Summer Officially Begins In Bristow, VA, with the Girls

Halle and Granny, Getting Dinner Ready

Halle

Hayden Dancing

Hayden and Jill, At Rehearsal

It's early in Bristow, 6:30, and everyone else is asleep, will not be up for another hour or two or three in case of young Hayden Bissell.  A delightful morning, sun peaking occasionally through the trees that surround the Bissell's backyard.  It looks like a warm day, highs in the 80's, warmer than Chautauqua for sure.

Our seven hour drive yesterday was easy, a beautiful morning to pass through the Allegheny Forest, which is much of our drive through PA.  We did not stop at Gio's, the barbecue place, alas, so I had a Mickey D's breakfast instead, what a downer.  Not much traffic, lots of green on both sides of the road, much different from our drive in December for Christmas.  Everything is so much farther along in this part of the US; we must be about the last area where rhododendrons and peonies bloom in the States.  We left a bit before 7:00, arrived in Bristow just before 2:00, our typical seven hour ride which most people say should take six hours.

The Dancers

When we arrived, we quickly unpacked as Hayden had to get to a long  rehearsal for her ballet program tomorrow evening.  Evie went with Jill and Hayden and I went to the neighborhood pool with Halle, her girl friend and her Mom.  It's a great pool, lots of mom's, few dad's, and good place for the kids to hang out in the afternoon.  It was very warm, in the 80's, quite a difference from this morning's 48º in Chautauqua, so even I jumped in the pool, and played game of tag with the girls.  We stayed for about an hour, then I took them to the nearby playground, where they played for another half an hour before we went home.  Since Halle and I were alone, we had a snack, ice cream and chips, later some gold fish, but don't tell her Mom.  We then took Coco for a walk, Halle riding her bike.  And we looked at pictures on my computer from the past two winters at the lake, when Halle and family came to visit.

The dancers did not get home till 7:45, so I put the lasagna in the oven, to go along with a rotisserie chicken, both easy and everyone was hungry.  It sounds like the rehearsal was one from hell, extraordinarily long, with teachers often stopping the groups, to help the dancers with their performances.  And get this, there were 52 different groups of dancers.  I get to sit through all of them tomorrow evening.   After dinner, I started watching the NBA finals but we all went to bed around 10:30, tired from our long day.  I assumed the Heat would win, with the home court advantage and they obviously did, to the dismay of Cleveland fans.

Nothing on the agenda for today, enjoy the girls then go to Hayden's Recital  tonight at 7:00.

Virginia Bound

6:00

Evie's Garden at Dusk

Hostas

Clematis blossoms

We are up early, 5:30 so we get on our way to visit Jill and her family in Bristow, VA, about a seven hour drive from here, easy this time a year, a little more difficult if it snows.  A slight blush off towards Long Point as the sun has yet to rise, and cool, 49º.

Yesterday, we spent the day getting the house and yard ready for trip today and packing, something we are getting good at, as it seems we have been hitting the road every three or four weeks, to visit our grandchildren, the good life.  Evie was busy in the kitchen early morning, making a lasagna for Friday's dinner, along with some cup cakes for the girls to decorate, and her famous vegetable soup, which our  granddaughter Hayden loves, will eat any time of day, for lunch, for a snack.  I did the clean up, then went kayaking up towards Whitney Bay for an hour, a lovely morning to be out on the lake, little traffic, sunny and cool, perfect kayaking weather.  I did not catch anything but with my zen fishing attitude, one of goal less fishing, it does not matter, just  enjoy the routine of casting a line, reeling it in, and casting it again, with no expectation.  We also both worked on the yard, me doing the trimming, Evie cutting the lawn.  I also washed the car, getting it ready for our journey after it's sojourn yesterday at the dealer.  Now it not only runs well, it looks swell!  Enshallah!

Evie's Flower Boxes

We were more or less done with our tasks by noon, so we could enjoy the afternoon, out on the dock, reading, napping, and sunbathing.  It was another perfect June day, a bit windy perhaps, but sunny and warm enough to be outside.  We did not swim, too chilly and windy.

Amazing Clematis

We sat outside with the Leonard's and their daughter Kathy, enjoying the late afternoon, with a beer.  We kept moving our chairs to stay in the sun because without it, it was chilly.  We finally went in about 6:30 because it was too cool.  For dinner, Evie put together a great salad of leftover baked potatoes and salmon, with salad greens, more than enough for both of us.  We watched The Daily Show, the finals of yesterday's The Voice, read some and went to bed, ready to rocky and roll this morning.

A Sunny But Frosty Morning

7:30

Flags a Flying Yesterday Afternoon

Fish Bone Wind Chime, A Gift From The Albarrans

Up just after 6:00, lots of sun and unseasonably cool temperatures for June, 51º outside, cool enough that I got out my fleece.  It looks like another great day, and may get down in the 40's tonight, great sleeping weather.  Not much action on the lake, just the music of the purple martins, an occasional fishing boat, a great morning to kayak.

I spent yesterday morning in Jamestown, getting my car fixed.  I dropped it off at 8:00, then walked into and around Jamestown for over an hour, through decrepit neighborhoods, downtown where a number of buildings have been restored, to the recently renovated train station, overlooking the Chadakoin River, a 7.8 mile tributary of the Conewango Creek.  I took some pictures, walked along the Riverwalk, and ended up on 4th street at the Labyrinth Press Coffee House, where I relaxed, with a coffee, burrito, and Internet.  My car was ready about 9:40, so I picked it up, noticed they charged me for two hours of labor, though it obviously took probably an hour and a half or less and they changed the bill, saving me eventually 75 dollars.  It pays to ask questions.  Evie also went shopping and started getting things ready for our trip to visit our daughter Jill and family, as we leave tomorrow, for four or five days.  Around noon, I went kayaking over towards Long Point, caught a couple of sun fish, a miracle, then fished over towards Wells Bay, with no luck, and came home for lunch.  A great day to be on the lake.

Jamestown Train Station, Looks Like Something In Moscow

Arches Holding Up Bridge in Jamestown

Entrance to Where Robert Jackson's Offices Used to Be

The rest of the day we relaxed again, enjoying the leisure of a beautiful afternoon,   Not much action on the lake, windy and cool, it was a lovely day to do nothing, something I am good at.  A few days ago, we had put up a new Baltimore oriole feeder, didn't think we would attract any orioles this year but around noon, there she was, noisily attacking the grape jelly in the feeder.  We tried to  get a good picture but she flew away each time we got near.

Female Baltimore Oriole

At 6:00, we went to Mc Clure's for dinner, where else, as they are leaving for Spain for twelve days on Friday and we are leaving for Virginia tomorrow.  Linda made one of my father's and my favorite dinners, lamb shanks, with sides of minted peas, polenta, and a salad.   We sat outside on their porch with beers until it became too cool, then came inside for dinner.  Around 8:30, Ron built a fire outside, a great night to sit out side and eat strawberries with chocolate, a great way to end the evening.  We won't see them till July 4th.  Bon voyage!

Dinner Is Ready

Time to go kayak for an hour, see what kinds of fish will follow my lure.

An Arizona Like Morning Sunrise

5:40

6:00

Up at 5:40 and I am excited to be up early enough to see the sun rise over the lake.  We are getting close to the longest day of the year, so it rises at 5:41 but it did not peak out of the clouds until 6:00.  It's 59º outside, a chance of thundershowers, in fact, the clouds are dark and threatening behind our house, but otherwise, it's supposed to be another sunny day.  Well, we just had a rain shower, lasted about ten minutes.

Kayak Morning

We did kayak yesterday morning, early, out on the lake by 7:15.  It was a glorious morning and I wanted to get out on the lake before heading off to yoga.  It always amazes us how the lake becomes so empty during the week.  We felt like the only people on the lake, like early spring or late fall, as the weekenders were home.  The lake was calm, hardly a ripple, as we padded toward the sun, rising above the tip of Long Point.  As we rounded the point, a few guys were fishing, up early like us, enjoying the morning.  We were out about an hour, skimming along the coast line, watching for any sign of wild life, often seeing kingfishers, even a raccoon, walking along the water's edge at Long Point, looking for food.  We came home, had our breakfast on the dock, fished some, then I came in to get ready for yoga.  Class was smaller than usual, all women of course, talking about cooking, kitchens, and cabinets.  I chipped in, to show I was not just a dumb jock but someone who also knew about kitchens.  Class was more difficult, a couple of poses which I had trouble with, especially when I have to sit on my heels and try to bend backwards on a bolster...it does not work for me.  I then went to Sam's Club, for a free tire rotation, then a brief stop at Wegman's and home.  It seems impossible not to shop some where each day.  Today I take my car in because one of the warning lights came on, probably another two or three hundred bucks if I am lucky.

A Beautiful Morning on The Lake

Rocky Raccoon

Because it was such a glorious day, the kind of June day we always remember, sunny but not hot, with a breeze, we spent most of the afternoon out on the dock.  I read, Evie sun bathed, and we both went swimming, very cold to begin with but once we were used to it, the water felt good.  I forgot to mention that we found two or three bird eggs on our dock, broken but not eaten and are not sure how they got there, either by a predator or a martin or sparrow.  Puzzling.  We did see a turkey buzzard buzz our martin house a couple of days ago.  Let's hope they have not discovered the martins, like the owls and hawks have in the past.   They are such ugly birds and have become more prevalent in this area in the last couple of years.  We also think we saw a bald eagle, circling the area, with its white head and have heard there is a nest nearby, not good news for the purple martin babies.

We had our wine out on the dock, as the long day waned (the name of one of my favorite trilogies set in Thailand).  A few Amish next door and that was about it for the lake action.  We had some Castello  cheese, a brie with veins of blue cheese, so amazing on a pepper and olive oil Triscuits that it seems sinful.  Evie made salmon on garlic spinach for dinner, along with a salad and baked potatoes, so we enjoyed this as we caught up on two current series, Mad Men and The Killing.

I have to take my car in today at 8:00 so I have to be on my way in less than an hour.  I usually drop it off, walk into Jamestown, have breakfast somewhere, go to the Prendergast Library, then hopefully, my car will be done.  And we are starting to get ready for our trip to Virginia, to visit Jill and family.  We are leaving on Thursday, won't be back till next Tuesday most likely.

A Sunny Morning, Blue Skies, Placid Lake

6:50

Pine Junction

Up at 6:15, to what I thought would be a rainy day but surprise, the sun's out, it's 64º, and though it may rain later in the day, I will enjoy the morning beginning with a kayak paddle until yoga.  I almost forgot what a pleasant morning was like her at the lake.

We had an overcast day most of yesterday as rain was predicted but other than a few drops, it never did rain.  We went for our final Sunday walk at the CI because it opens next week, making it more difficult to walk.  The CI is really starting to heat up, as just about everybody is back, getting their houses or guest houses ready for the summer.  The builders are putting the final touches on the homes they have been building for a year, the landscapers clearing the yards for the sod to be put in. It's hard to believe that spring will be over in a few days, summer begins on Friday.

We came home and had our usual breakfast, eggs, bacon, with twice baked potatoes, left over from Friday night's dinner.  Yum.  We were tempted to eat outside but it was still overcast so we watched Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, our favorite morning show.  The rest of the day I spent thinking I might go kayaking if the wind died down, which it didn't.  So I watched some of the US Open, but read a good part of the afternoon, either in the house or on our front porch, and made Turkish tea.  I finally finished HARVARD SQUARE, liked it more than I did yesterday but am glad to move on to something lighter,  a John Sanford crime novel.  Evie spent most of the afternoon on the computer, going through all of our pictures from last summer, as well as from our summers in Europe, gathering them in groups to put into an album, something she does each summer.  We have albums of our kids visits to the lake from the last six or seven years, so much fun to look through when all the grandchildren arrive.

The Birthday Girl, in Her New Scarf

A Johnny Depp Look Unlike

For dinner, the Mc Clure's came over and we went to Pine Junction, just out side of Findlay Lake to celebrate Linda's birthday.  It had cleared up late afternoon, so it was a beautiful drive, especially Bailey Road, with great vistas of mostly Amish farms, with green fields, cows lazily grazing, the marvelous late afternoon sun illuminating trees, house, barn, and field.  The restaurant was mostly full inside, few outside.  We all had burgers or chicken, the favorite fare here, along with a few micro brews, their speciality.  Everything was great, especially the sweet potato fries.  We gave Linda a few presents, one, a head band, which she wore through dinner, reminding us of the kind Turkish women would wear as well as Evie and my daughters when we lived in Istanbul.

Sunset Over Amish Farms, 8:29 PM

It was still light when we drove home, so we took the long way, and the sunset over the fields of green was amazing, as well as a bizarre cloud bank off over Lake Erie, like a block of granite in the sky, the edges highlighted by the sun.  We got home around 9:30, watched some TV, read, and went to be later than usual, around 11:30.

Back To Normal, Gray, Overcast, With Drizzle

6:45

Enjoying the Sunshine

Up at 6:40, again we did not hear the bass boats take off(windows were closed) and I was surprised to see how stormy it looked, a southerly wind, a few rain drops, 62º, with thundershowers expected on and off during the day.  At least yesterday was the perfect Saturday, sunny and pleasant, warm enough but not hot.

Yesterday began with my sixth day of yoga in a row, the first time I have been so consistent.  Five new students and me, so Chris was happy.  A good class, I came home, bragging to Evie about my consistent yoga-ing, and she had to the gall to call me a 'yoga wimp,' that real men would be in a gym, tossing weights around, working up a sweat, not lying on their backs with a bunch of ladies chanting OMM.  Ah wives, they know how to wield the knife.  So, I don't think I will go to yoga next week, but get out the compression shorts, the wife beater tee shirt and hit the gym.

Yesterday was a great day, as I mentioned above, and we spent much of it getting ready for the Woodlawn picnic at 5:00.  Evie made potato chips, a neighborhood favorite, and cut the lawn, so it looked like a green you might find at the U.S, Open.  I did some trimming around the bushes, went to the Transfer Station, read, watched the U. S. Open, had thoughts of kayaking but I was too lazy to walk down to the lake's edge, jump in my kayak, and paddle out into the open sea.  What a yoga wimp!

Appetizers and Socializing

Ah, Evie's Home Made Potato Chips

Our neighbors came over at 5:00 and for June, we had a nice group; everyone brings an appetizer and their own drinks, so it's easy for the hosts and we usually have enough food so that you don't need dinner.  The nice thing about this gathering is that it lasts only till about 7:00, neighbors and their friends are invited,  so it does not necessarily get in the way of doing something later in the evening.  The Fox's and Friends, for example, came for an hour, then went off to the Southern Tier Brewery, where Big Leg Emma was playing a free concert.  It was good to talk with some of the neighbors we have not seen since fall, as the summer residents are beginning to show up.  And it's fun to meet some of the neighbors' grandchildren, who often come along with their parents, in this case, Mary Ann Miller's grandchildren.  We probably had around twenty to twenty five people total and everyone headed home around 7:00,  It was an easy clean up for us, empty the waste basket, take the table cloth off the table, bring in the empty chip bowl and that was it.

Three Generations of Woodlawners...Mary Ann Miller and Family

Susie Elste and Joyce Leonard

Around 8:30, we had some left over pasta and eggplant, from a couple of night's ago, and it was better than ever.  Anything with tomatoes in it always tastes better the next day or two.  It began to cloud up around 8:00 and we expected some rain during the night but it never did rain, waiting, I suppose, for today when everyone wants to enjoy the outdoors.  I am trudging through a highly recommended book called HARVARD SQUARE, which I don't like much but I am loathe to put it down, thinking it might get better.  I doubt it.  To bed around 11:00, after some TV and reading.

Bright and Sunny, A Saturday to Enjoy

7:00

Yesterday Morning

No bass boats roars this morning...we kept the windows shut so we are both up, later at 7:00, lots of sunshine and as I look out my front window, a number of fishing boats litter the lake, unusual for this early.  Today is supposed to be perfect, sunny and high in low 70's, then rain returns tonight.  We have the Woodlawn picnic later afternoon, so we (Evie) have to get the yard looking spiffy though it looks pretty good to me at the moment.

We had a good day yesterday, lots of sun, so we were able to kayak late morning after I got back from my yoga class.  Class was fine, only two of us, as our teacher, a young woman, Courtney, is new to the studio and has yet to get a following.   We started talking and I found out the other woman has a son who lives in the Black Forest region of Colorado, where the terrible forest fires destroyed 350 homes.  Fortunately, his was spared.  And my daughter Jill's rental home, in nearby Falcon, seems fine as is their neighborhood.  Our kayaking was more difficult than we thought, a bit rough heading over to Long Point, then calm and leisurely in the bay, but when we headed back from Wells Bay, we had to fight our way though a heavy wind, choppy waves, a surprise, making it a struggle to get home.  A few years ago a storm came up, the wind and rain were so heavy, we had to beach our kayaks, and take shelter near a shed till the storm subsided.

The rest of the day I relaxed, read some, took a nap, and Evie worked out side, pruning the bushes, doing some gardening, mostly weeding.  Lots of action next door because of the upcoming bass tournament. And like most Junes, many Amish seem to gravitate to the cottages, for a week of fishing.  Late afternoon, we sat outside in the sun, as the wind began to settle, and Evie made up some guacamole to go with our beer.  It was so nice we went out on the dock, till the sun hid behind the trees and it got too cool to sit our there.

Amish Women Enjoying Dusk

We had an easy dinner of left overs, city chicken, ham balls, mashed potatoes and a salad.  We watched some TV, read, and went to bed by 10:30, more tired than usual, me from doing very little.