An Octoberfest Evening

Prost!

7:53

It's 8:15 as I start this because I just did not want to get out of bed, a lazy boy. As I look at the lake, the sun is blinding, and steam moves slowly across the middle of the lake.  It's 10:00 and I paddled for 50 minutes, north to Magnolia and then home in a bright sun, making it hard to see. 

Bald Eagle

Hanging In Magnolia

Kayak Morning

Into The Sun

Yesterday was a day in full, starting with a short paddle because of the winds and choppy lake. Once I returned and had breakfast and finished the blog, Evie asked if I would wash the windows. So I gathered the sponge, water, vinegar mixture, and newspaper and cleaned the windows. It does not take long, maybe 20 minutes but it's an awkward job, squeezed in between the windows and rhododendrons, standing on a step ladder. I also pulled out the 20-footer and cut down some branches on our maples in the front yard, trying to be careful. By the time I was done, Evie had gathered the trash so off I went to the Transfer Station, always busy on Saturday and having a chance to meet up with friends or neighbors dropping off their trash. Around 11:30, I wanted to get in some exercise so I walked for a half hour in our woods, the trees colorful, the trails covered with leaves. 

Woodlawn/Victoria Woods

Fallen Leaves

More Leaves

Noon

For lunch, Evie used the salmon leftover from Friday night's dinner and made a delicious salad for lunch. Yum. I watched some of the Ohio State football games, got bored, and watched another episode of Ridley. I started a new book, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, and its hard to get into but I am persevering. I napped for a half hour and returned to my book but by 3:30, I wanted something to do so I went out and pulled everything out of the garage, swept it, put what I no longer needed in the garage's attic, and put stuff back. I used to do that every couple of weeks but have neglected to do it this summer. 

By 5:15, we were showered and dressed up and left for the Atheneum Hotel on the Chautauqua Institution grounds for an Octoberfest celebration. We were meeting Ron and Linda there at 5:30. We were lucky to find a place to park, and walked into the a dining room filled with a couple of hundred people and a 25 piece ompah band from Buffalo playing polka music. 

Bergholz German Band

Drummer

Luckily, Ron and Linda saved us a seat so we were able to squeeze into one of the long tables that filled the room. Because it was a buffet and there were long lines, we sat around enjoying our Octoberfest beers and talking with Ron and Linda's friends, Diane and Ken. After an hour we got in line and waited maybe 15 minutes to get to the buffet, a smorgasbord of German food: wiener schnitzel, pretzels, condiments, potato and sausage soup, spaetzle, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, sauerbraten, and various desserts. 

Waiting In Line For Our Food

My eyes were bigger than my stomach so I piled my plate with too much as did Evie.  We were serenaded by the band on and off during the evening which was fun but it made it hard to talk. We stayed until 8:15 and said our goodbyes and headed home. Because Evie was coming down with a cold, she was tired and went up to bed, leaving me to watch various basketball games until 10:00.