Yippee

8:12

It's 7:42, overcast, and light rain or flurries are predicted on a 36º morning. Rafts of mergansers have been floating by, diving for weeds. It looks like it will be like this, overcast and cool, most of the day. It's 9:30 and I avoided drizzle or flurries and paddled for forty-five minutes, on a gray lake, with a light, southerly wind.

Kayak Morning

Paddling South

Yesterday was a striking contrast to today, with sun and blue skies most of the day. It seems to be a pattern, one day of sun, the next of gray. Anyways, I didn't get in an early paddle because of breakfast in Bemus but made up for it later in the day, when I couldn't resist the blue waters in the afternoon. After breakfast, I went to yoga in Lakewood, a good class with a former teacher, Jen. After class, I drove to Jamestown to pick up completed taxes and was happy to see both state and federal governments owed me money. I then to did a quick stop at Wegmans before driving home. 

Flying A Turkish Flag

Evie had been busy prepping a few things for our dinners. Lunch was the last of the leek/potato soup and half a burger, leftover from our dinner at Guppy's on Wednesday night. I finally finished my show and it's clear they expected to have a second season by the way it ended but it was canceled. Like most of the afternoons, we both took it easy, getting a few housekeeping things done, reading, and watching some TV. By 3:30, however, as I mentioned above, I had to get out on the lake since it was such a beautiful afternoon. I chased mergansers down to Sandy Bottom and back and was out for forty-five minutes.

Kayak Afternoon

At 6:00, I talked with Brad at the North Harmony Township, who is head of zoning. I wanted to clarify what kinds of variances we might need if we were to build either a garage or a carport. I was home by 6;30 and Evie had a chicken and veggie stir fry ready and rice. Dinner was a nice change from burgers and fries. We watched a new thriller on Netflix called The Night Agent and got through two episodes before returning to the tried and true, Jeopardy and ER. 

We were both happy to see Trump was indicted but worry about how the Maga cult reacts. They are angry, misinformed, hyped up by Fox News each night, and not averse to violence as 1/6 made clear and we could be looking at sustained disorder, even bloodshed, a harbinger of the results of polarized politics. 

Spring Snow Storm

6:37

7:13

7:47

In contrast to yesterday's blizzard, we have another beautiful morning on the lake, blue skies, sunshine, and a snow-covered lawn. It's my fault because I put my snow shovels in the garage attic on Monday. It's 9:15 and I just returned from breakfast at the Lake Life Cafe with the guys. 

Yesterday was interesting, weather-wise. The day started well, with blue skies and sun and a great paddle. I finished the blog by 9:00 and was off to a yoga class by 9:40. We had a substitute teacher that I had before, notable because she rubs an analgesic on our shoulders, arms, and feet during class. After class, I drove to Home Depot and picked up some garden soil and grass seed, getting ready for what I thought might be a warm Spring day. 

Snow Begins At 5:30

Lunch was the last of the miso/carrot soup and lettuce wraps with spicy ground chicken. I watched half of the last episode of Shantaram, saving the rest for today. The afternoon went quickly, as always, with a nap and reading but the weather changed drastically by 5:00. We were supposed to go out to dinner at a restaurant in Northeast, PA, about a forty-minute drive. 

Dining Out

As the wind picked up and the blizzard began, I called our friends and suggested we go somewhere nearby. They agreed and we ended up driving across the lake in a literal blizzard, to Guppy's, a ten-minute drive. Fortunately, crews were out already clearing and salting the roads.

Driving To Guppy's In A Blizzard

Crossing Bridge On Our Way Home

One table was taken when we entered, so we had our choice of where to sit although a few other brave souls arrived as we ate. It was burger night so most of us ordered burgers and fries to go along with a beer or two. It was more fun than usual since our wives were with us. We usually have breakfast on Thursday mornings with just guys. We stayed until 8:00 and by then, the storm had passed and it was an easy drive home although icy. We were thankful we changed our plans and enjoyed Guppys. When we returned home, it was a Spring Winter Wonderland as dusk settled in. We quickly changed into something comfortable, enjoyed a bowl of ice cream, and watched a couple of our usual shows. 

Dusk

Sunny, Blue Skies, And Chilly

7:00

7:14

Another fine morning here on the lake. The sun rose about fifteen minutes ago so the living room is filled with light. There's still frost on the lawn because it's 29º at the moment. I got in a 50-minute paddle and was rewarded with some great photos of wood ducks, the only ducks to perch in trees. 

Kayak Morning

Victoria/Woodlawn

Into The Sun

Wood Ducks In A Tree

A Beautiful Couple

A Striking Male

Yesterday felt like Spring, with lots of sun and a crispness to the air. I paddled for close to an hour, wearing a stocking hat and mittens to keep warm. After kayaking, I had breakfast and finished the blog then drove to Lakewood to a Yin yoga class. I left the class with my hips aching from holding a position too long. I stopped at Ryders Cup and spent a good half hour with the guys. Interestingly, I found out Paul and I have mutual friends who live in Akron. He spent a couple of years living there in the early 1980s while going to law school with a couple of my friends, a small world. 

When I got home, Evie had a wrap and a bowl of soup ready for my lunch because she had already taken off to do some shopping before getting her hair trimmed at 1:00. Now that we once again have the luxury of two cars we can do things like that. I watched the penultimate episode of Shantaram so I will finish it today at lunch. Yippee, After lunch, I napped briefly and read but by the time Evie returned, I was ready to do something outside. 

Tuesday Afternoon

So I spent a good hour raking the deadfall in our yard and took two garbage cans of twigs up the hill to the wood pile. It felt good to be outside, doing some Spring stuff. I even put away the snow shovels in the attic of the garage and brought down some gardening stuff and wouldn't you know it, flurries are forecast for later today. 

Ron and Linda are back from their week in California so they picked us up at 6:00 and drove us to Steeners for their steak special. This is becoming a Tuesday tradition. It was packed because they were having a party but we were able to find a booth. All four of us ordered the steak and fries and they were great, tender, and flavorful. They stayed with Linda's sister who lives in Palo Alto and took advantage of road trips from there, the highlight being the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's good to have them back in town. We didn't get home until 8:30, in time to watch a couple of the usual shows before bed. 

A Pop Of Early Morning Color

6:42

7:08

7:08

7:38

It's 7:14 and the sun is just peaking over the eastern coastline, on a partly cloudy morning. My weather app says it's supposed to be snowing but all I can see is the beginning of dawn. Well, the sky opened up, the sun came out and it was a spectacular morning on the lake. I even saw four different bald eagles and was able to photograph one, up in the trees above Sandy Bottom

Kayak Morning

Long Point

Victoria/Woodlawn

Bald Eagle

Wood Duck

Yesterday was not my usual routine as I had to be in Westfield at 8:00 for an echo.  I was home by 8:45, in time to write the blog then go for a 25-minute paddle in the rain. We then published the blog and that was it until 10:30 when I decided to get in some yoga. So I followed a 30-minute Youtube show, Yoga With Adrienne, with an emphasis on low back and hamstrings, just what I needed.  During Covid, I used to follow Adrienne three or four times a week. Since then she had become famous and well-deserved for having a daily yoga class for free. 

Lunch was avocado and tomato sandwiches along with the leek/potato soup from Saturday. After my show, I read some, napped, then spent an hour watching the amazing Caitlin Clark score 41 points as Iowa defeated Louisville to get into the Final Four Women's championship. She is the female version of Stephen Curry with an amazing three-point range. While I was watching the game, Evie was working out upstairs on the rebounder for an hour. Not to be outdone and wanting to get in my third workout of the day, I spent 25 minutes on the rebounder and have to say, my legs are sore today as a result. I still am uncomfortable with it and have difficulty keeping up with the beat of the music.

Evie put together our dinner, an air-fried and marinated salmon salad, with avocadoes and hard-boiled eggs. We were able to have a brief happy hour before enjoying our dinner at 6:30. We decided to watch an older film, Garden State on AppleTV+ and it was enjoyable, about a young struggling actor who returns home for his mother's funeral and meets up with many of his old high school friends. We also watched an always amusing Real Time With Bill Maher before ending the night with Hometown.

No Comment Needed

Back To Gray Skies

7:06

9:21

It's late as I start this, 9:22 because I had to drive to Westfield for a test at 8:00 and just returned home, with breakfast and coffee from McDonald's as a reward for having to skip kayaking this morning. I may go out after the blog if it's not raining. Well, it rained and I came home soaked but it was worth it to get ou on the lake. Carpe diem.

Kayak Morning

In The Rain

Biking Rails To Trails

Yesterday, unlike Saturday and today, was filled with sun and blue skies. I got in a great paddle, for over an hour and just loved being out on the lake on such a beautiful morning. After the blog and breakfast, I did some yard work, picking up the deadfall from the past days of heavy winds. Evie was not up for a walk, preferring to work out on the rebounder, so I drove to Mayville, stopped at tbe grocery for a few things for the Asian soup Evie was going to make, and then run my bike for close to an hour, down Sea Lion Drive, around the south end of the lake and back to Mayville Park. It was a bit chilly because of the winds but I was able to photograph a couple of swans.

View Of Lake From Mayville

Swans

When I returned home, Evie was busy making a couple of things, waiting for Sesame oil for the miso carrot soup she was making. She had everything ready for a big breakfast a well, making avocado and egg bagels, fast becoming a favorite breakfast. I watched my show, then read some until the basketball game came on a 2:00 and spent much of the afternoon watching it, with time out for a brief nap and some reading when I got bored.

Dinner With Debi And Bud

We were going over to our neighbors, Debi and Bud's for dinner, so by 5:30, Evie had the soup made for an appetizer and we were both showered and ready. They have not been up much this winter because of the lack of snow so it was good to see them. We sat around their island after having Evie's soup, sipping wine, and watched Bud put together a delicious shrimp stirfry, with coconut milk, red peppers, and various Asian sauces. We had it over brown rice along with a salad and marinated sliced cucumbers and loved it. For dessert, we had mango sorbet, a perfect way to end an Asian meal. We sat around talking at the dinner table, catching up on their travels to Italy and Croatia until 9:30, and then walked home. What a great way to end a Sunday. 

Bon Appetit, Neighbor 

A Manic Weather Afternoon

Happy Twentieth Birthday To Our Granddaughter, Marlena

7:21

It's 7:14 and the sun should be rising shortly on a surprisingly clear morning on the lake. The heavy winds from yesterday have abated as have the rain, drizzle, and a few flurries. It's also cooled down to the 30s from the 50s yesterday, a fickle Spring. Now that the sun is up, I can see rafts of mergansers cruising by, looking for breakfast. It's 7:455, time to get ready for a paddle on a sun-drenched lake. It's 9:30 as I finish this up after an hour + paddle, down to the Powerboat Club, back to the campground and home, a great morning on the lake.

Kayak Morning

Blue Sky North

Victoria/Woodlawn

A Rambling Muskrat

Wood Ducks

Floating By

Saturday was typical for us although the weather was not. I was up early but because of the winds and waves, I  did not venture out on the lake. So we had an easy morning, with nothing either of us had to do, no yoga, just the Saturday trip to the Transfer Station with our trash. I didn't head there until late, 11:00, dropped off our trash on a busy day, and then drove into Lakewood to do some errands.

When I returned home, Evie was finishing a pot of leek and potato soup for our lunches. I had a bowl to go along with my chicken salad sub from the Lighthouse and watched another episode of the seemingly never-ending series Shantaram although the novel was 900 pages as I recall. Because of the inclement weather, we spent the rest of the day inside. There was lots of basketball to watch and I finished my Dismas Hardy novel and started I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai. 

5:28

Threatening At 5:38

Rainbow At 5:40

Rainbow Above Warner Bay

It's difficult to describe the weather during our happy hour because the photos we took give a clearer picture of the changing sky and lake. So as we enjoyed appetizers and Manhattans, we constantly marveled at the changing weather, getting up and walking out to take another photo of a rainbow, the clouds, the threatening sky, and even snow flurries. For dinner, we had leftover eggplant and banana cake and watched a few shows. We also watched March Madness off and on, depending on the teams and the game times. It was an interesting day of Chautauqua weather.

7:16