Life in the Bristolwood

This afternoon, the kids went to a graduation party for one of their friends.  He is the same age as Michelle and was also home-schooled.  He already must have a year-and-a-half of college credits,  as he was attending some college while doing his schoolwork two years ago. This past year, he attended college full time.  He is a very industrious young man and I am pretty sure he will succeed at anything he puts his hand to!

After dropping the kids off, we had about five hours to spend doing whatever we wanted. Mark suggested that we head down to Bath.  We had left the Scotties home, so Mark and I were free to do whatever we wanted.  Mark has been thinking lately that perhaps a toy hauler (basically a camper with storage to carry our ATV’s) might be more sensible than our camper.  We spoke with a salesman and then decided to go on another adventure.

I thought it might be fun to drive to  Hammondsport, a tiny town located on Keuka Lake, another of the eleven Finger Lakes.  As we drove through the business district of Bath, I noticed this beautiful church. It is made entirely of stone….even the steeple is stone. I had never  noticed that before and I think it is rather unusual!

I’m not exactly sure what the settings are on the GPS, but oh my! Instead of going down familiar highways, the GPS took us on back-roads….we were traveling down some dirt roads and off-the-beaten-path hillsides! We might have been just a bit leery when the last road to Hammondsport was called “Winding Staircase Road”, but we were feeling adventurous. This road was extreme! It wound back and forth like ribbon candy. Mark said out west these roads are called switchbacks. At one point, we were looking out over Keuka Lake and the view was so marvelous!

And, after what seemed like a 45 degree descent, we were in the village of Hammondsport.

Hammondsport is right on the water, so we drove over and parked near a little park.  We also found the Keuka Maid was parked there! The Keuka Maid is the boat that cruises the lake, just as our Canandaigua Lady does.  The one BIG  difference is that this particular boat majorly dwarfs the Lady!

As the afternoon was progressing and it was getting closer to the time we were to pick the kids up, we began our way towards home. Mark decided to take another way that we never travel.  Instead of traversing through long hilly roads, this route followed along valleys. We saw some gorgeous countryside with farms and pretty rolling hills all along the way.

At one point, we passed through a little village called Avoca. We had never seen the village business district before, so we took a little diversion and discovered a cute little place! As the GPS redirected us back onto the highway, we came across the most magical little motel!

Yes, called the “Caboose Motel”, it is possible to actually spend the night in a caboose. Can you imagine the fun this would be to a little boy? (although I suppose the little fellow would be so wound up, he would barely sleep!)

We picked the kids up and then headed for home. Mark took the low road that leads past Woodville.  I asked if he would stop at the boat launch.  I wanted to see if the eagle was there.   As he pulled in,  I got so excited by the sight of the eagle….He asked how in the world I could see the bird from the road?

Well, for those of us “in the know”, we happen to know that the eagle likes to sit in the trees at the south end of the lake and just look out over the area! If you expand the photo below and really squint your eyes, if you look dead center (between the cattails) you will see a white “spot” in the colorful leaves of the tree in the distance. The white spot just happens to be the head of the eagle!

Oh how I longed to drag that kayak out from the back of the pickup for just one quick trip out to see my friend the eagle…I am sure anyone  standing nearby would never think it odd to see a woman in a sundress kayaking through lily pads, after all….but I would never want to spoil the mystique. I am quite certain that most of the folks launching their boats have no idea about the eagle!

I admit it. It was not really a baptism,  but a nasty tumble!

Mark has been enjoying seeing me have so much fun with our little kayaks.  I have been experiencing a small but somewhat annoying problem in the form of hip pain that runs down my legs.  This only happens when we kayak….as soon as I am out of the little craft and walking about a bit, it leaves.  The most frustrating  part of this is that it happens after being out on the water after only about an hour.

Mark also knew that I had really wanted a canoe so much.  So, he drove us up to Irondequoit Bay late this morning so I could try out a couple of different canoes. There is a paddling business located right on the bay that allows perspective customers to try out various canoes and kayaks to see what is best for individual needs.

The first canoe was one I had been eyeing for some time.  The young girl who was waiting on us got it set up and grabbed both a canoe paddle as well as a kayak paddle for me to try. Not remembering exactly how to get into a canoe, she explained it.  She said she would hold the canoe to stabilize it for me as I got in.  I tried so hard to carefully follow her instructions when…..SPLASH!

Yes, I went over the side of the canoe, tipping myself right into the water. The poor girl called out…..was I okay? I laughed, totally embarrassed, and assured her I was fine. Or, was I? As I struggled to get back onto the dock, I felt my feet sinking deeper and deeper into MUCK!  Argh!!! I  plopped myself back up onto the dock and giggled, feeling like such a dope! The girl thanked me profusely.  She told me that once someone was getting into their craft, fell over and grabbed her, pulling her along with them! That helped with some of my embarrassment and if the water had not smelled so terribly, I would not have minded the dousing, actually! As it was, today was dreadfully hot and humid and the wet attire felt some better!

 I did try out that canoe as well as one other.  I then took out a kayak.  When I came back, the salesgirl was speaking with Mark and there was no one around. Just to redeem myself,  I skillfully removed myself from the kayak with no problem.  Because a couple was trying out another kayak and had it “parked” in the only place where craft wouldn’t wander out into the bay,  I had to get out in a different spot.  I couldn’t leave the kayak alone,  so I bent over and lifted it onto the dock with my right hand.  Michelle and the girl saw the bright yellow kayak going over on its right side as I lifted it, and they raced down the hill, thinking I had taken yet another plunge.  They were pleasantly surprised and amazed at my skill! Phew….redeemed, at last!

Thee bay is located only about one mile, as the crow flies, from my mother-in-law’s home. We had planned on going to her house to do a couple of things for her, so we left the paddling place and were about to leave the bay area when I asked Mark to pull into another spot to see if I could see the swan family we had seen earlier as we were paddling.

While we were paddling, this family came right near us. If only I would have had my camera. They were so close….now I had to settle on long-distance photos!

As I was photographing the swans, a duck and goose came right up to me to see what I was doing!

While Mark and the kids were doing some tasks for my mother-in-law, I wandered around her yard with my camera.  I stood for a good fifteen or twenty minutes in front of her impressive Rose of Sharon bushes watching bumblebees and honey bees working away. It was so funny watching, as they would enter into the flowers, work their way deeply into the flower and then reappear with yellow pollen covering their entire bodies!

We didn’t get back home until nearly seven.  I had received twenty-one boxes of supplies for the business, so the kids and I brought those all in and then we ate a bite.  I finally trudged up the stairs,  anxious to remove the Irondequoit Bay muck from my body.  As I disrobed, I could not believe the color of my white (?) underclothing. They were now gray! 

Ah, a good bathing never felt quite so good!

If you have read this blog with any regularity at all,  you know that one of my great passions is photography.  I have always loved taking pictures.  I remember when I was eleven years old,  I was so disappointed when I didn’t get a camera for Christmas.  That is, until my dad came into the living room with a load of Christmas presents that he and my mom had hidden away!

I was so totally thrilled when I opened the yellow box with a Kodak Instamatic Camera with the neat little “cube” flash!  I loved that camera and it really whet my appetite for photography.  I only wish I would have pursued my love in spite of what my guidance counselor in junior high school told me.  Why did I not stand up and prove her wrong? Why did I recoil like an injured animal and retreat with no “spunk”?

Well,  I am now satisfying my passion via this blog. Here, I can take pictures and put them up for all to see! Even if they are bad, everyone is so polite, they tell me they are good! And, while I am at it, I can write to my heart’s content….another passion squelched by a misguided (or, misguiding) counselor.  While I am at it, why did the junior high school have an elderly frustrated old maid working as a guidance counselor, shaping the future of youngsters, anyway?  And, yes, I can say that now because this is my blog, my platform, and my party!!!

So, let the party begin!

This afternoon, Ben and I went out with our little inflatable kayaks.  Yeah, that is probably another “funny-ism” people could laugh at aboout me. After all, how many women are out riding about on a little “blow-up” toy with their kids? Ha, ha! The joke is on them, because I am seeing things I only dreamed of seeing! And, because Mark has encouraged my photographic addiction interest, I am now toting my little Panasonic Lumix very carefully with me on my outings. Such was the case today…

(trying SO hard to remain calm here…..)

Here are my offerings, and possibly one of my finest and BEST sets, EVER! Do remember that I am using a  little point-and-shoot camera. The Nikon is too heavy, too expensive, just too “too” to carry out with me!

Please enjoy, and I would LOVE to hear your comments…….(I am so excited!!!) I will shut up now and won’t say another word until I see the comments! (I promise!)

 After looking at the Extreme Home Makeover site,  we drove down (a very short distance) to Seneca Lake.  The downtown business section of Geneva is located just a bit north of the lake.  This small city has to be numbered amongst the prettiest in the US.  It is also home to two small colleges.

The hotel shown in the photos is a Ramada Inn.

No further words are needed.

The day before yesterday,  Mark heard a story on the news that a family in Geneva, New York,  was getting an Extreme Home Makeover! I was so excited and when Mark asked what I would like to do for my birthday, I said I would love to see where this was being done. Geneva is only about thirty miles from our home,  so we decided it would be a fun adventure!

The family receiving the makeover is a husband, wife, and four children.  The husband was training to be a boxer several years ago, when an accident left him with a broken back, ending his boxing career.  He attended college and went to work as a  high school counselor where he met many kids with lots of problems.  He then decided to teach boxing as an encourgement for some of these kids.  From there, he has trained many kids, including some olympic hopefuls! In an effort to help repay this family who has given to their community, their 150 year old house was completely leveled, and will now be replaced with a brand-spanking new one, complete with a small boxing gym in the backyard!

This bus was evidence I was “in the neigborhood”!

Trucks were lined up everywhere with building materials ready to go!

This fancy restroom was located a short distance from the home site……

And of course, the restroom was “decorated” complete with white lights on artificial plants.

I was unable to get very good pictures,  as there were so many people watching! Hate to say it, but as an extremely short person,  it seemed (as usual) all the tall people were in the front, blocking those of us who are height-challenged (please realize I am teasing here!) making it really hard to see much of anything!

There seemed to be a “sea” of blue Extreme Home Makeover tee shirts, waiting to spring forth into action!

I was told by one spectator that the green walls below are part of the boxing gym….

I only watched for a few minutes,  as Mark and the kids were waiting in the truck. It was amazing, though….there was such an air of excitement and anticipation!

This morning, while looking for information about this makeover, I came across a site where information was given and people were allowed to comment.  As I read through the comments,  I couldn’t believe the things people were saying. Some of the comments were downright shameful. 

I have such a hard time watching the show on ABC, as every show, I break down and cry. I guess that is one of the reasons why I don’t watch television. I get so emotionally involved…too much so for my own good, I am afraid. I also have a hard time, as I wish there was someone doing “mini-makeovers” for a small cost. We have so many issues with our own home,  which Mark built about seventeen years ago with some help from my brother, Randy, and my dad.  Unfortunately, a family of four living on a meager income cannot afford many repairs and “fixes”. But, that is another story!!! I am pretty able-bodied, and am grateful I can do much of the work and that the kids can help!

Congratulations to the Hill family in Geneva. They have been sent to Cancun, Mexico, for a week while their new home progresses. I cannot wait to see the completed new home!

First of all, thank you to those who dropped by and left good wishes! I really appreciate it!

It is well after midnight and we just returned home a short time ago.  We had a very busy day and I had a good birthday.  We did a good bit of wandering and ended up fairly far from home.

While visiting the north end of Seneca Lake,  I came upon this interesting family of ducks. The day was not chilly, but it was the sort of day that the warmth of the sun felt good. As I walked past these ducks,  I suddenly realized that the duck farthest out on the culvert was the mother. If anyone came near the walk above their little refuge, she would squawk and cause the youngsters to stir.

I will post about my day later on…I am so tired right now!

Today was the last day that my  brother, Randy, had off work.  Since tomorrow is my birthday, my parents wanted to come visit to celebrate and they would pick Randy up as well.  We got up this morning and got ready to go kayaking since we have been having so much fun going out.

We went down to Woodville…we saw that the wind was a little brisk (and it was downright *chilly*!) but we decided to go on out, wind or not! We paddled our way across the lake and then began our way down East River. You can see the wind generators from the mouth of the river……

Making our way down the river, we could see how the foliage is beginning  to show a bit of color…

The views surrounding us are so fantastic. Every direction is beautiful. We did see  a couple of Great Blue Herons, but I could not get the camera out fast enough.  The herons seemed a lot more timid today than when we saw them last time.

Randy and Ben are much stronger paddlers than Michelle and I. They wanted to keep on going down the river, but Michelle and I decided to take another branch of the river back towards the lake.

BIG mistake!!! Michelle and I began our adventure to the west. Then we made a turn and headed north. This is when *it* began….*it* being wall-to-wall lily pads. If I never see one of these again,  it might be all too soon!

Michelle, being the forever optimist, began humming the theme song for Indiana Jones as we w-e-d-g-e-d our way through these tangled messes of frustration! We came across a very interesting structure….perhaps a duck blind…which Michelle went forth to explore.

As we worked (emphasis on the word WORKED) our way through the pads, the muscles in my arms began to burn like irons. “Michelle,” I managed to get out between gasps for air, “we need to turn back!”

Ahead of us lie hundreds, thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of thick lily pads!

At this point, I was fortunate that my Michelle tends to be of good cheer….otherwise, I think I might have been smacked right in the head with a paddle!

We worked our way back and it was much easier, as the wind was working with us.  As we headed to the eastward turn, we entered water smooth as glass! We were able to make some good headway, and as we were getting closer to the northward leg, we heard Randy and Ben.  The four of us worked our way back toward the lake.  Since the river zigzags, we found ourselves tormented by wind and rough water when heading north, but calm, smooth water when heading east or west. 

Michelle had a bit of trouble with sore arms, so we told Randy and Ben to go ahead and we would catch up. I was getting very tired and was glad to slow the pace a little!

I was so disappointed that I hadn’t been able to capture a heron. I had taken my little Panasonic camera along with me and just felt so crushed…..

It was as we entered the mouth of the river at the lakes edge that Michelle yelled for me to look up.

That, dear reader, happens to be  an eagle! Yes, we had an eagle swooping and soaring so majestically above our heads.  Frustration began to mount again as I stopped my kayak and tried so hard to photograph this fabulous bird. (Michelle told me later that she felt so bad as I was nearly reduced to tears because the bird moved so swiftly and the waves in the water were bouncing me about like a fisherman’s bobber)

The eagle dove low and landed in a tree right at the river’s mouth. I zoomed in all the way and when I stopped my kayak, the waves began spinning me around.  I twisted around and aimed as best I could…..the white spot near the center of the photo is the bird’s head.

The water was choppy and the current was taking us southwest. We had to fight against this to actually go west.  Here is a perspective I have never done before…looking northward from the south end of the lake, ON the lake!

And here is the little community that is called Woodville. From the lake….

We got back, after  spending about two hours paddling. We loaded up our boats and equipment and headed home. At home, I had a message that a customer wanted to pick up an order, so Michelle prepared it while I took a quick bath to warm up and then we got it ready to go.

My parents arrived with a pizza and wings a short time later.  My customer came and grabbed his order, then we all went up on the porch and ate and had a great time visiting! It was a chilly 60 degrees, but we had so much fun just talking and laughing.

After eating, my mother brought out a bundle of gifts. Today is Mark and my eighteenth wedding anniversary, so we opened a gift of beautiful bath towels and dish towels. Then I opened  a blouse (one of my favorite colors!) and the most terrific antique butter dish….

I also received some money from my parents and Randy. Yes, color me spoiled! We visited until about 5:30, when my parents, Randy, and little Fritz (who turned one year old yesterday!) left for home.

What a most excellent day! The weather was my very own made-to-order variety. I have spent many of my birthdays feeling so overwhelmed by heat, but this day…..ah, what a grand one!!!!

To say “hello”!  This little squirrel played a game of “peekaboo” with me this morning!

Randy showed me this fungus growing on the lawn…when I mowed on Monday, there was NO sign of this growing. Wow….it surely came up quickly!

We all got ready to go out kayaking this morning. We decided to stop at a county park located not too far away. We got the boats out, inflated them, then went out in the big pond.  We went paddling into the wind, and it was fairly tough!

The pond we were in is 100 acres and it became a real challenge paddling there! When we began, the wind was blowing but not too wildly. We went around the pond and as we went, the winds began to increase in velocity. Although the wind wasn’t that powerful, we began to have some trouble moving in the water. Add to the wind the fact that the pond had seaweed all throughout….

We got out and went to another place to check it out. The water was not smooth, nor inviting. We decided to do a bit of shopping instead! We are hoping for less wind tomorrow!

Everyone was up early this morning, anticipating some kayaking fun. We loaded up the truck and were off to Woodville. When we arrived, there were many boat trailers parked in the parking lot, but there was very little boating activity in the area. The boats typically launch from the (free) launch located there, then cruise up to the north end of the lake.

Michelle opted out of kayaking again today, so Randy, Ben, and I inflated our kayaks and headed out into the lake. The water was smooth as glass, just like it was last evening.

We paddled out with ease but realized that the lake was heavily laden with seaweed and waterlillies that we had to work around in a few areas. We had planned to paddle about half a mile, directly across the lake, then northward. As we paddled, however, we came upon the mouth of a river called East River…..it was so intriguing, we decided to enter the river for an explore…..as we approached, it felt as though we were entering a secret passage…heading into a new world unfamiliar to us!

We paddled along on a surface that was so smooth and glassy, it was amazing….we passed two kayaks, and later, a pair of canoes, and even saw some men fishing from a small boat.  Oh, as we turned into the mouth of the river, we could clearly see the wind generators sitting high up on the hills south of Naples!

As we glided along, we passed the most awesome sight! Not more than ten or fifteen feet away, a beautiful Great Blue Heron observed us as we passed by. I longed for my camera! I could have taken such cool pictures….this bird had seen many an unthreatening watercraft pass by, and showed little concern as we ooooed and ahhhed!

We went deeper and deeper into the river, filled with a sense of adventure. Cattails lined the banks of the river, and although it seemed as though we were far from civilization,  we did pass by others who also enjoyed the mystique of this region. It was only when we saw the fishing boat in the distance that we decided to turn around.

I felt so overwhelmed by this new place that I rested against my seat, face towards the clouds and sky, just taking in the whole essence of my surroundings. It was then that I caught sight of a large bird flying above. I thought it as perhaps the heron, but as I watched, I could see that the wings and head carriage were not those of a heron. It had to be the eagle we had been told about! 

We had been out paddling for over an hour when we arrived back at the launch. I was having a little trouble with my legs hurting and driving me crazy, so I hopped out and told Randy and Ben I couldn’t go out again. They had a cold soda, then headed back out without me.  I was fine once I walked around again….I think sitting with my feet straight out in front of me for longer than an hour is just really hard!

While Randy and Ben were out, I got out my camera to capture a few photos around the lake…

The lake was so smooth, I captured the clouds reflected off the water!

About an hour after they left, Randy and Ben returned.

This is one of the inflatable kayaks…..

Getting folded up to place in the truck…..

And ready to go out for tomorrow’s adventure!

We went back home to change clothes. Ben and Michelle got ready for a picnic with one of their friend’s church. The picnic was at Ontario County Park which I showed last September on this blog.

Randy wanted to see the lookout, and today’s atmospheric conditions were perfect for a couple of good photos…..

After leaving the park, Mark, Randy, and I went up to the mall about 35 miles away. We wandered around some, ate at the food court, then headed back towards home. It was about 7:15 when we picked the kids up. Another full day….and, weather permitting (again) tomorrow promises to be another full day!

We were so busy, we all nearly forgot that today was Mr. Murphy’s third birthday! Happy Birthday my dear little Scottie lad!!!

When I look back at all the ground I covered today, I am awestruck that I am still awake! It was a very busy day for me.  I got up and raced through some housework and laundry, then mowed the lawn, trimmed bushes, and weeded the gardens. The lawn was a total mess, as the last time I mowed the entire thing was weeks ago!

After mowing, we decided to run on up to Canandaigua to go kayaking.  Michelle was too tired to go, so Ben, Randy, and I went out.  I wore my snug-fitting (corset?) life jacket, and I am pleased to say that for the first time, I didn’t end up with the thing around my ears! (This is the vest I tried on in the wholesale club to test out!)  Finally, I have a vest I can wear and not fight to keep it in its proper place!

We went out on the lake and YIKES! There were many, many boats anchored at the head of the lake. We had to look to the left, right, forward, and behind. I was a little distraught at the number of young-looking kids out drinking on the lake. It was “only” beer, but beer can still get people drunk! It looked like some of these kids must come from quite wealthy homes, as several boats looked very expensive. It would be hard to imagine kids in their late teens or early 20′s owning such impressive watercraft.

There was a good breeze blowing on the lake, and we all had a little trouble working against the wind and waves. We noticed that other kayaks were just coasting as paddling was a monumental task! We were only out for maybe forty-five minutes, but that was enough. The waves from the wind were fun to ride, but we had to keep our wits about us so as not to get in the way of power boats.

We got home again at almost seven, so I sprinted once again to fix a meal. I grilled chicken that I had marinated all day, fixed scalloped potatoes (from a box) with some turkey ham mixed in, and heated some corn on the cob left over from the other day. We ate out on the porch and it was fun, although when the sun went over the hill to the west, we had to don our jackets!

I finished up cleaning the kitchen  at about 8:30 and felt as though I was going to fall down and not get back up again!!!

Oh, on our way home from Canandaigua, Mark went down to Woodville at the south end of the lake. We could scarcely believe our eyes. The water was smooth as glass….no waves, no rough water. Just a surface so smooth, it looked nearly surreal! We plan to go there tomorrow morning, weather permitting.

And, about those garden visitors! As I was working my way through snipping and clipping the side garden, a pretty little moth came and landed on a Coneflower.  I called out to Michelle to bring my camera to me…I was sure by the time she came with the camera, the little moth would be long gone; to my surprise, it lingered on.

While working on getting the moth, a little bumblebee came along. The one thing I have noticed about bumblebees this year is that there seem to be far fewer around than the past couple of years. I also notice that they are smaller in size than in previous years.

Tomorrow looks like another busy day, but I guess we must make the most of the little bit of summer that reamains!