Pink Sky In The Morning

6:47

7:27

7:28

It's 7:15, and a band of pink sky sits above Bemus on another clear, warm lake morning. Each morning, I am surprised by the amount of leaves that have fallen. Evie better fire up the mower. It's 7:25 and the sun has just peaked out, just above the Bemus shoreline. A change in the weather is predicted for Friday, rain and cool so a number of boats are already out on the lake, taking advantage of one of the last really good days on the lake. I had an easy paddle for fifty minutes, the usual route, the usual suspects, a heron above the reeds in a tree and another one on our neighbor's dock. These guys seem to have a routine like me, same place, same time. For the past day or two, I was thinking of my neighbor, Bill Leonard, who passed away in his 90s recently. Despite the fact he was in a nursing home, he would read my blog every morning, keeping up with what was happening on the lake. Evie and I miss him.

Kayak Morning

Northern Blue

In A Tree

On A Dock

Tuesday was another Indian Summer day on the lake, sunny, blue skies, the temperature near 80º. I paddled for 50 minutes and shot a photo of a red-tailed hawk so it was a good morning. I left for yoga just after 9:00 for a good class with Julie at 9:30. I assume I was achy from my COVID vaccination but during yoga, I felt good. After class, I stopped at Ryders Cup and sat with both Paul and Bob, a couple of regulars and we chewed the fat, whatever that means. Evie had been busy while I was playing, changing sheets, and doing the wash. Nothing like sleeping in a bed with clean sheets. Lunch was an omelet and bagel, and I watched my Laker series. 

October Cruising

We both had a leisurely afternoon, reading or watching some TV but by 3:00, we were out on the lake enjoying another afternoon cruise, down to Maple Springs, across to Prendergast Point, and home. Once we were home, Evie put together our dinner of chicken and rice and then had a Zoom call with her sisters. I  took a quick swim and then sat out on the dock with a glass of wine and read. 

Vino On The Dock

We enjoyed our dinner, along with salad and corn, watched an ER, then the documentary on Prime called Kelce, about the Eagles center Jason Kelce, brother of the Chiefs Travis Kelce. It was pretty good, a look at the highs and lows of being a lineman in pro football. Even if you are not a football fan, it is worth watching.

 

A Brief Morning Of Gray

A Final Wing Night At Bemus Point Casino

6:39

7:23

It's 7:05 and the sun should rise shortly but a vast cloud bank rises above the Bemus shore. Today, however, should be sun and warm, high around 80º, much like yesterday. We have one or two more days of this weather and then the cold weather and rain arrive. It was a great morning for a paddle, extravagant sky and I was able to photograph a red-tailed hawk.

Kayak Morning

Long Point

North

Bemus Bay

Northern Blue

Monday was a busy day for me and I got a few things done. It started with a paddle, then the blog and breakfast. By 10:45, Evie was driving me to pick up the Outback at Keystone where I got a new battery. I then drove to Jamestown for my annual appointment with my urologist, always fun, then went to Rite Aid in Jamestown where I had signed up online for a COVID vaccination. It was quick and easy and I was on my way home by 12:15. 

Red-Tailed Hawk

Great Blue Heron

Evie volunteered to make me BLTs for lunch, the best with lots of Duke's mayo. I watched another episode of the Laker Dynasty, read, and napped briefly. For some reason, I wanted to get a few things done despite my lack of mojo. So I took the cover off the boat in case wanted to go for a boat ride. I then rowed out and pulled seven buoys out of the water, weighed down by cement blocks, and brought them to shore for cleaning and the next year. Once I was done, Evie wanted to go for a cruise so off we went to Bemus, along Lakeside Drive, and home, out for forty-five minutes on a mostly clear and blue afternoon. Once we were back, I took a dip in the lake, cold but refreshing, and then briefly showered because we were going out for dinner.

Pulling A Fishermen Into The Boat After Falling In the Lake (none are wearing lifejackets)

Ron and Linda picked us up at 6:15 and we drove over to Bemus for wings at the Casino which was closing in a few days. Beers were half-price, so along with a couple of brews we had the standard, medium wing and fries. We were one of maybe three of four tables at the Casino and were able to sit outside on their porch, watching the sunset. Linda and Ron had returned from a road trip to Boston and Cape Cod where they ate at Chillingswoth, a grand old restaurant we recommended because we ate there 58 years ago on our honeymoon. They said it's still classy, popular, and good. We were home by 8:30, in time to watch some TV soap operas and a bit of Monday night football before bed. 

An Early October Sunrise

7:05

7:55

9:23

It's 7:30 and I have been up since 7:00, trying to sign in to Rite Aid for my COVID-19 vaccination. The lake hasn't a ripple as the sun fills it and our living room. It looks like a great day, in the high 70s if not 80s.  It's 7:50 and as I look out at the lake, there is not a boat in sight, not a sound so I better get out there quick. It's 9:35 as I finish this. I was out paddling for an hour but never saw any eagles or herons, just other paddlers and fishing boats. 

Kayak Morning

Kayaking Friends

North Towards Long Point

Yesterday was anticlimactic after the fun Saturday clambake on Lake Erie's shore. The best part was a big breakfast by my brother-in-law Rich who always makes us the best breakfast when we come for an overnight, home fries, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast. I was up early, of course, to write the blog and get the photos ready for it. Everyone was up by 9:00 and we had breakfast at 10:00 so we were on our way to Trader Joe's by 10:45. We did a quick run-through because it was so crowded that we could hardly push a cart down an aisle. It was more crowded than most churches on a Sunday morning!

Fall Colors On #86

We headed home by 11:15, stopped for gas at the Ohio border, and were in our TV room watching the Bills game by 2:00. Fortunately, I had it saved so we were able to watch the entire game as the Bills played well, beating the Miami Dolphins. We did not do much during the afternoon other than watch TV and enjoy a glass of wine on our porch at 6:00. Dinner was a couple of Slovenian sausages and an ear of corn, just right. We watched an ER until the start of the Chiefs/Jets game and stuck it out until the end of the first half when we both went up to bed, tired from our great weekend.

O What A Day

Good Golly, Miss Molly

7:53 AM

Sunset

7:10 PM

Cleveland At Dusk

It's 7:30 and I have been up for an hour, sitting in my sister's living room, looking out the family room window at Lake Erie, its vastness dwarfing Chautauqua Lake. I can still see the moon high in the sky on a clear morning. It's 57º and will get up into the 70s like yesterday. 

Saturday morning was our usual routine, beginning with a long paddle and photographing of herons who were still hanging around. Once the blog was done, breakfast was enjoyed, and we got busy because we were leaving for Euclid at noon. I gathered the trash and drove to the Transfer Station while Evie got things ready for our visit. We left at noon and it was an easy two-hour drive to Linda and Rich's home. We stopped, however, to pick up a couple dozen Slovenian sausages at Azmans, to take back to the lake today. 

Both Rich and Linda had been busy, setting up the yard for the clambake for 22 family and friends.  We sat around and talked and got a few things done, readying the bake and libations for later. Earlier, Rich picked up the bake from Euclid Fish, purveyors of clambakes since the 1950s.  My dad used to take me with him to pick up bakes when I was in my teens. Most arrived around 3:30 or 4:00 and the fun began. Evie brought the Travelling Treasure Chest so Molly had a delightful time pulling out the presents, ending up with a backpack.  

Sophie, Molly, And Evie

Miss Molly And Mom

Claire And Molly

The fire was started earlier, so once the water was boiling, we added the clams, potatoes, corn, and chicken. So for the next couple of hours, we sat around drinking and enjoying my nephew Pat's appetizers on charcuterie board. 

Nieces And Nephews

The Family Holz

The Bake

Appetizers

Rich, Corey And Lobsters

A Family Tradition: Pregnant Claire Pours Beer Into The Bake

First, we had clam chowder, and then broth as the bake was about to finish. The finishing touch was the addition of King crab legs and four huge lobsters, compliments of Corey, for the last twenty-five minutes. 

Then, Corey and I spent 15 minutes cracking the lobsters and crab legs and pulling on the meat, and once all was ready, everyone grabbed their plates, piled them with chicken, salad, corn and potatoes, and lobster, and then were served a bowl of clams from the bake by Rich. What an amazing bake and evening, the sun setting, the temperatures in the 60s, and all the clams we could eat. Once we had enough clams and sides, Rich's daughter, Kirsten pulled out the desserts, cheesecake, lady locks, and apple streusel. 

Linda, Kevin, Kirstin, And Rich

Dusk

Kirstin, Kevin And Kids

Enjoying A Fire

Evie And New Friend, Molly

Smores And Darkness

Everyone then helped clean up and once that was done, we finished the day with smores while sitting around the fire as the evening waned. By 10:00, everyone was gone and we did a few things in the kitchen before going up to bed. 

7:00