A Graying Sky

A Female Cardinal Perches This Morning On Our Rhododendron

6:53

7:17

It's 8:40 and I paddled for forty-five minutes, a calm lake, an increasing gray, cloudy sky after a brief shot of sunshine.  I have to laugh at the detail of my morning routine that rarely changes and thought it might be fun to catalog it.

So here it goes, I am usually up around 6:00, come downstairs, turn on the coffee, grab a cup, put two sugar cubes in the cup, some milk, and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds. I then froth the milk with a handy beater and then pour in the coffee, adding a sprinkle of cinnamon.  

I then relax on the couch, listen to Morning Joe on Alexa, read the NYTimes and Washington Post and skim Facebook and check my email until around 7:30 when I have had enough news,  I then grab my camera, binoculars, earphones, and phone and take them into the kitchen.  I put my coffee in the microwave for 30 seconds, then transfer it to an insulated mug.  Next, I take off my light fleece, put on a heavy one, then a wind/rain jacket and life preserver.  

I also grab gloves and a hat, move back to the kitchen, and put the binoculars in a waterproof bag. Next, I put on my earphones, pick out a mix from Spotify from my phone and turn it on. I check my apple watch and set it for kayaking.  Finally, I put on my hat and gloves, walk out to the porch with my camera and phone in my pocket, the binoculars and mug and grab my paddle and seat cushion.  I walk out to the lake, set my paddle down, turn over the kayak,  and put in the mug and seat cushion.  I then set two foam mats on the lake's edge, over the cement and rocks, and slide my kayak into the lake.  I grab my paddle, carefully sit down in the kayak and I am off,  This happens every morning and the reverse takes place when I return.  Enough, I am tired already,

Kayak Morning

Bell Tower At Chautauqua Institution

Yesterday was cold and wet at times, raining on and off during the day, sometimes just a drizzle, at other times it poured.  So after kayaking and blogging and breakfast, we had to decide what to do with our Sunday.  We decided on not breaking up our Sunday routine, so we walked the circumferences of the Chautauqua Institution, at times in a drizzle but for the most part, it was pleasant enough.  It took us over an hour and we basically had the grounds to ourselves.  We were home by 12:30  and ready for Evie's big breakfast,  So she fried up the bacon and eggs, toasted bagels, and we were settled down in our TV room enjoying breakfast and a really fun CBS Sunday morning, with its emphasis on food.  Such a relief to watch a show like this that hardly ever mentions politics.

A Dusting Of Snow On Thunder Bridge

I then settled down on the couch and fell asleep watching the Browns play the Eagles, a fairly boring game as neither team had much of an offense.  Evie prepped our meatloaf dinner and partially prepped Monday's dinner until 3:00 when we drove off to Wegmans to do our shopping for Thanksgiving, thinking it would not be crowded on a Sunday afternoon.  Wrong.  We were able to get everything we needed for our Thanksgiving dinner, passed through the checkout quickly, and were home unpacking by 4:30.  Our fridge is groaning with the makings of a Thanksgiving dinner but we were happy to have all the shopping done.

At 5:30, we had scheduled a Facetime talk with our friends Linda and Ron, a first.  We were not going to see each on Thanksgiving because Linda's sister was coming from Bethesda, thus the call.  Well, Linda's sister decided it was too risky to drive to the lake so we are now going to their house for Thanksgiving dinner (yippee) even though we have a fridge full of Thanksgiving dinner.  We agreed to have Christmas dinner together so we will freeze everything we bought until then.  It was nice to think we won't be eating either Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner alone.

While we were talking, Evie had a meatloaf and potatoes baking in the oven. Both of us were looking forward to the meatloaf and were not disappointed.  Nothing like good old comfort food.  We watched a troubling 60 Minutes, which talked about the side effects of the Covid virus on some people.  And we watched Chris Wallace on Fox because he's fair and balanced, not afraid to question Trumpers and Republicans despite the harangue of Trump.  We are still struggling to find a series to watch, tried Mystery Road set in Australia but thought it was dull. 

Morning Sleet

A Walk In The Woods

8:13

Not exactly a spectacular morning sky but one of gray, fog, sleet, and wind, and I skipped kayaking because of it.  An idiot was out blowing leaves at 7:00; fortunately, it did not wake Evie but I am sure it did some neighbors. I have been up since 6:30, listening to C Span and CNN as well as reading both the New York Times and Washington Post.  I have had enough of politics for the day.

I started Saturday with a windy, choppy lake and ended up cutting my paddle short because of it.  It was good to get back into a warm house, another cup of coffee before finishing up the blog and having breakfast. We decided to go for a walk or hike, not sure of the difference these days, at Long Point State Park, our favorite because it's ten minutes away and includes lots of woods as well as a walkout to the tip of Long Point with a view of Woodlawn and our house.  So we gathered up the trash, cleaned out the refrigerator, and stopped at the Transfer Station to get rid of our trash before driving to the end of Lakeside Drive.  

Loving The Crunch Of Fallen Leaves

Temperatures were in the '40s, perfect for a walk if dressed properly, not too warm or cold.  Just as we were ten minutes into the park, we ran into our friends, Linda and Ron, also out for a walk in the park.  It was quite amusing to run into them and we ended up walking the rest of the way with them, Ron and me leading, Linda and Evie following. We attempted to solve the world's problems as we walked and by the time we got back to our cars, we were depressed, at least Ron and I were.  

Braving The Cold

Deadfall Among The Ferns

We were home by 1:00 and it felt good to get back into a warm house, a comfortable couch as I enjoyed my lunch, the leftover stir fry.  I actually watched some college football for the first time this year, the Ohio State/Indian game which was actually exciting, with Ohio State lucking out with a tough win.  I also read some and napped as neither of us wanted to do anything other than enjoy the leisure after a hike.

Around 5:30, we settled down for our typical Saturday night, a Manhattan or two, with appetizers, brie, crackers, and something healthy for once, salted and cooked edamame.  We also had a quick and easy dinner as Evie sauteed some onions, then fried up Italian sausages for sandwiches.  We watched Real Time With Bill Maher, always depressing, then searched for something else to watch to no avail so we went to bed early. We miss The Crown.  

Drove One Hundred Miles To Hike Four Miles

Heading To Allegheny State Park

7:21

It's a cloudy, chilly, and windy morning as I found out when I went out to kayak.  Our flag was still but once I got in the water and away from the shore, the northeasterly wind took over, rocking my kayak and even splashing over the side.   I got as far as the reeds and turned around and fought my way back, into the waves and wind.

Kayak Morning

Yesterday was a long day trip as we decided after kayaking and breakfast, to drive to Allegheny State Park and go for a hike.  So Evie made a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grabbed some water and I grabbed my pack back, and camera and we were off by 10:30, arriving around 11:30 at the Art Roscoe Cross Country Skiing Warming Center, closed for now. 

Map Of Trails

We were not sure which trail to hike having been here numerous times over the year but decided we had not walked Sweetwater, close to four miles total.  It was a good choice, not too difficult, some ups and downs, with lots of deadfall from the past weekend's heavy winds.  About an hour and a half in, we finally regained the major trail and to our delight, there sat a nice bench, perfect for sitting on and eating our lunch and resting.  

Sweetwater's Terminus

A Respite And Lunch

We then had a 25-minute walk back to our car.  We enjoyed the hike even though a sameness to the trail became boring after awhile, woods filled with leafless trees, paths strewn with leaves and deadfall but that's what to expect in late fall.

Finishing Up

We drove home partially on backroads, passing our favorite restaurant/bar, The Horseshoe Inn, open with a few cars in the parking lot.  We also passed the now-closed Nic N Inn, a restaurant with many great memories.  We ended up browsing a shop a friend recommended called The Country Lane, just south of Kennedy on Rt 62, turning on Ericsson Road.  It's not my kind of shop but even I enjoyed looking at all the Christmas and country items.  We were tempted but our better angels got the best of us and we left without buying something we did not need.

Countryside, Bone Run Road

We didn't get home until 4:00, tired out from our drive and hike.  We took it easy, enjoying a glass of vino at 5:30 and I picked up a fish fry from the Seezurh House at 6:30 because we did not want to cook.  We enjoyed our dinners and watched the usual, Colbert and The Great English Baking Show which, we realized from the media, had created quite a stir because of who the show sent home.  We tended to agree that Hermine should have been saved.  We ended the night watching a French movie on Prime called Mr. and Mrs. Adelman, humorous at times, probably worth watching. 

 

All's Right With The World

6:58

7:19

7:33

After kayaking on a splendid morning like this, all seems right with the world, at least our world.  I left the incessant chatter of the pundits behind, paddled on blue waters, towards the sun, and all worries were left behind.  I basically had the lake to myself, only one fishing boat venturing out.  I paddled for close to an hour, over to Long Point, across to Wells Bay, down Woodlawn, and home.  

Kayak Morning

Long Point

Long Point

Mallards 

Our House

Northern Sky

Victoria/Woodlawn

Yesterday turned out to be another fine day, as the snow melted, the lawn turned back to green, and we were able to get out for a hike.  I did paddle despite the winds, being careful to stay close to shore and be cognizant of the gusts, usually ruffling the water before hitting my kayak.  After the blog and breakfast, I practiced yoga for a half-hour and Evie cleaned up the kitchen and got ready for our walk.  We drove off to Bemus and took Bayview Road to Walker Road, turned right and about half a mile down was a parking area for Brown Creek Tributary Forest Preserve.  

Trail Head

Evie In A Rut

This is the second or third time we walked it, the first time in late fall with all the leaves having fallen.  The trail was still mostly snow-covered and we were out for an hour, taking a couple of different trails, one ending with a pine tree had fallen, blocking the road, the other dead-ending as we walked around a pond. It's not our favorite hike, especially this time of the year as it appears barren, with lots of deadfall.  

Trail Ends At Pond

Man In Red

We were home by 12:30 in time for another couple of cheese sandwiches and the last of the lentil soup. The afternoon seemed to go quickly, either reading, napping, getting a few household chores done.  Around 3:00, I got out the scissors and hair clippers and Evie gave me an ear lowering in the TV room.  It felt good to be a young boy again.  I showered, put on clean clothes and left for a few beers with the boys in Joe's heated barn.  

Early Afternoon

5:31 At Morley Road

When I returned home, Evie had taken the leftover linguini noodles and made another stir fry with mushrooms, tofu,  bamboo shoots, and cabbage, and put together another sauce, this time without the curry. We enjoyed it more than the Singapore noodles, to be honest.  We watched a Colbert, the last episode of The Crown, alas, and ended the night with a recommendation from my nephew Pat, a music documentary called American Utopia on HBO,  featuring David Byrne, famous from his group Talking Head.  It was a fun way to end the day.

Kayaking On A Windy Morning

6:40

6:56

7:06

First Bird, A Tufted Titmouse

Well, I decided to get out on the lake despite the wind gusts.  Fortunately, I could paddle right into the wind going south, keeping my kayak steady and the wind was at my back as I paddled home.  I flushed numerous rafts of mallards but that's about it.  I was out just over 30 minutes, enough to get some enjoyment.  I listened to an Obama playlist, eclectic to say the least with BB King, Bruce, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Beyonce, Eminem, U2, and Jay Z to name a few.  

Northern Sky

Southern Sky

Yesterday was cold and cloudy but we were determined to keep busy, get outside, and enjoy the weather.  So after I  had my Peets coffee from our new coffee pot, kayaked, wrote the blog, had breakfast, and practiced yoga for a half-hour, we decided to bundle up and go walk Long Point State Park, our favorite walk.  We took our time, met only a dog walker, as most people have stopped enjoying the parks because of the weather.  Instead of crunching leaves, we crunched snow which still covered some of the paths.  Our walk took us over an hour, two and a half miles and we loved it, just being outdoors.

Trail At Long Point

Hiking In Gray

Evie promised me toasted cheese sandwiches with jam when we returned home, so I was excited.  With another bowl of lentil soup, my show, Long Way Up, I was one happy boy.  After our hike, I read some, took a nap and then we went to pick up my old Honda which needed a new battery.  As I was getting my keys, a vendor was delivering window washer fluid to my mechanic.  He had ordered three boxes of fluid but the guy gave him three plastic bottles, saying that they were no longer making the fluid and people were going to be in trouble soon because of the shortage.  So I went right out and bought two bottles from two different stores which also seemed to be running out.  So get out there and get a bottle for the winter, especially if you live in snowy areas.

5:43

Sun Setting On Bemus Point Farm

Warner Bay at 5:43

Around 5:00, we prepped out dinner, Singapore Noodles, with Evie sauteeing tofu, mushrooms and asparagus while I made up the sauce.  We then had our wine and listened to the news until we got hungry around 6:15.  I then fried the shrimp, added the Nappa cabbage and bean sprouts until tender, then added Evie's goodies and the sauce (curry powder, oyster sauce, sriracha, sesame oil, and soy) while we cooked the linguini.  Once the linguini was done, we added them to the stir fry and we had Singapore noodles.  We feasted on our stir fry and watched the last two episodes of The Hour, Colbert, and one episode of The Crown. I went up and started a new book, The Cold Millions, by Jess Walter, set in Spokane in 1909.