Wow! What A Great Start To The Day

7:22

8:55

It's 9:05 and I just returned from an unforgettable paddle, across to Tom's Point and back. It took me 80 minutes and I only saw geese, no herons or eagles. It didn't matter because I was surrounded by the spectacular colors of fall. Everywhere I looked, fall leaves were at their peak. It was like paddling in a bowl of color, not to mention a sky filled with clouds.

Kayak Morning

Sun Rising Above The Clouds

Long Point

Paddling North

Looking South

Wow!

Sunday was a day of too much football, but we made up for it with a walk around the CI. First, however, the day started with kayaking for over an hour, down to Whitney Bay and back. After our coffee and blog, we decided to walk the Chautauqua Institution, but not right away. We got a couple of things done around the house and left around 11:00. It's peak time to walk anywhere with trees, so the CI is perfect, with colors mostly orange, red, and green. We walked for an hour and met a few others enjoying the grounds like us.

Thunder Bridge

Trail

Brick Walk

One Of Our Favorite Houses

We were home just after 1:00 in time to start the football marathon. Evie made me an omelet with tomatoes and feta cheese, a Turkish favorite, and I watched the first half of some NFL, which I don't remember. By 2:00, I was upstairs reading and trying to nap. I think I slept for a few minutes, but I came downstairs at 2:30 to read and then watch some more football. 

Around 4:00, I had had enough sitting around, watching TV or reading, so I went outside, grabbed my hedge trimmer, rake, and a couple of garbage pails, and spent an hour cutting down a row of Jerusalem Artichokes in Evie's garden. Surprisingly, I filled the two pails with the cut flowers, including some stems that were five feet high. I then took three pails up to the woodpile and came back, feeling good about myself for having gotten something done.

Long Point At 5:30

We Love Cosmos

I was done at 5:00, and Evie had just finished a long talk with our daughter Jill, so I brought two glasses of wine to the living room and we enjoyed the waning of the day. We did not worry about dinner, just heated up the chili, topped it with broken chips, cheese, and sour cream, and we had a great dinner. We watched a couple of episodes of our show before Evie went up to bed, and I watched the first half of the Chiefs/Lions game before going up to bed to read and sleep. A good day.

What A Great Morning

7:32

9:14

It's 9:30 and Evie is still copping z's, a slang term for sleeping from my college days in the 1960s. I was awakened once again by a volley of gunshots at 7:15, and they have continued on and off all morning. I was out on a leisurely paddle north, down to Whitney Bay, and back, an hour and twenty-minute paddle. 

Duck Hunters

Kayak Morning

Whitney Bay

Kayaing Home To Southern Sky

Saturday was a lazy day for both of us, as we didn't go for a walk, and I didn't ride my bike. I did get in a good paddle on an overcast morning. Once I returned, neither of us was in a hurry to get busy so we had a long coffee morning. Around 10:30, I went outside, pulled out the ladder, and cut down some wild branches on our front yard maple. I also moved the boat aside and piled six cement blocks next to our dock. Once I was done with those, we thought about gathering the trash. So, Evie started making her veggie soup, and I waited until she was well along, so that I could take the empty cans to the Transfer Station. I left around 11:30 and was back by 11:45, an easy job. 

Lunch was one of my favorites, egg salad sandwiches with tomatoes, Yum. Saturdays are filled with college football, and I am usually interested in watching Ohio State play. So I watched the first half of their game with Illinois, then went upstairs and finished my book, The Life With Bury, then napped briefly. The rest of the afternoon, I either read or watched football until Evie gave me a haircut around 4:30. I then showered, got dressed for the first time in weeks in a pair of slacks and a long-sleeve shirt(no sweatpants and fleece), and watched some football until it was time to drive to Linda and Ron's for dinner. 

Saturday Night Dinner

Linda made an interesting appetizer, stuffed zucchini, wrapped in prosciutto, with thyme. We enjoyed it sitting around their kitchen table, drinking a nice Sauvignon Blanc. We gossiped for forty minutes, trying to avoid politics, then moved to the dinner table. Linda had made chicken ricotta meatballs, served over orzo with spinach lemon sauce and a salad. We loved it, and she finished off our dinner with a lemoncello cheese cake. Yum Yum. For some reason, we were really tired and ended up leaving around 9:15, driving home on surprisingly empty roads. Evie went right up to bed, but I tried to watch something on TV, but was also tired, so I went up to bed as well. 

Overcast With A Slight Chance Of Rain

 

7:30

8:42

It's 9:00, and we have been serenaded over the past hour by duck hunters blasting away somewhere on the lake. It was 49º when I woke, warm compared to yesterday's 38º. I paddled for close to an hour, my usual route, and spotted a heron on a Woodlawn dock, just as I started my paddle, and later, lots of geese and mallards.

Kayak Morning

Great Blue Hanging On A Woodlawn Dock

Yesterday was a good day as we got in some exercise and lots of free time to do what we wanted.  I had a good night's sleep and paddled for close to an hour on a sunny, blue-sky morning, quite a contrast to today. After coffee, the blog, and breakfast, Evie and I decided chili sounded good for dinner, so we got busy in the kitchen. Evie did most of the cooking, and I gathered the ingredients, opened the cans, rinsed the beans, stuff like that, and eventually cleaned up the kitchen once the chili was simmering on the stove. We both knew we wanted to get in a walk, so we decided to drive over to the end of Lakeside Drive and walk the woods of Long Point. It was a good choice, cool but sunny, with leaf-strewn paths and the changing colors of the leaves still left on the trees. As usual, we were the only ones walking in the park, and we were out for just about an hour. 

Long Point Trail

The Women In Blue

Still Mostly Green

We were home at 12:30, and it was time for lunch. I finished off the black bean soup and enjoyed a ham and cheese sandwich while watching my show. Evie was happy to be home, with an afternoon full of leisure, with no worries about dinner. I am into my book, so I was happy to read off and on during the afternoon and take a short nap. Around 3:45, I wanted to get some exercise, so I fired up our old Honda gas lawnmower and cut the front yard, mulching the leaves. It took me half an hour, and the yard, as always, looks great after mowing

By 5:00, yep, we were sitting listening to the ridiculous  Trump interview, gulping down our wine in laughter or fury. I'm not sure which. His lies, his exaggerations,  boasting, and complete nonsense are scary. This guy is the most powerful person in the world. Lord help us. Maybe we should stop listening to the news. Dinner was easy and great, chili with fixings and a salad, and we were happy to get back to our series and forget about the news. We watched three episodes of All Saints, and then I watched Spooks when Evie went up to bed and followed her at 10:00.

Another Chilly, Bright Sunny Morning

Rhys, our fashionable great-grandson

9:15

It's later than usual as I start this, 9:40, because I was out kayaking for an hour and twenty minutes, and then had to talk to Schwab because of a confusing email. Fortunately, it seems to be about nothing. It was 38º when I woke and was chilly while out on the lake.

Geese Among The Reeds

Kayak Morning

Heron Hidden In The Reeds

Yesterday was a good day, although I didn't get out for a paddle due to the wind, and also because of breakfast at 8:00 in Bemus Point. I hurried home, thinking I might get in some kayaking but the lake was choppy and windy. So I finished up the blog with Evie's help and by 9:30, she was off to kindergarten and I had to decide what to do with my day. I eventually decided to drive to Lakewood, stopping for coffee, and then deposit a check at the bank.  I then returned home, fastened my bike to the Outback, and drove to Mayville to ride my bike. I rode Webb's Trail, then Sea Lion Drive, and was out for close to an hour. It felt good to be in the woods, then on Sea Lion even though I seemed to fight the wind going both ways.

Webbs' Trail

Northern End Of The Lake

On my way home, I stopped at the Lighthouse and ended up buying only a bag of chips for our dinner. Lunch was black bean soup and the last of the meatloaf, with lots of ketchup, of course. I watched my show and then went upstairs to read and ended up taking a good nap, a deep sleep, so that when I woke, I wasn't sure if it was morning or afternoon. Evie was home when I woke and had another good day at school.  I read for a while but soon got bored and decided to go for a walk in the Woodlawn/Victoria woods on a sunny afternoon. It's a half-hour walk, through the woods on a nice path, but I still am aware of ticks and wear appropriate clothes and check for ticks when I get home. It felt good to walk at this time of the day, with the sun still bright in the trees.

Leaf Strewn Woodlawn/Victoria Woods

We had our wine time until 6:30 when Evie made our dinner, BLTs and potato chips. What could be better than a BLT! We watched a couple of episodes of All Saints, and once Evie went to bed, I watched the first half of the Giants/Eagles game, then an episode of Spooks before going up to bed. 

Steam Rising On A Chilly 39º Morning

7:00

7:32

It's 7:20, and we are both up, watching the steam rise on the lake, and the sun has yet to rise. I have breakfast at 8:00 so no kayaking until I return, and Evie has a kindergarten class and will leave at 9:30. 

Yesterday began with a rough paddle, heavy winds, and waves, but I stayed out for almost forty minutes, much of it floating with the wind. When I returned, I knew I wanted to do something, but I was not sure what. So I finished up the blog, had Evie edit it and choose photos, and then had breakfast. By 10:0, however, I tied my bike to the Outback and decided to take an easy ride around the Chautauqua Institution. I am out of shape or the hospital stay took something out of me, because my breathing was labored on almost any incline. As long as I was cruising on flat land, I was fine. It was a gorgeous day, with beautiful colors, a stunning sky, and a lovely lake, so I am glad I went. I was out for 50 minutes so at least I got in some exercise.

Thunder Bridge

Brick Walk

Testing Fire Hydrants At CI

I had lunch around 12:00, a cheese and ham sandwich, and black bean soup, earlier than usual because we decided to got to the local theater and see One Battle After Another, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn at 3:30. I watched my show, then read a bit before taking a brief nap. When I woke, I read for a while, then took a shower before leaving for the theater at 3:10. We bought our tickets and walked into an empty theater, although just as the film started, another couple arrived. Neither of us could say we loved the film; we weren't drawn into the characters,  didn't feel for them, yet we were glad we saw the film. Leonardo is a washed-up revolutionary raising a daughter, and Sean Penn seems to be a parody of an ICE agent intent in finding Leonardo because he fears the daughter is his, and it's more complicated than that. 

We didn't get home until 6:30 and we're happy to still have some of the meatloaf leftover from Sunday night's dinner. So along with the meatloaf, we had a salad and scalloped potatoes, and were happy. We watched a couple more episodes of All Saints, and Evie went to bed at 8:30. And I watched Spooks until 10:00 and went up to read and sleep.

8:37

Back To Sun and Blue Skies

 

8:34

7:32

It's 8:50 and the sun is back after a day of rain, totaling two inches. It's windy out there, 51º, and it took me ten minutes to paddle north, along Woodlawn, because of the wind and waves. Ultimately, I was out for forty minutes, floating or fighting the wind and waves. 

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

A Couple Of Male Mallards

Tuesday was a rainy day, finally, so we didn't get to do much outside, although I did kayak, ending up paddling home in a drizzle.  Evie had kindergarten, so she was up early, getting ready for school. However, I didn't have any big plans and didn't have to be anywhere. Due to the weather, I couldn't walk or bike. I decided to go to Lakewood and see if my friend, Paul, housebound for the past few weeks, with serious lung problems, was comfortable having me visit. First, I stopped at Ryder's Cup for coffee and spent half an hour talking with my friend, Neal, before driving to Wegmans to pick up a few items for our dinner. I then texted Paul, and he quickly replied, Stop over. He lives in Lakewood, so it was an easy drive, and I was able to talk with him for half an hour. He's basically couch or bed-bound, with oxygen but in decent spirits. Right now, he is fighting an infection, and once that ends, he will be feeling much better. He was a sailor and a biker, so it's tough having to lie around because of lung problems. I vowed to stop back, said my goodbyes, feeling terrible about his situation. 

A Rainy Afternoon

I returned to an empty house and decided to have a chicken pot pie for lunch, easy and tasty. I watched my show and then read and napped briefly. I have started a new book, The Life We Bury, and I am not sure about it. Evie returned in good spirits around 2:30 just as I was beginning to make a pot of black bean soup for lunch. It was her second day with her kids, but they were already smothering her with hugs when she had to leave for home. Nothing like a hug to make your day. She relaxed in the TV room while I made my soup. We were happy to be couch potatoes as we listened to the rain on the roof.  After Evie's zoom call with her sisters, we enjoyed a glass of wine, deciding not to listen to the news because it depresses us. 

Because Evie has kindergarten on Tuesdays, we try to have easy dinners. So all Evie had to do was heat up the leftover meatloaf and scalloped potatoes from our Sunday dinner, along with a salad, and we were happy. We watched a couple more episodes of All Saints, what else, until 8:30 when Evie went up to bed, and I watched Spooks, where another of the main characters is killed. And so it goes. 

Gentle Rain (Docks In)

 

7:27

It's 8:45 and for once, overcast, no brilliant sunrise,  or blue skies, nada. I did get in a paddle for forty minutes, and just as I was ready to turn around and head back home from Sandy Bottom, it started to drizzle, although it was so light, I hardly got wet.

Kayak Morning

Heron On The Dock

Monday was a busy day for both of us. I went on a long paddle, photographed a couple of herons, and came home around 9:00. I then wrote the blog with Evie and had breakfast.  I had my annual urology appointment at 10:45, so I was in no hurry to get going. By 10:15, I was on my way, arrived at 10:45. I urinated in a cup, then was called back, and had my usual appointment, this time with a female PA. Interesting. I was out in ten minutes and on my way home, with a stop at Wegmans, of course. It's hard to drive by it without stopping for something.

Fall Mulching

I was home around 12:30, and Evie was sitting on the front porch, relaxing after having started mowing the lawn. She volunteered to make me tuna melts for lunch, and I ate them while watching my show. Just as I was about to go upstairs and read and nap, the guys arrived to take our dock out of the lake and store it in our front yard. So I went out to make sure they did everything correctly, and they were great, very helpful, and hardworking. By 2:10, they were done and on their way to take in another Woodlawn dock Evie then continued mowing and also had spent much of the morning doing wash, so she was pretty tired by the time she was done, around 4:30. We sat on the front porch, enjoying a glass of wine, until 6:30, admired the colors, the Tiki Bar and sail boat that cruised by, perhaps for the last time this fall.

Late Afternoon Colors

Tiki Boat

Dinner was the leftover pasta, mushrooms, and sausage, along with a great salad and rolls. We watched a couple of episodes of All Saints, the last one shocking, so much so that we decided to leave it until tomorrow night. Evie, then, went up to bed and I watched the first half of the Chiefs/Jaguars game before joining her.. 

Moon Rising Over Bemus at 6:45 pm

Moon Risen at 8:36 pm