Beautiful sky, beautiful fire

We took a nice long walk just before sunset, and when we got back to the cottage and walked out on the dock, this was what we saw. Many, many banks of steel blue clouds (Abraham Lincoln put in a brief appearance. He seems to make the cloud scene quite frequently), and bright golden sunlight. A few pink reflections toward the south and east.

Inside, after vying with Harper briefly for the right to brush Nancy's hair, Steve dropped off for another nap. We enjoyed the fire together, as an extended family, once again missing Dante, who would have been our fire master if he had been here.

More drawing, more napping

Steve has a fast-paced life. He works long hours in an environment that calls for him to be on his toes at all times, and ready to play any kind of role leading to the successful presentation of other people's work.*

So it made me happy that he had time to do absolutely nothing while here at the cottage. Our cottage motto is, "Do what you feel like doing," and Steve - the whole Wildern clan, in fact - got it absolutely right.

His nap was also useful to Harper, who was putting the final touches on her colored pencil-drawing of Bennie the dog.

After the drawing was done, the nap continued.

*Steve is theater operations dean for Wayne County Community College district.

Uncommon Flicker

This Common Flicker was shaking off the effects of an abrupt, flight-ending SMACK into the side window of the front porch. He lay face...er....beak down in the dirt for a time, breathing but not moving. After a while, he sat up and practiced turning his head right and left. Ratchet right, two, three; ratchet left, two, three...CHECK. Head and neck still work. A moment later, he had hopped onto the side of the planter, presumably to test his ability to attach to a vertical surface. CHECK.

And not long after, he flew off into the trees between our lot and Mark's. Happy ending. But if birds get headaches, this bird had one.

Serendipity

Funny how things work out. It just so happened that I was up here at the lake all by myself, and it just so happened that Steve suddenly became free this weekend, and it just so happened that Nancy thought to contact me...the result was a spontaneous visit with Harper, Steve, Nancy, and Bennie. Bennie is the blond on four legs.

Wishing Dante were here, too, but a lovely moment on the dock none-the-less.

Shorts and a fisherman's sweater. Tres chic, but what is the fisherman wearing?

Greeeeeen Acres is the place to be...

In this picture, Nancy is working hard to keep Harper's model in place. See the drawing in the cottage book.

Bennie tried out both kayaks, but ultimately stayed ashore with Harper and me.

Nancy made eggs and bacon for breakfast, and after Steve and Nancy's kayak adventure, we all ate pasta salad while collaborating on a big pot of vegetable soup for dinner.

Right now, all four Wilderns are enjoying a favorite cottage pasttime: naps.

Clear for the moment

There was - and still is - a lot of green and yellow on the radar today. About 1:30 we had a severe thunderstorm warning: winds up to 50 mph and quarter sized hail that never materialized. Looking at Intellicast earlier I could see how we slipped through the middle of some pretty serious action in other places around the upper lower. Looking at it now I can see we won't escape the action much longer.

But for the moment, it is clear, and I can see the Milky Way smudged across the sky. And so many stars.

(photo snagged off a random website)

A good day at the ballpark....

Photo courtesy of the guy on the right

Kenny was lucky enough to get to attend a Tigers game with John - sorry, Sharon, too bad you couldn't make it. Here is John's account of the day (on his blog).

Good puzzle, but where's the Coors?

This is a detail view of the puzzle Ken just finished. Notice I didn't say "we" - I wasn't much help. Of course, the subject matter was more him than me, wouldn't you agree?

The puzzle was a good one, with one major flaw: no Coor's label.

Today I started on the puzzle Mark and Rosie Mehaffey gave us, which is a reproduction of one of his paintings.

Trade-offs

When fall comes a calling, there are certain compensations. Although I fiercely insist on labeling this season "late summer," sooner or later there is a cool rainy day, beautiful in its own right, that helps me adjust to the color shift from turquoise and blue to red and gold and remember the benefits of autumn.

In the photo above, at the right, you can see the leather glove of the master fire-maker. "I split some nice dry kindling for you and girls, too" he says.

I just realized that my evening is all mapped out: fire in the fireplace, the last of the birthday wine, and a book on the couch.

Birthday

Kind of a special birthday today - 60 years old in a year when my son turned 30 and my father turned 90. Ken and I celebrated the last leg of the 30-60-90 year at the Hack-Ma-Tack in Cheboygan. Although we didn't get to see Peg Smith (from last year's Hack-Ma-Tack birthday dinner) we had a wonderful time and again marveled at our dumb luck, starting with the day we met and continuing up through the present moment. As we drove back to the cottage in the convertible - top down - I realized I could be hit by a meteor right now and in my last seconds on earth still feel I had it all.

More Privy Progress

Ken has "The Privy" in great shape! This will be a great place to store our yard games, umbrellas, water toys, and hula hoops. The new roof will keep things nice and dry.

Grandpa suggested we dig a hole in the ground under the shed and install a two-holer, but we think we'll stick with storage.

New cedar fascia 

New roof (including new underlayment)

New hooks

New floor boards

New sign

Ken Zen from the lake

I love the look of white drapes gently blowing from an 80 degree breeze off a gorgeous lake.

I love the sound of relentless waves splashing on rocks.

I love the smell of freshly cut rough sawn cedar.

Though still a danger, I love how dead poison ivy leaves look.

I love our new shower, so much, that I use it every other day when my wife's not here.

I don't like bee stings, just one yesterday - I'm fine after killing 2 of them.

I don't like hitting my thumb with a hammer - 2nd time yesterday, 3rd time and I go back to toy hammers and glue.

A little more work and the above will be another fine poem/limerick.

Other stuff,

I love my wife.

I love my life.

I love my kids and Ben.

from kenny

(from an email Ken sent me yesterday)

Happy Hour (literally)

At the end of the afternoon, after returning from a shopping trip into town, I suggested we take a happy hour cruise. It was gorgeous, with a nice cool breeze and lots of sun.

To quote Dan Smith, "It don't get no better than this."