Partly Cloudy And Warming

6:45

It's a bit overcast although the sun is out on a 61º morning. Not much action on the lake yet because its Monday and the weekenders have gone home. It should get in the high 70s today but towards the weekend it may get in the high 80s as it heats up.  I was awakened twice during the night, by a brief thunderstorm and around 5:00, by the trash truck. Nice. It's 8:00 and I am about to go kayaking and looked out at the lake and not a boat was in sight, amazing even for a Monday morning. 

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

Heron On Woodlawn Dock

Great Blue

Osprey In The Victoria Trees

Yesterday was a day of rest for both of us, much needed. I was up way too early, out on the lake for a long paddle, always a good way to start my day. Evie was up by 8:30, so we finished up the blog and I had breakfast. We had been wanting to go for a boat ride but every time we thought about it, the wind picked up or the boat traffic was heavy. So around 11:00, we jumped in our boat or rather gingerly stepped into it and cruised over to Bemus, along Lakeside Drive and home. It was good to be back out on the lake and Evie loves it when I race, if you call going 25 miles an hour racing.

There is not much new to say about the rest of the day. It was too hot to sit out on the dock, so we stayed in the house or on the porch the rest of the day. I had soup and the rest of the chicken salad sub for lunch, then briefly napped and finished my book, starting the newest Martin Cruz Smith novel, Independence Day, set in contemporary Moscow. Around 4:00, I hooked up our hose to the lake so Evie could water her garden and went for a swim, pulling in a buoy we no longer needed since the family left. Around 5:30, we relaxed with a glass or two of wine until 6:30 when Evie went in a baked the tilapia in the air fryer. We had it along with the leftover German potato salad and coleslaw from Saturday night's dinner. We started to watch a film on Hulu called The Quiet Girl but the subtitles were difficult to read so quit it and went back to our series, Hijack, on Apple TV+. It's a thriller, long and drawn out but worth watching. 

A Bright Shinny Morning

 

7:02

9:07

It's 7:30, and the sun is filling our living room with light on a 60º morning. It looks like another fine day, with highs in the 70s and lots of sunshine. It's 9:40 as we finish this and I paddled for close to an hour, my usual circle, and was able to get fairly close to an osprey for once.

Osprey

Yesterday was a typical Saturday with the major thrust of the day was a trip to the Transfer Station, getting rid of trash. Before that, I got in a good paddle of 50 minutes and had a long coffee hour with Evie before we started to get busy. We were having friends over for dinner, so prepping for that on and off during the day kept us both busy although it was supposed to be a simple dinner.  After the Transfer Station, I drove to the Lighthouse to pick up ground chuck for our hamburger and hot dog dinner. 

Lunch was a chicken salad sub from the Lighthouse, always good, and I watched my show, read some, and napped some, a typical day for me. Evie put together our dinner sides, German potato salad, cole slaw, and a beer cheese appetizer. At 5:00, I went down to our neighborhood gathering, a chance to talk with neighbors and discuss any problems. By 6:00, Ron and Linda arrived, and we took our dinks and appetizers out on the dock and celebrated Ron's birthday, a couple of days early. It was a beautiful evening on the dock, sunny with a cool breeze. 

The Birthday Boy

By 7:00, it was starting to get chilly so we left the dock and sat on the front porch until it was time to grill the burgers and dogs. We had planned on eating outside but we decided to eat inside because of the chill and late hour, 7:45. Dinner was great, Ron's favorite, burgers and dogs, mine too, along with sweet corn and two salads. For dessert, we shared a carrot cake, a good way to end of the evening.  By 10:00, we said our goodbyes and started to clean up the kitchen a bit before bed, the end of another good day. 

Early Morning Fog

A Hungry Heron

6:05

It's 6:50 and I have been up since 6:00, waiting for the fog to lift on a 57º morning. Because of the fog, there's not much action on the lake. It's 8:30, Evie's still sleeping, and I paddled in and out of the fog for 50 minutes on a beautiful sunny morning on the lake. While I was paddling, a heron plopped down about 10 feet from me and grabbed a fish, then flew off to a dock where I followed him and took the above photos. How fortunate am I to be out there. 

Kayak Mornings

Yesterday was an easy day, a quiet day until dinner time. I did get in a paddle early, then wrote the blog and had breakfast. I had nothing on my plate, no yoga, no bike ride, just enjoying a leisurely Friday. Evie was off to Jamestown for a doctor's appointment and shopping at 10:30 so I had the house to myself. Big deal. I read, watched some TV, and waited until lunchtime, 12:30, when I microwaved Evie's veggie soup and made a bagel with cream cheese and tomato. And, of course, I watched another episode of Friday Night Lights. 

A Great Blue Heron Morning

Just as I was finishing lunch and was about to nap, Evie drove in so I helped unpack the car and put things away. I then returned to my book, napped briefly and that was it until 5:00 when I showered and got ready to drive to Jamestown for the Whirlybird Festival, basically a gathering downtown to listen to music outdoors at the Square. 

Winter Garden Plaza, Main Street, Jamestown

Reminds Us Of Turkey

Korean Beer Fries

We parked by the YMCA and walked over to the venue, the Winter Garden Plaza, but decided to have something to eat first so we walked back to Brazils', sat outside on their patio, and had beers, Korean Beer Fries, and a Get Shorty flatbread, and both were delicious. 

Kallie Williams

Guitarist

Charity

We then walked back to the music venue, stood around with the crowd, and listened to Kallie Williams and Charity Nuse and her band. We ran into our neighbors, Jim, Barb, and Newt, out to enjoy the festivities like us. Unfortunately, our favorite band, Smackdab was not playing until 8:45 and we had enough by 8:00 and drove home. It was fun to people watch and the band was decent, worth seeing. 

Neighbors Enjoying The Music

When we got home, we had peach pie for our dessert and started to watch the thriller, Hijack, on Apple TV+. It's pretty good, and not as predictable as I would have thought. We watched the first two episodes. 

Stormy Weather

6:49

8:50

It's a partly cloudy morning, a touch of blue off to the East, 62º, with some drizzle. It looks like a few hours of clouds, then a sunny afternoon on the lake, with a high in the low 70s, as it cools off a bit. It's now 9:10, still overcast although not raining. I got in a short 35 minute paddle, heading home early because of winds and threatening skies. 

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

Thursday was, again, a back-to-the-usual kind of day. It started with a quick paddle, then breakfast for the first time in a couple of weeks with the guys. It was good to finally get together at the Bemus Point Inn. I then drove to Lakewood for a laid-back Yin Yoga class, a relief after Wednesday's rigorous class. I was home by noon, skipping a coffee, relaxed some, and then had a great lunch, Evie's soup and delicious quesadillas. I watched another episode of Friday Night Lights, then napped for probably forty-five minutes.

I am enjoying my new book by John Connolly, Every Dead Thing. I had never even heard of him until he was mentioned in a book review. Evie did some gardening while I read but by late afternoon, I was out putting the cover on the boat as the sky started to darken and the weather apps went crazy with all kinds of warnings. 

Heavy Winds at 7:16

Threatening Sky at 8:27

We also put down the porch curtain and waited for the storm which seemed to be moving below us. So we ate dinner, sloppy joes, and started watching our show, The Americans but by 7:00, the winds were howling, the lake waves were cresting, and branches were falling because of gusts of wind, probably 50 to 60 miles an hour. It knocked over the benches on our dock, and the chairs in our side yard but fortunately there was no damage and we did not lose electricity despite the winds. We were fortunate. 

We finally finished our series, six seasons of The Americans, and loved the ending, shocking but apt. We will miss it and will be looking for something new to watch. 

Good Morning Sunshine

6:29

It's 6:30 as I start this, sunny and 58º, on a quiet morning on the lake. It looks like another nice day with showers predicted in the evening. It's 9:10 and I just returned from breakfast with the guys, for the first time in a couple of weeks. And earlier, I got in a 35-minute paddle, a fine morning.

Osprey

I'm Hungry

Great Blue

Yesterday I got in an early paddle, and was on my way to yoga by 9:40. It's much more pleasant in the morning when yoga starts at 10:00, giving me more time for kayaking and writing the blog. Wednesday class is always difficult so I found myself in child's pose more often, catching my breath. I like the class because it's always different though rigorous. I was tempted to stop for coffee but went straight home, saving a few bucks. 

While I was gone, Evie made a pot of her vegetable and bean soup, so when I walked in the kitchen, it was simmering on the stove, ready for me whenever I wanted lunch. By 1:00, I was enjoying soup and a bagel with a tomato and Evie was out sweating, mowing the lawn in phases. Although the temperature was only in the high 70s, it was hot in the sun, especially if you were mowing the lawn. After my lunch, I took a brief nap and started a new book by John Connolly called Every Dead Thing, the first in a series. 

Once Evie was through with the lawn, I put the chairs and tables back in place and we were both basically through for the day with any chores. It was pleasant out on our porch and Evie even briefly napped while I read in the house. By 5:30 we were on our porch enjoying a glass of wine, commenting on how quiet the lake was for July. 

For dinner, Evie had pulled some leftover baked ziti out of the freezer so once that was heated up and a salad made, we were enjoying dinner on our new table, a birthday present from the family. And we are now on the final season of The Americans and have maybe three episodes to go. 

An Afternoon With College Friends And Teammate

6:10

6:13

7:13

It's a beautiful morning, fog rising, sun shining, the lake calm and inviting. I cannot wait to get out on the lake this morning. It's a chilly 58ª and should only get up into the 70s later in the day, perfect. It's 8:27 and I paddled for 45 minutes and shot a couple of photos of ospreys. 

Kayak Morning

Same Old Osprey

Yesterday was a good day because I am starting to get back into my old routine. I was up early, at 6:00, and out on the lake by 7:15 for a 50-minute paddle.  That gave me plenty of time to finish the blog and have breakfast before driving off to Lakewood at 9:10 for a yoga class at 9:30. Class was great, many of the regulars were there and I was able to keep up despite not having been much to class in the last six weeks. I stopped for coffee at Ryders Cup and my friend, Paul was there. It's been weeks since we have seen each other. Earlier in June, he spent a week sailing the Cyclades, the Greek Islands, so it was fun to hear about his experiences. 

I had lunch around 12:30, a tuna sandwich, then Evie was off to Westfield for a blood test. We were excited about the afternoon because Gary and Gloria had texted us that they were on their way to Nova Scotia, then New Foundland in their RV but would like to stop by and see us. Gary and I played basketball together at Ohio University, graduating in 1965. They stayed next door at Camp Chautauqua, then came over around 2;30 after getting settled in. We had fun catching up on their travels and family since we had not seen them since maybe 2014 when our team was honored by Ohio University as the outstanding team in OU's history or something like that. They now live in Bonita Springs, FL, but travel every summer in their RV, and have visited at least 30 of the National Parks and driven as far as Alaska and soon New Foundland in their RV, quite the adventurous duo. This past June, they took their granddaughter to Greece for a graduation present, obviously not in their RV. 

Catching Up With Lash And Gloria

We drove over to Bemus Point, to the Ellicottville Brewery for our dinner and found a table outside on the porch with a nice breeze and a view of the lake. The food was decent and expensive but the ambiance was fine. We left around 8:00, drove around Bemus, and said our goodbyes around 8:30. They are off to Toronto this morning, on to Nova Scotia before picking up a ferry to New Foundland. I envy their trips. We relaxed in the TV room for an hour and watched another episode of The Americans before bed. It was a good day.

Overcast And Drizzle

6:55

Morning Sun

I woke to rain pelting our roof and came downstairs to light rain for about a half hour. Right now it's 6:30 and I am sitting on our front porch and the drizzle keeps stopping and starting. It's still hazy or foggy, not sure which because of the smoke and it's 62º, high should be in the 70s. It's just before 9:00 and I kayaked my usual route for 50 minutes, photographing what I assume are the same osprey and heron as yesterday. 

Kayak Morning

Same Osprey, Same Tree

Herbie

Perched

Acrobatic Heron

Monday was a day of rest for both of us as we didn't get much done for some reason, not that we had anything that had to get done. I had some mojo in the morning so I kayaked for an hour, wrote the blog, and had breakfast while I walked around the neighborhood. I want to get back to my routine of either yoga, biking, or hiking so yesterday, I drove over to Greenhurst, parked my car, and road the Jamestown River Walk into the city, down to Riverside Park, around it, and back to Third And Main for a coffee. I then returned to my car, stopped at Peterson's for a basket of peaches, a dozen ears of corn, and tomatoes. 

Jamestown Riverwalk Bridge

We enjoyed our wine time on the porch, marveling at how quiet the lake was for July. We are not complaining. Dinner was easy, as Evie had pulled ratatouille out of the freezer earlier in the day. Once that as well as the rice was heated up, Evie served it with a dollop of yogurt and we had a tasty and healthy dinner. We watched another couple of episodes of The Americans and start Season 6 tonight, the last season of the series. 

Heron On A Martin House