland

7:51

8:11

It's 8:25, light snow continues to fall and I have been up for over an hour.  Evie just came downstairs and we are surprised by the snow we have gotten over the past two days, enough so I will be out there pushing snow again this morning. 

A Big Breakfast With Rich And Linda

Yesterday was another busy and interesting day. We spent the night at my sister's so I was up early at her home on Lake Erie, taking spectacular morning photos of the gray sky, freezing lake. We were in no hurry to leave so we had an enjoyable morning, sitting around with our coffee until we got hungry and Rich got busy in the kitchen making scrambled eggs, bacon, and home fries. He also made blueberry muffins the day before so we had a feast. Their son, Richie, who lives up the street,  stopped over with Hank, his lab, to say hi and shoveled the driveway for them. Their kids take good care of them.

We left around 11:30, stopped at Asman's on 200th street to pick up some Slovenian sausages, then drove to Chagrin Blvd to Trader Joes. We took our time stocking up on our favorites, making sure we didn't miss anything. After shopping, we did some browsing at a number of other stores, like Sur La Table and Anthropologie but nothing interested Evie.  At 2:40, I had another appointment with my cardiologist in Ashtabula and it was quicker than usual. We had a good talk and I went home with a 30-day heart monitor and had a blood test but we were out of there by 3:30, arriving home by 5:30 to a snow-covered parking area.

We trudged through the snow and I put on my knee-high boots to walk back through the unshoveled walk and parking area. Once the car was unloaded, we put away our goodies, unpacked our bags, and said once again, how good it is to be home,. We had a great time at my sister's but still home is best.

Fortunately, Evie had thought ahead and had some chili she had frozen waiting in the refrigerator to be warmed up for dinner. We had it over linguini along with a salad and quickly fell back into our routine, watching Colbert, Jeopardy, some home improvement shows until it was time for bed. 

Sunrise On A Frozen Lake Erie

7:16

7:31

7:41

7:46

8:14

It's 7:55, the sky over Lake Erie is clearing and I am sitting with my brother-in-law, Rich, in his house in Euclid, Ohio,  on the shore of Lake Erie.  I have been up for an hour, enjoying watching a different sky begin to lighten as the night wanes. We received a half-foot of snow overnight, the bushes and trees frosted with snow, the lake freezing up. 

Monday was a different day starting out with our car battery going dead just as we were ready to drive to Cleveland.  Fortunately, my neighbor, Jim came over with jumper cables, started my car and we were able to be on our way by 9:15. It was an easy drive despite the snow as we neared Cleveland. In fact, we were early for my test at the Cleveland Clinic, an echocardiogram, so we were able to relax.  We had lunch after my test, met with the cardiologist at 2:00, a young guy we really liked and he was reassuring about my heart health. We then had to wait forty-five minutes for our car from the valet service.  Next time, we will park in the garage. 

We drove home on snowy roads, arriving at my sister's house earlier than expected, at 3:45.  We haven't seen my sister and brother-in-law since their October clambake.  When we arrived, the house was filled with the aroma of my brother-in-law Rich's beef bourguignon, and then we sat around trying to remember our memories, which is getting harder and harder.  Two of their kids came over which was nice so we got to see them as well. We had drinks and appetizers, of course, cheese and crackers, and a family favorite, hanky pankys.  

Dinner With Rich And Linda

The kids stayed until 6:30 and then we had a great dinner of the beef bourguignon on rice, along with a baguette, salad, and lemon cake for dessert. Yum.  We sat around the rest of the evening, talking about, what else, our kids and grandkids, how great they are, how lucky we are. We ARE.  Both Evie and I were really tired by 9:45 so we went up to bed, the end of a busy but fun day.

 

All's Still White And Cold

6:58

7:45

It's another cold Monday, what a way to start the week. We are both up early because we are driving into Cleveland for a test and appointment for me at the Cleveland Clinic, starting at 12:30. The weather looks fine and it should take us close to three hours.  It's a cold, 3º morning, clear skies, Venus hanging up and shining bright in the southeastern sky.  

Snowy Walk At The Chautauqua Institution

Sunday was another football Sunday, with probably two to go. Surprisingly, we received maybe four or five inches during the day and whenever I looked outside, the sky was filled with light snow,. Evie wanted to get some things done so we put off our Sunday constitutional, our walk around the Chautauqua Institution until 11:00. We were worried about ice so wore crampons on our shoes, making it safe.  It snowed much of the way and the wind was uncomfortable when we had to walk into it.  We took our time enjoying the light snow, the frosted trees, and bushes and were out for forty-five minutes.  

Thunder Bridge

On our way home, our son Tom called to see who we were rooting for, Kansas City or Buffalo.  At least in this game, we will be happy for the winner, sad for the loser and we told him we were rooting for Buffalo. When we got home, Evie made us avocado toasts with egg and we watched our Sunday morning show, CBS Sunday morning. We then relaxed until 3:00 when the games began and I read and napped briefly as usual. Before the game began,  Evie gave me a quick haircut, so I looked presentable because we were going to Cleveland on Monday and were going to spend the night with my sister Linda and her husband, Rich. 

Hungry Sparrows

We both thought about having popcorn and a Pepsi while we watched the game, so at halftime, after my shower, Evie made us a couple of bowls and we were happy, munching on our popcorn and enjoying a Pepsi. Dinner was easy, the leftover Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and a salad.  Because of the popcorn, we waited for dinner until the KC/Buffalo game which started at 6:40. 

We loved our dinner and the exciting ending to the Rams game, a prelude to the Bills/Chiefs game.  We stayed up to the very end of the Bills game, alas, as they allowed the Chiefs to go down the field and tie the game with 13 seconds left on the clock and win it in overtime, a result of terrible defensive decisions by the Bills, and great play by the Chiefs three best players, Mahomes, Kelce, and Hill. It was a devastating loss for the Bills fans because everyone thought the Bills had the game won with a touchdown pass, putting them ahead with 13 seconds left on the clock. It was not to be.

Flurries And 21º

8:37

Well, we missed the overnight snow although it is trying to snow at the moment,  It's 8:40, Evie's up and I have been up since 7:15 on an overcast morning, quite a contrast to yesterday's brilliant sunrise and below zero temperatures.

Yesterday Mornings Sunrise at 8:00

Saturday was taken up by football, alas, as we wasted most of the late afternoon and evening sitting around the boob tube although it was exciting to watch Joe Burrows, from Athens, Ohio, lead Cincinnati to a win over the top-ranked Titans.  And I assume today, Sunday will be much of the same, especially this evening when the Buffalo Bills play Kansas City, two of our three favorite teams.  Anyways, we decided to stay put and not venture out in the cold, cold weather.  By 11:00, however, the trash was gathered and I drove off to the Transfer Station to get rid of our trash from the week, two plastic bags and a few bottles.

Evie had decided to make up some Turkish lentil soup for the week so while that was simmering on the stove, she made me some matzo bowl soup because the lentil soup had to simmer for a couple of hours to bring out the flavor.  I enjoyed four matzo balls and cheese and crackers and watched another hour's episode of The Sopranos. I was anxious to get back to my book, The First Husband, and finish it which I did after my nap and now Evie can read it. Around 4:30, I drove over to Bemus and walked around the Bemus Point Tap House's winter festival, the grounds busy with food trucks, food, and beer stands, with families, snowmobiles, and kids sledding.  It looked like great fun, with a large fire of Christmas trees warming the many revelers. It was cold but everyone seemed happy and warm, especially the snowmobilers in overstuffed coats and pants.

Sledding For The Kids

Snowmobile Parking

Keeping Warm

Earlier we had discussed dinner and we had hamburgers on the menu until we started talking about an old 1950's favorite, Salisbury steak.  Evie checked and we had all the ingredients we needed so around 4:30, she put it together, the ground chuck, mushrooms, onions, so it was ready when we wanted dinner. We took time out from football after the Bengals game, enjoyed the Salisbury steak and salad, and watched another episode of both The Good Fight and Colbert before turning on the Green Bay game, which we had saved so we could avoid watching all the commercials.  By the fourth quarter, we were both tired of football, went to bed with Green Bay leading only to wake up this morning and find out that San Francisco won on a late field goal. I will watch the ending this morning because we have the game saved.