Another Saturday in Bristow, VA

A Beautiful Drive to Virginia

Up early, at 6:35, and Drew is already up, drinking coffee, watching the news of the LAX shooting from yesterday.  I obviously was out of the loop because I knew nothing about it.  Why would anyone have a grudge against the poor guys who work for the TSA.  What a world.

We left the lake yesterday morning around 7:30, and it was overcast and wet, not the kind of weather for a seven hour trip.  By Warren, however, there were brief flashes of sun and when we got to Berkley Springs, it was fine.  We are always amazed by how beautiful the ride can be, through the Allegheny Forest in PA, the mountains of central PA, then the final hour drive through the VA countryside, of manicured farms, estates, wineries, the like as you get closer to Washington, DC.  It was warm when we arrived, tee shirt weather, and Hayden was already home, supposedly under the weather, and Halle came home right after we arrived.

We talked with the girls about school, sat outside on their great porch as it was easily in the 70's, and Drew was home early as well, so we had the whole gang.  The girls look so grown up, Halle especially seems much taller since when we last saw her.  We enjoyed some wine before dinner, and Drew and I drove off to Safeway to pick up some garlic bread for dinner.   Hayden is into Starbucks, a chocolate chip coffee drink, so she came along so she could buy one.  We had the lasagna Evie made for dinner, along with salad and bread, and the girls entertained us through dinner with their talk.  They both can be real talkers when they feel like it.

We did not do much the rest of the night, relax, play with the girls, talk with Jill and Drew, and finally all of us went up to bed around 10:15.  Evie and I were really tired from the drive, so it was good to get into bed.

Doing Homework

Granny and Hayden, Chillin

Halloween Stash

The Maid Sweeping The Deck

The Lake To Bristow, VA For A Few Days

7:30

A Wet October Morning

Up at 6:00, to another wet morning, high winds, with trees down, electricity off in parts of Buffalo but so far, not bad around here.  We want to be on our way by 7:00 or 7:30, arriving in Bristow, VA by 3:00, just in time to see our granddaughters arrive home from school.  It's an easy, pretty drive but the rain may compromise the drive.

Yesterday it rained all day, a good day to stay inside, to get things ready four trip, pick up our car at the garage, and do lots of cooking for Evie.  Our granddaughter Hayden just loves Evie's vegetable soup, so Evie was up early making sou, letting it simmer on the stove top for a couple of hours, so the flavors of all the vegetables blend.  Since we also had half of cauliflower, she made one of our favorites to freeze, an Indian cauliflower soup from Madhur Jaffrey.  And just to make sure she kept busy, she put together a lasagna to take to Jill's, for dinner one night.  This took a good part of the morning and early afternoon.  I was the clean up boy, washing and drying the dishes as needed.  The rest of the day we just relaxed, with some TV and reading.  I did take an early morning walk before the rains came, through Woodlawn/Victoria woods, unseasonably warm for late October, the highs in the 60's.  Very little action the the lake other than birds, seagulls and herons, as the fishermen seemed smart enough to stay in today.

Autumn Colors

Kinney's Run

Victoria Woods

For dinner, we had leftover Slovenia beans and potato soup and sausages with sauerkraut, still good after sitting in the refrigerator for a couple of days.  In fact, soups seem to just get better.  Once again it was hard to find anything worth watching on TV.   We started an older series called Brothers and Sisters, with Sally Field, but it got too silly, predictable, as one crisis and coincidence followed another, the goal to constantly keep the audience emotionally connected I suppose, but we just shook our heads and laughed so now it has become a comedy for us.  We wonder who are the directors, the writers, that allow this kind of schmaltz on TV.  With a bit of editing, it could have been decent.

SILESIAN STATION: DAVID DOWNING

This is the second in a series of Downing's five books, set in Nazi Germany.  This one takes places during the summer of 1939, just before WW II begins with Hitler's invasion of Poland.  John Russell, a British citizen with, however, an American passport has been living in Germany for eighteen years, fathered a son, Paul with Ilsa but is now divorced though he sees his son each weekend, part of his reason for remaining Berlin.  Like most the the books in the series, at least one of the subplots involves the Jews, in this case a young sixteen year old Jew named Marian Rosenfeld, sent to Berlin to live with her uncle.  Unfortunately, her uncle is arrested and she is never heard from again.  Russell finds out about her being missing from his brother in law, who employed the uncle.  Russell takes it upon himself to visit her villages in Silesian, then part of Poland. He finds that  the family has heard nothing from her and on his return, he is mistaken for a Jew lover and beaten up by local toughs.  So begins the novel, as Russell seeks to find out what happened to Marian (she's been kidnapped by the SS, used as a prostitute) and he manages towards the end of the novel to save her life and those of the other girls by pretending to be an ambulance driver during an Air Raid drill.  They take the girls away in an ambulance, supposedly from a bombed building, and end up fooling the SS with the plot.  This takes place towards the end of the novel.

Most of the book, however, charts his double or triple life as a spy for the Americans, Germans and Russians, supposedly giving false Germany information to the Russians.  Russell, however, has told the Russians its false, setting himself up as a double agent.  Because he is a journalist, he travels extensively during this novel, as the world waits with bated breath for Hitler to make his move and invade Poland. We are with Russell and all the Germans as well as Poles, week by week, until Ribbentrop finally ends up in Moscow,  signing the non aggression pact which virtually starts the war.

The novel ends in late September, 1939, as Russell returns to where Marian's family farm once stood.  Now its in ruins,  burned to the ground, and Poland is about to fall finally to the Nazis, as France and Great Britain do little to avoid their defeat.  Russell has played his cards well, playing one group against the other, and he has saved the life of German woman, Sarah Grostein, by asking the communists to smuggle her out of the country.  This along with his saving the lives of Marian and her fellow sex slaves, allows him to live with himself in this vile country, along with his son Paul and lover, Effi, who also aids in the defense of the Jews.  I am looking forward to the next book, STETTIN STATION, set in 1941, as the Nazis are fighting the Russians on the eastern front, just before the United States is brought into the war by Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

A Wet, Windy Halloween Thursday Morning

7:32

Up at 6:45 to the sound of rain on the roof, as predicted by the weatherman.  He's correct once in a while.  It's supposed to be that kind of day, rain on and off all day, heavy winds starting tonight, unseasonably warm during the day, a high of 68º. It's a good thing we got all our yard work done yesterday.  Just heard some gun shots so it must be duck hunting season on the lake.

Enjoying A Fall Walk

The Modern Hiker, On His Phone With His Broker!

The weather yesterday was fine, clear and sunny and cool, just the kind of fall day we love.  And to take advantage of it, we drove off to the Audubon Nature Preserve,  just outside of Frewsburg,  about a half hour drive.  We like to support it, are members, and walk their grounds four or five times a year.  It was a great day to hike the woods, cool and crisp in mid morning, especially in the first half of our walk through our favorite kind of trail, a forest full of pines, always dark and cool, no matter what time of the year.   If I did not live on a lake, I would want to live in a pine forest or with a mountain view.  It's an easy two plus mile circular walk, flat so it would be easy to cross country ski, which I have done a couple of years ago.  There's a huge pond, too, with a few water fowl.  The Sanctuary is well taken care of, with lots of blue bird houses, a perch for the resident eagle, and lots of plantings protected from deer by plastic tubes.  We ended up buying 50 pounds of sunflower seeds, which ought to get us through a few months of winter's hungry birds.  Right now, our feeder in the front window is besieged by sparrows, devouring the sunflower seeds in two or three days.  After our walk, we went to Wegman's, spending a wad, walking off with seemingly little, typical these days for a shopping trip. We also stopped at Raymour and Flanigan, a furniture store, to look at  their club chairs.  We are thinking of buying a couple of chairs to put around our fireplace but are finding most chairs seem too large for the area.

A Great Destination

The Audubon Sanctuary

We did not get back till after 1:00, so we had lunch, relaxed a bit, then went outside to work in the yard.  We were going to cut both yards but Evie got to them first, and cut both Leonard's and our yard, as I worked in the back yard, on the compost pile, and clearing the garage so I could put my Pilot in it tomorrow when we take off to visit Jill and family in Bristow, VA.  The entire time we worked outside, the lake was like glass, not a ripple, sun filled, a deep blue.  So, when we finished our work, we decided we had to go kayaking and as luck would have it, the wind picked up just as we started out, rippling the calm waters.  It was still great to be out on the lake on a late October day despite the fact that the lake was still algae filled and paddling in some parts was like being in pea soup.  We paddled across to Long Point, then to the far end of Wells Bay, where a new house had just been built.  We paddled close to shore and owner came out to talk.  His name is Glenn Johnson, and they will live there full time.  They tore down their old cottage because it was just not large enough for them.  A nice guy, we talked for about ten minutes, exchanged names, and then paddled home to our lake front.

Fall Kayaking

Starting Out

Heading Home, Late Afternoon

Around 5:30, we had a glass of wine and Evie made up a pasta sauce with mushrooms, white wine and cream.  When done, she tossed it with some of the leftover fresh pasta noodles from last night's dinner and we had a meal with salad and broccoli.  Earlier, we bought some maple syrup vinegar at the Busti Cider Mill, tried it on the salad, and it got average reviews, not my favorite.  We couldn't find much to watch on TV other than Stewart and Colbert, so we went to bed early, me to finish my book Silesian Station.

Today we get ready for our visit to Bristow, a good day to stay inside because of the weather, not so good if you are a trick or treater.  This kind of day reminds of the fall Chautauqua weekends in years past, when we would drive up for the weekend and it would be wet and cold and dark, though comforting because we were at the lake, in our home.  We would usually go out to dinner at Bud's Carriage House, return home through the drizzle, houses decked out in Halloween decorations.  Ah nostalgia.

Starry. Starry Morning

7:20

7:55

A Gaggle of Early Morning Honkers!

Up before 6:00, got the paper and was amazed by the star filled sky, a crescent moon, the big dipper hanging over the roof of our house, and a warmer morning than the past few days, 39º.  It's still dark as I begin this blog at 6:40, only a few house lights visible along the Bemus shore line.  Mornings and afternoons will change Saturday night with DST, more sun early, less light in the afternoon.

Once again, I ended up going to yoga a day early, at my teacher's request, so that I have become a regular on Tuesday's, though I signed up for Wednesday.  Class was much the same as the previous weeks, but I do enjoy learning more about each pose, and repeating certain poses week after week helps me to remember the little things that make a difference.  Class always seems to have a couple of walk ins.  I had to laugh at one women, who brought her over weight thirty something son last week. This week, she said she couldn't wake him up in time for our 10:00 class.  Must be nice.  One of the things I enjoy about class is the ride to Westfield and along Hardscrabble Road, set on a ridge, overlooking two or three miles of vineyards, leading down to Lake Erie.  I vow each time to bring my camera but always forget.  And this time, three huge trucks, with massive trailers were parked along side the narrow road, waiting to be filled with grapes.  On the way home, I stopped at Patterson Library, to pick up the fourth volume of David Downing's series set in Nazi Germany.  I am about to finish the second volume, start the third.  I also stopped at Tops to pick up some food stuff for dinner since we were having the McClures over for dinner.

Evie had most every thing ready for our pasta dinner when I got home around 1:00.  Mid afternoon, we had to drop my Accord off at Keystone because I need new rear brakes and rotors, something I have to get done every two years.  Not sure why but the brakes on both of my Honda's don't seem to last very long.  Around 4:00, we were all set for the McClures, so we decided to take a short kayak paddle because it was so nice out.  It was cool starting out, as we were still in the shade of the  trees but once we got out in the middle, the sun warmed us up, and when we headed home, we could barely make out the shore the sun was so bright.  The lake, unfortunately, was once again riddled with floating algae and a ribbon of green edged the shoreline.  The algae bloom seems arbitrary as the last time we paddled, we commented on the clarity of the water around Woodlawn.

Pasta Gals

McClure's arrived back to the lake late afternoon, unpacked and came over to our house for dinner around 6:15.  It was good to see them again as they had been in Murrysville for at least three weeks. We had Vodka pasta with shrimp, and Evie and Linda are becoming pros at making fresh fettuccine. Ron and I sat at the bar, enjoying our beers, watching the ladies make the fresh pasta while enjoying their own glass of wine.  Dinner was great, of course, and with home
made blue cheese dressing on our salads, we were a happy foursome.  For dessert, we had brownies with ice cream, no Mrs. Richardson's hot fudge sauce for Ron and me.  They left about 10:15, late for both of us, so we must have been having a good time.

Today looks like a nice day, perhaps a walk at the Audubon Nature Center, some shopping and home to enjoy the sunny afternoon, and the cutting of both Leonard's and our lawn.  We are driving to Bristow, VA, to visit Jill, Drew and the girls on Friday, so we want to chop the leaves at least once before we leave.

Steam Rising On A Cold Tuesday Morning (Eastside Overland Trail Hike)

7:00

7:32

Both Evie and I are up at 7:00, another picturesque morning sky, clouds, clear sky, reflections on the lake, as it gradually gets lighter.  I am always shocked at how late the sunrises this time of the year, how early it sets. 7:47 AM, 6:15 PM.  And before I know it, the sun is rising way over towards Tom's Point as it continues its fall journey south and I never tire of watching it.

Yesterday we got a late start but

Another Forest To Hike That We Have Never Heard Of

we stayed focused and drove off to Sinclairville, twenty miles away to walk another leg of the Eastside Overland Trail.  We drove east from Sinclairville, to RT. 62 and looked for trail heads P or Q but could find neither, perhaps because the trail seems to be on the road.  We finally drove to O, parked at a parking lot for the Boutwell Hill State Forest.  The trail head was poorly marked but we started on it, and immediately, we were climbing hills, trudging through muddy paths, what looked like runs for water coming off the hills.  It was wooded, however, since we were in the Boutwell Forest most of the time.  We had intended on walking all the way from O to M but the hiking was slow, because of the mud and uphill climb, so after an hour we finally made it to N, on Sanford Road.  It looks as though we would have had to walk along the road for a mile before getting to M.  So, we headed back and the going, for some reason, was much easier, at least for me, as I let Evie lead and I just meandered, with camera in hand, looking at things to photograph.  It makes me much more aware of the surroundings, more 'present' in yoga terms and I don't pay much attention to arriving, to a goal, which I tend to do when I lead.  Strange.  Anyways, we walked over 3 1/2 miles, just under two hours and it was another great hike, through woods still green in some parts, leafless in others, as we followed well marked paths, no bridges as I recall, despite the wetness.  It felt good to get to the trail head marked N, a goal no doubt, but also a sense of accomplishment.  We both like to tick off another leg of the trail.

Which Way?

The Leaves Have Fallen Here

Lots of Leaves Still

Our Goal Accomplished

We stopped at the Sinclairville Superette, bought some kidney beans for beans and potato soup, a submarine sandwich, and Evie found her favorite fudge sauce, Mrs. Richardson's, so  that too went in the bag.  We did not get home till around 2:00, late for us when we hike.  We ate the sub, watched some TV, then relaxed and read before Evie worked on the geraniums, trimming them, adding plastic trays to catch the water and I lugged them upstairs to the back bedroom, where they will spend the winter, watered as needed.  We have had some of the plants for three or four years.

For dinner, we had a traditional Slovenia dinner, beans and potato soup, with Slovenia sausage, from Azman's Meats in Euclid, Ohio.  Other butchers make Slovenia sausage but we have been eating Azmans since the 1950's and for us they are the best around.  We have started watching the new series on Showtime called Masters of Sex, at my sister Linda's recommendation.  It's based on a novel about the famous sexologists, Bill Masters and Virginia Johnson, who wrote the definitive study on Sexuality.  It's a compelling story, of his ambition, hang ups, with parents, women, and yes sex.  In between the narrative, we are presented with lots of naked bodies, with electrodes fastened to their bodies, as Masters and his aid, measured the bodies and brains responses through the various phases of coitus.  It seems like a strange story to tell on TV but we both like it enough to continue watching, like reading Playboy for the articles!!!!  That's a joke.  The sex in the film is never prurient, more clinical though Master's does seem to leer as he watches couples enjoying sex.

ZOO STATION: DAVID DOWNING

All of the John Russell novels are set in Nazi Germany, in 1939 so far, just before the annexing of Poland, which basically starts WWII.  Russell is a British citizen, with an American mother, who marries a German woman, has a son, Paul, divorces her, but stays in Berlin because of his son.  He makes his living as a journalist, has a famous actress girl friend, Effie, and because of his early Communist enthusiasms, his British and American connections, and his German wife and son, he is pulled in many directions.  In the first novel, he makes clear his dislike, even hatred of the Nazis and all they stand for.  It's also obvious that  this cannot be stated publicly, even among friends because you cannot trust anyone, a terrible world to live in.  He befriends a Jewish family, teaching their daughters English, because they hope to emigrate to Great Britain because all of the restrictions, the violence, and the threat of camps for the Jews.   He also becomes friends with a naive American journalist, who reminded me of Alden Pyle n Graham Greene's classic THE QUIET AMERICAN.  The American stumbles upon a story where the Nazi's have plans to liquidate all children with handicaps over the next few years.   Somehow, the Nazis are on to his story, and he ends up dying, supposedly committing suicide by jumping in front of a train.  Russell ends up with the story but is unsure what to do with it.

The other plot involves the Jewish family.  The father is arrested, taken to a camp, and murdered, making it imperative that the family leave as soon as possible.  Russell connects with the underground communists, offers his services, if they will help get the Jewish family out of the country.  They will arrange it for him if he will take a document (containing German Naval Plans) out of Germany to Poland, where a Soviet agent will meet him.  Russell also decides to take the American's article with him and mail it to the American Embassy when he gets to Poland.  If he is discovered carrying either of these documents, he knows he will be arrested, most likely killed.  His journey, of course, is filled with tension.   He makes it, connects with the Soviet source, tells him this is the last time he will help, they seemingly agree but actually set him up by putting a compromising document in his bag.  Fortunately, Russell finds it, flushes it down the train toilet, and when searched by the Nazis, obviously alerted by the Russians, he feigns innocence and is allowed to go on his way.

The novel paints a realistic and depressing picture of a country held slave to a belief, one of power and intolerance, a government who can act, like putting the Jews in camps, with impunity as the populace either refuses to see or lacks the moral courage to stand up and be heard. A good part of the novel is taken up with Russell's every day life, as well, taking his son to soccer games, going out to bars and dinners with Effie, meeting fellow journalists in bars, things like that which make life seem mundane and everyday at least from the outside.  I liked the book enough to get the next three novels in the series.