Pink Sky In The Morning

7:10

7:25

7:42

It's another beautiful morning on the lake, a cloudless sky, the sun painting the shoreline sky pink, as it waits to rise.  It's warmer than yesterday morning by 10º, at 37º, and well get up into the '60s.  It does not get much better than this.  

Getting Ready For Spring

Sunday was a good day to get outside, to do something productive, or just for fun.  We did both.  We decided early on to get in an early walk at the Chautauqua Institution when the temperature was still in the '20s.  We were on our way by 9:30, after breakfast and the blog.  Before we left, I tied my kayak on the car roof because I was dropping it off at Evergreen Outfitters to see about getting a new seat.  

The Bell Tower At The Chautauqua Institution

The weather was perfect for walking and we were literally the only ones on the walks of the CI.  We walked for an hour, close to three miles, looking for green, evidence of the beginning of Spring.  It felt good as always to be outdoors, out of the house, enjoying the Victorian atmosphere of the CI.  We then stopped at the kayak shop, dropped off my kayak, and drove home, ready for our breakfast.  

Thunder Bridge At CI

An Empty Outdoor Assembly

CI Lake Front

Instead of the usual bacon, Evie made us avocado toast to go with our fried eggs, a nice change.  We watched CBS Sunday Morning to the end, as neither of us wanted to get up and do something, like clean up the kitchen.  For the next couple of hours, I was glued to the TV, Loyola defeated Illinois in the second round of March Madness. It was the first time I watched an entire game this year. While I binged on basketball, Evie pulled out a chaise lounge and enjoyed the cool but sunny afternoon in the side yard. By 3:30, I was bored with basketball and decided to work on cleaning our car since we have more or less decided, after Saturday's excursion, to stick with our Outback for another year.  Evie joined me and between the two of us, the car looks great, the inside spic n span, the outside clean with a few dings. It felt like Spring, outside cleaning our car.

Woodlawn Ice Floes

We were in no hurry for dinner but by 6:30, we were both hungry.  Earlier, Evie had roasted slices of eggplant in the oven, so all she needed to do was add a pasta sauce and red pepper flakes, cook up some noodles, make a salad and we had a delicious meal. It's a simple meal, eggplant, and sauce but one of our favorites. We watched the first episode of Stanley Tucci in Italy and our dinner of eggplant pasta was a perfect accompaniment.  We then watched Real Time With Bill Maher and a couple of episodes of Hometown before bed.  I am still struggling to find a book I like.  I am on my third but may be ready for a fourth.  I used to stick with a book if I started it, but no more.  My tastes have also changed over the years, from heavy and serious to entertainments, like mysteries or crime, alas. 

 

Sunny And Warming Up

7:27

7:41

Another bright, sunny morning here on the lake which continues to thaw.  I may be kayaking soon although this morning's 26º temperature does not tempt me.  Later in the day, however, it should get up to a Spring-like 60º.

Where Went The Snow?

Like today, yesterday was filled with sunshine and rising temperatures, an ideal first day of Spring.  We are beginning to sharpen our Saturday routine.  First, we are in no hurry to get going which is nice.  We know that we have all day to get things done.  Usually, we decide on dinner and yesterday, it meant going to the Viking Club for the first time since last summer.  We also decided to drop the trash off at the Transfer Staton on our way to walk the Long Point State Park but before leaving, I did a quick clean up of the year, filling another pail with deadfall. Now the yard looks spiffy.  This routine works well for our Saturday mornings.  We didn't get to the park until 11:30 and were out walking on crunchy but not icy trails for close to an hour, staying on the fat-tire bike paths. It was a beautiful Spring morning, with the weather cool enough to enjoy our hike.  After our walk, I drove to Mayville to Evergreen Outfitters about getting a new seat for my Pungo kayak.  We both agreed it would make sense for me to drop my kayak off today and leave it with them.

Spring Brown

I was excited to get home for lunch because there is nothing like a Wienerschnitzel sandwich, topped with mayo and tomatoes.  Yum.  I also had a bowl of veggies soup of course and finished my series, Rebekka Martinson.  The rest of the day was a combination of reading, napping, and watching March Madness on TV,  Evie, surprisingly, napped for a bit, something unheard of.  By 5:00, we were showering and getting ready to go out for dinner.

We were not sure what to expect at the Viking and were ready to leave if it was too crowded.  To our surprise, it was not very busy and tables in the bar were separated by a good six feet if not more,  Kim, the bartender was happy to see us and brought us our beers even before we ordered.  I am not sure it's a good thing that the bartender knows what you drink, especially after a year's absence. 

Sunset From The Viking Club

Southern Sky

We sat next to the window, with the sun beginning to set and ordered a fish fry to share since neither of us was that hungry.  It was a good choice. We were home in daylight which seems strange, a result of daylight saving time.  We were quick to get in something comfortable and collapse on our couches, happy to be back in our saddle again, watching our shows.  It was, however, an exciting evening, as my alma mater, Ohio University, beat Virginia, 2019 NCAA champions.  It was a great win for the Bobcats. 

Spring Sunshine

7:10

7:28

8:01

It's a perfect start to Spring, as there is not a cloud in the sky, all is blue, the sun beaming on the lake.  It's still chilly, 25º but will get up to 50º later in the day as Spring pushes Winter aside, for now.

Yesterday had to be the craziest day of the year for us. We woke wondering what to do with our day and all options seemed tired. Well, Evie has had a bug in her ear about looking for a new car, a hybrid.  I thought looking might satisfy her whim so that's what we did, leaving about 10:30. First, we looked at Toyota's Rav 4 Hybrid.  It was cool looking, black with a white top.  We drove it, liked the feel, but the inside seemed tight as if we were stuffed in there.  We never did get a price with a trade-in.  We then drove next door to the Honda dealer, owned by the same crew as Luv Toyota.  We drove the top-of-the-line Honda HRV Hybrid. and were not impressed.  It was a tich roomier than the Rav4 but still not as comfortable as we would have liked.  I think we need a Cadilac from the 1950s. We did get a price, predictably high even with a trade-in on our Outback.  We then had to make a decision, go home or stop at the Subaru dealer.  We decided to ruin our day and go to the Subaru dealer but first, we stopped at Burger King for a whopper, a big mistake as both had stomachaches as a result.  At the Subaru dealer, we sat in Foresters and drove a new Outback, which was the most comfortable of three cars we drove but it was not a Hybrid which we are leaning toward.  By the time we returned the car, Evie's itch for having a new car had waned and we left without a price which was fine.  We are most likely going to wait till next year.

Crows Prancing On Ice

Last Day Of Winter

We did not get home till 3:00 but exhausted from our day of car shopping.  I quickly fell asleep on the couch but woke in time to watch Ohio State fumble away a victory over ORU. They played poorly and deserved to lose. We were having Wienerschnitzel for dinner, so Evie sliced, pounded and breaded the pork tenderloin and let it sit until 6:30 when she started frying the cutlets. We had potatoes, salad, and applesauce along with the Wienerschnitzel, which more than made up for our bad day at car city.  We watched the usual, Colbert and Jeopardy, then watched anew series on Netflix which we are embarrassed to mention and will leave the reader guessing.  Think Money Heist or Thelma and Louise.

Sunny, Windy, And Wild

7:00

7:36

The flag is flying, has been for the past 18 hours, and the wind chimes are chiming on a 26º morning.  I don't know where this constant 13-15 mph wind has come from.  Perhaps the change in temperature up to the 50'sand 60s in the next couple of days is a cause or it's just the end of winter.

Yesterday was a blur because neither of us left the house yet did little other than kick back, enjoy the inclement weather, the gray skies, and drizzle and not feel guilty about it. I wrote the blog, had breakfast, and then we both decided to bag going shopping, putting it off for another day.  Dinner was another problem but we solved it by pulling out some Italian sausages, buns, and a salad.  The morning went quickly and before I knew it, it was lunchtime, soup, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  While I lingered, Evie worked at cleaning the kitchen cupboards, washing them down, then using oil on them.  It's amazing how dirty they get over the years from cooking.

5:27 PM

The afternoon, like the morning, was leisurely, as I napped, read, and took a short walk through the woods despite the drizzle.  It just felt good to be outside for a bit.  Evie continued with work in the kitchen until it was happy hour and we both relaxed with good cheese and a glass of wine.  By 5:30, the sky remained threatening and the wind had picked up.  We were hungry so the Italian sausages, salad, and chips hit the spot. To top off our dinner, I made tin roofs, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and Spanish peanuts. We watched Colbert,  Jeopardy and a home improvement shows before bed. It felt like a lost day. 

Wet And Overcast

7:20

9:13

Not much to see this morning other than a gray lake and sky at 7:00. It's 46º, yet the temperature will be dropping to the '20s during the day and evening. 

Yesterday was different because Evie was up early for an eye doctor appointment at 9:00.  She was not happy about that but was ready and on her way by 8:30. We had finished the blog as well so I had an open morning.  It was actually a nice morning, with some sun and blue skies, so I decided to walk the neighborhood, the Victoria/Woodlawn woods, an easy forty-minute walk if I take my time. The snow has melted so the trails are brown with leaves and a few shoots of green are beginning to appear.  

When Evie returned at 10:30, we continued with the defrosting of our refrigerator, making sure it was completely dry before turning it back on and slowly filling it back up with food.  Lunch was fried potatoes and eggs with a cup of soup and another episode of my series.  We both did little after finishing up with the refrigerator although I decided to drive to Aldi's around 3:00, pick up a few necessities, then stop at the bank, TJ Maxx and then to the bookstore in Lakewood, Off The Beaten Path,  to say aloha to the owner, Bob, who I have not seen in months.  

A Night Out

We were going to Linda and Ron's for dinner so we were on our way by 6:00.  Linda had an amazing array of appetizers ready for us.  I started with a beer but Evie and Linda started with wine.  By the time Linda pulled dinner out of the oven, we were all full with appetizers.  Dinner was an aromatic chicken dish with lots of garlic, shallots, and herbs reminding me of something out of a French cookbook.  She also roasted potatoes with lots of spices, herbs, and surprisingly a shot of vodka.  Both were delicious as was the salad.  We finished the night with a chocolate dessert and a glass of ice wine. What a great way to spend a Wednesday evening, with friends and good food.  We did not get home until 10:00 and for some reason, we were both tired and went to bed.

Foggy And Overcast

7:31

It's a gray morning, 32º but will be getting much warmer as the day progresses.  It's also St. Patrick's Day and to honor it, the city of Jamestown has dyed the Chadakoin River green.  The lake is open around Bemus Point and the Stow Ferry but mostly frozen in front of our house except for along the shoreline.

Yesterday was not much of a day for either of us.  The only thing of note was that I went to yoga on icy roads at 9:30 and had a class with two others.  Afterward, I stopped for a coffee at Ryder's Cup and that was it for the day.  When I returned home, Evie had taken everything out of our refrigerator and set it out on the porch.  She was allowing the refrigerator to thaw, as many of the vents seemed to have frozen, making it difficult to run efficiently.  According to the guide, it takes up to 24 hours for the refrigerator to thaw, so we will not be able to put things back in until sometime this morning.  

Evie left at 12:30 for an appointment with Jaret, for a hair trimming, then stopped at T.J. Maxx to return some things and of course, pick up a few other things.  I had the leftover chicken marsala for lunch with rice and watched my show.  I am reading my first James Patterson thriller and fell asleep on the couch while reading, as usual.  Evie was home by 2:30 and the both of us then worked on washing the refrigerator, all the shelves, etc, even using a hairdryer to get rid of some of the ice in the vents.  

Evie had a Zoom call with her sisters at 5:00, so we really didn't have dinner until close to 6:45 as the moussaka had to be heated and the salad made.  The mousaka was tasty, just as good as Sunday and we watched our usual, Colbert, the news, and Jeopardy as we were not in the mood to watch a film or start a new series. It was not the best of days, no hikes, just gray skies, drizzle, or sleet until late afternoon when it cleared up.  

6:21

Road Trip

Yesterday's Destination

7:37

A bit of a change, as we have a combination of morning sleet and snow, enough so that the lawn is dotted with white.  It's 29º and we have a Winter Weather Advisory for icy roads.  What a contrast between this morning's gloom and yesterday's clear skies and sun rising.

Monday was a big day for us, one that turned out well.  We knew it might be the only sunny day of the week and we knew it would be cold.  So what to do?  We decided to drive to the Reinstein Woods, an hour and a half from here and walk the woods, something we had done in late October.  I sweetened up the excursion with the possibility of a stop at Ted's the famous hot dog drive-in, just a couple of miles from the Reinstein Woods.  That was enough for both of us so we said let's do it.

We left after 10:00 and did not arrive at the parking area until 11:30.  We knew it would be a good hike when we realized there were only eight or nine cars in the lot.  We knew it would be in the 20's but cold does not bother us as long as we dress appropriately, in various layers.  And as long as the wind is not a factor like it was a week ago when we went to Niagara Falls, we knew we would be comfortable.  We hiked the perimeter trail, about two and a half miles, through various landscapes, mostly leaf-strewn woods.  Our favorite section was the Beech Trail, highlighted by a dead but still standing beech tree, at least two hundred and fifty years old.  We met probably four or five hikers on our jaunt along with various small ponds, bogs, and woods.  The temperature was in the '20s, just the way we like it.  

About 1:00, we drove to Ted's and waited in line to order for at least ten minutes as others had the same idea, a lunch of hot dogs and onion rings. I ordered the foot long, with pickles, onions and Ted's hot sauce and Evie had a dog and onion rings.  Needless to say we were happy, sitting in a booth, safely distanced, enjoying our hot dogs, 

Grillin And Chillin

On the way home, we got off #Interstate 90 at Exit 58, Irving and Gowanda, to get cheap gas at the Seneca Reservation gas station.  We also stopped and browsed at Stagecoach West, a country-western store with an emphasis on gear for horses, from saddles to reins, to boots, to vests and chaps.  It's a fun place to browse although we rarely end up buying anything.

We arrived home by 4:00 and relaxed for a good hour.  I fell asleep reading and Evie watched some TV until dinner time.  For dinner, Evie took the leftover chicken, stir-fried some mushrooms and broccoli, added a Trader Joe's simmer sauce, made some rice and a salad, and we had dinner.  We watched the Grammys from the previous night, skipping through some of the speeches and vocals. Many of the artists and songs were unfamiliar to both of us, especially pop and rap perhaps because neither are our favorites. We ended the night with Jeopardy and a Hometown we had already seen.