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.......















 

It's starting to look like the end of July already

The early summer flowers are giving way to the "dog days" sort of things....sunflowers, ditch lilies (that's what my dear friend calls the rafts of brilliant day lilies that grow everywhere this time of year), Sumac and cheerful hollyhocks.

The spring and early summer, waterlogged farm fields are changing too.

Fields of winter wheat, planted last year, are beginning to bend their heads.  They're ripe and ready for combining.

Fields of corn, planted to feed livestock and produce ethanol, are getting tall and strong, but what excites us are the fields of sweet corn beginning to mature and tassel.

Our resident family of hybrid ducks have grown into adults but still "use" the lake in front of us.

Driving to our near weekly dinners with Robin and Tom at the yummy Rabbit Room in Honeoye Falls,  we notice that the falls have slowed from their early summer mad, muddy dash over the rocks to a lazy and pretty cascade.  (Phew, that's quite a sentence!)

Thursday night regulars
Robin, Michael (our wonderful waiter), Tom and Dave

reflections

Another thing we notice this time of year is the height of the salt piles growing at nearby the American Rock Salt mine.

Not such a pleasant reminder that winter will be here before people realize it and that the roads will be covered with this lovely stuff.   It not only contributes to their terrible, potholed condition but it ruins cars and trucks while it keeps them from slipping and sliding on icy roads.    We'll be LONG gone by then.

a weekend

following a Bald Eagle down the lake

Dave's fragrant birthday rose

Ruthless culling = Goodwill's good fortune

my chocolate mint is trying to escape

zzzzzz

after dinner fishing before the rain arrives

morning's first sight

C-47

B-17
planes from the Geneseo Airshow fly over the lake all weekend

This Stearman pilot and passenger wave to the cottages below

This and that

We haven't been doing much of anything and enjoying it enormously!

 Between second cup, swimming, walking, fishing, reading, visiting and happy hour, Dave has been chipping away at a few jobs around Beluga.

He has also taken all the cupboard doors off and refinished them.   They look like brand new!

I see you David.....

In between all his leisure time activities he finds time to sneak tastes of my baking when he thinks I'm not looking.   Rhubarb crisp cooling on the counter had his attention this day.


The weather has been on and off.   Either it's raining cats and dogs or it is very hot and so muggy that my sun glasses fog up when I walk outside. 

I love my views, the lake, the birds, and especially the beautiful cloud formations over the water.

we can't see actual sunsets here, but
the reflected ones are pretty nice

double rainbow and magnificent clouds

our hybrid duck mom has managed to keep all 10 of her ducklings
safe from predators - no small feat!

one of three noisy Kingfishers that ply our cove

they wave as they go by

Sometimes a large black poodle enters my view, doing what he loves to do......

bark bark bark bark bark bark    honk honk honk honk

Lewis gets wet retrieving his favorite red "fish" toy

Lewis enjoys patrolling the dock to keep pesky waterfowl away, he enjoys fishing with Dave, playing with his own red "fish" in the lake but most of all he enjoys helping Dave with whatever he's doing.    Earlier this week the task was building the bonfire for our annual 3rd of July Ring of Fire celebration.

Dave, Dave, where do you want me to drag this, Dave?

Dave's "creation" is covered to keep it dry before the grand lighting!

He also enjoys the party, many of his favorite people are here and he gets plenty of pets.    Unfortunately, the party falls on a night where most people around the lake insist on setting off huge fireworks displays and that he doesn't like one bit.  It's a good thing we're all friends because in order to use the bathroom that night, one had to step over and/or around Lewis's shaking body.    Most of us aren't flustered by having company while they.....well, you know, while they're in the bathroom, thank goodness.   No....don't look for any pictures.

Barb and Bob chat with Dave

Barb and Judi catch up

Barb waits patiently for the fire to calm down to
s'more making levels

TA DA!

crummy picture of the Ring of Fire - flares completely encircling the lake

That's all I have for you.   For us, here, summer is an uneventful time to relax and enjoy the company of old friends.    Not a lot of blog fodder I'm afraid!