Postcards from the Lake: Lake Life

So, what is life like at the lake in the summer? In a word, wonderful.

There are too many adjectives from which to choose -- fun, relaxing, delicious, joyful, mesmerizing, calming. Life at the lake comes with its own soundtrack, one that combines the sound of waves on the water or wind through the pines, with the mellow sounds of classical guitar and the sounds of birds, both in the water and in the trees. There is definitely an abundance of critters.

We have typical days -- and no typical day. We move to the rhythm of the weather. Sometimes those rhythms involve a kayak ride for Rick.

His companions on the water are flocks of Canada geese. One day I counted 50 of them in a flotilla along the lake.

Some are clearly older (and larger) than their traveling companions.

 

I'm never thrilled when they come ashore. Anyone who knows geese know that they are not the tidiest of birds!

So, when they hit our beach, I open the door, take a few steps out and clap my hands. They move on -- often next door. 

I never chase away the ducks. We seem to have two families of Duckles and Quackles again this year and they often travel together. 

My Merlin app tells me there are many birds. But about the only ones I see (and hear) with any regularity are the crows, who either hang out on the beach or go high in the trees.

Then there is this one. When she's not sleeping, she'll come to the porch, stretch out in the afternoon sun puddle or watch scurrying squirrels dash about.

If I'm not on a walk (or checking out the rest of the world on my computer) you can either find me curled up with a book or right here.

And why? Because practice makes less imperfect. (Perfection is not even a goal!)

I'll water the herbs and geraniums growing in pots outside. And this year, a surprise. A struggling hydrangea we planted six or seven years ago that never bloomed decided to smile at us!

There are only three blooms, but they're nice ones!

Is there a best time of day? Mornings, when the lake is still? The warmth of midday? Those hours when you walk in the shade of the trees or cavort on the water in the heat of the sun? Perhaps. But the times that are the most beautiful are those when the sun leaves the sky.

The water is still, the wind has calmed, the birds have quieted.

And we savor the beauty of color -- sometimes oranges and golds and other times, like these, deep pinks, purples and violets.

Now, that is perfect.

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And, to answer a quick question asked in a comment -- Will I consider answering questions asked by commenters? As most of you know, I reply to comments in direct email an email is attached to your comment. If no email is attached, but you have a blog, I will visit your blog to either thank you and/or respond (or just visit!). I tend to avoid conflict. I know not everyone agrees with me on issues or I with them and I will probably not get into an argument with you. If a comment is made respectfully, I will post it, even if I don't agree with what the commenter says. If it is obviously spam or uncivil, I may not post it and I certainly won't reply. 

So, if you have a question, please post it in the comments and if you are connected to a blog or email, I will be happy to answer if I can. If not, and it pertains to something I can answer in a future post, I may well do that! (And I hope the person who asked that sees this because they came in as anonymous with no contact info so I can't reply directly!) 

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