Sunny and rainy

Catching up with friends and family are still a big part of our time while we're back in the area, especially as the summer winds down.   Yearly appointments, motorhome and Jeep upgrades, fishing, boating and relaxing take up the rest of our days.   They're flying by.    I just finished planning most of our fall/winter travels.

We've had some gloriously sunny and warm days with some very unpleasantly wet and stormy ones in between.

gesundheit!

On the sunny days it's a pleasure to entertain.   Cindy and Norm came down last week and we enjoyed a nice boat ride and a steak dinner outside.

Dave bought a winch and when it finally arrived he spent a few sunny days in the driveway installing it.

off comes the bumper

the mounting plate, mounted

He had a minor engineering problem but was able to reach Mr. David's A-1 Engineered Solutions and they talked him through the problem using 3/8" PEX
tubing as an alignment aid.

Voila!

The new winch makes the Jeep look out of place here in the land of the paved road, but it will be a cheap insurance policy for us in our other, off road life.

On nice days Lewis enjoys spending time outside.   A nasty squirrel has discovered that he can get Lewis' s goat if he sits in the bushes and chitters loudly at him.  He has a perverse sense of humor.   Lewis falls for it every time.

On rainy, stormy days we just throw up our hands and wait it out.  Much reading is done by me and much puttering is done by Dave.....having a basement and tools is a good thing on a rainy day.

patterns of grey

the Mergansers don't mind the rain 

When we have company coming and it's raining.....we visit inside and enjoy ourselves just the same.

Cousin Bill and Patty getting ready to dig into the yummy
Victoria Sponge she made for us

And when the rain stops, we dry things off, empty things out and start all over again.

Barb

Part of the fun of being here for the summer is having time to visit with old and dear friends.

Yesterday we were invited to Barb's house for dinner.   She lives in Webster, about 45 minutes north of here.    Lewis was invited also, but we thought it best that he stayed home this time.

happy hour on the porch

We've known Barb since we moved to Geneseo in 1976.  We've been friends through thick and thin.   She traveled through Europe with Dave and I and my mother.    The four of us laughed our way through many countries on that trip.

Barb is a strong woman, a real trouper.   She insisted we come to dinner, even though she had just taken a serious tumble off a ladder the day before.   She likes her shrubs "just so" and the HOA folks don't do a very good job she says....so she does them herself.   Hmmmm, perhaps not on a ladder next time.

 Yep, broken nose and all, she still made the best Mexican dinner we've had in a long time.   

coaxing flat, unlovely flour tortillas into puffy beauties

Dave had seconds and possibly thirds.   He never does that.


We got home around 9 and found this guy filling the entire front window.....waiting for us....ewwwww

A special day

Yesterday we celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary by doing what we've always loved most.....being together.

We took a long ride down to a favorite little town in the heart of the Finger Lake's wine country.

We're not big New York State wine fans, but the area is very pretty and the ride there allowed us to meander along, slowly enjoying the glorious day.

Our destination was a new to us restaurant, Roots Cafe, in an old Naples home.

While we didn't both enjoy our individual wine choices, we did agree that the lunch was yummy and the funky decor and vibe of the big purpley/bluey house was very fun.

After lunch we just set off to see how many of the finger lakes we could put our feet in before it was time to meet dear friends for dinner.   Yes, lunch AND dinner out is not our usual MO but it was a special day after all.

Living in an area for over 40 years is no guarantee that one has seen it all.   For instance we had never explored or even heard of a sweet little spot called Grimes Glen right around the corner from our lunch place.    We saw a sign for it as we drove up Naples Main street.   We've driven that street many times in our lives and never saw that little white sign.    Yesterday we did and made an about turn to check it out.

We parked the Jeep and crossed over a bridge decorated with spawning fish. 

We discovered a lovely, quiet, sunlit trail and followed it along the course of shallow Grimes Creek between tall shale walls.

 We weren't really dressed for a hike but we walked along for almost a mile before the "trail" became the creek bed and we turned around.    What fun it would have been if we were wearing water shoes!   I understand that there are two waterfalls further along, one with a nice swimming hole at it's base.

Our next stop turned out to be Canandaigua Lake.   It's one of the most beautiful of the lakes.   It's quite deep and clear, the hills surrounding it are high.   Fantastic homes line it's shores.

Canandaigua Lake, south end

see the lunching ladies?

We stayed a few minutes to watch a group of ladies having lunch among the shoreline reeds.

Our ride continued past one of the three ski "resorts" in our area, Bristol Mountain.    Jesse spent a fair amount of time there in his younger years. 

Honeoye Lake was next.   It is a fairly small and shallow lake and has always had a problem with aquatic weeds along it's shoreline. 
 

Honeoye Lake, south end

The last two lakes we explored were Canadice and Hemlock.   They both are used as water sources for Rochester so living, camping and/or swimming are prohibited.

It was especially nice to stand on the shores of these two small beauties and hear no man made sounds.    No jet skis, no people, no boat engines.....just wind in the trees, water lapping at the shore and sweet birdsong.

Canadice Lake, north end

Hemlock Lake, north end

What a pleasant day we had together.   Nothing exciting, or thrilling, just a really nice day.

We made it back home with enough time to let poor Lewis out to "get busy" before motoring off to our standing Thursday evening Rabbit Room dinner with Robin and Tom.   Perfect way to end a perfect anniversary day.


Married 49 years but in love for 54.....Thanks for a wonderful ride Dave.

 

A visit

                                               Thor came to visit.

He brought Laura and Kevin (chapter3travels.com) along to keep Dave and I company.    He's a very thoughtful guy.

after dinner - right after this was taken Kevin shared some of
his delicious lavender-honey, home made ice
cream for dessert!

We humans had a lovely time visiting, eating, drinking, boating and relaxing.

and...for dessert's dessert we made s'mores at dusk
(don't judge)

an exciting second cup on the boat

Thor had a phenomenal time.    He explored every inch of the cottage, the decks, the yard, the lake, the boat, Lewis' toys.   He watched the sea gulls overhead and stalked flies and ants that dared enter his line of vision. 

 He did his business wherever and whenever he felt like it.   He strolled on the dock, trotted around the house and out of our sight for minutes at a time.    He swam and swam and swam.   Mostly after his orange ball, but sometimes just because he wanted to.

coming and going

Lewis introduced him to his giant, personal water bowl in front of the cottage.   The two of them raced around on the grass like Keystone Kops, they retrieved the orange balls we kept throwing out into the lake.

off they go again!

He enjoyed second cup on the boat when it was tied to the dock and even took a boring boat ride around the lake Saturday afternoon....ho hummmmm.

Oh, those magnificent ears

so, how long will this ride last?

Lewis participated in most activities but did, occasionally,  retire to the house for a little downtime while Thor's youthful energy never ran down.  (I think he knew he was only going to be here a short time and wanted to fully experience what Mr. David's A-1 Lakeside Canine Wonderland had to offer him)

is that MY ball, or his.....?

They left this afternoon to continue their travels.   We were sad to see them go.   It's so nice to have friends come to visit.

Lewis may sleep for a week.   It's exhausting to be a good host he says.......