Gray Clouds Welcome The Morning

Our Great Grandson Rhys

7:34

8:56

It's 8:40, and like yesterday, my son-in-law, Drew, and I are the only ones up, enjoying the amazing gray and white clouds and our coffee, and I just heard duck hunters blasting away as well. It's now 9:15 and Evie's up, and I was able to get in a forty-five-minute paddle under a spectacular sky

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky And Clouds

Into The Sun

Victoria Heron

With Crow, Among The Waves

8:55

Yesterday was a great day for the six of us. First, no one was in a hurry to get up, so Drew and I were up at 7:00, and others followed at 8:30, 9:00, and 9:30. Around 10:00, Evie began making a big breakfast since we were all hungry: sausage, scrambled eggs, and bagels. It was just what we wanted, and by 12:30, the six of us went for a walk around the Chautauqua Institution on a breezy, gray, but fine morning. The paths were strewn with leaves, yet the trees still had most of their colors. We were out for an hour, stopping at the hospitality booth for coffee. We were home by 2:00.

Ready For A Hike

Walking The Chautauqua Institution

Thunder Bridge

Evie had been wanting to see if our extra TV might work in our living room, in case we wanted it down there. So Tommy and Drew began moving couches and tables at the directive of the girls, and after moving things a couple of times, we settled on putting everything back the way it was, except for placing the TV in the corner by the porch, obscuring little of the lake view. So we now have a TV in our living room. I am not sure how I feel about it because I like the fact that we listened to the radio most mornings and afternoons, not watching TV until dinner time. I hope we don't change, except occasionally when it makes sense, like last night when the World Series was on.

By 5:00, the gals were showered and ready to hit our first bar, the infamous Swamp, down in Celeron. It's famous for its wings and the fact that you have to walk a boardwalk over standing water to get to the place. Fortunately, they had one table available, and it was not occupied, so we took it over. I guess most of the customers like to sit or stand at the bar. We ordered 20 wings and, of course, beers in bottles because they don't have any on draft. The wings were great, the atmosphere was Swampy and like a dive, so we loved it. 

Ready For Wings At The Swamp

Inside The Swamp

Miss Evie At The Swamp Boardwalk

We then drove to the Southern Tier Brewery and their Empty Pint pub. We were lucky to find the last table, although it did not seem that crowded for a Halloween night. We ordered beers, Chautauqua Lager being the favorite, and fried pickles for an appetizer. They have expanded their menu from the days when they only offered pulled pork sandwiches, so the five of us had burgers, and Tommy, a Reuben. All were great, and the burgers came with a bag of chips. 

Enjoying Drafts At The Empty Pint

We were home by 8:00, in time to turn on the TV in the living room and watch the World Series until we were tired, and we began going up to bed by 9:30, after another busy and fun day.

Long Point: 5:00 PM

Tom's Point: 5:04

Gray Skies And Rain Until Noon

8:11

Right now, it's just started to drizzle at 8:20. My son-in-law, Drew, and I have been up for an hour, watching the day lighten. It's 40º and I am skipping kayaking again because of the weather, alas.

Yesterday was a good day because two of our kids arrived, as they are Kansas City Chiefs fans and will be attending the big game on Sunday at 4:00 in Buffalo. Because of the rain, I wasn't able to go kayaking. I did get to Bemus for breakfast with my friends but was home by 9:00, in time to take a shower before leaving for the Buffalo Airport at 10:15, to pick up Tom and Mary who were arriving on their flight from Kansas City at 12:10. 

Thursday View Of Long Point at 11:26

Fortunately, both of their flights were on time so that by 12:30, we were on our way home, stopping first at at Mc Donalds becausse they both were starving, having gotten up at 4:00, to make their flight out of KC at 7:40. The rain let up on our way home, and we made good time, arriving at 2:00. By then, I was hungry and had a bowl of Evie's broccoli/cauliflower/cheddar cheese soup as did Tommy. We relaxed until 4:00 when Jill and Drew arrived from Virginia, and I was able to take a nap before they arrived. 

Kansas City Chiefs Fans Are Coming

So the six of us sat around, catching up and laughing, waiting for wine time at 5:00. Evie pulled out our appetizer, a favorite, Asian shrimp cocktails with mayo, red onion, and lemon. Both couples try to attend at least one Chiefs game together, and last year it was in Jacksonville. Fortunately for us, this year it's in Buffalo. We caught up on their busy lives and their kids, as well as grandkids in Tom and Mary's case. Both Tom and Drew were online for at least half an hour and eventually were able to buy four tickets for the game from Ticketmaster. They have a hotel reservation on Sunday, about 20 minutes from the stadium, and spent another half hour or more trying to find a parking space close to the game. Spots run from 30 to 70 bucks, depending on how close it is to the stadium. They ended up realizing that they would not be able to get a reserved spot (they were all taken), so they will just have to drive and hope to find a space, probably in someone's yard, and close enough to go tailgating. 

Autumn Dinner With Family

We had dinner around 6:45, an old favorite from our days in Hawaii, chicken with artichoke hearts and mushrooms, along with rice and a salad. Everyone was hungry, and the guys had seconds so hardly any was left. We had dessert in the living room, and once again, Evie's Watergate cake, made with pistachio pudding and Cool Whip, was a hit. Everyone loved it. By 9:15, everyone was tired, from their drive or getting up early to catch a plane, so we were happy to go upstairs to sleep. I stayed up for a few minutes, finishing cleaning up the kitchen before joining them. 

Rain And More Rain

7:42

8:59

It's 7:15 and still dark out. I can hear the rain on the roof, the furnace turning on and that's about it for my senses. I have breakfast at 8:00 and will drive to Buffalo to pick up my son, Tom, and his wife, Mary, leaving at 10:30, as long as their flight from KC is on time. 

Yesterday was a busy day for both of us. It began as usual with a great paddle into the fog, and I was out for a good hour, although I did not spy any herons. When I returned, we finished the blog and discussed what we wanted to accomplish that day, as our kids arrive on Thursday. First, we changed the water filter, something we do every two or three months. I then drove to Mayville and stopped both at Tops and the Lighthouse to pick up a few things. When I returned,  Evie was busy in the kitchen, making soup for the weekend. Next, we put up our canvas curtain around the back porch, which keeps out the rain and leaves and keeps it safe from the winter weather. I needed a ladder to put it up, and with Evie's help, it was done in 15 minutes. I then did some raking and mulching of leaves around our dock pieces before it was time for lunch.

Evie made me lunch, chicken salad bagels with tomatoes, and I finished up the final season of Spooks, ten of them so I will be looking for something else to watch at noon while enjoying my lunch. I then took a brief nap but kept thinking about things I wanted to get done. So I came downstairs, powered up the lawn mower, and mulched the leaves in both the front and back yards. It took a little over half an hour and I was tired once I finished. I then helped out some in the kitchen, cleaning up as Evie was making a dessert for the weekend. 

By 4:00, I was on my way to enjoy a couple of beers with my friends at Dick's house on 394. It's the first time all four of us have been able to get together in months because someone is always busy. We talked and laughed until 5:30, when we headed home. Evie was finally finished with her tasks and enjoying a glass of wine, so I joined her. We had an easy but always tasty dinner, Sahlen hot dogs and baked beans. We watched a couple of episodes of All Saints before Evie went up to bed. I watched some basketball and searched around for a news series to watch without much luck.  I was tired anyway and was happy to go up to bed to read and sleep. 

Morning Fog And Sun

7:34

9:03

Lng Point Hidden 8:18

It's 9:05, and we are both up, listening to Michael Smerconish, sipping our coffee, and planning our day. Our kids arrive tomorrow, so we have lots to do today to get ready for them. I got in a fine morning paddle, for 50 minutes, into the sun for the first half, enjoying the view of Victoria/Woodlawn on the way back. 

Kayak Morning

Rising Sun

Looks Like A Monet

Still Rising

Long Point

Kayak Morning

Northern Blue Skies And Clouds

Long Point

Tuesday was another amazing fall day, and I didn't really take advantage of it because I was a bit off for some reason. I did get in my morning paddle, and after Evie went to school, I  wanted to get something done, so I put things away for the winter. Fortunately, our neighbors, John and Missy, have offered us space in their garage, which makes it possible for me to park the Outback in our garage for the winter. It took an hour, and then I came in and got ready to drive to Lakewood for an appointment with my oral surgeon. Basically, they checked my gums and post for the implant, then measured the area for a temporary implant. I was in and out in a half hour, stopped at Walmart but didn't buy anything, then at Tractor Supply, where I picked up a tarp to cover our metal chairs and 40 pounds of black sunflower seeds for the birds this winter.

I was home around 1:00 and had the leftover sub from Lakewood for lunch and watched my show. By 1:45, I was worn out for some reason and couldn't wait to go upstairs and take a nap. I woke after an hour, groggy, came downstairs, and Evie was back from school. We spent the rest of the afternoon reading or watching TV until 5:00, when Evie had a Zoom call with her sisters until 5:45. We then enjoyed our wine until it was time for dinner, rotisserie chicken, mac n cheese, and a salad. We then attempted to watch our show, but for some reason, Hulu was not available, nor was HBOMAX. Bizarre. So we watched the first episode of Season Four of The Morning Show and quit it after 15 minutes. I think watching All Saints has jaded us, and it's the only show we like. After The Morning Show, we tried Hulu again, and it opened (bizarrely), and we watched a couple of episodes until 9:00 when Evie went up to bed, and I watched my show and a bit of the NBA before going up to bed. 

Cloudless Skies And 34º

Tom, Mary, Marlena, And Nick
At Last Night's Chiefs Game In Kansas City

7:34

9:04

7:54

It's 7:30 and we are both up with our coffee. I am waiting for the sun to rise in 20 minutes, then I can kayak.  Evie doesn't have to leave for a couple of hours for kindergarten. The radio is on, the sun is filling the living room with its light and I just returned from another great 50-minute paddle, down to Sandy Bottom and back. What a terrific way to start my day.

Kayak Morning

Victoria/Woodlawn

Yesterday was a busy day for me. I had a great paddle on a foggy morning, so I was pumped for most of the day, even though I knew I had a big shopping day ahead, as our kids will be here from Thursday to Sunday to attend the Chiefs/Bills game in Buffalo. I was in no hurry to get going, but by 10:30, I drove off to Dobbins Woods, because I wanted to get in a hike before shopping. Despite the five inches of rain last week, the hike was fine, mostly because every wet area was covered with planks. I was the only one out, and it took me 35 minutes on another lovely morning. I then stopped and filled up my grill's propane tank before Wegmans. It took me a good half hour to get everything Evie needs for the week, and I left with four shopping bags full. I stopped in Lakewood for a sub sandwich at a deli and ice cream shop I hardly knew existed. 

Dobbins Woods

Lots Of Leaves

Path Of Pines

I didn't get home until 1:00 and was happy to sit down and relax and enjoy my sub, and watch my show. I went up to read at 2:00, briefly napped, and came downstairs energized. So, to Evie's delight, I washed the front windows and the kitchen window, which they needed. After that, I got out the hedge clippers and went through Evie's garden, cutting most of the plants down to a foot and taking the stems and leaves up to the woodpile, finishing my work for the day. 

An Afternoon Gathering On Long Point

We enjoyed our wine and planned the next few days before Evie made a yummy shrimp and fettuccine pasta for dinner, along with a salad. We watched a couple of episodes of All Saints, then I watched three-quarters of the Chiefs' game after Evie went up to bed. It was a productive day. 

I listened to Michael Lewis on a podcast this morning, and he talked about the greatest achievement of the first Trump Presidency was Operation Warp Speed, the development of the COVID-19 vaccination in months, not years.    Now, however, RFK has dismantled the entire department. 

Fog And A Blinding Morning Sun

9:02

7:54

7:48

7:48

It's  9:10 and I just returned from a 50-minute paddle, into the sun and fog much of the way.  I was up at 7:40 and started out just as the sun rose on a 32º morning.  I layered and had my hat on, which didn't help when, as I launched my kayak, it started to float away. I chased after it, getting soakers in both boots, so I had to sit down, pull off the boots, empty the water, put them back on, and go paddling, cold feet be damned. 

Kayak Morning

North

Yesterday was another perfect fall Sunday morning. I was out paddling by 8:00 for close to an hour, enjoying the sun and blue skies. I was back about 9:00, ready to enjoy coffee and write the blog, and take it easy. Of course, by 10:30, I was ready to do something, so I hitched my bike to the Outback and drove over to Bemus and parked close to the bridge. It was a cold morning, but I wore a couple of layers, so I was comfortable. I rode along Lakeside Drive, then through the park to the tip of Long Point and back to the car, taking about 70 minutes.

Bemus Point Park

Riding Through The Leaves

Long Point

Photo Of Our House Taken From Long Point With An Apple 17 Pro Phone

Victoria/Woodlawn From Long Point

Algae, Clouds, And Their Reflection

Clouds

I was home around 12:45, and Evie had been busy but took time out to make me a mushroom omelet just in time for me to watch the Buffalo Bills game. I had it taped, so after the first half, I was bored and took a time out to read and briefly nap. After my nap, I came downstairs and talked with both of my daughters, then watched the rest of the game and some of the Cowboys/Broncos game until we left for dinner at Linda and Ron's at 6:00. Linda had everything ready, so we sat down around their kitchen table, enjoying our wine until she brought our appetizers, a delicious squash and gruyere cheese soup. Yum. For dinner, we had pork tenderloin with an apple-onion sauce, pureed sweet potatoes, and a salad. For dessert, Linda made an Italian cream cake, and fortunately, we came home with a couple of pieces for today. It was a fun night, in fact, a fun Sunday.