Postcards From the Lake: Home Alone

"It's a quiet week in Lake Wobegon," as Garrison Keillor would say. It that way here at the Otsego Lake in many ways, too. Once one gets past Fourth of July week, there are fewer people on the lake till the weekend. They didn't know what they were missing this week -- Gorgeous weather, cool nights, warm days, steady sunshine -- all rather ideal. We did have one rainy day and a bit of a cool off, but all in all, ideal.

I've fallen into my "home alone" rhythm -- mornings checking the computer and, on occasion, going into town to the market or a few errands. In the afternoon, walks, reading and painting.

I've done a few new things -- a revision and different take on one I did of Rick with one of our baby grands and showed in THIS post (if you recall, Rick's legs were a tad short in that one!). This time he has full length legs and a fanciful background from my imagination!

This one took awhile -- it's Michigan State's iconic Beaumont Tower. It's larger than much of my work and not one I wanted to mess up, as I hope it will find a new home by Christmas to some yet-to-be-discovered Spartan fan.

This is a re-do of an earlier painting, too. I'm better now.

And this is it with a mat. It sets it off better (a mat always does!)

I've spent some time with my nemesis -- the beach weeds -- and every afternoon around three or so, weather permitting, I swim. So far, I'm up to about a third of a mile, figuring that 40 strokes (and actually, probably less) is one length of a 25-yard pool and I'm up to 24 of those now. (Yes, I count strokes). Years ago, I swam across the lake, which is about a half-mile, we think. I'd love to do it again this summer (with Rick in a kayak next to me as a spotter). It will depend on weather and conditions but even if I don't do it, as long as I can swim that distance, the direction doesn't really matter! (That little white speck in the background here is our cottage! I wish I looked like that in a swimsuit now.)

I've had time to work on my jigsaw puzzle, now moved to the table in the living room. It's delightful -- loads of classic movie posters.

Of course, when part of it slid off the table onto the floor (I have very good reflexes catching puzzles, I discovered!), I was not a happy camper. 

 

There was much more of the puzzle on the floor than this, but fortunately, most stayed relatively hooked together and I could piece it together. I'm nearly done!

One of the highlights of this time was a visit by my cousin's oldest son, Mark, his wife Katie and their enchanting two-and-a-half year-old, who talks a blue streak and was so friendly and open, it was like he'd know us forever. He'd just put out his hand to Rick or me and take us for a walk on the beach, around the yard or the house. We were smitten.

A few days later I went down to their cottage to spend a little time before they headed back to Ohio. It was beach time and this little guy was loving it! Is there anything more fun than digging deep in the sand?

Oh, yes! Being swung by Dad over the water, feet dropping down into the water and back up again, is more fun. So is kicking up the water!

And throwing stones into the lake. 

Lizzie, meanwhile, makes for jolly good company when she isn't sleeping! Though I haven't seen him lately, I suspect Stuart Little is still at large, but she seems to have lost interest in the chase, so perhaps he found an easy exit when no one was looking.

Just give this cat a chair and a sun puddle and she's a happy camper.

I leave you with two sunsets this time. This is from my my cousin's beach, about a half-mile down the road.

And this?

It's my favorite. 

Finally, if I don't visit you for a bit, it's because my reading list is still not operational and I am not otherwise following you by mail or bloglovin'. I'll try to add you to my bloglovin' feed but they seem to be having issues these days, too! Bear with me, please comment and I'll add your url to a separate list I can use till I get things fixed. Thanks!

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