We have settled into the lake and kicked off the summer with house guests and a "grand" birthday celebration -- not to mention the July 4 holiday.
As far as prep went the day before, it was actually pretty easy. We had some things to do to prepare for our guests, who were arriving on the fourth -- tidying up the house and yard and getting our meals planned. But nothing major.
Both of us are trying to be careful with our food so we decided for snacks we'd have hummus with veggies. Now, neither of us have ever made hummus before but that didn't stop Rick. He dove right in (not always reading the recipe, I might add), soaking the cannellini beans, which never really developed the "soft" feeling the package promised. And then, they wouldn't mash! Finally, we realized we had a blender and we kept mixing beans (that kept getting stuck and jamming it) and adding lemon juice and tahini. Finally, (through no great culinary skill of our own) ended up with a tasty hummus -- one that had very little to do with the original recipe! Alas, the blender burned up. No more making of such things for a bit!
Our guests arrived on the fourth. I opted for my protest clothing ensemble!
It's lovely having terrific house guests who provide good conversation and are delightful to be around. While Rick knew Eric, and I had met both Eric and Sue, I didn't really "know" them. I'm so delighted I finally had the chance to discover what lovely people they are.
Much of our time was spent talking (and eating) but the next afternoon we left them on their own. We had places to go, people to see, things to do -- specifically, celebrating our Cam's seventh birthday!
We drove north to Petoskey where family gathered at the home of Rick's ex-wife Robin and her husband. The little birthday guy was excited and it was determined that we'd have presents first!
That was a great idea. He and his brother enjoyed the presents while the grown-ups enjoyed catching up! (Well, along with a few hugs!)
I had some great photos of the day on my camera -- until the next day when as I was downloading them, when I had a memory card error and couldn't access a single one of them. So I can't show you the incredible picture of the pastel that our artist kid Greg did of a Sandhill crane. It's stunning (he'll be selling prints). Hopefully I'll be able to share one later. Fortunately, Molly sent me the pix you see here.
While we were celebrating seven years, Eric and Sue were swimming in the lake on one of the hottest days of the year so far. (Not quite a record, but pretty close!) We got home in time to enjoy the Otsego Lake fireworks which are shot directly across the lake from us. They were really spectacular and you'll have to take my word for it, because those photos were on that same corrupted memory card. (That may actually be a good thing!)
Something very odd happened during the fireworks. We were watching from our porch and we kept hearing the incessant chirp of a bird. Remember, this is after 10:30 at night -- and very dark. It did not stop. Merlin told us it was a killdeer and surprisingly, we saw it on the ground -- with its babies -- right in front of the porch, hopping about. It was terribly upset by the fireworks. (So was Lizzie.) I've never seen that with a bird before. The next day we saw this little family and followed them throughout the weekend (and still are). Here's mom and one of the babies.
She really is a lovely bird and I'm hoping she finds our house a safe spot to be. It's delightful watching them skip along by the water's edge and in the sand.
The following day found the temperature dropping radically -- and in came the rain! We enjoyed a mostly lazy day but later in the day we decided to visit the state park down the way. By then, all the holiday campers had left and it made for a lovely -- if misty -- walk on the beach.
One of the things I enjoyed about the park were the bulletin boards with information. It reminded me that J. Robert Oppenheimer visited Otsego Lake as he was working on the Manhattan Project to confer with Dr. Arthur Compton, who had a cottage on the lake. They came over to a secluded part of the state park to discuss the bomb that would change the world. (In the movie, this scene is shown but the lesser-known Compton was replaced by the far better-known Albert Einstein.)
The sign also told me that near where my cottage is, the lake depth is around 15 feet!
Speaking of signs (to share with Tom's Signs 2), I loved this one.
And I guess no glass animals are allowed, so leave those trinkets at home!
The rain was gentle but we were glad our happy gang brought umbrellas!
No kayak ride today!
We returned home and had one more nature miracle -- the appearance of Eddie the Eagle! My photos for this are terrible -- he was just too far away and my zoom doesn't work the way it used to. But I had to show proof, even though these admittedly two of the worst photos ever! (I really AM better than this!)
It's quiet since our guests left. Rick and I will still play Scrabble and our new favorite, Rummikube, but it was such a treat to play with the four of us! Lizzie has come out from hiding after three days of being self-sequestered in my closet. Meanwhile, we will be keeping an eye out for my favorite new family.
She's a wonderful mom.
Sharing with: Tom's Signs2 / Share Your Style / Friday Face-Off / Saturday's Critters
50 comments:
I've killed many blenders including a Vitamix. For the Cannellini beans, the ones in the can are pretty soft and easy to blend. I find. This is one of my fave bean for hummus though I love garbanzo too.
I love your porch area and the happy tree sign. What a hoot.
Hi Jeanie, looks like a great time. Lovely photos, nature and smiling faces and hugs. Thank you so much for sharing 😊 ❤️
Sounds like a great time! And I love your shirt. Too bad about your photos. I hate when stuff like that happens. Those poor little birds.
I'm glad you had a wonderful time with visitors and with the birthday boy. He is so cute! I love the photo of the 'misty walk' on the waterfront. It's always nice to take a walk along the beach in the mist. A belated Happy 4th of July to you. I love your protest shirt!
It was a truly memorable and eventful few days, marked by warmth, meaningful conversations, minor misadventures, and unexpected moments of beauty.
What a lovely wrap up but I am so sorry you loss your photos to the memory card! We had lovely 4th of July weekend then the rains moved in Tuesday night and haven't stopped since. I'm enjoying the excuse to hand out inside and read and blog and rest.
Hello Jeanie,
Sounds like some fun times at the lake. A great birthday celebration for Cam. Love the sweet Killdeer and chick and great sighting of the Eagle. Wonderful photos of you, Rick, Cam and your guests. Take care, have a great day!
Congratulations of spotting the Killdeer, a delightful bird to be sure. As for hummus, years ago we used to make our own, but have been buying it of late from a local middle eastern store. We eat it frequently.
That shirt:) I Love it. You sure put all te flowers you brought to their best use..Look how welcoming your place looks..Your 7 yr old is getting handsomer and handsomer:) Card error and blender bust up:(. Darn it!
I like reading your cottage postcards. The photos that you have are fine. Your cottage in the first two photos looks do inviting, especially the screened-in porch with the red flowers out front. Nice tee-shirt too. 👌
Sorry about your camera, but it looks like you are having a great time at the lake house!
...your lake home sure is a happy place. I like the "Happy Little Tree ahead" sign too.New York State has an Otsego Lake too.
I had to laugh at the hummus escapade! Glad you ended up with some hummus but sorry you needed up without a blender. I use canned chickpeas and they make a good easy hummus. I agree with Tom, your lake house is such a happy place where you have made and continue to make so many wonderful memories. We play scrabble and love rummy kub.. In Florida we play in the evenings with friends. Sometimes 3 tables of 4- everyone seems to love to play!! Loved your post. Thanks
I've made hummus with chickpeas, and liked it a lot. I must do that again. Your summer certainly started well. What a civilized family you have, blended and giving the grandson a great birthday.
I laughed at the 'no glass animals' sign. It was fun seeing your kildeer, too. There's a pair that are living around the parking lot at work. I haven't seen the babies yet, but I'm sure they're around somewhere. I love hummus, but I'd never go to the trouble of making it. My favorite grocery chain, HEB, produces a version with caramelized onions and fig that's just wonderful. I have to watch myself or I'd eat the whole container in two days.
Looks like a wonderful way to celebrate the 4th. The birthday boy looks quite happy. Sorry about the camera error and blender. The lake house is a fun getaway.
A very happy birthday to Cam! It looks like you have settled into the lake just fine and enjoying every minute. When I make hummus I use can beans, I just drain them and rise them.
Cathy
Good morning, looks like perfect family time Love your screened in area too I would in there reading a book-smiles
The boys are growing so fast and just get cuter every year. Family time is the best.
Jeanie, You have a piece of paradise at the lake. The HH was telling me when he took Nori out about three nights ago the birds were chirping which was very unusual. And that would have been about fireworks time. None of the critters, domesticated or wild, like those boomers, do they?
What a fun day for Cam! Love the blue balloons, cake, presents, and big smiles! Oh, that poor mama bird and her family. They must have been frightened by those fireworks. Jeanie, I love the Killdeer. I used to see them in my hometown all the time. Their funny long legs make me laugh. And their black and white stripes are so pretty. Those old TIME magazine covers are interesting. Lots of history on those bulletin boards. The happy little trees sign is delightful. Looking forward to more of your posts at the lake, Jeanie.
~Sheri
The photos of the summer time lake adventures always are a welcomed change and are generally cheerful1 a summer holiday! I love your seasonal shift! All of the photos are wonderful- little boys growing up! Thanks for taking us to the lake yet again. I love it there!
(the signs are hilarious).
Sounds like the beginning of a perfect holiday... partly because you all seem able to work with whatever the weather throws at you!
Beautiful smiles all around... Happy Birthday to Cam!
Rain or no rain, it sounded like a wonderful time together and I loved reading all about it and seeing all those splendid photos. Interesting history about Oppenheimer too. Thank you for a great post Jeanie.
Your porch looks like you are well settled in..Fireworks should be restricted to wide open areas and far from nature...I guess that's not always possible..Sorry about the blender...another reason not to have Humus..We don't have Kildeer here.
It looks as though you had a fun 4th..
Looks like the cottage at the lake has come alive again to celebrate a new year and season. It's cool that the Killdeer has identified a safe place to hang out with the family. It stinks about your photos but there are some free programs that will rescue them for you. I used them a few years ago but you would have to do a search. Enjoy your day and upcoming weekend.
Always hurts to lose photos. But we got a very good glimpse of a wonderful visit from friends, birthday, and the killdeer! We had killdeer in the fields nearby where I grew up in Minnesota so they have a special place in my heart. :)
Great way to start off your season at the lake!
I love hummus! I've made it with cannellini beans in the past. Some people make it with lentils, too. Canned cannellini beans are more convenient, but once the dried ones are cooked, they mash up really well using a fork or a potato masher. I always use my slow cooker for dried beans, but that does require more planning because I pour boiling water over them a few times during the day, letting them soak for a while in between. Then I put them in the slow cooker with plenty of water and cook overnight. The next morning I drain and, depending on the beans and what I want to use them for, mash them up. Both cannellini and pinto are great for refried beans. Anyway, glad your hummus turned out well, even if you now need a new blender.
Wonderful lake life happenings, thanks for sharing! Love the signs, esp the happy trees. Lol, glass animals. I hope mama killdeer didn't lose any babies the night of fireworks. They can be so, so traumatic to wildlife, pets and people.
I love that photo of the screened porch -- it's so evocative of a lake house and summer. Plus the colors <3
Do you have a food processor? Maybe not at the lake. That's what I use to make hummus. In the old days I made it completely from scratch with dry garbanzos that I had to cook first, but in the last many years it's so much easier to start with canned beans of whatever variety. Rick is a real cook, the kind who doesn't give up, but keeps cooking until it comes out right!
Hommous has killed many a blender!! Have you ever heard the birds during an eclipse - they go crazy - I can imagine that the fireworks were also giving your birds a "what the actual f" moment!
l love this post. There is so much joy there. However, I am cracking up about the hummus. I have made hummus for years and it takes about 10 minutes. LOL I use both dried and canned chickpeas. I'm glad you got it made though.
Your July 4th weekend was the exact opposite of mine. We were so cold on the 4th and so hot by Sunday the 6th. Your plants out front of the cottage look lovely, and I think you had a fun weekend. I've made hummus too, but I used canned chickpeas and it was easy. (Just a suggestion if you want to try something different.) And I can't believe Cam is 7. I remember reading your post when he was born. It sounds like you're having a great start to your summer at the lake. I hope it continues. hugs-Erika
Birthdays! Bird watching! Beans! ... sounds like a grand opening weekend up north! Sorry about the memory card mishap, but these things happen. Glad someone else was taking pictures, too. Hope you are enjoying improved weather this week...
You are having a great time at the lake again! Your Fourth sounds lovely, always nice to spend it with friends and have good company. I guess the visit with the two grands was the highlight, especially for a birthday. How lovely to have the Killdeer right at your front door! They are such pretty birds and very protective of their offspring. Such a beautiful post, Jeanie - thank you.
The poor blender ;-)
I sure like your T-Shirt (and seeing you). 7 years already! Those are happy family pics, but, oh, those poor animals - glad Mama-bird and her chicks found your place.
And a walk in the rain by the water, that must´ve been wonderful. And Bob is everywhere, cute, happy, little sign! Thank you for that happy post, Jeanie!
Your story of making the hummus made me smile. Especially the part where the blender gave out. I'm impressed the hummus turned out tasty nevertheless. Well done! I'm not much of a cook, so people who can make tasty meals always impress me : )
I’m sure your houseguests enjoyed their time with you! I know I would.You have a lovely summer home. I like hummus, but have never tried to make it. I agree with an earlier commenter about how civilized your family is. I look forward to your summer stories from the lake!
How fun, and I think your shorebird? is totally paint-worthy!!! lots of color, family and fun here! Sandi
It's wonderful that you get to see this little Killdeer family! And good for you in making hummus---sorry about the blender, though.
Wonderful family times to be treasured!
sounds like so much fun...you always have really nice things planned. our 4th was quiet, we did see fireworks but a lot were cancelled because of rain. the killdeer are beautiful and they are really fun to watch, especially if they feel threatened. looks like a happy birthday boy!!
I've made hummus but only using canned beans, much easier to mash without burning up a food processor or blended, just a thought for the next time. Cam is growing up into quite the young man. Glad you and your friends had good times, Jeanie, despite some dreary weather.
Love your t-shirt and the Bob Ross sign!
That mama bird! I've never thought of birds being traumatized by fireworks but it doesn't surprise me. I'm glad they've hung around. That's fascinating about the lake being the meeting place of Oppenheimer and Compton. And thank you for setting the record straight about the movie. So glad you had a great time with your friends!
I'm so happy that you shared this post. Thank you for joining FFO and have a nice weekend.
That first pic is so festive. Enjoy your weekend.
Hello Jeanie,
Great photos of you, Cam and Rick.
Your holiday decorations look wonderful.
My favorite images are of the Killdeer, they are sweet birds.
Always nice to see a chick too. Great sighting of the Eagle.
Thank you for linking up your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for taking time to leave me a comment.
The killdeer story was a good one and sometimes it really blends in to it's background so you are lucky to spot it. Love the eagle and of course the fun family events! Hugs!
House guests, a cute birthday boy, and lake life sounds fabulous!
Post a Comment