Gray and Overcast But No RAIN (Miller)

View From Our Bedroom

Courting Martins (the Male's purple)

6:30

I was up about 6:20, in time to hear some of Click and Clack, all of Only A Game.  I did not expect it to be overcast, however,  assuming today would be sunny and clear like yesterday, as forecast but Chautauqua weather rarely cooperates with the weatherman.  Perhaps it will clear up later in the day.  It's 54º at the moment, expected to be in upper 70's tomorrow.

Yesterday was a spectacular day, from dawn to dusk.  I should have stayed home an kayaked but habit is too strong, so I went off to yoga at 9:00.  Four of us were in class, one a new guy, the husband, I later discovered, of Becky Nystrom, a Biology teacher at JCC who we know because she often leads Chautauqua Watershed hikes, a neat women.  He has just retired and has decided to take up yoga.  We will have to see how long he lasts.  Yoga was different, a new teacher, Courtney, as we did eye exercises, as well as some mediation along with the usual asanas.  I stopped at Ryder's for coffee, picked up some purple wave petunias for Evie at Mikes (they turned out to be blue and we returned them before dinner) before returning home.

Both of us spent most of the day out side, it was so pleasant.  Evie has almost finished weeding the garden, edging the flower beds, turning the soil, getting everything neat and orderly.  The window boxes are also ready, full of wave petunias; we just hope there is no frost though we can bring them on to the porch easily.  I did some edging as well, set up the sump pump because it's so dry, and cleaned up the remaining twigs and leaves left over from the fall, taking two more barrels of brush up to the hill.  I also cut our neighbors yard, as it was getting high, so now both of our lawns look like golf courses.  We both relaxed in our yard for the first time, on chaise lounges, enjoying the warmth of the sun, reading and just enjoying the sun.  We had hoped to sit on the dock, but the wind picked up just as we walked out on it.  By the way, as you can see from the pictures, the martins have arrived in force, probably the females, as the males are all a flutter, hoping to find a mate and set up a house.  We could have as many as five or six families if the martins currently at our house move it.

House Hunting

For dinner, we took our neighbor, Mary Anne Miller, to the Rod and Gun about 6:00.  She had never been before so it was fun.  Unfortunately, we had a forty five minute wait for dinner, as it was so crowded but we were able to get seats at the bar, so we talked and gambled a bit, no winners.  Both Evie and I had fish,  me the typical battered haddock, Evie's a broiled haddock with lemon pepper, and Mary Ann, a salmon salad, all three quite good.  It was strange to finish dinner, walk out side to daylight, so we took the lake drive home, enjoying the foliage,  looking at all the homes along the lake.  We were home by 8:30, in time to catch up on Stewart and Colbert , read some, and then to bed.

Another Bright Shining Morning

Sunrise

New Flag

Up at 5:50, just in time to see the sun peak above the shoreline, about 6:06.  Another beautiful morning, lake like glass, a few ripples from the ducks, birds chirping, light reflecting on the water.  I forgot what it's like to wake up at the lake on a spring/summer/fall morning, blue skies and sun, not something we are used to after winter of gray, more gray, and snow, not that I am complaining.  It only makes the present sweeter.  It's 41º but it's expected to get up to 70º, with no rain in sight over the next few days, alas, because we need it.

Yesterday started early for Evie as she dropped our friend, Stan Marshaus off in downtown Jamestown at 8:00 for a 'procedure.'  She drove him so I could go to breakfast with my buddies at 8:00.  We had a good time, catching up on the local news because all four are plugged in to the CI as well as local news.  Much of their stories are about the good old days, working at the CI, so I can commiserate when they talk about institutional madness because all institutions, like Reserve, are the same.  After breakfast, yoga, I went to Yin yoga, always crowded on Thursday for some reason, so I was stuffed off into a corner.  We spent a lot of time on various cobra poses, good for the back, something I need.  I did have to leave early, missing savasana because I was picked Stan up at 11:15, bringing him home because he was not to drive after his procedure.  He was ready, fortunately, so I was home by 12:00.  While I was at yoga, Evie went to a hair appointment, made numerous stops, picking up petunias for our flower boxes, potting soil, and herbs.

We both spent most of the afternoon working in the yard and garden, and eventually, at 4:30, Evie cut the lawn to get some exercise.  We even took time off to sit out on the dock, though it was windy.  And I put up our new flag, guaranteed to last for a couple of years.  We will see.  We ended the day, sitting on our front porch, with a sundowner (yes, I like that word), enjoying the relaxation after a tiring but useful day.  It's always something to look forward to.

For dinner, we had pizza and salad around 7:00 and it's strange to be eating while it's still light outside.  We watched the finals of American Idol, a entertaining show because of the guest stars who made it worth watching.  The announcement of the winner is always anticlimactic after the great singers that preceded it.  After that, it was back to Le Carre and THE PERFECT SPY.

Spectacular Morning First Light

5:45

6:00

6:15

Up at 5:30 to an amazing dawn, rosy colored off to the north, changing every ten minutes, as the sun rises behind clouds, coloring the water pink, even red.  A few ducks float by, birds are singing, all in all, a great morning to be up so early.

Yesterday was back to routine, with yoga at 10:00, back to the regulars, all wondering where I had been the past two weeks.  Class was good, familiar after the three very different classes I attended in Darien, CT.  We also spent five minutes using a tennis ball, rolling on each side of our glutes, getting at that hip socket which, when you found it, was an amazingly good hurt.  I stopped at Ryder's for my coffee, then dropped my bike off at Hollyloft, for a tune up, making sure it's safe and in good shape and I got a new seat, one that I hope will be more comfortable over a longer ride.  If not, I can bring it back, try another one, or return it, a good policy.

When I  got home, Evie had continued to work on weeding her garden, an enormous task each spring, getting it ready for summer, discovering how various plants weathered the winter.  There are lots of other beds as well to weed, so she has her work cut out for her.  We also bought two new lime hydrangeas last fall when we were in Virginia and they look great.  I spent a good hour or more just weeding part of our walk, digging out the grasses and weeds, edging the sides.  It looks great but I still have a lot more to do.  Evie also worked on our lake benches, which are in bad shape, peeling and in need of a new coat of barn paint.

In a few days, we will have the end of our dock ready, chairs and tables, fishing rods, ladder, poles in the lake, boat in the water.  Late afternoon,  we cleaned up the front porch, taking off the furniture covers, Evie sweeping and washing it down, so it really feels like spring, with summer on the way.

At Seezurh House

At 6:00, Ron and Linda Mc Clure came over and we had beer and pupus on our front porch.  It was a lovely evening, fun to sit outside for the first time this spring, a nice breeze, temperatures in the low seventies.  We went to Seezurh House for dinner, our stand by, had a pitcher of Molson's, each of us getting a different dinner.  I was the only one to get the ribeye special.  It was nice to be back in a familiar restaurant, where we know the bar tender, the waitresses, the manager, Robin.  We were home by 9:00, to watch American Idol, fast forwarding through most of it, especially the comments by the panel.  And, of course, I could not wait to get back to my book, THE PERFECT SPY.

It's time to get ready for breakfast with the boys at the Bemus Point Inn.

Overcast, Some Rain, and Warming Up

7:00

Rose breasted Grosbeak

6:30

Up around 6:30, I think as it's almost 7:30.  A strong southerly breeze ripples the lake, a few rain drops hit the window, and I can feel the difference outside, when I got the paper, as the coolness in the air has gone.  A boat is driving by, a fisherman, as there have been a couple of boats next door all week.

I had an appointment in Erie yesterday at 11:15, so I drove in early, parked my car just inside the Presque Isle Park, and rode my bike for just under an hour, out about five or six miles and back, though I am not sure of the mileage, just the time.  It was windy, even cold, and I wish I had brought my wind breaker.  I passed mostly people walking, retiree's, I think, one or two families, but not much action, perhaps because of the wind. As I rode, gold finches, fluttered to and fro, upset at my passing.  Lake Erie, the sky, were gray, the waves knocking against the shore.  A few fishing boats were anchored just off shore, hoping to catch the early perch.  After my appointment, I stopped at Dick's, picked up a few fishing supplies, guaranteed to catch bass, and splurged on a dandy pair of Merrell barefoot running shoes (the new, new thing), though I don't intend on running but they look cool, make me feel 'tres sportif', which is more important, plus they were reduced forty bucks.  Still, they are the most expensive running shoes I have ever bought, at seventy bucks.  I am sure they will make a big difference in my hiking times.

I got home around 1:30 and Evie had been working in the garden most of the morning and almost had the lawn cut when I arrived.  The garden looks amazing, weeded and orderly, and I do love it this time of year even though there is little color.  Just the various shades of green, leaves thrusting upward in various shapes and heights, the  dark brown of the rich soil, the individuation of each plant, all are enough for me.  And if you look close, you see flowers starting to bud, a slight color.  After lunch, I cut Leonard's yard and Evie cut ours a second time, and both now look sharp, a healthy dark green, though we do need some rain.  We came in about 4:00, Evie exhausted from her day in the yard, me from driving to Erie and back, a bike ride, a lawn cut.  But we both felt good, having accomplished something, mostly for Evie as the yard and garden look amazing.

For dinner, Evie put together a dinner salad of orzo, spinach, lemon, and the leftover chicken, more than enough for both of us, with an everything bagel.  We watched some TV and I could not wait to get back to my book, John Le Carre's THE PERFECT SPY.  I had forgotten how dense his prose was, how cryptic and ambiguous, forcing me to go back and read it one or two times, to make sure I have understood it.  I am still not sure as he is the master at suggestion, hinting, but not telling.  It's nice to get back to a book I really like after struggling with THE FLAMETHROWERS, which I finally put aside either because I lost interest, or reading it in such brief swatches, when I was in Darien, ruined it for me.

Today, back to Lakewood for yoga, a stop at the bike shop for a new seat (something that's comfortable) and a bike tune up.  Dinner tonight, where else, the Seezurh, with who else, the Mc Clure's.

Sunny Morning On The Lake

7:00

Daffodils and Hostas

7:05

Slept in till 6:45, got up to a bank of clouds off over Bemus, but the sun above them, shining in our windows, reflecting on the lake.  It's still quite cool, 31º with a high of 55º.

Not a lot exciting to report about yesterday.  I went into Hudson for my yearly appointment with my cardiologist, a few tests, and then back home to Chautauqua, but it took up most of the day.  I did listen to the Indians game, a double header, both going and coming back.  Since I have not followed them in years, I did not know a single player on the roster other than the manager, Terry Francona  but I only knew of him because his father, Tito, played for the Indians when I was young.  My health is fine, at least for someone my age, so I don't have to go back for another year.

While I was in Ohio, Evie went shopping in the afternoon, stopping at Sam's and Wegman's, getting our refrigerator stocked and buying  paint, other spring needs, to get our yard, garden, chairs, and tables ready for the summer.  It's difficult to believe it's mid May.  It seems like we have hardly been here at the lake, in fact, we haven't been here much, with trips to KC, Scottsdale, and Darien over the past six weeks.  We left for KC on April 4th, returned from Darien, on Sunday, May 11th.  Good trips but we always miss the lake.

Rotisserie chicken, asparagus, baked potatoes and salad for dinner, and we caught up on Mad Men, a show we either like or dislike, depending on the episode.  The writers often seem obsessed with the sexual escapades of the major characters and it certainly does not ring true for the 1968 we knew when I was teaching at Punahou School, in Hawaii, the same year Bobby Kennedy was shot.  Rodger, Pete and Don are either drinking, screwing, pitching an idea, or complaining about their families.  It does not make you want to work in advertising.

Tracings Of Snow...Spring At The Lake!

Happy Mother's Day Beth

Dusting of Snow on Leonard's roof

6:15

Up at 6:15, excited to see daybreak here at the lake. Just what I expected, a dusting of snow on the neighbor's roofs, lots of gray, the lake and sky, a mist over Bemus Bay.  Right now it's 34º, high of 47º though they are predicting a frost for tonight, at least in the Buffalo area.

We celebrated Mother's Day yesterday morning, at Beth's, making her a special breakfast, the kids excited about the gifts they (we) had gotten her.  Evie made a grits, sausage, and green chili casserole, which everyone loved, and along with bagels and fried eggs, it was a great breakfast.  Beth loved her presents, especially the five foot tall faux yellow tulip, for her study.  We were left around 11:00, later than usual but it was worth staying for breakfast, to see the kids one more time.  The drive was easy but long, or so it seemed, even though it took the usual seven hours.  I guess we have taken the drive enough that we don't get too excited about it.  And there was more traffic than usual, perhaps because it was a Sunday, with people heading home, to college, to where ever.  Spring has arrived all along Interstate 86, though it's much more pronounced in East, in the Catskills, less so as we get towards Chautauqua. The trees in our front yard have just started to leaf, our daffodils in the backyard are at peak, and the hydrangeas have gotten some green as well.  It did seem quite cool when we arrived, almost cold, certainly fleece weather, a surprise after the warm days in Darien.

Every thing seems fine here at the lake; no summer residents yet.  They usually start arriving after Memorial Day.  Many docks are now in, some boats, ready for summer.  It's good to be home, especially in our own bed, but we had a great time in Darien, and miss the Albarran family already. Actually, we miss all our families, the Bissells in Bristow, the Davis's in KC.

Once More To The Lake (Happy Mother's Day)

Wrapping Mother's Day Presents with Granny

Almost Done

Mitch's Original

Up at 6:00, to a quiet house in Darien.  Cloudy and wet outside, though it may clear up later in the day.  It looks like a gray ride home to the lake but at least we don't have to worry about snow and ice though  I did see the possibility of snow flurries on the Chautauqua weather report for tonight.  Right now it's 57º in Darien, 36º at the lake, quite a difference.

We were limited with our choices yesterday because it rained all day.  I did manage to get in a couple of walks with both Marisa and Mitch, on their bikes, with Mitch on his long board though the street could be dangerous if wet.  He took it easy.  The day began with dropping Mitch off at the Darien gymnasium for a three hour volleyball practice, one he really enjoyed because they scrimmaged quite a bit.  Evie, Marisa and I went off to do some shopping at Fairways, Marisa's favorite after Stew Leonard's and we also did some shopping at a couple of other stores, looking for Mother's Day presents for Beth.  Fairways was fun, lots of colorful displays, great looking deli, meats, and breads, and all pricey, keeping away the locals since it's a depressed neighborhood with a high end store.  We finally found a few gifts for Beth at Palmers, the local grocery and gift shop.

On Albarran Pond

Spring Heron

When we got home, Mitch was back from practice, so all three kids helped Evie wrap Beth's Mother's Day presents and write  noted on her card.  They had fun doing it, as Tyler and Mitch are both imaginative present wrappers. to be nice.  Also, Tyler had been begging  Evie to make my Mom's coffee cake (really Mrs. Snavely's), so Marisa helped Evie put it together, baked it, and when I got up this morning, about a quarter of this morning's special Mother's Day Coffee Cake is left, no surprise.  Late afternoon, I stopped briefly at Trader Joe's to pick up some cheese to bring back to the lake, then took Mitch to the Utopia Skate Board shop in Norwalk.  He has a birthday coming up, wants a new board, and wanted to check it out in person.  It was terrible weather to drive in, rainy and lots of traffic, and Interstate 95 was busy one way, fast moving the other, for reasons I can never figure out.

While we were at the store, Evie put together her famous Turkish spiced kofte's, ground chuck with all kinds of Turkish spices like sumac, made in to small, football shaped patties.  For dinner, Mitch and I grilled four pounds of kofte's, Evie put together a  tomato sauce, sauted small squares of Naan in butter,  and we made what the Turks call Iskender Kebab.  To make it, you put the cut up and toasted naan on your plate, put three of four of the koftes on top, cover that we tomato sauce, then put yogurt on top of that and, if you were in a Turkish restaurant, a waiter would be coming around with a pan of sizzling butter, to pour over the top of your kebab.  We skipped that part.  It was a feast but we still had a mountain of koftes left because Tyler went to a reception for area students who were going to Dartmouth next fall.

Late evening Walk and Biking

Fortunately, when Beth and Rami arrived home at 8:30, they were both hungry so they did a good job of putting a dent in the left over dinner.  We spent the rest of the evening talking about their four days of fun in Vegas.  They had a great time, lots of good food, some gambling, shopping, walking,  sun bathing and of course, people watching.  We went to bed around 10:30, as did everyone.