Windy, Gray, With A Slash Of Light

7:27

Well, my breakfast buddies are out of town and wouldn't you know it, the wind is too strong for a paddle so I have a couple of hours this morning before I drive to yoga. Evie is up early as well because she has school at 10:00. And I am still waiting for my Kia after being promised it at the end of last week. 

Yesterday was a chilly but good day although neither of us was very busy. Evie relaxed at home because she did not have class and started thinking and organizing for our trip West next week. Lots to get done and get ready for our visit to our kids. I decided to go for another bike ride because I did not feel like yoga. So I drove to Mayville, parked my car, and took my usual ride, on Webb's Trail, then the Mayville paved trail, around the cemetery, down Sea Lion Drive and home. It was windy much of the way so I struggled some but it was still fun. I was gone for just about an hour, covering 9 miles. 

Biking Morning

Leaves, Trees, And Bike

When I returned home, I had leftovers for lunch and watched my new show, The Lincoln Lawyer before getting back to my book and taking a nap. My afternoons do not change much obviously. Around 3:00, I went outside and did some cleanup in the yard, and then because both of us wanted a sweet for dinner, I drove to Weggies and picked up a half dozen donuts, a very, very, very bad boy. 

While I was gone, Evie put together one of our favorite go-to meals, lemon chicken with rice. While we were enjoying a glass of wine, it was baking in the oven,  Once again, we ate and watched the first of the three episodes of House Of Cards. Increasingly, it reminds us of what's going on as Trump gives Democrats the finger with his nominations, especially Matt Gaetz a fellow sexual predator.  After Evie went to bed, I watched the Cavs win another one, 13 in a row. 

Freezing And A Blazing Sun

7:20

7:20

I woke to a sunrise, breaking through a cloud bank and the windshields of our cars frozen. It's 30º with a light, southerly wind, perfect for kayaking. I just looked out my window and saw a bunch of mergansers, snorkeling along the shoreline, looking for weeds. It's 9:30 and I paddled on a chilly morning for 40 minutes, down to Sandy Bottom and back. I saw what I think was a hawk but when I pulled out my camera, the battery was dead. 

Kayak Morning

Yesterday was a strange day, perhaps because I didn't kayak because of the heavy, constant winds from the north. Also, Evie had a bad night sleeping and coughing so she was not up to doing much during the day and will see the doctor this morning again. After breakfast, the blog, and cleaning up the kitchen, I volunteered to go shopping because it was 5% off day at Wegmans. First, I drove over to the collision center, where my Kia has been for the past four weeks, wondering what was happening. They were waiting for it to be returned from the Kia dealer where it was being realigned. I wondered why it was still at the Kia dealer since they had an appointment for it to be worked on at 10:00 the day before. So, a bit miffed, I went to the Kia dealer and they had no explanation for why it sat for a day before working on it, increasing the time I had to wait for my car. We are heading west next week and I need the Kia in good shape but also in my driveway. In a foul mood, I drove to Wegmans, did my shopping, and came home, helping Evie put things away. Even though she was not feeling peppy, she volunteered to make me lunch, scrambled eggs and a bagel. I started a new series, The Lincoln Lawyer and think I may have watched parts of Season One before. 

Once I had lunch, I returned to my book, Munich, and napped briefly. I had in my mind doing something and because the sun finally came out, I decided to ride my bike in Bemus. I knew it would be chilly but didn't take into account the wind, which I had to fight both coming and going to Long Point State Park. I did it, however, was out for close to an hour and returned happy with myself. 

Biking The Trails Of Long Point

Fallen Leaves, Barren Trees

At 4:30, we both worked in the kitchen, putting together one of our favorite curries, with chicken, apples, and bananas. We have been making it since our years in Istanbul, from the New York Times Craig Claiborne cookbook. At 5:00, Evie had a Zoom call with her sisters and I watched some TV and read until it was time for wine. We ate around 6:30 and like the previous few days, watched three more episodes of House Of Cards before Evie went up to bed and I watched, what else, both college and professional basketball for a bit before joining her. 

Overcast, Windy, And Cold

7:26

8:15

I won't be kayaking because of the winds, the cold (35º and my laziness.) Only the Canadian Geese are out this morning, looking for their breakfast.

First Bufflehead Sightings 

Hanging With The Canadian Geese

Monday was a busy morning for both of us, a lazy afternoon to follow. I had a good paddle, shooting a great blue heron in our maple just as I started to kayak and getting out for 50 minutes on a placid lake morning. Since I only had yoga at 10:30, I was in no rush after my paddle which was nice. finishing the blog and having a leisurely breakfast. Yoga on Mondays is a new class called MELT where we use a rubber roller and it imitates I would suggest a body massage as we start by placing it under the shoulders, then move it down to the sacrum, and finally to the legs, rolling up and down, back and forth. The goal supposedly is rehydrating the connective tissues rather than stretching the muscles. I will stick with it because it's different and I feel good after class. 

On my way home, I thought about a coffee but resisted the temptation and came straight home. Evie was busy or at least wanted to be busy but found it difficult to stay on task. I don't blame her, as neither of us have been ourselves since Tuesday's election. Evie volunteered to make me a chicken sandwich for lunch but I decided to have my brown rice and bean stew, still sitting in the refrigerator since Saturday. And that was it for the day for both of us because both of us wasted the afternoon although the weather did not cooperate, with occasional drizzle and wind. As usual, I napped and read my book Munich, and around 4:30 I went out, picked up some deadfall in the front yard, and went for a walk around our neighborhood but that was it for the afternoon. 

After happy hour and listening to NPR, no CNN, we had dinner, the leftover chicken and biscuits, salad, and asparagus. We were looking forward to our series, House Of Cards, and watched three episodes in Season Two, opening with the shocking death of Zoey, pushed in front of a train by Kevin Spacey, a pragmatic politician who will stop at nothing to get his way. The irony is not lost on me that I am reading a book about Hitler's takeover of Czechoslovakia, and watching a series about a despicable politician, just as Trump becomes President. 

A Sky Of Gray

7:18

It's just 8:00 as I start this on an overcast morning of 47º. The lake is calm enough for a nice paddle even though its overcast. It's 9:30 and I paddled north to Magnolia for an hour and surprisingly, as I began my paddle, I happened to look up at our maple and there sat a heron, unbelievable because I haven't seen a heron in weeks and never in our maple 

Kayak Morning

Northern Gray

A Gang Of Wading Sea Gulls

South

Great Blue Heron

Yesterday is becoming a typical Sunday of NFL football. It started, however, with a good paddle for 50 minutes, then the blog and breakfast. I hankered for chicken and biscuits and agreed to pick up a rotisserie chicken if Evie would make it. So I went to Walmart at 10:30 and stopped at Ryders Cup for a coffee. 

Sunday Coffee At Ryders Cup

My good friend Paul and his wife Ellen sat with two couples from Sugar Grove and invited me to join their coffee klatch. They often get together on Sundays and it was nice of them to ask me to join them. I stayed for a half hour before driving off to Walmart to pick up a few things for the chicken and biscuits. 

Evie's Buddies, Arlo and Louie

While I was gone, Evie was hoping to get things done but was rescued by our neighbor's grandsons knocking on the door and asking if they could play with Evie. Of course she said yes, so for the next couple of hours they littered the house with toys from the attic, building blocks, toy soldiers, games, things like that and somehow Evie even found time to make them piggies and me my breakfast, an omelet with feta and tomatoes. What a women. I watched the first quarter of the Bill's game, then saved it to watch after reading and napping. 

Playing With Soldiers

The boys left around 3:00 and Evie was ready to relax and joined me in the TV room to watch the rest of the Bills game, a victory over Indianapolis. I literally did not get off the couch much of the afternoon until it was time to help Evie with prepping our dinner and cleaning up the kitchen. We enjoyed a glass of wine while the chicken, veggies, and homemade buttermilk biscuits were baking. Dinner was just what I wanted, so we were both happy watching three more episodes of House of Cards. 

Partly Cloudy With Rain Forecast

Trumpeter Swam

7:32

9:15

It's quite a contrast this morning to yesterday's brilliant sunshine and clear skies. Off to the south is a streak of light on an otherwise gray, overcast sky. There's a decent southerly wind already and it's  44º with a high in the mid-50s later today. It's 9:30, clouding up and I went kayaking for 45 minutes, the only boat on the lake. 

Kayak Morning

North

Swan Among The Canadian Geese

Yesterday was a different kind of Saturday although a typical morning. It began with a great paddle because of the blue skies and sunshine. I didn't want to get off the lake. As I finished up the blog, Evie noticed a swan among the Canadian geese, so I quickly walked outside and took a photo. Once breakfast was done and the blog, I gathered the trash and was off to an always busy Transfer Station. I was meeting our neighbor Bud, his two sons, and two grandsons because we were going to hike the Chautauqua Gorge at 11:30 while the gals celebrated a shower for his daughter-in-law Jen. 

The Boys With Their Grandad

We were not sure where to enter the gorge so I suggested Lyon Road which dead-ended on the gorge. I had forgotten that I was private property but we assumed we were fine and parked our cars and walked to a narrow path to the gorge. We hoped to be able to have an easy walk with the boys, six and eight but the creek was deeper than we thought so we often had to scramble up the gorge's overgrowth and walk alongside the creek. Unfortunately, we noticed ticks, especially on the dog and one of the sons, since it was mostly overgrown. That put a damper on our hike so we decided to turn around and walk back to the car. We were gone for an hour so we got in some hiking and exercise. 

Dad, Arlo, And Louie

We wanted lunch so I suggested the newly opened Sherman Hotel and restaurant, about a fifteen-minute drive. It was open for lunch and practically empty so we had an easy time finding a table, and ordering drinks and food. It was a good choice and everyone enjoyed their meals although it was a bit pricey, thirteen bucks for a burger and fries. 

The Ubiquitous Canadian Goose

We arrived back at Bud's house by 3:00 and joined the gals for cake and cookies. While hiking, they were having lunch and Jen was opening gifts for the new grandson's arrival in a few weeks. We stayed until 4:30 and walked home, happy with our afternoon hike and party. We were both tired so I laid on the couch and started my new novel, Munich, set in 1939 as the Facist, Adolph Hitler, is about to invade Czechoslovakia. How apropos. Neither of us was very hungry so we had the leftover bean stew and brown rice again, with a salad, and watched a new film on Prime called My Old Ass. It was a bit of a bore until the last fifteen or 20 minutes when it became real, moving and thoughtful. I watched some basketball when Evie went up to bed but not for long because I wanted to get back to my book. 

My Response To One Of My Followers Comments

Hi Tom, I am a Trump voter. I’m not here to spike the football. But instead to suggest that maybe the 70-80 million who voted for Trump did so because they don’t feel like this version of the Democratic Party represents their concerns, or that Kamala Harris is their champion. I’m recalling Bobby Kennedy’s Indianapolis speech. We can decide to move forward in this country with the two sides not talking to each other, thinking the other are evil or want fascism or what you will. Or we can make an effort to talk to each other, to comprehend, to come together, with goodwill towards all. I’m in the latter camp. We have our disagreements but in my view those disagreements don’t define us. Let’s work out our differences in the political process but then break bread together at the end of the day. Let us keep talking to each other. And as Joe Biden once pledged, let us turn down the temperature. Donald Trump is not the devil incarnate, nor are the majority of this country who voted for him. God Bless you.

Thanks for the response and you are welcome to spike the football since Trump won both the Electoral College and popular vote. To my dismay and amazement, I might add. If Trump ever sounded like you, “Or we can make an effort to talk to each other, to comprehend, to come together, with goodwill towards all” I could understand people voting for him. And he may not be the devil incarnate but his actions (January 6th) and his words, lies, misogyny, racism, belligerence, and cognitive impairment, scare the heck out of me. That seventy-five million Americans voted for a twice impeached felon, who declared he would “ gut civil service protections”, prosecute “political adversaries," deport 11 million illegal immigrants, and seems willing to flaunt the rule of law, baffles me.  I know Kamala and Democratic policies are imperfect but they pale compared to Trump’s liabilities -- personal and political.  I guess we will have to just disagree on Trump and hope for the best, for our country, and all our citizens.  

A Glorious Autumn Morning

7:30

9:28

I woke to a bright sun, clear skies, and frozen car windshields. The lake looks perfect for a paddle because the wind has not picked up. It's 9:40 and I was out kayaking for 50 minutes, over to Long Point, across to Sandy Bottom, and home. I saw no waterfowl of interest, only gaggles of Canadian geese, along the shoreline, feeding on weeds. 

Friday started out sunny but by 3:00, it clouded up, even looked like it might rain. I started with kayaking down to Sandy Bottom and back, then by 9:40, was off to yoga class. Fridays for some reason are not very popular so there were just two of us in a good class. It was good to have my Subaru back as I drove straight home, avoiding the coffee shop.  While I was gone Evie was busy culling the clothes she no longer wanted, always difficult. For lunch, Evie fried me a couple of eggs to go along with the twice-baked potatoes. I was tired of Griselda so I started a series called Will Trent because I had read a couple of Will Trent novels and wanted to see what it was like.

I then started a novel, stopped, started another and fell asleep for a decent nap. When I woke, it was clouding up and getting chilly but I decided to bike anyways. I drove off to the Chautauqua Instittuion, rode the circumference, and was out for forty minutes. It was chillier then I thought but I hung in there, completing another trifecta, paddling, yoga, and biking.

Thunder Bridge

Threatening Gray Sky

We had a quiet wine hour because we no longer wanted to listen to the news like many people we have talked to. Dinner was delicious, a couple of lamb chops, kuru fasulye over brown rice, and a salad. We watched The Great British Baking Show, always entertaining, then a Colbert, making me wonder if Trump might exercise his power to throw comedians like Colbert, who make fun of him, off the Networks like he vowed to with David Muir and ABC. I fear I am getting paranoid. When Evie went up to bed, I watched some of the Cavs' victory over Golden State and the Mavs game. 

A Gorgeous Sunny Morning

7:24

It was a pleasure to wake up to a morning like this, hardly a cloud, a living room filled with sunshine and a calm lake. It's a bit chilly 44º but just right for kayaking. I kayaked for forty-five minutes, my usual, down to Sandy Bottom and back and saw no herons or eagles, just geese. 

Northern Sky

Kayak Morning

Beached 

Yesterday was a good day because I got some things done in the yard. After kayaking for forty minutes, I returned to relax, have breakfast, finish the blog, and see Evie off to kindergarten at 9:30. It's strange not listening to the news because there is none that I am interested in hearing. I have wanted to make kuru fasulye, basically beans with tomatoes, onions, and pancetta so I got out the pressure cooker and the beans, and pressure cooked them for 26 minutes while I was sauteeing the pancetta, onions, tomatoes, and tomato paste. Once the beans were done, I added them to the pancetta and tomatoes, added some stock and simmered them for forty-five minutes, and viola had a Turkish specialty. Once they were done,  I put on a fleece, pulled the ladder out from the side of my house, and cleared the leaves from our three gutters. Once that was done, since I was out, I grabbed the hedge clippers and cut down the grasses on the side of our house, filling up a couple of pails with the cut grasses. I do this each fall and they come back beautifully in the spring and summer. They were at least 6 feet tall when I cut them. By the time I was done, it was time for my lunch.

Lunch was the leftover stir fry from Tuesday, still edible and I watched my show. I finally finished my book, took a brief nap, and looked for something else to read on my computer when Evie came home to regale me with a few stories from her class. I got a phone call from my mechanic at 3:00 to say my Outback was ready so Evie drove me down to Keystone to pick it up. We are back to two cars, a loaner, and the Suburu. I felt like getting some exercise so I walked the Woodlawn/Victoria woods and was excited to see my neighbors cleared the path of weeds and downed trees so it's perfect for walking the rest of the year. 

Kinney's Run

Taking A Photo

Blues Sky And Fallen Leaves

Some Sunlight

At 5:30, we enjoyed cheese and crackers along with a Mahanttan, mourning the dire predictions for the next four years. Dinner was great, BLTs and we watched our shows, no CNN, until Evie went up to bed and I then watched the first half of the NFL game before retiring. 

Gray, Gray, Gray

6:55

It's 7:25 and I have been up since 6:45 to a gray sky and lake. Both of us are on our devices, with our coffee, waiting for the day to begin, me off to breakfast, and Evie off to school.  It's 44º with a high today of 54º with partial sun. Interestingly, Republicans and Trump have not complained about voter fraud, not sure why. It's after 10:00 as I finish this because I had breakfast in Bemus and did not get out on the lake until 9:50 and was only out there for 15 minutes because of the wind and waves. 

Kayak Morning

North

Yesterday was a strange day because we had only one car and it was a loaner, the other two were in the shop. I did get in a paddle before breakfast and finished the blog. Evie had a hair appointment at 11:00 and I had an eye exam at noon, so I dropped her off for her appointment, then drove to Walmart where I waited for the eye exam by browsing the aisles and people watching. And of course Evie was through with her appointment by noon and I didn't finish my eye exam until 12:30 so she waited at Ryders Cup. We were home by 12:45 and I had lunch, egg sandwiches on English muffins that Evie made earlier, and frozen. Of course we watched CNN, the pundits analyzed the reasons for Kamala's loss, for the optimism going into the election. 

Kayak Afternoon

North

South 

After 15 minutes, I had enough and got out my book, relaxed and took a short nap. Around 3:00, the lake was too inviting to stay in the house so I went out for a short paddle. When I returned, Evie was excited because while I was kayaking, a deer paddled by, then trotted up on our neighbor's lawn and ran away. I am not sure how I missed him.  

Swimming

Walking Out

Aloha

We then spent the rest of the afternoon getting the house and porches clean and appetizers ready because we invited our neighbors, Barb and Jim, over to commiserate over Trump's victory. They arrived at 5:00 and Barb had made a delicious baguette stuffed with cheese, onion, poppy seeds, and mushrooms to go along with our shrimp, chips, and St. Andre cheese so we had a feast for the rest of the afternoon and early evening. The three of us had wine but I made Jim a black Manhattan. He loved it. We sat around commiserating over the elections but had moved on to other subjects after 20 minutes so we ended up having a fun evening despite the loss.  They left around 7:30 and we cleaned up the kitchen, watched Jon Stewart until it got boring (Trump was winning), then the Celtics/Golden State game and went to bed. 

Late Afternoon Sky