A Nasty Morning

7:39

Up at 6:00 to the occasional roar of heavy winds and a light drizzle although it was warmer than I thought, 39º. It will get colder during the day and we may have some flurries. Despite the fact that I am up early and have time to kayak before yoga, I am going to skip it because of the wind and rain although the lake does not look choppy.

What a contrast between mornings, with yesterday's gorgeous blue sky and sunny morning and today's windy, gray, and nasty morning. Despite yesterday's ice on the lake, I was able to get in a paddle along the shore to the campground and back. We then had a leisurely morning, in no hurry to do anything or get anywhere. By 10:30, however, we decided to drive to the Kia dealer, to get some questions answered about the car and also charge it at one of their stations.  We worked with both Ron, our salesmen, and a young whiz who helped Evie set up Apple Play. Ironically, Evie tried to set it up all day Sunday only to discover yesterday it was a faulty connection. I am sure we will forget at least half of what we learned and will be back. While our car was charging, we walked about 100 yards and did some shopping at Tops. 

We were home by 12:30 and Evie made me lunch, her vegetable soup, and a cheesy naan. I finished Season Two of Lethal White and have one more season to watch. Evie was busy with a few household chores so I read some and tried to nap. Around 2:00, we got a call from our electrician and he stopped over to advise us on the best way to set up a 220 line for charging our car. We figured it out and ordered from Amazon a 10-foot extension cord for charging cars. He will come over on Friday and put in the 220 wall socket on our porch and we can then run a cord out to our car for charging. It means I will have to run the line out to our car each time for a charge (for probably four hours), then undo it and take it back to the porch, a hassle I guess but worth it in the long run. 

After he left, the weather became really nasty, with hail, rain, some snow, and wind but no snow. Again, the exact opposite of Sunday's beautiful day. After Evie finished with a few projects, she worked out on her rebounder for a half hour, getting in some exercise before starting dinner. First, we had a glass of wine and then she put dinner together, marinated coho salmon, rice, spinach, and salad. We enjoyed it watching a new show on HBOMax called The Last Of Us, not a heartwarming series. It's an adaption of a video game where fungal zombies overrun the world. These zombies have swept the world, leaving billions dead or zombified. Quarantine zones are set up for the survivors but are ruled with an iron fist, executing any who try to flee. And, of course, a group of rebels called Fireflies attempt to overthrow Fedra (the government) and bring about a new democracy. We shall see what happens. It was a relief to watch Jeopardy and a terrible ER, the worst in three seasons. 

Monday Morning Sunshine

6:33

6:39

7:34

Yep, it's 7:13 and the sun has risen in the southeast, a bit blurred by a few clouds but its reflection fills the lake. It's chilly out there, 22º, and the lake has once again a thin layer of ice in various areas and will no doubt melt by the afternoon. It's just about 9:00 and I paddled for forty-five minutes, down to the reeds where the ice stopped me, then I paddled north, along the shoreline, past the campground to Whitney Bay, and back, into the wind of course.

Kayak Morning

Into The Blue

Into The Sun

Our Sundays are fairly predictable. I was up way too early and got in a short paddle because of the ice, wind, and cold. I was happy to return to a warm house, another cup of coffee and breakfast. Evie was up as well so we finished the blog and planned our day. We wanted to get in a walk so by 10:30, we drove to the Chautauqua Institution and took our usual forty-five-minute walk through the empty grounds. Fortunately, we were shielded from the winds most of the way so it was a pleasant walk. 

Thunder Bridge

By the time we returned home, it was time for a big breakfast so Evie made me a burrito with eggs, cheese, and hot sauce, a nice tasty change from the usual eggs, bacon, and toast. I watched some basketball, changing channels because there were so many games on, both college and NBA. I did take a nap because I was up so early and woke around 3:00 to another beautiful afternoon on the lake, blue skies and blue lake. It's been this way the last couple of days, waking to clouds and ice but by the afternoon, the ice had melted, the sun appeared, and the wind calmed down. 

A Cobalt Blue Afternoon

It was Sunday so we were going to Linda and Ron's for dinner, so we were on our way by 5:50 and it was still light out, as the days get longer and longer. Linda had the appetizers ready, the wine or beer chilled, so we were happy, sitting in their kitchen, enjoying the cream cheese, red pepper jelly, and crackers, a nice change. We have agreed to make our dinners simpler, and easier, so Linda made a delicious chicken, bean, and vegetable soup, with fixings, along with a homemade crusty loaf of bread for our main course. 

Sunday Dinner

It was perfect, followed by a salad. The French always serve a salad after the main course and before the cheese because they think cleanses the palate and aids digestion.  Our French friends, Eric and Anne Marie, always called it the 'broom.' For dessert, we had a cheese plate with pears and crackers. It was another fun Sunday with friends. We were home by 9:30 and both of us were tired enough to just go up to bed.

Morning Sky

6:22

7:36

Canadian Geese

On Thin Ice

Well, I was up at 5:30 for some reason and it's now 7:00. I am waiting for another half hour or so to see if I can kayak because the lake is frozen in some parts, while other areas are open. It's warmer than yesterday, 26º but it still feels cold out there.  As I look out, the northerly wind seems to be pushing the ice our way so I am not sure I will be able to kayak.  It's 8:45 and I was only out for 25 minutes, paddling down to the reeds and back. Fortunately, I paddled in just in time as the ice floe was nearing where I keep my kayak. Just checked the blog and the lake didn't open last year until March 22. 

Kayak Morning

Threesome

Foursome

Mallards

Merganser

Yesterday was cold and not very desirable in the morning so I hiked in our woods, rather than both of us going off somewhere for a hike. The day began as usual, with coffee, then a short paddle because of the ice and the bitter southerly wind. Still, it felt good to be out on the lake, if only for 25 minutes. By 10:00. I was on my way to the Transfer Station to get rid of our trash. And when I returned, I went for a 35-minute walk in our woods.  Afterward,  I helped Evie move some furniture upstairs, so that her new rebounder (mini trampoline) was in a better position, with a nice view of the lake. 

Victoria Creek

Victoria/Woodlawn

Winter Woods

Lunch was easy, just warm up the lamb curry for the second day in a row and watch my show, Lethal White, and some college basketball. We then relaxed either in the TV room or living room, watching TV or reading, or in my case, taking a nap. By 3:30, however, the nasty morning turned once again into a beautiful, calm lake afternoon. Unfortunately, neither of us had much mojo so we had to enjoy the afternoon from our living room windows, rather than getting out and hiking or kayaking. At least a glass of wine helped to assuage our guilt.

Late Afternoon Blue Skies And Sunshine

Around 6:00, Evie got busy in the kitchen, searing scallops, making a lemon/vermouth sauce and boiling up some linguini for our dinner. Once the noodles were done, Evie added the sauce and scallops and let them marinate while making a salad and toasting some naan. It was a fairly quick and easy dinner at least it seemed that way to me, sitting in the living room, enjoying my wine. We watched some Colbert and Jeopardy and another episode of the series Dear Edward on Apple+. This episode was too much for both of us, as it tugged at your heartstrings, to the point of silliness and utter sentimentality. Still, we will keep watching, hoping for less drama. 

Ice And Open Water at 8:55

Brrrrrrr!

7:07

It's 7:30 and I have been up for over an hour, checking out the lake to see if I can kayak. Unfortunately, much of it has a thin layer of ice so I don't think I would be able to navigate between the frozen areas but I may try. It is a chilly 19º with a 5/7 mile-an-hour wind from the SE. And according to my weather App, it's snowing but it's not, just overcast skies. It's just after 9:00 as I finish this, and I did get out for a 20-minute paddle, into a bitter, cold, snowy southeastern wind before heading back, breaking through the thin ice to get my kayak both in and out. 

Kayak Morning

Paddling North

Well, we are now proud owners of a 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid SUV. After a good morning on the lake, breakfast and the blog, we were off to the dealer to get our car at 10:30. It's amazing how much paperwork goes into buying a car, with lots of signatures, license, insurance, etc, letting alone being tutored for a good half hour on the all the bells and whistles in the car. It seems to have everything imaginable so there's going to be some a learning curve. The only thing that bothered me was the attempt to get us to buy an extended warranty on our car. Instead of letting us know the cost before we bought the car and giving us time to think about it, he just added it on o the price, thinking we would buy it. Well, it was suddenly an extra four grand added to the price. After some dickering, he came down a thousand but I was not ready to buy to his dismay. 

Jungle Green

So that was just a little extra added angst on what should have been a nice easy closing. I know this is how they make their money but I don't like having it dropped on us just as we were ready to write the check. I also read on the Internet that if you have two cars, for liability purposes, each car should be a different name. So Evie is now the proud owner of a new car and as such, she got to drive it home while I muddled home in our now-old Subaru Outback. Now we have a big decision to make, to build a garage or not, that is the question. 

Stormy Friday Afternoon

We were home just before 1:00 and I heated up the leftover curry and rice for lunch and watched my show Lethal White on HBOMax. As I watch, I realize that I have viewed it before but hardly remember it so I will stick with it, the benefit of an aging memory. The rest of the afternoon we stayed in because it was a cold windy miserable day outside, we white caps on the lake. While I napped, Evie worked out for a half hour on her new rebounder and she's loving it with her music and AirPods

Dinner At The Viking Club

We were picking our neighbors, Pat and Dave up at 6:00 so we both showered late afternoon. The Viking Club was busy but we were fortunate to find a table in the crowded bar, next to the fireplace, keeping us nice and warm. It was like an old home day because Linda and Ron were there with friends, and another couple, good friends, Dawn and Doug came in. They stopped at our table to talk and realized that both of them and our neighbors, Pat and Dave, grew up in Warren, PA at about the same time, quite a coincidence. The six of us vowed to get together in the next month and bring Warren High School yearbooks. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dinners. I had the special Country Fried Steak with gravy and mashed potatoes and Evie had the fish fry. Along with a couple of beers, we had a good night at the Viking, staying until 8:45. When we got home we watched TV for an hour, then were ready for bed. It was an interesting day.

Cold And Windy

Thursday Afternoon Sky

7:13

It's 7:25 and I have been up for an hour, listening to the wind whistle, and watching the whitecaps roll by. In other words, it's not a kayak morning for me. It's cloudy but the sky is finally starting to lighten and I can see seagulls soaring over the lake. 

Riding A Tiny Ice Floe

Mergansers Are Back

Yesterday turned out to be a pleasant day, especially in the afternoon. The day started with breakfast in Bemus, then finishing the blog and driving to Lakewood for yoga. It's a crowded class but I was able to find a spot in the front. Yin is always the most popular class because it's the least rigorous and we never stand. I stopped for coffee at Ryders Cup and talked with the regulars until noon when I drove off and did a quick run through a busy Aldis. It seems to be where all the Amish like to shop, 

I was home by 12:30 and had the leftover rigatoni and chicken thighs for lunch. I am watching a series on TV that I may have seen before, based on J. K. Rowling's detective series with Cormoran Strike. I know I watched the first season, maybe the second but not the third which is new. Anyways, I like it enough to stick with it. I then got back to my book and tried to nap but by 3:00 I was out kayaking, as the lake calmed down, some sun came out, and it warmed up into the 40s. I was out close to an hour and paddled across to Long Point, back to Sandy Bottom, and home along Woodlawn, a great way to spend the afternoon. By the time I returned, the sun had disappeared and all was gray and threatening again. I then spent a half hour picking up the deadfall in our front yard, a result of the heavy winds the last couple of days. 

Kayak Afternoon

Long Point And Blue Skies

Bemus Bay

Northern Sky

Victoria/Woodlawn

Earlier in the day, Evie had made our favorite curry, with lamb, bananas, and apples so for dinner, she made rice and a salad after our glass of wine. The curry was delicious and I love the bananas and apples in it. It's from Craig Claiborne's International cookbook, a cookbook we used in Istanbul back in the 70s. This particular curry is from the French section. We then watched our shows until 9:30 when Evie went up to bed and I then watched some NBA until 10:00. 

Gray And Hazy

9:12

It's just after 7:00, overcast and foggy, and it looks like that kind of day. It's 29º, the snow has melted, again,  and we may get some rain later in the day or, like yesterday, sleet. It's 9:20 as I finish this and I just returned from breakfast in Bemus. It was hazy going but cleared up on the way home.  

Yesterday I was able to get in a paddle before the weather changed. I was up at 6:15 so it was easy to get in a paddle before heading to yoga at 9:40. Class was really fun and different which makes everyone leave feeling good. I stopped for a coffee again and spent 25 minutes talking with Paul and another one of his friends, all locals. I drove home in sleet, on icy roads, and noticed a car went off the road on #394, just before arriving to Woodlawn. It was in the brush, with two police cars flashing their lights. It was not the kind of weather to be out on the road if you could help it.

When I got home, Evie had been talking to the Kia car dealer and we finally made up our minds to buy the Kia Sportage plug-in Hybrid, no surprise, right.  If ever given a choice always buy the more expensive one. We also set up Evie's new rebounder, a small, circular trampoline. I think she is going to like it and it's a fun way to work up a sweat and exercise. After setting up the rebounder, Evie made me a Western omelet for lunch and I watched TV, not sure what, obviously forgettable.

Afternoon Sleet And Freezing Rain

Because of the bad weather, neither of us wanted to go out so we spent the rest of the afternoon reading, watching TV or getting a few household chores done. We decided to celebrate our decision to buy a new car with a Manhattan, crackers, and good cheese. It was a nasty night as well so it was nice and cozy in our house, watching it rain or sleet some more. Dinner was a couple of chicken thighs roasted in the air fryer along with the previous night's rigatoni with mushrooms and pancetta. We watched Jeopardy, Colbert, and ER. We like routine. 

More Winter Like

6:29

6:52

7:13

It's 7:10 and the sun is rising over Tom's Point on a chilly 26º morning. It will stay in the low 30s an we may have some flurries on and off during the day. Well, I was able to kayak for 40 minutes, down to Bootey Bay and back as the ice has finally melted. It was tough going south, with a strong, bitter wind, giving me a headache. Heading home was much more pleasant as the wind picked up even more and the lake got choppy.

Kayak Morning

Into The Wind

Yesterday's weather was bizarre as I will relate. It started out fine as I hit the lake with me paddling into the sun. By the time I returned, it had clouded up a bit but there was still some blue in the sky. I was off to yoga by 9:30 after writing but forgot to publish the blog. The class was the usual with Courtney as the asanas do not change much in her class. Afterward, I stopped at Ryders Cup for coffee and had a fun conversation with regular Paul and his friend, John. We are both the same age and he, like Paul, has traveled quite a bit so it was fun to talk with him. I finally left at noon, stopped at the Toyota dealer, and sat in a Prius but decided it was too small.

Stormy Weather

Evie was supposedly going out to lunch with a friend, Wendy, but just as they were about to go, the weather changed with heavy winds, gray skies, sleet, and hail, falling from the sky. So they decided to just stay home and Evie made a lunch of tuna/egg salad sandwiches. When I got home, a large package was sitting on the porch from Amazon, Evie's rebounder or small trampoline. We were curious about it so before lunch, we put the frame but not the handle together. It's going to be fun to see how much we like it. We then had lunch and talked with Wendy until 2:00 when she went home. It was really good to see her and she seems to be doing well since she lost her husband, Charlie, a couple of years ago.

We decided to continue our quest for a car, stopped at Toyota, and drove a Rav4 Hybrid which we liked but ended up back at Kia to see if they might have the Sportage available that we wanted. They seem in short supply statewide so we left but are now considering spending a bit more and getting the Hybrid Plug-in, which is sitting on their lot. Today may decide what we do.

Evie had a Zoom call with her sisters at 5:00 and Claire told her to go for the more expensive Hybrid Plug-in car on the lot. Thanks. Evie had put together a pasta sauce with mushrooms in the morning so all she had to do was add the cooked rigatoni and make a salad and we had dinner. We still have not found a series we like so we fell back on our nightly pacifier, ER, then a Jeopardy. I am beginning to finally enjoy my novel, Motherless Brooklyn, narrated by a detective who suffers from Tourettee's syndrome and I must admit it's annoying.

Car Shopping

6:59

It's early, 7:00, and I have been up since 6:15 on a cold 32º morning. The wind is down, and the lake is calm, so I should have a good paddle. It's now 8:35 and I had a great paddle on a smooth lake, with little if any wind. And once again, the lake was frozen around Wells Bay. Interstingly, I started out in sun and came home in gray skies. Sorry, it's 12:57 and I guess we forgot to publish the blog this morning. 

Kayak Morning

The Sun

Northern Sky

Still Ice At Wells Bay

Yesterday was a busy day. It started as usual with coffee and then a good 50-minute paddle on the lake. We then enjoyed a cup of coffee and planned our day. We were in no hurry to get going but by 10:30, we were on our way to look at Honda CRVs. We took it for a test drive and had a good conversation with the salesperson. We then drove literally next door to the Hyundai dealer and drove their Santa Fe SUV which was a couple of thousand more than the Honda. We discovered that the problem with getting a new car is that dealers have only a few new cars in their inventory. So you might have to wait months for the exact car you might want. We are looking at Hybrids as well as Plug-In Hybrids. 

We were home by 12:30 and Evie made me lunch, heating up the carrot soup and the leftover ratatouille with couscous. I am struggling to find a noontime series because I am tired of Mr. Robot. At 1:00, the Bosch dishwasher repairman arrived and fixed our dishwasher. Basically, the hose that emptied the dishwasher was faulty. It took him about 15 minutes and we now have our dishwasher working again.

Late Afternoon Sun

We then read or watched TV and I napped briefly but by 3:00, we were off to Jamestown to check out the Kia Sportage, supposedly top-rated on some websites. We actually stepped out of our car and met the salesmen in the parking lot. We ended up driving the top-of-line Plug-In Hybrid which we really liked although the Plug-In model is seven grand more than just the Hybrid. So our dilemma is whether it's worth it to get the Plug-in Hybrid or not. They do have o Hybrid Plug-in available but not the Sportage Hybrid SE Prestige that Evie wants although they may be able to trade for one with other dealers.

We left at 5:00, liking the Kia the best but have to decide which model we want. When we returned home, we sat in the living room, enjoying a glass of wine, looking up the ratings of the three vehicles we looked at on Edmunds and Kelly Blue Book. They all are different in their ratings of course. For dinner, Evie fried up a couple of burgers with the fixings and made a salad and that was dinner. We started a new series on Prime called Three Pines based on the Lousie Penny Inspector Gamache series and watched two episodes but we not taken with it. We ended the night with a Hometown and Jeopardy.