Less Than Zero

7:17

7:45

7:47

7:45

7:49

A brilliant blue sky, a few clouds, a white lake, and 4º welcome me this morning. When I got up at 6:30, it was still dark but I could see lights moving slowly out into the lake, ice fishermen up early and now, at 7:40, I can see at least 15 guys out, most in tents. We have another winter advisory, meaning we may get 3 to 5 inches of snow between this evening and Sunday afternoon.  

Walking On Frozen Lake

Yesterday was not quite as cold as today, with temperatures rising into the teens in the afternoon, but cold enough so that you didn't want to stay out too long. Around 9:30, I put on my boots and trudged outside, through the foot deep snow to the lake.  I wanted to see if it would be good for skiing but found that it was still soggy, beneath the four or five inches of snow. It's too bad because it would have been a good morning for cross country skiing on the lake, cold but with little wind. 

Chautauqua Creek

Trail To Lake Erie

Just About To Lake Erie

Since skiing on the lake was out, we wanted to do something and ended up deciding to drive a half-hour to Barcelona, on the shore of Lake Erie.  We parked next to the Chautauqua Creek parking area, just off of RT 5 and walked out to the lake on a bumpy, icy path, making Evie wish she had brought her snowshoes. The creek was frozen in areas but was still flowing out to the lake. The lake's edge was filled with small snow/ice hills, a soupy mix of water and ice just beyond.  We did not linger because of the cold and got what we wanted, a view of the frozen shoreline and lake. We stopped at Tops in Mayville to pick up a few things for dinner and were home by 1:00.  

Barcelona Beach On Lake Erie

Ice Along Lake Erie

By 1:15, I was enjoying an egg salad sandwich and watching another episode of The Sopranos and I am finally getting into it as creator David Chase seems to be hitting his stride. I am reading another relationship book by Laura Dave called The First Husband and I have to admit I am into it despite there being no murder or drunken detective to keep me interested. Who will Anna stick with, her old boyfriend or new husband? Time or pages will tell.

Ice Fishing In The Afternoon

Hiking Out Late Afternoon

After our morning drive and hike, we settled into a relaxing afternoon, in no hurry to do anything other than sit around reading, watching TV or making a pot of tea.  Around 5:30, we enjoyed a glass or two of wine as Evie prepped out dinner, steak, mushrooms, baked potato, and a salad.  We enjoyed it while watching a disappointing sequel to The Quiet Place. It ended up being more like a horror film, with three chases going on at once, none of which we cared much about.  How disappointing because we really like the first Quiet Place.  As usual, we then turned to Colbert, who interviewed one of my favorite singers, eighty-one year old Dionne Warwick, then watched another Jeopardy to end the night on a bright note as Amy won once again, 36 in a row.

A Zero Degree Morning

7:45

7:45

7:49

7:48

7:49

Well, it's 8:47 and cold outside, zero when I got up at 7:15, a 1º at the moment.  After I made my coffee I looked out at the lake and was surprised to see three or four tents already out on the ice despite the cold and the early morning. And we had an amazing sunrise over Wells Bay although at the moment, the clouds have obscured most of it. 

Tufted Titmouse

Heading Home at 8:15AM

Yesterday was a good day despite the cold weather, the two or three inches of snow in the evening, After breakfast, we decided we wanted to get in some exercise despite the single digits.  Smartly, we waited until 11:00 when it warmed up into the low teens and drove over to Long Point State Park.  Evie was snowshoeing and I was going to cross country ski.  We almost turned around after the first couple of hundred yards because it was so cold.  We stuck with it, however, and it was better once we got in the woods and the wind was at our back.  In fact, by the time we returned, my hands had warmed up and I was sweating.  It was not the best of conditions because the trail was rough, crusty, and icy in many areas, the result of hikers.  It was not great fun for me, no problem for Evie in her snowshoes.

It's Cold Outside

We returned home around 12:30, feeling righteous for having been out in the woods for forty-five minutes. For lunch, Evie boiled up some noodles, warmed up the leftover beef stew and I had a great lunch. Earlier, we had decided we were going out for dinner, so there was no worry about prepping dinner.  Instead, we relaxed until 3:00 when we both drove to Jamestown for an eye appointment for me, some shopping for Evie.  I was with the doctor for forty-five minutes and will need new glasses, as my most recent prescription needs more than tweaking. 

We didn't get home till 4:30 and then we both showered, got dressed, and drove off to Webb's, meeting Ron and Linda at the bar at 6:30.  As we hoped, the bar was empty and we were the only customers there all night except for the fine bartender, Remington.  It's a lovely place, with lots of wood, booths, comfortable bar chairs, reminding me of a cozy men's club from the 1950s.  It's only negative...it's expensive.  We sat around talking until at least 8:00, enjoying beers, appetizers, and a burger, their bar menu. It felt good to get out and feel fairly safe from Covid, as the four of us have had boosters. We left around 8:30 and vowed to do it more often.

Dininng At Webb's Bar

We walked out into the parking lot and had to clean the snow off our car and drove home in flurries, a surprise.  We had enough time after we got home to watch a couple of shows, Jeopardy and Colbert a and some news before going up to bed.  It was a good day, getting in a hike and going out for dinner. 

Chillin On The Lake

7:29

7:41

7:49

Well, it's back to a cold morning, 12º and dropping during the days, with below zero temperatures forecasts for Friday. The dark sky is highlighted at the moment, 7:15, by a slash of color over the Bemus skyline.  As of the moment, not an ice fisherman has walked out on the ice. 

Yesterday was a wasted day for both of us.  I had an appointment for a body scan with my dermatologist at 10:30, which precluded any morning walk or hike. So after breakfast and the blog, I was off for my appointment at 10:30.  By 11:00, I was at Wegmann's, picking up a few things, then Evans for some booze, then home.  When I returned, Evie had put together our dinner, spaghetti squash stuffed with spinach, sausage, and cheese and was ready to leave for her hair appointment at 1:30, with various stops before and after her appointment.  So that more or less ruined any walk for the both of us although I admit the weather was not particularly inviting, as the snow began to melt. 

While Evie was gone, I had the last of the chicken for lunch, watched my show The Sopranos, and fell asleep while reading my book, no surprise.  Evie was back by 3:00, with some goodies for me from TJMaxx but none fit alas so back they will have to go. Mid-afternoon I made myself a pot of tea and enjoyed it while reading on the couch and listening, occasionally, to Biden's press conference.  It's always a nail-biter, with his meandering explanations, wondering if he's going to make a gaffe (mistakenly speak the truth), which he did. Overall, he showed command and depth of issues during the press conference, so different from the previous four years of platitudes and lies. 

Dinner was in the oven heating up as we enjoyed a glass of wine and listened to the pundits take apart Biden's press conference on Fox, less so on CNN but still critical.  We had our dinner, stuffed spaghetti squash with a salad, and watched Shep Smith, a change from CNN, then Colbert, Jeopardy, and The Good Fight before bed. It was not the best of days.  

32º And Drizzle

Wolf Moon, First Full Moon Of 2022

7:17

7:54

It's 8:20 as I start this blog and I have been up since 7:00, waiting to see if any ice fishermen are out.  Just a few, over near the Bathhouse, none in our bay for some reason. I was surprised to see that drizzle was forecast until I looked at the temperatures for today, mostly in the high 30's as the day progresses.  Then, tomorrow, it's back to single digits. 

Late Afternoon Sky

Yesterday was a strange day, cold with hardly any snowfall to speak of, the yard and woods, however, with close to a foot of snow.  We were not sure what to do, whether to snowshoe, ski, or just forget it for the day until we knew the trails were somewhat groomed. After a lazy morning, we decided to test the snow and went for a walk around Pine Hill, hoping to get the mail, a mistake. It was no fun walking in foot deep snow and we both worked up quite a sweat even though we were only out for ten or fifteen minutes.  That walk discouraged us from doing anything else in the morning. 

By the time we recovered from our walk, it was time for lunch, soup and some leftover Lex's chicken, and another episode of the Sopranos.  We spent the afternoon regretting we did not walk Long Point or Rails To Trails and wasted most of the afternoon, napping or reading on the couch, the usual.  By 4:00, however, I found some mojo and decided to ski in our neighborhood. I cross country skied along Woodlawn road, then into the campground to the end and back and it was great, easy-going, and fun.  I made the mistake, however, of skiing onto the lake, and immediately, my skis froze up because it was wet beneath the snow surface.  Fortunately, I was in front of our house so I was able to ski home the last fifty yards. 

4:47 PM

Ice On Bottoms Of Skis

When I returned, Evie was on a Zoom call with her sisters until 5:45 when we then relaxed in the living room with a glass of wine while our dinner, the leftover beef stew and biscuits, heated up in the oven. The stew was just as good as the night before and we watched Colbert before deciding to watch a few episodes of The Good Fight, available on Paramount+, thanks to our son Tom.  We had started the series four or five years ago but then it went to Paramoun+ and we never got beyond the first few episodes. It's a little far-fetched but we liked it enough to stick with it for a least the first season if not more. I am reading a new writer for me,  Lisa Gardner,  her first in a series called ALONE.  So far, so good. 

Lots Of Snow, More To Come

7:22

8:51

It's 8:25, the lake a bright white as the sky has lightened some although still gray. It's 24º and no snow has been falling since I woke despite a winter advisory. And, typically, it may warm up some tomorrow, then the temperatures will drop again down to single digits, as the weather gods seem to be unable to make up their minds. 

Braving The Cold

Had Enough

Long Point In The Morning

Monday was blizzardy off and on much of the day, making it the kind of day to stay inside, decide on something good to make for dinner, and just enjoy the warmth of the hearth, the beauty of the falling snow.  So that's what we did for the most part although late morning, we wanted to get in a walk so we braved the roads and drove to the Chautauqua Institution and walked the streets for just about an hour, snow falling, often blowing in our faces.  It was good to get out and we enjoyed it despite the wind.

Thunder Bridge

Loving Winter Weather

Drooping Pines

Woodlawn Road

Besides our walk, I shoveled the driveway at least twice even though I had our plow guy clear the parking area out early morning.  The second time I went out, I was surprised at how much snow had fallen since I had cleared it earlier, six or seven inches.  It looks as though it did not snow much overnight so today, I should have an easy go at it, a couple of inches at the most

A Fat And Hungry Finch

As for our dinner, we both thought of a tasty beef stew, cooking slowly in the oven, filling the kitchen with its aroma.  So after lunch, the leftover butter chicken from a couple of days ago, Evie cut up the chuck roast, seared it, added veggies, spices, some brandy, put it in the oven, and let it bake for a couple of hours while we watched TV, read or napped.  Around 3:00, our neighbors texted, asking if we wanted to go snowshoeing in the woods but both of us were too happy just kicking back, enjoying a cup of tea to get out there and brave the winds and swirling snow. I think our other neighbors had the same reaction. 

Nuthatch

The happy hour began at 5:00 with a glass of boxed wine, compliments of Linda, and Evie asked if I wanted mashed potatoes or biscuits with the pot roast. I said biscuits, of course, so Evie put together the dough, cut it into rounds, and put them in the oven, pulling them out when it was time for our dinner.  It would be an understatement to say the pot roast and biscuits were good,..they were great although I admit both of us were hungry. We watched a Colbert, an episode of a new Harlan Coben series, then  Hometown, a bit of football but finished with two episodes of Hot Ones to end the night. 

A Snow Bound And Windy Morning.

7:55

8:29

It's 7:00 and I have been up since 5:30, listening to the roar of the wind, awakened by the snow hitting the side of the house, sounding like rain. It's still dark so I cannot tell how much snow fell overnight, probably eight to ten inches. I would be surprised to see any ice fishermen this morning but I usually underestimate their desire. It's 7:30, the sky beginning to lighten and I just noticed the headlights of a four-wheeler driving out on the lake in front of the Power Boat Club, the first ice fisherman of the morning.  

Early Bird

Long Point at 8:30 AM

Yesterday was a gorgeous day, with blue skies most of the day but bitter cold, with a wind that made it even more uncomfortable,  We were in no hurry then to do anything and had a nice long leisurely morning, of coffee and writing the blog,  Because of the forecast, I went to the attic and pulled down our skies, snowshoes, and boots, ready for the snow.  We were comfortably settled with the idea of hunkering down for the day when our neighbors called to see if we wanted to go for a hike in Cassadaga, a trail we have never been.  Unfortunately, we said no, mostly because it was so bitterly cold out but also because we had decided on kicking back the rest of the day, watching football.  I regret not going but we will next time.

A Leisurely Afternoon On The Ice

We had a late breakfast, buttermilk pancakes, sausage, and maple syrup, a perfect breakfast for such a cold morning in January. I went through a couple of stacks, lots of sugar and carbs but tasty.  We then spent the rest of the afternoon alternating between watching football, CBS Sunday Morning when we got bored, reading, and Evie put together our dinner, Lex's Chicken.  We were both surprised by the final words on CBS Sunday Morning by historian Douglas Brinkley, where he suggested the Republican Party was the new Jim Crow party, with their attempts to limit access to voting. 

Lex's chicken, a recipe from Zingermen's Cookbook, a deli in Ann Arbor, MI, takes thick slices of day-old sourdough bread, topped with sauteed onions, celery, and spices, top each one with a chicken thigh and bake it for an hour.  It's one of our favorites, reminiscent of a turkey dinner with stuffing but much easier. We were looking forward to the Chiefs/Steelers game which was a bore for much of the first half but then became exciting as the Chiefs finally played well, scoring 42 points. 

The snow started around 7:00 so by 10:00, half time of the game, we had four or five inches so I went outside and shoveled out the driveway.  It was amazing out, snow falling, little wind, and light, fluffy snow to shovel.  We should have gone for a walk it was so nice.  We did not stay up to the end of the game because they had it won and bed sounded too good. 

Sunny And 7º

8:40

8:41

 It's 9:00 as I start this, the lake mishmash of ice, the sun reflecting on its surface.  Despite the cold, the ice fishermen are out, strung out along the Long Point shoreline and beyond.  Today we will play a waiting game, waiting for the apocalyptic snow predicted tonight and tomorrow, 12 to 18 inches. Winter is coming.

Ice Fishing At Noon

Ice Fishing At Dusk

Saturday was a good day to stay inside and get something done.  Well, we stayed inside! And we did get something done, cleaning out the refrigerator, packing up chicken thighs to be frozen, gathering the trash before I drove to the Transfer Station, my one accomplishment of the day.  When I returned home because it was so cold out, I decided to skip a hike and spent forty-five minutes taking a Yoga With Adrienne class on YouTube.  By the time I was done, it was lunchtime, another bowl of vegetable soup and toasted cheese sandwiches on sourdough bread.  I watched another episode of The Sopranos and am starting to get into it. 

Neither of us did much the rest of the afternoon but by 4:00, we were both getting ready to watch the football game and showering because we were going to dinner for the first time in a month at our friends' Linda and Ron's house. It was great to see them and we sat around drinking whisky sours and eating shrimp and cocktail sauce for a good hour, catching up on our lives both during Christmas, New Year, and after. Fortunately, both have been healthy, taking care to avoid eating out or large gathering.  

Together Again

Dinner was perfect for a cold January evening, short ribs served on mashed potatoes with a salad and a baguette.  After dinner, we adjourned to the TV room to watch the Buffalo Bills game and enjoy dessert, a chocolate Portuguese cake to die for.  We left around 10:30 when the Bills had clinched a victory and drove home on cold, empty roads. We then watched a few minutes of TV before going up to bed, happy from a fun evening.