Pink Sky In The Morning

A Happy Family Of Kent's

6:47

6:48

I was up at 6:00, to a pink sky, a chilly 55º morning, with a heavy dew.  And I was wondering when the sun would rise when I looked up, at 6:43, and noticed a bright orange was beginning to color the trees at the tip of Long Point. Soon, the edge of the sun's disc appeared and the sun slowly rose, filling the lake with a light pink glow.  It's 8:30 as I finish the blog and add the photographs.  And I got in a paddle, running into Tina and Jim, up early for the weekend.

Yesterday I was able to get in a short paddle before driving to Jamestown for a doctor's appointment, then an x-ray of my hip next at WCA.  I then treated myself to coffee and a Plain Jane egg sandwich at the Labyrinth Press Coffee Shop on 4th Street.  It was a busy place at 9:00 which was good to see. I then decided to pass on yoga at 10:00 and stopped at both Wegman's and The Dollar Store to pick up a few things for Evie.  I also drove by the new hotel complex in Celeron and it looks like they will be opening soon as the parking lots are done.

Fishing With Dad And Aunt Evie

Ready To Swim

James And Aunt Evie

When I returned home, the living room was filled with boys, playing games or putting together puzzles on the floor, happy and content.  So for the next couple of hours until lunch, we either stayed inside, usually me with Henry, and the rest went outside to fish or enjoy the sunshine in the yard.  Around 12:45, Robert and I went out to grill some veggies and steaks they brought over for lunch.  It was a perfect lunch, the boys loved their steak and the grilled onions and mushrooms were devoured by all.

Cruising The Lake Into The Wind

We then went for a boat ride, something the boys wanted, over to Bemus Point, along Lakeside Drive and home.  It was a good day to be on the lake, a nice breeze to keep us cool and not to rough.  The boys were able to sit on the front fishing seats when we went slow.  It was a fun ride and we hope to get another one in today, down towards the Chautauqua Institution.

At The Viking Club

We then spent the afternoon, like the morning, enjoying the lake, fishing, swimming, taking it easy or playing with various games in the house until 5:30.  We then drove over to the Viking Club for dinner, thinking the boys would like their playground.

Robert And Will

It was not very busy which surprised us.  The boys immediately ran outside to a huge sand playground, filled with tractors and other toys.  We sat in Adirondack chairs around the playground, enjoying a beer.  It was build you own burger night, so we were given markers and an erasable sheet with our choices.  We checked off the size of burger, kind of bun, and condiments we wanted, turned it into the kitchen for each of us and twenty minutes later, they brought our burgers out as we were sitting out on the enclosed porch because of the wind.  Everyone loved their burgers, the boys even had a pizza, so dining at the Viking was a good choice.  We then went to the swings, the other playground, and let the boys exhaust themselves before driving home around 8:15.

James

Brothers

Will

We were home in time to watch some more TV, ended the night with another episode of THE HANDMAIDS TALE and CHEERS, a good way to end our night, with laughs about Sam and Diane.

Fog Rising On A Fall Like 53º Morning

5:50

6:20

6:25

7:05 

I was up to at 5:30, to a marvelously cool morning here on the lake, an early taste of fall. The morning was just starting to awaken, some color began to show in patches between the clouds.  I attempted a photograph but it was almost too dark for a photo. I did get a quick paddle before heading off to Jamestown for my annual urology appointment.  Fun

Making Pancakes With Aunt Evie

Yesterday was also somewhat cool, especially later in the day and wet off and on.  I did get in a paddle, on rough seas, sort of, quite a bit of wind and some white caps, fun to ride.  It's seem like a luxury to have yoga start at 10:00 rather than 9:30.  That half hour seems to make a big difference for a relaxing morning.  After yoga, I did a quick stop at both Aldi's and Wegman's because Jennifer's family was coming to dinner after their excursion to Niagara Falls with the boys.  

When I returned home, Evie had already marinated the pork chops and started roasting the zucchini and eggplant for a ratatouille, something we thought the adults would enjoy.  For lunch, we both had toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches on thinly sliced Pepperidge Farm Bread, something we have not had in a while.  It tasted so good we wondered why we didn't buy it more often.  

The rest of the afternoon we did not know what to do it was so empty, no boys for Evie to play with, just an empty house except for moi and I am not much fun to play with.  So we relaxed, no dock time because of the rain and I watched the first two episodes of DCI Banks, read some and napped while Evie kept busy then tried to nap on the porch.  

Dinner With The Family

We were expecting the gang around 6:00 so I grilled the pork chops around 5:45 and Evie kept them in the oven until dinner.  At just about 6:00, the car door opened and two boys charged out of the car and gave us hugs, then ran upstairs to find puzzles and games.  They were ready for bear.  It wasn't long, however, before we were sitting at the dining room table, enjoying teriyaki pork chops, salad and ratatouille.

Talking Shop With Henry

After dinner, Evie, Robert and the boys went out fishing, and Jen and I stayed inside with Henry, talking about schools (Jen was an art teacher) and I taught Henry to say my name, a smart boy.  Fishing was mediocre but they did catch one perch and two sunfish between the four of them.  They came in around 7:30 and found a new game upstairs called Don't Break the Ice, one our grandchildren also loved at this early age.  

Will With His New Game

They played this until Evie asked if they might want ice cream cones with sprinkles.  That quickly ended the game.  Everything was picked up by 8:30 when the gang headed home to their RV in the campground.  Evie and I did the dishes, then watched another episode of THE HANDMAIDS TALE.  It's bringing out the worst in me as I would like to reach through the TV and wring Aunt Lydia and Serena's necks.  One episode was enough before a episode of Cheers to cheer us up.  

Still Raining

A Happy Will Fishing

7:10

I was up at 6:45 to a light rain, a cloudy sky but just a few minutes ago, at 7:15, the sun peaked out momentarily.   Now, the clouds have triumphed and all is gray, gray, gray.  It cleared up some around 8:00 so I took a half hour paddle, but no sightings of wildlife.

Kayak Morning

I skipped yoga yesterday but I did kayak briefly in the rain, just to get some exercise.  We were not sure what was going on with Jen and Robert so we decided because of the wet forecast, to invite them over for the day.  It was a good decision and they were able to get the boys organized and were at our home by 11:00.  We suggested that we would watch the three boys if they wanted to get away for a few hours.  They liked the idea and took off to do some shopping and have lunch at the Casino while we watched the boys. 

James, The Swimmer

Big Splash

Both Will and James were excited to go fishing, even if it rained, so Evie and I got the fishing rods, the worms, chairs, and Evie sat out on the dock with them while I stayed inside with Henry.  The fishing was fair and James soon tired and came in to play with the blocks and puzzles.  Will, the more patient, was rewarded with a couple of fish, an exciting experience for him.  Henry was happy to sit with me and listen to the Avett Brothers on Sonos, rocking to the tunes and always smiling.  Around noon, Evie and the boys put together a pancake batter, with the boys measuring and pouring, a big help.  They loved their buttermilk pancakes, probably because they helped put them together.

Hanging Out With Will

Jen and Robert returned about 2:30 and stayed until 4:00.  Evie and Will went out again to fish midafternoon as the sky cleared briefly.  And she had made a mistake of showing the boys the attic, where we keep all the toys.  Whenever they became bored with one set of blocks,  either Will or James would disappear and come downstairs with another bag or set of something with twenty or thirty pieces.  Needless to say, the living room looked like a toy store and took Robert and Jen and the boys quite a while to clean up.  These are the same toys we bought for our grandchildren starting some 23 years ago. They drove back to the campground around 4:30 and I headed to Mayville, for a doctors appointment because my left hip has been bothering me.  My doctor diagnosed it as bursitis and came me a steroid shot, hoping that will work.

Rainbow

 I was home by 5:15 and we were not sure whether to go out for dinner to celebrate our anniversary or stay home.  Well, the weather decided that as threatening, dark clouds moved in, torrential rains fell (two inches in twenty minutes), and as we sat out on the porch with a libation, watching, we witnessed two rainbows, about 15 minutes apart, as large as I have ever seen. 

6:40

Torrential Rains

We could hardly get the entire rainbow in our photo because it spanned from Wells Bay to Warner Bay.  It was a good decision to stay home, sit on the porch, and watch the storms come and go, fortunately with no damage that we could see.  I had picked up a rotisserie chicken on my way to Mayville so that was dinner with red potatoes and a salad.  We were happy with it and watched the next episode of THE HANDMAID'S TALE before bed.  It was a busy anniversary day but fun.

Celebrating Our 53rd At An Avett Brothers Concert

Istanbul, Turkey, 1975

Chautauqua Lake, July 2017

I was up at 6:00, expecting it to have rained but it has just started to drizzle now, at 6:55.  It's windy out, the lake's choppy and a few guys are out fishing already.  It's 68º and it looks like we will be spending most of the day inside.  It's 7:10 as I finish writing and raining out, so I may have to put off a morning paddle for a bit.

7:30

Yesterday was partly sunny so that we could enjoy the outside much of the day.  I got in a good paddle before heading off to Lakewood to Yin Yoga.  A good class because I felt relaxed yet energized afterward.  I stopped at Sav A Lot and picked up a few things, like hot dogs, buns, and beer.  It's a good thing I did because when I arrived home, the house was rocking as Jen, Robert and the boys, were over to enjoy the day at the lake.  The boys were busy putting together puzzles and playing with assorted toys and games Evie had bought probably twenty plus years ago for when our grandchildren visited.  She always resisted my desire to give them away and the boys are the reason why. 

James And His Dad

Will Playing Jishaku

Henry Observing Everything

Everyone was hungry by 12:30, so Evie grilled some Sahlen hot dogs and sausages, served some soup and we ate outside, finishing off the lunch with slices of watermelon. The boys loved the dogs, devoured the watermelon. We then spent the afternoon either inside with the puzzles and games, out on the lawn on a mat with Henry or on the dock. 

A Fearless James

Loving The Lake With His Aunt Evie

James

Evie coaxed James into the water and he loved it so much that they must have stayed in playing, James jumping off the steps, for over an hour.  They were having so much fun that we forgot about both going for a boat ride and fishing. 

Enjoying The Sun And Yard

Around 4:30, Jen and Robert and the boys helped to gather up all the toys and put them away for another day.  They then walked home and we had a quick an easy dinner of toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches before driving off to the Chautauqua Institution for the Avett Brothers concert.  At first, we were going to go early for dinner but it just sounded so rushed so we had dinner at home.  I dropped Evie off at the gate around 7:30, then parked my car on at Chautauqua Shores and joined her at the Amphitheater where she easily found a seat. 

A Selfie At The Avett Brothers Concert

The Avett Brothers came out on time and filled the Amphitheater with their energy for a good two hours.  They are a talented group, able to play various instruments, and the two brothers have great voices.  We were not as taken with their concert this year as they played many unfamiliar songs.  Two years ago we really thought they rocked.  Still, it was a fun night, a packed house, great music, songs, most accompanied by a base, cello, violin, and piano as well as the brothers on the banjo or guitar. 

Rockin In Pink

And Blue

After the concert, we walked to the south gate, then to the car and missed all the congestion at the Main Gate Parking Lot, getting home around 10:45.  We were still energized from the concert so we sat out on our front porch, listening to the wind chimes, enjoying the lights on the lake, sipping a beer, pretzels and onion dip, a perfect way to end our evening out celebrating our 53rd anniversary. 

Lots Of Clouds, But No Rain

Cruising The Lake

I was up at an ungodly hour of 5:15 and tried to get back to sleep but couldn't, so I came downstairs in the dark, made the coffee and here I sit, an hour later, watching the heavily clouded sky lighten on a cool 60º morning.  I was out on the water before 7:00, a fun paddle despite the grays of the clouds and lake.

Kayak Morning

Morning Bass Fishermen

Cormorants Rising

Yesterday we were expecting a sunny day, without any rain.  We did not get rain but never really saw the sun as the gray, cloudy skies dominated the day.  It was a Sunday, a day to relax, which we did for the most part with a few exceptions.  Because we were having our niece's family over for dinner, Evie did have some prepping, making the marinade for the butterflied leg of lamb and getting a few other things ready.  We also made sure all the outdoor chairs and tables were clean since we have not really used them for a couple of weeks.  I also tried to save our tube but it was destroyed by an ant colony in the garage attic.  I cannot even remember how many tubes and rubber floats we have gone through over the years.  We are down to one floating island.  Late morning, as we were finishing up, there was a knock at the door and our neighbors grandchildren and friends, four of them, wondered if they might visit the Treasure Chest. 

Frankie And Claire

The girls have been here before, the boys hadn't.  So Evie invited them in and they quickly turned out all the treasure on to the floor and each chose a couple of treasures.  By the time they were finished, their Mom's stopped over to make sure they were not getting in the way.  Even one of the adults went home with a treasure, a bracelet.  Cool beans.

Sergio And Gage

We did have our usual big breakfast of eggs, bacon and bagels and enjoyed it on the front porch, hoping the sun might come out.  We took it easy the rest of the afternoon until our family arrived around 4:00.  We walked down the road to meet them and when the boys saw us, they took of running to meet us, a fun welcome.  The boys had one thing on their mind as they came in the house, the Treasure Chest.  So Evie got both out and they spent the next half hour going through it trying to decide what to take home.  They each were allowed three treasures. 

Dock Time With Dad

We then relaxed with some beers, the boys hoping for a boat ride.  We decided to have dinner first, so I fired up the barbecue and grilled the leg of lamb for about 36 minutes while Evie made the salad and boiled up the fresh corn.  And despite the gray skies, cooling temeperaures, we were able to eat outside.  Dinner was great, everything was eaten and we ended the meal with watermelon which the boys loved.

Dinner Al Fresco

We then bundled up because we knew it would be cool on the lake and went for a short cruise because it was actually too cold for the boys when heading into the wind.  So instead of going to Bemus, we went as far as Tom's Point, back to the campground and home, enough for the boys.  And James got to steer the boat for a bit, mostly in circles if he had his way. 

Captain James

Will At Ease

Boys always seem to want to drive.  When we returned home, Henry was falling asleep and the other two looked tired, so Jen and Robert packed up the gang and walked home to the campground through the woods.

Crusing In Our Fleeces

Henry The Great And His Mom

Evie and I then spent a half hour cleaning up the kitchen, then relaxed in the TV room watching Friday night's episode of Real Time With Bill Maher.  Two nights of his satire is almost too much despite lots of laughs.  We both were tired so we went up to bed early, again, around 10:15.  It was a good day with Jen, Robert and 'da boys' despite the lack of sun, swimming and dock time.  Maybe today will be different.