Heavy Fog And 34º

Victoria Creek

7:23

7:43

Well, it's later than usual as I sit here, 8:13 and I have been up for only an hour, having slept in so to speak till 7:15. I still cannot see beyond our dock because of the fog so I am just going to have to wait until it lifts to kayak. It looks like a decent day with some sun, a high a chilly 62º. Well, it's 9:10 as we finish this and the fog has yet to lift. 

Yesterday was strange because we actually had some sun after five days of rain and dark skies. I skipped kayaking because of the wind and I had breakfast in Bemus at 8:00. After breakfast, I returned home, finished the blog, and drove off to Lakewood for a Yin Yoga class. It's not as crowded as in the summer which is nice. I was tired from getting up early and fell briefly asleep during savasana. I just hope I wasn't snoring. I skipped coffee and came straight home to an extremely messy kitchen as Evie had been busy making tons of applesauce and prepping dinner. I quickly got busy with the pots and pans before relaxing with my show in the TV room with lunch, and a couple of delicious salami sandwiches on toast. 

The afternoon went quickly, at least till 4:00. I  napped and read as usual and Evie spent much of the time in the kitchen or watching the weather channel coverage of the tragic destruction of Fort Myers, the beach we often spent Spring Break at in the 1980s. I was tired of lazying around so I did a few things in the yard, putting away our outdoor table and chairs then went for a walk around Victoria for a half hour. I haven't done anything physical, no biking or walking for at least a week. 

Victoria Creek At 4:05 PM

We relaxed with a glass of wine before dinner, commenting on the great blue heron that had been sitting on Bill and Joyce's dock for a couple of hours, hoping to catch a fish. Dinner was yogurt marinated chicken thighs, with garlic spinach and roasted potatoes. Yum. We are struggling to find a series on TV that we like and started two last night but quit them after 20 minutes. We are picky I guess. So we went back to the tried and true the rest of the evening. 

Heron Hanging Out

Overcast and Breezy

7:57

It's 7:09 and I have been up for almost an hour, wondering if I might get in a paddle. The sky, however, and wind, and the fact that I have breakfast at 8:00 makes me want to stay in my comfortable house and skip it this morning. Also, it's still dark enough to make it impossible to photograph birds. It's 9:25 and I just returned from breakfast and am shocked by the news of Sanibel's bridge is out as well as the many fatalities. 

Wednesday was not a fun day, at least for me. After a decent paddle, which means I avoided getting soaked, I had an early breakfast, at 7:00 because I had to fast before a CT scan at 10:15. So by 8:30 I was on my way to Cleveland Clinic, Ashtabula, an hour and a half drive. I get this scan once a year so it's no big deal other than fasting and driving three hours, ruining my morning. I was in and out in 15 minutes and on my way home, stopping at Love's for gas and a chicken sandwich with fries since I had not eaten since 7:15. 

I was home just before 1:00 and Evie had a huge pot of chili simmering on the stove so she had been busy much of the morning. I was tired from getting up early, at 5:15, and the drive so I knew all I had to do was start reading my book and I would fall asleep which I did. By 3:00, we decided to drive to Mayville to get our Covid boosters. It was a good choice for a walk-in because there was only one other person. We were in and out in 15 minutes, then stopped at Tops, next door and did some grocery shopping, getting a couple of bags of apples for applesauce. We then invaded Linda and Ron's house, to say aloha, and talked with them for twenty minutes before heading home. 

We were having healthy dinner, Smith hot dogs and since Evie had made a pot of chili, I suggested having chili dogs. With cheese and lots of chili, I devoured my dogs and was happy. We watched a film called The Outfit, with Mark Rylance playing a tailor who gets involved with the Mafia. It got to be too complicated, and coincidental as the plot unwound. We ended the night with our usuals, Colbert and Jeopardy, also The Weather Channel. 

A Morning Of Dark, Threatening Skies

6:36

6:55

7:57

It's 6:30 and some light is just beginning to appear among the darkness of the early morning. We may have a few showers this morning but that may be it for the day. And Thursday may bring some sun, amazing. I got in a 35-minute paddle, on a surprisingly choppy and windy lake.

Kayak Morning

North

Getting Darker

Yesterday was another miserable, rainy day, as we received an inch and a half, mostly a light rain on and off all day. I got drenched when I kayaked but it was kind of fun. After breakfast and the blog, I drove to Lakewood to a good yoga class with Courtney. I stopped for a coffee but the usual guys had been there earlier so I just came home. Evie had tackled the most difficult chore, rearranging our back closet, sort of a panty and catch-all for everything. Now we can actually walk in it and get what we want. 

I microwaved an ear of corn for lunch and heated up the leftover beef stew. Just as I was sitting down to enjoy it, Evie was off to shop and warned me she would be taking her time, meaning she would hit TJ Maxx and Wegmans, and maybe Aldi. I continue to watch Game Of Thrones and still cannot get straight who is fighting whom. I will have to go to Wikipedia to find out.  I finished my book, Frankie The Machine, about a hit man with a heart, and started a fairly new Michael Connelly, The Dark Hours. 

So that's how I spent my afternoon reading, with a brief respite to check on my boat, and make sure it was tied securely and was in good shape. By 3:30, I was bringing in groceries in a drizzle of course as Evie put away the groceries. We both then relaxed until 5:00, when Evie had a Zoom call with her sisters. 

Rainbow Surprise At 6:15

For dinner, Evie bought haddock and pan-fried it according to a recipe from the butcher at Wegmans who was happy to explain to her how he likes to cook it. I have to say it was delicious, with a butter and lemon sauce along with an easy quinoa/rice package side and corn. We watched Disobeience a film about an illicit love affair in a conservative Jewish community. We were a bit bored to start with but ended up liking it enough to recommend it. We ended the night with Colbert and Jeopardy! what else.

April In September

6:56

8:12

It's overcast, what else, at 7:10 and I have been up since 6:30, hoping the rain holds off so I can go kayaking. I checked the rain gauge and we have had 4.5 inches in the past 36 hours and more is forecast for the next couple of days. It's 8:30 as I finish this and I paddled for a little over a half hour, starting out in light rain, returning in a heavy downpour, and getting soaked. I took a bad photo of a hawk and missed an eagle because it was raining. 

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

It rained Monday most of the day, reminding us of the weather here at the lake in April, wet and muddy and miserable. I was fortunate, however, to get in a paddle in-between showers, hardly getting wet. By 9:30, however, I was on my way to Jamestown, to the dentist, to get an impression made for a crown. It should have been easy but took close to an hour, for various reasons I won't go into. After the fun, I stopped at Wegmans and did a quick run-through and was home by 11:45. 

Evie had been taking it easy but did get our old iPhones and iWatch ready to be sent back so we could get the discount for our new devices. So while I had lunch, soup, and a bagel with avocado, Evie drove to Mayville, to drop off a package for Fed Ex, another at the Post Office, and pick up a prescription at Rite Aid, a fun jaunt. She was back by 1:30 just as I was hitting the couch to read and nap.

That was it for the afternoon as neither of us wanted to do much, just sit and listen to the falling rain. Evie made a couple of phone calls, watched some TV while I read, and napped until it was wine time, about 5:30. Neither of us could get over the weather, the constant rain, something we don't remember happening for quite a while.  Dinner was the leftover beef stew on mashed potatoes, better than ever I would have to say. We didn't watch anything interesting, just the usual before going to bed early. 

"It's Raining, It's Pouring," Says The Old Man

6:59

7:36

It's 7:50 and I have been up since 6:30, listening to the rain. It looks like another morning without kayaking, the second day in a row. It rained most of the night, over an inch, and has not stopped since I got up.  Well, I waited until 8:30 and was able to get out for a half hour, in a light drizzle at first but then it let up. 

Kayak Morning

Northward Bound

From The Reeds

Hunkering In The Rain

Yesterday went quickly, a day of too much football to be honest. We had breakfast with Mike and Barb, bacon, a Turkish omelet, and a bagel. They left for church at 10:15, then headed home. Once again, the house seemed empty, as it always does after company. I hoped to get in a paddle but it started to pour just as I was out for ten minutes and I had to return, soaked to the bone, poor timing. By 11:00, Evie had a hankering for a good beef stew so she was putting it together, hoping to slow cook it for a couple of hours. I read some and actually fell asleep, tired from getting up early I guess. 

By 1:30, I was ensconced in front of the TV, watching the Bills game and enjoying a bowl of soup and a couple of wraps, left over from Saturday's lunch. So I watched the first half, taped the second, and went to read and nap, having had enough of football. I woke to the aroma of beef stew and went back to the TV room and watched the rest of the Bills game, a sad ending, as they lost despite outplaying the Dolphins. 

Kayak Afternoon

Ruffled Lake And Clouds

By 2:30, the sun had come out and it was, briefly, a beautiful fall afternoon. Since I missed kayaking in the morning, I went out for a half-hour paddle, over to Long Point and back to Victoria and home. By the time I returned, it had clouded up, ready for the rain to commence. 

Turning Gray at 3:10

Since dinner was basically done, we relaxed with a glass of vino until 6:00, then had dinner, the beef stew with my favorite, mashed potatoes, and a salad. I found a highly recommended French film on Rotten Tomatoes, Petit Maman, about the friendship between two eight-year-old girls, Unfortunately, despite its attempts to be heavy and deep, it was a bore so I would not recommend it. Give me action! We ended the night with Celebrity Jeopardy and Real Time With Bill Maher, always a hoot. 

Rainy Sunday

8:30

It's 6:30, still dark obviously, with a slight drizzle. and light southerly wind.  It's 54º, warm compared to yesterday's 44º and I doubt if anyone is out fishing this early, at least I haven't heard a bass boat. It looks like rain on and off most of the day, in fact, for the next three or four days, what we like to call Chautauqua weather. It's 10:20, we have had breakfast and Barb and Mike have just left for church in Jamestown before heading home to Hudson. It's been a fun 24 hours. 

Ready To Party

Yesterday was another busy but fun day. I was up early, out kayaking by 7:30, and was surprised to get a couple of photos of herons, both sitting along the shore on docks or boat lifts. Evie, lucky gal, slept in so we didn't get started with our morning until after 10:00. My major chore was to collect the trash and take it to the Transfer Station, which I did well, then clean the porch and vacuum the living room since friends from Hudson were arriving at noon. They were here to attend the celebration of  St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church's 100th anniversary in Jamestown and would spend the night. While I was getting things done, Evie was busy putting together our lunch, artichoke soup, and wraps. 

They arrived at noon, just as Evie was putting the finishing touches on the wraps. Mike and Barb have been our good friends since the early 1980s and Barb grew up here in Jamestown so they come back to visit at least once a year. We saw them a couple of months ago when we attended their son's wedding in Traverse City, Michigan. Anyways, we had lots to talk about over a tasty lunch. Everyone loves the soup and wraps, both delicious and healthy. After lunch, we enjoyed a donut they brought us from George's in Streetsboro, Ohio, and sat around in our living room talking, catching up on both of our lives until 3:30 when both Barb and I took naps and Mike read and Evie cleaned up. 

Lunch

By 5:00, they were all gussied up and on their way to Moonbrook CC to attend the party. Evie and I decided to go to the Viking Club for dinner so we got cleaned up and were on our way by 5:45. The parking lot was not too crowded so we easily found seats at the bar. Being there was strange since we had not been there in a couple of months. Once we ordered our beer and dinners, the place began to fill with two long lines of people ordering beers. We asked what was the occasion and Panama Schools was having a gathering to honor their School superintendent of 35 years, thus the crowd of people.

Sun Setting

I had the fish fry and Evie a salad and both were decent and inexpensive compared to most other restaurants. It was one of those nights where we did not recognize anyone but it was fun to people watch. It was a lovely night on the lake, a great sunset, and the group from Panama was outside in a Pavilion enjoying the party. Despite the cool weather, it looked great. By 7:45, we headed home driving through Bemus.

Panama School Gathering

6:59

7:31 At Viking Club

We settled in the TV room by 8:15 and decided to watch a film with Nicole Kidman called The Interpreter. It was a B- I suppose, not great, not awful. Around 9:20, our door opened and Mike and Barb were back from the celebration, having had cocktails,  dinner, and lots of Greek dancing. It sounded like fun. We relaxed in the living room as they regaled us with the party until 10:30 when all four of us went up to bed, tired from our fun day.

Chillin On A Saturday Morning

Great Blue Heron

6:38

6:44

6:50

6:50

6:53

I was up at 6:30 and loved the changing morning sky before the rising of the sun. Now at 7:30,  the sky is one gray curtain, the sun hiding behind it. And the bass boats have just roared off from the marina, no doubt frightening away any birds I hope to see when I kayak. Damn. Still, I am going to get out there now and hope for the best. Well, it's 8:52 and I had a good hour paddle and photographed a couple of herons and an immature eagle above Victoria. It was cold out there, especially my hands, but no wind which made it bearable.

Kayak Morning

Looking North

Amazing Clouds

Fishing Off A Boat Lift

Ready To Take Off

Friday was for some reason a busy day as we decided to get some things done, always things to get done, right. I had a brief paddle because of the wind, so I had the whole morning to enjoy. Because Evie was supposed to take it easy for five days after her steroid shots in both knees, I was elected to mow the lawn. So while Evie did stuff inside, like laundry, I mowed the lawn, something I am not used to doing because Evie loves to do it. It took me about forty-five minutes, with a brief break. I was done just after noon, so Evie made me lunch, a couple of salami sandwiches, and soup. 

While I ate, Evie cheated some and went out and mowed the grass in the garden and I had to stop her from mowing the lawn again,  She's one stubborn chick. We relaxed, then, Evie on the front porch, pouting, because I made her stop mowing and me reading and napping. By 4:00, I was bored as usual and went out and cleaned out the garage, taking out everything, then sweeping it and putting everything back. I also took a pail of deadfall up the hill and by 5:30, we were enjoying a libation in our living room, with a slice of good cheese and spicy cashews. It was strange to sit inside with the heat on. We had an easy dinner, the leftover chicken, stuffing, and gravy, and watched the usual shows, although we put off watching another episode of The US And The Holocaust for another night. I finished my Ruth Ware book, loving everything but a predictable end and started a new Don Winslow, The Winter Of Frankie Machine. 

Fall Arrives With 43º And Gusty Winds

7:15

7:27

8:06

I have been up since 6:30, basically for an hour, listening to the wind howl. It's 7:18 and the sun just rose above the horizon, sandwiched between the horizon and a cloud bank. I can't believe how the weather has changed in the past 24 hours. Yesterday was so windy that the boats had a hard time cruising the lake. A few went out but quickly returned because of the waves and wind. Well, I went out for all of ten minutes, smartly paddled into the 20 mph wind, made no headway, and just returned home and now I am cozy and warm, sitting on my couch with a coffee. 

A Brief Kayak Morning

Yesterday I was lucky to get in a paddle and was surprised at how the winds picked up as I returned home. It's a good thing I didn't wait much longer. I had breakfast at the crowded Bemus Point Inn and it's interesting how the same gangs seem to be there each Thursday, the retired doctors, the businessmen, etc. I decided to skip yoga because I was to get my blood drawn at 10:40, then shop at Wegmans and that seemed like enough for me on a Thursday. It's a good thing I made an appointment for my blood test because the lab was busy. Wegman's on a Thursday is not too bad although I picked the wrong line, as usual, to check out. 

I didn't get home until 12:30 and was looking forward to a bowl of Evie's vegetable soup, a staple in the fall and winter. Healthy and delicious, I was a happy guy as I watched my series. While I was gone, Evie was busy upstairs getting the bedrooms ready for our next guests. So she was busy part of the morning. I am into my Ruth Ware book, The It Girl. I am surprised I had not read any of her books before. It was getting really windy and cooling off during the afternoon, perfect weather for a nap and reading. 

A Windy Afternoon at 3:23

By 4:00, I was antsy so I decided to begin some of my fall chores by taking the benches and folding chairs off of the dock, using a wheelbarrow, and putting away a couple of the Adirondack chairs which we never seem to use. That didn't take long but at least I felt like I accomplished something. By 5:00, Evie was putting together our chicken, stuffing, and gravy dinner and I helped with the dishes. We also enjoyed a glass of wine, a necessity when making dinner in the kitchen. We ate by 6:30, watched a couple of our usual shows, then another good hour and a half of The US And The Holocaust on PBS. We can only take it in short bouts it's so depressing, especially the scope of antisemitism not only in Germany but all over the world, especially in the US. I don't get it. We also watched snippets of the Browns/Steelers game but it was a bore so we both went to bed early.