This England: Exploring Bath

All things considered, we woke relatively rested for our first full day in Bath -- and a beautiful one it was. Rick decided it was a perfect day to rent a bike and go on a long ride. I decided to go into the city. Erika asked in the last post if we had a car available or used the bus. For us, it was the bus -- usually (with a couple of exceptions) a very reliable way to get around the area.

So on this morning, I hustled down to the bus, only to stand waiting and waiting. Finally, I wondered if I might be in the wrong place (or had just missed the one before, which is what I realized had happened). Hope and Anchor had turned their closed sign to open so I crossed back over and asked if I might get a cup of tea and a little advice.

This England -- Welcome to Bath!

One thing we knew for certain when planning our trip. If the cottage we stayed in during our last trip to Bath was still available, we wanted to rent it again and have a longer visit. It was, and we did! (This photo is from my walk in the area.)

At first we thought we might visit Dublin or Edinburgh first. But we decided to spend the whole first week of our holiday in Bath (Midford, actually, about three miles outside the city) and branch off from there. It was a smart idea. (See the travel tips at the end of this post.)

Re-Entry Is Hard!

We arrived home in the wee hours of Friday morning after spending a mostly sleepless night in Detroit with the kids, due to the time change and jet lag (which is still lagging). Finally, around 3:30 in the morning we decided to hit the empty expressways (which was very eerie) and get home. 

Bath, UK

All You Have To Do I Vote -- And Know Who or What You are Voting For

All you have to do is vote. For many of us, absentee ballots have arrived and in many states, early voting has begun or will shortly. Vote for whomever you choose, but remember this.

 

September Books

September was another "quiet" reading month. But it included two wonderful mysteries and a peek behind the royal curtain.

Hopping the Pond!

Rick and I are off for a bit. After my most stressful summer in years (ever?) we hope to get some real R&R in Bath, London and elsewhere in England! Hopefully, I haven't overpacked!

She's Back!

Look how the cat dragged in! She's back!

She came mewing at the front door about an hour ago. Rick heard her. Hungry and home. Thanks for all the comments on THIS POST. I'm graateful for your ideas, good thoughts, and prayers. Thank you, thank you.

 

 

 

Lizzie Is Missing

A quick post to alert you to something very sad that has happened -- and right before we leave on Wednesday for England.

My sweet Lizzie has disappeared. Vanished. Put on the cloak of invisibility. And I am frantic and bereft.

You Asked, I Answer!

Sometimes blog friends ask questions -- and I try to respond personally if I have an email for them, but otherwise, they sometimes end up in the ether! And lately, I've been negligent in responding to anyone (that will only get worse in October when I'll be on blog break!)

So, I thought I'd answer a few of them!

Here and There

The time leading up to our departure has been hectic. Loads of doc appointments, trips to the lake, time with family and friends. Here's a brief update.

Oops. Deleted Comments!

Oops. 

I accidentally deleted all my comments from September 1 on when I was deleting a bunch of spam messages (I'm hurrying too fast.) Sorry about that! They won't be reinstated (I have no idea how to find deleted comments) but they are appreciated and each was read!

UGH. I've got to slow down.  (My post on "Surprises at the Ditch" is below -- or next! Deer and egrets and herons -- oh my!)

Back Home -- Surprises at the Ditch

A gorgeous September day. Not too hot, not too cold. Goldilocks would love it. And, it was a perfect day to visit the ditch.

 

I didn't know what to expect but I was certainly surprised at seeing a pair of deer -- I think mother and young'un, in the distance. I never see deer during the day there, or very rarely. 

The Books of August

I was hoping to read a bit more in August but it just wasn't happening! Add to it that one book was close to 600 pages and I've come to the conclusion I shouldn't beat myself up about that! This month's books included a two historic fiction books (one based in biography, the other loosely on a factual incident) and a mystery by an author who surprised me.

 

Postcards from the Lake: Road Trip to Petoskey

Labor Day -- our last full day up north before we returned home for a bit. We started the day with a walk down to the public beach.

On the way back, Rick joined up with the fellows who own Bennethum's, the restaurant where we had enjoyed our birthday happy hour the night before. Of course, they talked wine!

Postcards From the Lake -- Hello, September

So, here we are. Early September. Time to start packing up. Summer is over, and though we will return to the cottage two or three more times, we have to admit, summer is over. 

Postcards From the Lake -- Summer is Ending

Summer may not officially end until mid-September but for me, Labor Day has always felt like the end of the season. Like so many, I used to judge time on when school started or classes began at the university, along with the cooler nights and shorter days. Those school days are long past -- the cooler nights and shorter days are still here (and getting cooler and shorter!) You can tell when out walking too -- the goldenrod is now out in glorious abundance!

Postcards from the Lake: Vintage Views

I've been writing Postcards from the Lake for a number of years, but long before I started, others were writing postcards, too.

I've been collecting postcards of the area around our cottage for years. While many of the spots wouldn't be recognizable now, some are very close! It's fun to try to figure out whose cottage was which!

Lake Break -- Some Family Time but Someone was Missing

We had a wonderful time during our trip to Minneapolis, but someone was missing from our family gathering. Rick's aunt Beth, the woman we were going to honor and remember, died earlier this summer. It was our time to remember her, to celebrate the joys of being with family and to cherish every moment spent together. Beth would have loved it.

Lake Break -- Home and Away

We left the lake knowing we had a quick, two-day turnaround at home before leaving for a memorial celebration of life in Minneapolis. Rick was playing guitar for a garden club luncheon and I had another set of birthday plans. My Cork Popper friend Barb invited friend Kate and me to lunch at her home. Barb is probably one of the best cooks I know, if not THE best. And she always does things so beautifully. It was no exception this day when she met us with a lovely wine served, as she said, in "Nick and Nora" glasses. (You probably recognize those names from "The Thin Man" movies. 

Postcards From the Lake -- Calm, Quiet, Lovely

Before we took a lake break and after the kids left, we still had time for some fun at the lake. C'mon in!

The day the kids left, we rapidly picked up the house and that evening welcomed friends Dick and Judy Winter for dinner as they journeyed home from a getaway.

Postcards From the Lake: Indoors and Out!

So, what do you plan when a six and a seven-year-old (along with their beautiful mom) descend on you? Well, when you're at the lake, there are no shortage of options! And no double-trouble!

Molly brought the boys up for a couple of days and fortunately, the sun was shining and the weather was warm! On the first afternoon, Rick took each of them out in the kayaks. It was their second time and the journeys weren't far!

Lake Break: Happy Belated Birthday to Rick!

I returned from art camp, excited to see Rick and hear how is bike hike went. (It was good!) Finally we would be able to celebrate his belated birthday! (Thanks to those who wished me one -- it's actually in mid-August but Kate and I celebrated early!)

The Books of July

July's book reading was pretty much non-existent but those I read were diverse and for the most part, worth the time.

 

Postcards From the Lake: Art Camp -- It All Comes to an End

Our two-person art camp wrapped up on a lovely day -- the kind that makes it hard to leave the lake. It was a productive thirteen days -- and a fun one!

Postcards from the Lake -- More Visitors, More Art!

We had our first no-art day (or at least, as I write this, the one day when neither of us did art). But there was a good reason. Absolutely grim porch weather (and that's where we work) kept us inside. That's changing as our temps return to normal and the rain and gloom is a thing of the past. 

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That doesn't mean we haven't been productive or having fun at our two-person art camp! The past few days have been very productive -- and also fun!

Postcards from the Lake: Art Camp's Special Visitor!

My friend Kate and I began our annual "art camp" holiday at the lake this week. For those who aren't familiar, there is no scheduled program. It's just the two of us, creating our own art, sometimes sharing a technique or video, and spending the rest of the time walking, reading, watching a video, maybe (if the weather is right) swimming. 

We kicked it off by getting some provisions at the farmer's market -- cherries, peaches and blueberries are hitting their stride and fabulous!

Postcards from the Lake: Walking Sights

Join me on a little walk around the cottage! It's a mix of things in the wild and those carefully cultivated by happy cottage owners.

One of the first things I see when I leave the house is a patch of tiger lilies in the woods. I don't know if anyone planted them there long ago or if they somehow migrated from someone's lawn. But they are lovely.

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.

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 -- North for the Fourth

June 29 was a cold, wet, rainy summer day. As soon as I was up and dressed, I fed Lizzie, picked her up from her bowl and tossed her into the cat cage for the ride north. She wasn't amused but it was a good grab and we were on our way. Several hours later we arrived -- still cold, west and drizzly but at our destination!

Lake life started on a cooler note, though due to pick up in the week to follow. Meanwhile it is good to get the car unpacked and settle in. The first thing I noticed when I drove in was the the fellow doing the yard had actually done it! Hooray!