Postcards from the Lake -- July 2016 Edition

Lizzie and I are enjoying Life at the Lake. We came up July 1 with Rick, who stayed for the week and is now home. We're skipping through our day-to-day routine, admiring our neighbor's flame-like Tiger Lilies, taking road trips into town and living on the abundant sweet black cherries that abound in Northern Michigan during the spring.

Well, I'm living on the cherries. Lizzie is in more of a hunger strike mode, turning her cute little good-and-plenty nose at the food she devours at home.

She'll eat when she's hungry enough. I'm not worried. Just annoyed!

Our July 4 holiday was filled with all the fun that July 4 always brings. Although, to be specific, it started on the second. In the morning, we bid a final farewell to my friend Fran at one of Gaylord's lovely cemeteries, then shared memories back at her home. As the afternoon was drawing to an end, I headed home to welcome Rick, who'd ridden his bike north, and prepare to welcome my cousins for dinner and fireworks.

Of course, one has to take time to watch the boat parade as it goes by the house. It starts about two miles down the lake. By the time it gets to my place it has thinned out, but the participants are enthusiastic!

Cousins David and Bonnie came for dinner and fireworks. Fireworks begin at dusk, which is about 10:15 at night. They shoot off the fireworks on my lake from the park right across from the cottage and we had a ringside seat.

They weren't even bad -- apart from the fact that whomever was setting them off accidentally (we think) set off the finale sometime in the first ten minutes of the half-hour event. It made for a bit of an anti-climax at the end. (Read that stunned silence from the many boats on the lake who usually greet the finale with a loud blaring of horns before taking off in the night. It was very quiet and finally, a few honks as the boats moved out.)

The weather has been splendid for the most part. Warm-but-not-hot days with little humidity and nights cool enough for a good sleep. (A rainstorm finally broke the spell. We'll see if the porch ever dries out!)

We were able to stain the cottage which got a facelift after foundation work. (This is the "before" photo).

Rick had more than a few bike rides, finding a cyclist pal from just across the lake to join him on some of the shorter ones.

I've read more than a few books and done a good bit of art, too. A longer look at the art journal (fast filling up) and more in a different post. Meanwhile, a sneak preview.

Of course I'm following the Tour de France. It's one of the best things about July! (And yes, PBS' Sunday night line-up with the excellent "Tunnel" capping off the evening).

Lizzie and I have enjoyed watching two or maybe three duck families who make the rounds on a somewhat regular basis. They're getting bigger, but the packs a bit smaller too, and we wonder if some of their numbers have been picked off.

Perhaps best of all, there are the evenings and the sunsets. There's nothing more lovely than seeing a fishing boat or watching a kayaker streak across the lake behind a golden sky (unless, perhaps, you'd like to be the kayaker).

And a peloton of Canada geese at sunset is an equally breathtaking sight.

All in all, there is much to love about this time at the lake. Yes, missing Rick. But connecting with friends and being productive.

And soon it will be time for the family reunion and all together again!