Clam Bake Saturday

O Happy Day

7:03

8:16

It's a morning of heavy fog as we are locked in, barely able to see beyond the dock. And what makes it worse for my morning paddle, duck, or geese hunters have been blasting away since 7:00 somewhere to the south, along the shoreline. I am not sure where it's safe to kayak until I can see where the hunters are sitting. It's 8:00 and I just made out a bass boat, fishing off near the reeds, to the south. I  guess I will venture out in a few minutes. I waited to paddle until the fog started to dissipate and realized the hunters were over at Tom's Point, quite a distance from where I paddled. A number of fishing boats were out this morning despite the fog, and I kayaked for 50 minutes on a calm lake, a nice way to start the weekend. 

Kayak Morning

Great Blue Heron

Still Perched Above The Reeds

Yesterday was a typical busy day for both of us since we were having neighbors over for dinner. Fortunately, I did not have yoga so I could help out in the kitchen, mostly cleaning up after Evie. We both enjoyed a leisurely coffee until 10:00 and I was able to kayak from 8:00 to 9:00. While Evie prepped some of our dinner late morning, I was responsible for giving both porches a quick clean, an easy task. I also did up some dishes, helping out in the kitchen.

Lunch was the leftover Salisbury steak and while I enjoyed it with mashed potatoes and watched my show, Evie talked with our daughter Beth for a good half hour, as she had a day off from teaching in Dallas. I am into my John Sanford novel, Righteous Prey, and read it on and off during a beautiful afternoon as we both got things ready for dinner at 6:00. The afternoon went quickly, my only task, was to pick up a couple of dozen ears of corn from Stedman for today's clambake in Euclid, at my sister Linda's house on the shores of Lake Erie. It's a tradition that dates back to the 1950s when my Dad would have clambakes in our backyard. 

Good Friends

By 6:00, we were both showered and ready for our neighbors, Pat and Dave, and their son Darren. On Monday, they are off for the winter in South Carolina, to their new home. They are excited. It was warm enough to sit on the front porch with drinks and corn fritters for an appetizer. We had fun listening to music from the past 50 years and trying to figure out the performers. We sat out for close to an hour before moving to the dining room for a dinner of pork medallions and sauce, salad, roasted potatoes, and Chillingsworth pumpkin rolls. 

Moon Rising

We were awed by the rising Harvest Moon just as dessert was being served,  apple pie and ice cream, a perfect compliment to our dinner since apples are now in season. We bid goodbye and will see them again next Spring.  Evie was exhausted from the day so she went up to bed early but I stayed up and cleaned the kitchen up, like a good boy. My Mom trained me well. 

A Lake Calm In Gray

Evie's Southern Belle Dahlia

7:03

The wind has finally died so the lake is smooth and gray, nary a boat yet, as a heron sits on our neighbor's dock. It's 54º, a perfect temperature for kayaking if I wear a fleece. It's 9:30 and all is well at the lake. I paddled for 50 minutes and had a good morning on the lake, shooting a couple of herons and a juvenile eagle.

Kayak Morning

North

North

Juvenile Eagle On Tip Of Long Point

Heron Above Sandy Bottom

Neighbor's Dock

Tufted Great Blue Heron

Yesterday was back to normal as my back feels much better. I did skip kayaking and instead went to breakfast in Bemus. But after, I drove to Yin Yoga at 10:00, 23 of us, just three guys. Class ended with 15 minutes of sound healing, as various sounds invaded the room. I found them annoying, not soothing so I don't think I will be taking a sound healing class. After class, I met a friend, Paul, at Ryders Cup and it was warm enough to sit out on the porch until noon when I stopped for some wine before coming home. 

When I returned home, the kitchen was chaos as Evie had been putting together various dishes because we were having friends over for dinner tonight as she likes to prep things ahead of time. She took time out to make me a couple of chicken sandwiches with my first taste of Duke's mayo. I can't say it was much different from Hellmann's. By 2:00, she was off to see Jaret for a hair trimming, then shopping, and finally, getting her Covid booster at Rite Aid, a busy day for Evie.  Meanwhile, I finished my Dismas Hardy novel, started a new John Sandford novel, and briefly napped. 

Woodlawn Road

Victoria Pond

Evie was home by 4:00, just as I was going for a walk around the Woodlawn/Victoria loop, just about a mile. We relaxed with a glass of wine at 5:00 and Evie had no worries about dinner having made  Salisbury steak in the morning. We enjoyed our Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and a salad while watching another Bargain Basement show, then an episode of Unforgotten, recommended by my sister Ellen, and, a cheesy episode of The Morning Show. 

Victoria Creeks Attempts To Keep Silt/Run Off Out Of Lake

Finally, The Sun Riseth

7:20

7:40

It's 7:28 and the sun rose about ten minutes ago, a welcome sight after the past cloudy days. I am skipping a paddle because of breakfast in Bemus, alas, but it's nice not to have to hurry. It's 9:20 and I just returned from breakfast in Bemus and ran into Bob, my friend from Ryders Cup. 

Yesterday I got in an early paddle, my usual, even though the lake was choppy, I then finished the blog, had breakfast, and went for my neighborhood walk. I should have gone to yoga because my back seemed to get better during the day but I didn't. I called my sister Ellen who is having in hip replacement this morning and she seemed in good spirits, just wanting to get it over with. Then,  I drove to Lakewood, to Ryders Cup, and sat on the porch with Paul and Greg, bemoaning our aches and pains as we age, nothing new. It was fun to talk with them, both Lakewood residents and Paul seems to know everyone who walks into the coffee shop. After my coffee, I stopped at the bank to get some cash, then did a quick run through Walmart, picking up some printer paper and a few other things. 

I didn't get home until 12:30, later than usual and for lunch, Evie used the rest of the salmon to make me a salmon salad, one of my favorites. I am now on the second season of the Lakers series called Winning Time. The rest of the afternoon was typical, wanting to do something but staying on the couch instead, reading with a heating pad. Around 5:45, I finished up the salmon salad and by 6:30, we were in the Chautauqua Lake gymnasium, watching our good friends Jack and Diane's daughter, Ava, play volley ball against their bitter rival, Panama. 

Ava

Unfortunately, they lost in three but all three games were close. It was fun to be in a gym again, with local fans, teenagers, and grandparents.  We drove home as a full moon seemed to light our way. We watched the usuals before bed and the debate briefly before it turned into a verbal slugfest and we could not stand listening to them any longer. They couldn't stand listening to each other either. 

The Moon

Yep, The Moon

Mostly Gray, Some Wind

6:56

7:05

7:06

It's 7:40 and I have been up for an hour, enjoying the colorful early morning sky before the gray took over. It's a bit windy from the southeast and 54º.  I did get in a paddle for 40 minutes, on choppy seas, and managed to get a photo of a lonely heron, sitting on Jim and Tina's dock. 

Still Hanging Around

Yesterday was a bit of a bore because I skipped yoga because of my sore back. Strangely, I was most comfortable when I was out paddling on a windy morning. After kayaking, Evie finished up the blog and I went for my usual walk around the neighborhood with my bowl of yogurt and Evie's granola. Basically, Pine Hill is once again empty after a busy weekend because of the bass fishing tournament. Despite my discomfort, I wanted to go for a bike ride, went outside, and discovered once again the battery was dead in the Outback, for the second time in five days. So I called AAA and the same guy came out as last time and I was able to start my car. Once he left, I drove it to my mechanic, dropped it off for them to discover why a new battery keeps dying, and then Evie drove me home.

Evie left to do some shopping after dropping me off so I was on my own for lunch. I did not have any leftovers so I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and heated up some Lipton Noodle soup, kind of a throwback to the 50s lunch. I finished Season One of the Lakers series and was happy to get back to my book, The Ophelia Cut, the fourteenth in the Dismas Hardy series. Evie did not get home until 3:30 because she had a triple header, Wegmans, Aldis, and TJMaxx. Around 4:00, I went out to my boat only to discover muskrats were once again creating a mess of stones and shells on the shelf of the stern. I had tried putting a fishing line across the stern but it did not work so yesterday, I put a board across it, hoping that will discourage the suckers. I am afraid they might chew on one of the hoses. 

At 5:00, Evie had her Zoom call with her sisters, and around 6:30, we settled down in the TV room with our dinner, salmon, rice, corn, and a salad. Evie wanted to watch the Caitlin Jenner documentary on Netflix narrated by Olympic champion Bruce Jenner. It is worth watching as he makes clear, his discomfort with who he is most of his life, even when winning an Olympic gold medal. His journey to finding his real self makes for an interesting film. We then listened to Cassidy Hutchinson being interviewed by Jake Tapper. She comes across as courageous, articulate, and honest about her time in Trump's White House and it's probably the reason she has been in hiding for a year because of death threats from the Maga thugs. 

Clouds, Sun, And Wind

6:53

7:34

7:38

7:39

7:43

I woke to a vast, dark cloud bank but now, at 7:40, the sun has burst out just above it, filling our living room briefly with its light. It's 54º and rain is expected soon, just as I am ready to go out for a paddle. It's 9:05 and I managed to kayak for 35 minutes, 20 minutes down to Sandy Bottom, into the wind, less than 15 minutes home with the wind at my back. I literally did not have to paddle.

Kayak Morning

Kayaking North

Yesterday was a strange day although it began as usual with a nice long paddle on a decent Monday morning, After breakfast and the blog, I drove to Westfield because I had to get a blood test and it took longer to register me to draw the blood. Afterward, I stopped for a coffee, then on to Tops for a few things for Evie, like butter which we ran out of. When I got home, the weather had changed and the sun was out, the lake calm and smooth so I suggested a boat ride before the weather changed. So I took the cover off the boat and we cruised for close to an hour, the sun bright and warm, the lake like glass. By the time we returned, the weather was beginning to change and within an hour, it was windy, cool, and overcast.

Autumn Boating

Southern Sky

Lunch was another salami sandwich and my show and that was it for excitement for the day. We both spent most of the afternoon inside because of the wind, reading, and napping, what else? Around 4:00, I went for a walk up the hill, checking on the trees that were taken down along our road by North Harmony, saving our association money. By 6:00, we were enjoying a libation and appetizers, as the day began to wane, the sky and cold reminding us once again of fall.

Dinner was the leftover tas kebab and mashed potatoes, along with a salad and corn. We watched our usual, HGTV, ER, along with some football mixed since it was Monday night. The games were boring so we ended up going to bed earlier than usual, to read, to sleep. 

Gray Skies, Quiet Lake

7:03

9:10

Not a boat in sight, as the week begins. After the weekend's bass tournament, it's strange to have it so quiet and empty, not that I am complaining. Things quiet down around here starting after Labor Day and continue until mid-October when most of the docks are out, and the boats stored. It's 9:20 and I paddle my usual 45-minute circular route, north along Woodlawn, across to Long Point, back to Sandy Bottom, and home. I saw nothing, no birds until I was just about home and noticed the heron on our next-door neighbor's dock, and took a number of photos.

Kayak Morning

Paddling North

On Neighbor's Dock

Ready To Fish

Yesterday was another busted day in that we hardly left the house, especially the TV room once the Bills game started at 1:00. I did get in a short paddle but we skipped our usual walk around the CI because my back was bothering me. It's better this morning. Anyways, we hung out in the morning, enjoying a couple cups of coffee and perusing both the NYTimes and Washington Post. We both did a little housekeeping until lunchtime, at 12;30 when Evie fried up some potatoes and a couple of eggs while making our dinner, a favorite from Turkey called Tas Kebab, basically stew meat with a simple tomato paste sauce and spices. for some reason, it's the best despite having so few ingredients. 

We then watched the first half of the Bills blowout of Washington, then adjourned to the living room and couch to read or nap for an hour before going back and watching the rest of the game, skipping through the commercials. We finished the Bills game just in time to watch the first half of the Kansas City Chiefs blow out of Chicago. It was so bad that our local station did not show the second half, cutting instead to the Dallas/Arizona game which we could care less about. My son Tom, a Chiefs fan, had friends over for ribs and brisket in his smoker, which he started at 3:00AM for their dinner. He sent photos and it looked delicious. 

Dinner was really good, tender meat, a tasty gravy, both over mashed potatoes with corn and a salad. We both were happy, I can't even remember what we watched other than ER and some HGTV. O, yea, we started Body Heat from the 1980s but we have seen it so many times that we quit after 15 minutes. We went to bed early, feeling guilty for not having done much other than watch TV and eat. 

Overcast And Windy

7:13

9:05

It's 7:40 at the moment, on a gray fall day, the lake ruffled, the temperature a cool 55º. The lake is not too inviting but I hope to get out there for at least a brief paddle as my back has been bothering me lately. Well, I was able to kayak for a half hour before the wind picked up and I paddled home on an increasingly gray and windy day. 

Kayak Morning

A Brooding North Sky

Yesterday was a typical Saturday. It began with a long paddle and some good shots of herons. Then, Evie and I took our time, lingering over our coffee before getting busy gathering the trash. So I didn't get to the Transfer Station until 10:30. When I returned, Evie had showered and was getting ready for a walk in Mayville. It turned out to be a fine morning for a walk. We decided on Webb's Trail, a good choice and we were out for forty-five minutes, walking just about two miles, out and back on the wooded path. Surprisingly as we walked, a train of golf carts went by, out for a morning cruise, a first. It felt good to get in some exercise.

Webb's Trail

Freshly Groomed

For lunch, I had the leftover hamburger stroganoff and watched the usual. We did little the rest of the afternoon because we were both into our books and wanted to sit around and read. Evie stayed on the porch because it was too windy in the side yard and I read in the house, finishing my book, Tom Lake, which I really enjoyed, As usual, we debated whether to stay home or go out to dinner. 

Evening Sky

We finally decided to go to Steeners Pub in Greenhurst, which was having a shrimp and crayfish boil. We were lucky to find a seat at the bar on a crowded Saturday night. I decided on the boil which we would share, shrimp, sausage, crayfish, corn, and red potatoes and Evie ordered a basket of their french fries. Unfortunately, we made two mistakes because neither of us enjoyed the boil, and the fries were not quite done. So we left unhappy with ourselves because we should have stayed home.

Bass Anglers Cook Out

When we got home, the North Coast Bass Anglers Association was having a bash, enjoying a dinner under a  tent next door. They have had a tournament at Pine Hill for the past seven or eight years. We have gotten to know one of the guys, Herb Wilborn Jr., a resident of Maple Heights. 

Herb, "dubbed Cleveland's Finest Jazz Flautist By The Plain Dealer"

He's a good guy and stopped over inviting us to have dinner with them but we had already eaten. He did bring a couple of plates over, some chicken and dessert, thinking we might still enjoy something. They have their weigh-in this afternoon and then head home. We had our usual evening of boring TV even though it was a Saturday night. 

A Selfie Of Course