A Windy And Sunny Sunday

8:23

February, 2026

It's 8:40 and I've been up since 7:00. When I started out kayaking around 7:15, the wind was light, but on my return fifty minutes later, the northerly was a bear as I struggled to paddle home. Still, it was a fine morning to be on the lake — lots of sun, some clouds, nary an osprey or heron, alas.

Kayak Morning

Mallards In Flight

Choppy Seas, Striking Clouds

Yesterday turned out to be a productive day. It started with an early paddle as usual, and on my return, the guys were already in our yard, starting to put in the dock's end piece. It's the most difficult part because the stanchions are eight feet high and hard to handle. It took them a good hour and a half to get the three stanchions level and the six dock pieces. Once they were done, I grabbed the wheelbarrow and wheeled two Adirondack chairs, a table, and a couple of benches out onto the dock. Now we can use our dock. I forgot to mention that they also attached a ladder — so once I was done with the chairs, I was so sweaty I went for my first swim of the year. It was cold, of course, but refreshing; exhilarating might be the more fitting word.

Biff Or Buoy

When I finished swimming, I came in, and Evie had made three sliders with egg, tomato, and ham on brioche buns. I watched the second half of the Knicks/Spurs game and then decided to nap and read a bit. I managed at least half an hour, and with the windows open, it was pleasant to just lie there and read my novel. By the way, the buffalo hunters overstayed their hunt in the Colorado valley — the game gave out, and they had to stay put and attempt to survive until the following spring, eight months later.

I got a few other chores done as well: moving chairs out of the garage, weeding, gathering deadfall, and hauling it up to the woodpile at the top of our road. It doesn't seem like much, but by the time I returned, I was hot enough to decide on one final dip before wine time. It was another lovely late afternoon — early evening — to relax and enjoy the view, and we realized we've been enjoying this view of the lake for forty-five years, starting in August 1981. Dinner was Mandarin Orange Chicken, compliments of Wegmans, with rice and a salad. We finally got on Apple TV and watched "Friends and Neighbors" with John Hamm.  I then watched the second half of the Indiana/New York women's basketball game. Caitlin Clark continues to struggle, largely because she has difficulty getting her jump shot off.