Postcards from the Lake: Closed for the Season

That last weekend at the lake before closing is always bittersweet. It's usually relatively cool (or cold) and crisp. (Sometime a little too cold!) As we put away the porch furniture and put on the storms, we know we won't be coming back to this haven of ours for a good seven or eight months. And I miss it before I've even left.

It wasn't all work, though. There was a farmer's market visit -- end of season zinnias for the table, several small pumpkins to take home after they've done their weekend duty.

We enjoyed cozy fires every morning and evening in the the fireplace. That and the space heater are it! It's lovely to sit quietly with just the radio, reading or computing after dinner.

The mornings had an eerie "Mists of Avalon" quality to them.

I expected King Arthur to pop around the corner and throw Excalibur into the lake.

The foam made it look like whitecaps or big waves.

Dining? Of course! We had lovely dinners as we both used up the fridge and enjoyed some special treats. The gift of tomatoes from our at-home neighbor brought a most fabulous and super-fresh pasta sauce -- think about nine tomatoes, spicy sausage, capers, artichoke hearts, the last of the fresh basil and oregano, pepper flakes, a little vinegar. We had no garlic, usually a crime! But even without, it was one of the best sauces Rick ever made.

He rocked it with the pizza, too, when the Greg came by on his way back down state. It was so good to catch up with our favorite artist -- and with Rick's pizza, what wasn't to love about the day?

Once again, the birds were there -- Henry Heron, Docket the Duck and some new ducks. Can anyone tell me what these are? My bird book said something like Mussgoren but I didn't write it down and nothing's tracking on Google!

Well, they could be named anything -- they were just so darned beautiful.

We picked up a half-cord of wood, which should get us though the next two years, loading it into the trunk of the car, unloading and going back for the next batch.

I was able to paint a bit -- on the porch, too. It wasn't that cold once the sun came around! And of course, a walk around my area. There is only a bit of color out -- not much (surprisingly so, for this late).

But there were some beautiful wild sunflowers.

And the bees were loving them!

Even Lizzie (also known as Princess Pea) was lapping (and napping) it up. She loves the lake; it's the to-and-from that doesn't please her!

It was tough taking down our fairy lights from the porch, but we the fairies will keep it safe till next summer.

We left to come back to the real world after more or less of a media halt over the weekend. News of the Las Vegas shootings -- senseless violence and still we sell assault weapons; the continued challenges of Puerto Rico and the idiotic things said during Trump's visit. I wanted to turn around and go back to this spot where Lizzie snuggles under the quilt, the ducks meander peacefully in the water in front of the house and where Henry spreads his wings as he soars away.

Goodbye, Lake. We'll be back.

Thank you all for such good thoughts on my last post. I start the radiation on Monday for four weeks; thyroid biopsy right after. Not how I planned my fall but it could all be so much worse and for that, and your kind words, I am most grateful.

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