Postcards from the Lake: Wet and Wildlife

Anyone coming to Northern Michigan over Labor Day weekend in search of the last warm, sunny days of summer would be woefully disappointed. 

Days have been cloudy at best, rainy at worst, with gale-force winds at times. It was a grand opportunity for sweatshirts and fleece. When it was calm enough to be on the porch to paint,  I took advantage!

That hasn't stopped our duck population from gathering en masse. You could see them coming in from all directions! 

This is the Quackle family, I'm quite sure. They always travel together. Mom is a beauty! 

Nor has it stopped this sweet sandpiper from exploring the beach. (At least I think that's what it is from my bird book, with its winter look. Any other ideas out there?) He was quite busy hunting for whatever food it was that he might find on the shore.

 Eddie the Eagle was in full hunt mode, too. Another fuzzy photo -- one can only crop so much!

 

Rick got a bike ride or two in and on one ended up with a flat and a problematic spare. On the way to rescue him, I saw this duo. Their fawn had hopped away before I could get a photo. (They look like statues, don't they? So still!)

But  I was rewarded on the way home. Isn't he a sweet one? 

This is a sweet little wild cat too!

My cooking exploits have involved making quarts of tomato sauce, with more to come.

We also enjoyed peach/pear/pecan crisp, thanks to a wonderful haul at the market, combined with the thoughtful gift of a neighbor (who had peach and blueberry crisp left at his door.) In both cases, I don't measure the fruit. I just cut it in chunks to fill much of my baking dish and add a sprinkle of cinnamon and juice from half a lemon topped with Ina Garten's crumble.

 I mentioned a bit of painting time. Mostly I've been working in my practice book.

But I did get that flicker painted that I saw earlier this summer. I might do him over. Pleased but not thrilled!

Meanwhile, someone has been keeping us delighted.

 She won't be so happy when she is tricked into complacency and then shoved into her carrier box for the ride home!