Postcards from the Lake: Quiet Mornings, Loud Cat

I'm back at the lake, finally! And look who welcomed me back! 

Rick will join me for an extended time when he wraps up his annual Dalmac bike ride (Lansing, MI to Mackinac City, 100 miles a day). He's captaining a tandem with his friend Nino, pedaling behind. (Or not, as the case may be!) This early September is lovely and I wanted to be here sooner but life got in the way. You just have to fly with the birds and go with the flow.

"Life" can be defined in this case as a pesky muscle spasm which put my back out. At first, there was some question as to whether it would be that or shingles and I started meds for the latter, (which don't stop or cure but lighten the misery). After a couple of days on it, I didn't develop the shingles welts, so spasm it is. It knocked me for a loop and kept me home longer than I wanted! It was so beastly hot I couldn't even work on that overgrown mess called a garden.

We also went to the memorial service for Rick's godmother last week. That was in St. Joseph, MI, about three hours away. On the way home we stopped at the Kal-Haven trail in Kalamazoo. Rick was one of the founders of this rail trail. I wanted to take his photo next to this plaque.

It highlights some of the early contributions he and other volunteers made to bring this trail from idea to reality.

Then we walked a bit on the trail. It was a perfect day -- not too hot or cool, and it was lovely with the shaded trees surrounding us. 

The day after the memorial, the spasm arrived and my departure was put on hold. When I arrived at the cottage, several days later than planned, the plants looked pretty sad -- droopy basil and this bright yellow guy, photographed only a week before, now dead, dead, dead. Well, that's what farm market flowers are for!

The only slow-down on departure day was finding Lizzie. She picked a new hiding spot and I finally fished her out of it. She looks so innocent. Don't believe it for a minute!

I thought I'd show you another painting I did a bit earlier but haven't shared. This is my girl in her typical chat position.

After unloading it was nice just to chill out on the porch. I was thrilled to see Harry North on my first day here, but a visit from Sammy Sparrow is more than welcome, too.

 

 I fished this out of the lake. It must have been pulled up by a boat motor. The reverse side of a lily pad is even prettier than the top!

 

 I'm not sure how the weather will fly in these waning days of summer. But Lizzie and I don't care.

We're back at the lake, waiting for Rick. And that's a good thing!

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