The Heat Returns

6:37

It's 7:30, 69º, and I have just returned from a short, 35-minute paddle. The sun is out, blinding when paddling East, and the lake is practically empty except for my neighbors out skiing. It's 9:20 and I just returned from breakfast in Bemus and am getting ready to go to yoga.

Kayak Morning

West

Rare Sighting Of Heron On Tree Top

Hanging On A Branch

An Amazing Beak

Osprey Hanging In A Pine

Yesterday was a hard day for us, mostly because the house was empty once again of our family, especially our great-grandson, Rhys. I decided that the way to deal with it was 'do something,' So I kayaked early for an hour, came home and wrote the blog and had breakfast, and decided to go for a bike ride.  So around 10:15, I drove to Mayville, parked my car and took my usual ride, Webbs Trail and Sea Lion Drive, just about a 50 minute ride. When I began, I felt terrible, out of shape, catching my breath but as I continued, I got back in the rhythm and enjoyed the ride. I stopped at Tops, the grocery store, and picked up a few things for dinner and went across the street and bought a top-rated fly swatter.

Webb's Trail

I was home by 12:30, and Evie had been busy as well, taking sheets off all the beds and washing and drying them, getting them ready for our next guests in early August. For lunch, Evie made me a couple of turkey sandwiches, and I watched another episode of Ballard, now in English, thanks to my grandson Nick.

I tried to nap but was too up to sleep or read, so I came downstairs and found Evie relaxing on the front porch after cutting a part of the lawn. I offered to help out and ended up finishing the rest of the yard, both front and back, then taking a nice swim to cool off. We both read on the front porch until I went out and organized the yard, put the cover back on the boat, and went for another cooling swim. Meanwhile, Evie had prepped our dinner, one of my favorites, chicken breast Milanese cutlets, along with a salad. We watched our series, The Resident, until 8:30 when Evie went to bed, and I then watched another episode of Ballard before going up and reading my book. 

All Quiet On Chautauqua Lake Front

7:10

8:16

It's 8:30, and I was up at 7:00 and on the lake for close to an hour by 7:15. The house is deathly quiet without Rhys, our great-grandson, brightening our morning. Still, we were fortunate to have six days with him and the rest of our family.

Kayak Morning

On Neighbor's Dock

Tuesday was a day of goodbyes. I was up early, along with Audraya, Beth, and Rhys, and got in my Rhys fix, having him sit on my lap, looking at Shutterfly photos of our family. By 9:00, everyone was up, packing and making sure they left nothing behind. 

Jill And Her Girls

Jill's family was the first to leave. At 9:30, a car picked up Tom and his family and took them to the airport. And fortunately, their flights seemed to be on time. Once everyone left, we relaxed and had breakfast with Beth and Mitch, who would leave for the airport at 2:30. By 10:00, we were busy, all four of us thankfully, taking sheets off of beds, moving bookcases, extra beds, and blankets into the attic. Mitch helped me with the heavy stuff and Beth helped Evie with much of the rest, so by 11:30, our house was literally back to order. The only chore left was washing towels and clothes. 

Heading Back To Kansas City

Around noon, just as we were eating lunch, we got a scary phone call from Jill. They were in an accident just outside of Altoona, PA, were sideswiped by a truck and spun out, damaging the car. Fortunately, no one was hurt. After a couple of hours of help from police and firemen, their car was deemed safe and they were able to drive home. What a relief for them and the rest of the family. 

Beth And Mitch

Once Beth and Mitch left, we both collapsed, sort of, and I took a nap and Evie did some laundry and relaxed as well. After my nap, I joined her on the porch, and in no time, we were enjoying a glass of wine on the porch, just the two of us, alas. It was another beautiful afternoon, and we remarked on how lucky we were with the weather when our family was here, just blue skies and sun.

Dinner was what else, leftovers, the ribs and coleslaw. We watched our series, The Resident, and some of CNN, the first time we watched TV in a week. Evie went up to bed early, around 8:15 and I followed around 9:30, both of us tired from the day. It was a fun week. 

A Note On Colbert's Firing: Like most, I thought his firing in 10 months was mostly political until I listened to a Scott Galloway podcast. The show costs 100 million to produce each year and loses 40 million. Two hundred people are needed to produce the show, which has been losing its audience and advertising over the last couple of years. When Colbert leaves the show, he will probably get a podcast, just as popular, need maybe 12 people to help produce it and make just as much money as on CBS. I am sure politics had something to do with it, but the main reason was financial. And I think its a harbinger of the end of late night TV. 

Aloha Tuesday

What A Cutie

Breakfast This Morning At 6:45

6:32

It's 7:10 and I have been up for almost an hour, helping Aundraya with Rhys, a bundle of joy and energy early in the morning. I forgot about those early mornings with an energetic toddler. I am skipping kayak to spend a few hours with Rhys because all three families leave for home: Tom and Jill's families around 9:30 this morning, and Beth and Mitch later this afternoon. A sad day. 

Marlena And Halle

Yesterday was another beautiful day, with lots of sun and blue skies, accompanied by a cooling wind, and temperatures in the low 80s. I got in a short early paddle before returning to a group playtime with Rhys. Everybody takes a turn playing with him until he's ready for something or someone else. Again, everyone is on their own for breakfast, with options including bagels, eggs, bread, jam, or yogurt. Beth nicely asked if I wanted scrambled eggs, and I couldn't resist them. Yum. Once the girls woke and came down from Pine Hill, the four of us drove to Ryders Cup for a coffee. Despite being a Monday, it was packed and we waited in line for at least ten minutes. We then did a quick run through Wegmans, with two carts, and I sent the girls one way, and I went the other, and we were out in no time. 

Picking Blueberries

With Nani

What A Big boy

While we were gone, Tom, Nick, Aundraya, and Rhys went to pick blueberries at the blueberry farm on Carpenter Pringle Road, about a ten-minute drive. We have gone there many times over the years with the girls. When we returned from the store, Evie was simmering enough Slovenian sausages to feed a crowd. They are a family favorite, and it was a perfect lunch for their last day, With either mustard or lots of horseradish, they are the best, from Asman's Meat Market, in Euclid, Ohio. Most of the afternoon, everyone did their own thing, sunbathing on the dock or yard, napping, playing with Rhys, or just relaxing either in the yard, on the porch, or in the house, usually on a phone or device. At 5:00, four of us took a nice cruise over to Bemus, hugging the shore to avoid the heavy winds and choppy lake. 

Rhys In Tub Of Water

Monday Afternoon

Playing In Sandbox With Uncle Mitch

Jill, Beth, And Marlena

Lake Cruising With Hayden, Nick, And Mitch

When we returned, we enjoyed various libations on the porch and Evie heated up some hanky pankies for an appetizer, a family favorite. Once Rhys went to bed for the night, around 6:45, Tom and I went out and grilled 15 teriyaki pork chops, again a Chautauqua tradition. 

Libations And Hanky Pankies On The Porch

Talking To Grandson, Tyler, With Tom, Granny, Jill And Beth

Because it cooled down, we decided to eat inside, alas, and feasted on the pork chops, corn on the cob, Caesar salad, broccoli, and rolls. We sat around the table after dinner playing some silly memory game, which was fun, led by Jill, of course. We didn't leave the table until 8;15. Earlier, Beth had made a pan of brownies so we had brownies for dessert with ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream as we sat in the living room, talking about our week and the wonderful weather, the best in years. Everyone was ready for bed by 9:30, so I turned off the lights around 9:45, locked the doors and went up to bed to read.

Dinner

 

A Busy Monday Morning

Family Minus Four

8:31

It's 8:37 and Rhys has been up since 5:45, and now, he's still going strong as nine of us take turns with him. I was up later than usual, 7:30, halleluhah, and paddled for only a half hour, wanting to get to the busy house. It's looks like a fine day, high in the 70s and windy, a perfect final day for our family, By the way, we are missing  Jill's husband Drew is in Kazakhstan, Beth's son Tyler in Germany, daughter Marisa in Med School in Austin, TX, and husband Rami, in Dallas working. 

Kayak Morning

The Aloha Boys

Cousins

Sunday was another sunny, blue sky day, although it was warmer and more humid than we expected. I kayaked early and everyone was up when I returned, We had no plans for the day otehr than the annual chicken wings dinner at the Village Casino. Since it was such a nice day, two cars left to wal around the Chautauqua Instittuion since its free on Sundays. While they were gone, the rest of us got a few things done, cleaning up the kitchen, living room and porches, then relaxing. The girls and Rhys and family were home by noon, just as a few rain drops fell then stopped. 

Beth And Son, Mitchell

Jill And Daughters, Halle And Hayden

Tom's Family

Lunch was on your own, so we finished up the macaroni and cheese, some of the ribs, and coleslaw, as well as the healthier options. I had my usual breakfast: yogurt with hemp hearts, granola, and chia seeds. We did little the rest of the afternoon but by 4:00, all were showered and spiffy because we were having a family photo. We put the camera on a tripod with a timer and it worked out well for the family photo. We then used our camera for photos of each family, the cousins, etc.  

Wings At Village Casino

We were at the Village Casino by 5:30, easily found a table for 13.  We had a great waiter, fast and efficient. We had pitchers of beer, both Blueberry and Kona, along with 96 wings and we did a good job, hardly leaving a wing. After wings, we walked over to Bemus for ice cream cones, again a tradition, and then came home. Six of us played Telefunky a card game my Mom taught us, and it lasted until 9:15 when just about everyone went up to bed, happy but tired from the day.

Dusk: 8:10 PM 

Another Rhys Day

Playing With Rhys

Kayak Morning

8:10

It's 8:21 and Rhys has been up, alas, since 5:30 and shows no signs of slowing down. I was up at 7:00 when he was having his breakfast of scrambled eggs. It's already 71º and overcast, and I just returned from a forty-five-minute paddle on a practically empty lake, strange for a weekend. 

Great Blue Heron

Another Guy

Yesterday was a day in full as all of us took advantage of a stellar July day, lots of sun but not too humid. The highlight was our grandson Mitchell's arrival around 7:00 from LA.  Rhys slept in some so his parents got to sleep in until 7:00. We sat around the living room, having coffee, talking, or on our devices, getting up occasionally to make breakfast, usually a bagel, scrambled eggs, or my special, yogurt, granola, and blueberries. Around 10:15, Tom, Mary, and Nick drove over to Bemus and walked Lakeside Drive. The girls jumped in Halle's car and drove to Lakewood for coffee at Ryder's Cup.

Walking Lakeside Drive

Marlena And Halle

I Want More Yogurt, Dad

Everyone else just hung out, either on the porch or in the living room, with most helping to clean up the house and do the dishes in the kitchen. Rhys napped late morning for an hour, giving us a respite as we all take turns playing with him. Lunch was on your own, the leftover ziti, chicken, sandwich meat or salad. The best part of the day was that we had no worries about dinner because we were having it catered by Steeners Irish Pub. The afternoon went quickly as none of us other except Beth, who was putting together a seviche with shrimp, avocados and veggies. 

Cruising With Rhys

Rhys And Mom

Some sunned on the dock, or in the yard on blankets, napped, or sat on the porch, talking or on their devices. Around 3:30 we took another cruise on the boat, this time over to Bemus Point and back. Despite the beauty of the sky and shoreline, Rhys was still the center of attention, as it should be, I guess.

Aloha Dudes

Porching It

Ron And Linda

Granddaughter Marlena

Around 5:00, Mitchell and I drove over to Steeners in Greenhurst and picked up seven racks of ribs, mac n cheese, and coleslaw. Our friends, Linda and Ron, arrived at 5:30 and we spent the next hour and a half enjoying wine, beer, a drink special, courtesy of our granddaughters. We managed to fit 13 of us on the front porch, although a few had to sit on the steps. A few also played beanbag before we adjourned to the picnic table, helping ourselves to healthy portions of delicious ribs, cole slaw, mac n cheese, and rolls. 

Dinner

Kicking Back

It was a perfect evening to eat outside, and we sat enjoying our dinners, talking, and dessert, brownies with ice cream. Linda and Ron left around 8:30, and everyone helped clean up, Mitch and I put the cover on the boat because it was supposed to rain. We sat on the porch or living room until 9:30 when most went up to bed with Beth, Mitch, and me the last to go up to sleep. What a day.