Postcards from the Lake: Fireworks and Festivities

Our recent Saturday began with Rick's bike ride. He's having a lot of problems with his bike and waiting for a new part to arrive. That means rides are shorter and closer to home. (We still don't know about his upcoming Canadian trip yet.) 

But he took off in good form, happy to be in motion!

Postcards from the Lake: Happy July 4!

I'll say at the outset that the Fourth of July is my least favorite holiday. Even at the lake where it is cooler and there are diversions, it turns into the loudest noise-fest of the year with too many boats, too many loud parties and way too many home-grown fireworks, versus those nice organized ones. This year more than any, I am longing for independence and revolution.

I did a little playing around in the sketch book before Rick arrived. Who knows -- maybe it will manifest into next year's Christmas card!

That said, we are safely isolated in the cottage, neighbors more than six feet away and two out of three really good neighbors, including the one two doors down that brought us gorgeous strawberries and took out the rest of the weeds on the beach with his tractor!

Rick arrived after a horrendous two-day bike ride from Lansing to the lake in 90-plus degree weather. I met him halfway with a picnic, after which he sprawled on the picnic bench at the campground to rest before pitching his tent.

It was tough saying goodbye and leaving him there, Covid hair and all (which to be honest, I really like and I hope he doesn't want it cut too much.)

I was very happy to see him wheel in on Friday night!

He was ready for snacks...

....and a good dinner!

While he took a nap I did a little reading and spotted this wonderful bird which Rick told me was a flicker. There were two of them  at least. This one was high-up but so pretty. And very chatty.

Then came the fireworks. We were one of the few counties or areas to have them here in Michigan because they shoot them off over the lake. The boats gathered early on and the lake parties started. (Fortunately the good neighbors on one side have a fun group but not obnoxious!)

They weren't bad this year but you know, after awhile they got boring.

I remember when they were the most exciting thing in the world. Now I think mostly about the cat quivering in the linen cabinet.  I wonder what the flickers thought of it.

Ah well. The third went out with a bang. Today is the fourth -- I suspect Lizzie will be back in the cupboard tonight.

 I'm a fortunate woman. I'm here at the lake. I can isolate easily. Rick made it safely. We have food in the fridge for two weeks. And hopefully most of the crazy people with their own fireworks will go home tomorrow afternoon, the lake will be calm and quiet again. There is much for which to be thankful.

Things are looking up!

Postcards from the Lake: A Jolly Fourth

Finally! The lake! And just in time for the Fourth. Lizzie spent most of the evening in the linen closet but the "real" fireworks were great. (I wasn't so thrilled with the "independent" versions! Too close!

We got here early in the week. There is nothing better than that first grilled out dinner up north!

That first night's sunset was pretty fabulous!

Of course there is loads of work to be done on the house. We accomplished quite a bit while Rick was here and I have a rather long list myself!

But it looks like summer! Flowers and lakes and all things good.

My cousins were here for the holiday. Rick was glad to have David help us wrangle out a problems in a NYTimes crossword!

After too many years, we connected with their daughter, Heather, who was here with her friend Mike, a great guy! Good to see another generation at the old family cottage down the way.

And we celebrated Bonnie's birthday!

I made the wonderful Swedish visiting cake from Marie's blog for the celebration. It's super easy and was a real hit!

Then came time for the fireworks, which were on the sixth. We have a ringside seat, right across the lake from where they shoot them off.

And yes, they were terrific. (Note the crescent moon in the sky!)

I leave you with another sunset.

They're pretty lovely up here!

Sharing with:  Best of the Weekend    

Martha's Vineyard: Sunsets and Fireworks

Ah, leaving Nantucket. Loading up the ferry boat -- it was like the line at Disney World! But once again we went to the upper deck (after all, the hair can't get any worse than it already was!) and enjoyed the sights of Nantucket Harbor.

Most of those sights involved large yachts!

Given our travel time of the year and the fact that we were on the far east of the east coast, we expected a sunset cruise and the evening light was rich and golden.

Along the way, we noticed this boat with loads of people on it. That looked fun, too! Maybe next time.

We were pleased to strike up a conversation with Frank from New Jersey, and his son, James. We learned he was on the Board of Governors at Rutgers and since both his university and our local school, Michigan State, are in the Big Ten, there was lots to talk about!

And then came the sunset.

Well, what can I say. Headed straight into it, beautiful skies. Glorious.

Going, going, gone.

It was dark when we pulled into Oak Bluffs harbor, lights sparkling. We could have headed home, but no!

We had a destination, a slam-bang, big noise finale to our lovely day!

We made our way to the boardwalk where we had a ringside seat!

And settled in for the big show!

Well, Oak Bluffs, you sure know how to put on a good fireworks celebration!

And, you also know how to offer a great finale to our last full day of vacation.

But our plane doesn't leave till late tomorrow -- so there's still a little more fun to come!

Vacation Journal

Yes, I arrived at the lake for vacation! And yes, someone was there before me.

Rick (who had ridden his bike up north over two days) and I spent our first day and a half cleaning up squirrel poop and more.

The little rascal ate a pillow, blanket, mattress pad and every piece of kleenex in the house -- and what it didn't eat, it left behind!

Rick was very tired. But he had a sweet bed buddy to purr him to sleep for his nap!

One of our favorite moments was the arrival of Greg! It was a joy to have him around for a bit!

We truly let go while we were there. Having Greg around to watch paint (I know -- but it's fascinating) and learn about his new projects was an unexpected bonus.

At night, he and Rick explored some guitar music and Greg introduced Rick to Spotify!

He looked very dapper as he took his farewell!

Of course, Lizzie had some dislocation issues.

She was a great traveler, nary a peep from her cat carrier. But upon arrival, she was relatively anti-social.

Guess the trip wore her out, too!

For me, it was fun just to loaf!

I read three books (some of which will be reviewed here or on Chopsticks and String) and chilled out. Sometimes reading in the sun, sometimes the shade, sometimes the porch, sometimes in bed. Didn't matter -- it was nice to read and not feel guilty about doing something else.

Yes, everything tastes better on the grill -- especially when you are sharing it with your family! It was fun to have my cousins there, and with them, Herbie, dog extraordinare! He and Lizzie got on fine. It shocked us all.

It was fun sharing birthday dinner, complete with a newly painted table (accomplishment -- I've been eyeing that white metal table too long. Here it is covered up, but you can see its pretty blue legs!)

Rick did most of the cooking on this trip, but I helped!

 

And a trip to the farm market yielded great fruit.

We enjoyed fireworks on July 6 (go figure -- guess they were waiting for a Saturday.)

As always, they were just lovely.

There were bike rides for Rick.

Beautiful sunsets.

Pretty tables.

And bad news -- at the end of the trip we discovered how our little friend had entered the house.

We'd long had this covered by a plank with a tarp (and I do mean LONG had it covered). Now we have to figure out how to fix it.

And I was doing so well with the home equity loan payoff!