Monday, July 28, 2008

Summer's Best





Another beautiful summer's day on Lake Carlyle! Basically, I'm a summertime gal despite the intense Midwestern humidity and high temperatures. It's the gallons of sunshine Mother Nature throws our way that lightens up my life and plasters a smile on my face! Nothing is better than relaxing on our newly built backyard deck with a current best-seller such as Swan Peak by James Lee Burke. The flowers are in full bloom and show a majestic array of bright, bold colors! My little herb garden, planted and transported from the Florida Keys (with the help of my sister, Jan in North Port!) are doing fabulous. The dill plant stands beyond the four foot mark! It and the rosemary come in handy when grilling the Alaskan salmon fillets.
Our bird friends have been visiting daily. Along with the multitude of yellow finches come the fleeting hummingbirds performing their acrobatics. We have two first-timers to our home--the Baltimore orioles and a houseful of wrens. Their eggs should hatch soon! Such a sweet birdsong they have! Between my book, the birds, and the blooms, I've been enjoying heaven on earth!
"The thing that a lot of people cannot comprehend is that Mother Nature doesn't have a bullet with your name on it, she has millions of bullets inscribed with 'to whom it may concern”

Monday, July 21, 2008

Pink and Pirate Day !





What a weekend! Thursday Larry and I put our boat in the lake for a day of fishing. We thought we'd pick up tons of white bass; the weather has been extremely hot and the bass were running! We got on the lake, but within two hours, off we came. The pesky Japanese beetles swarmed so bad they ran us off the lake. Never has that happened before! We'll be trying again this week.

Friday Goob and Jo invited us on their houseboat for a day of cruising. Perfect weather for it; we anchored in a cove where the beetles were not to be found! Great day. Got home around 11:00 p.m.

Saturday was the big day of celebration--our annual "Pink 'n Pirate Day" on the lake. I really don't know how it originated; who knows what we concoct when drinking! Anyway, fun was had by all. No storms, but hot weather. We party-ed in Allen's Branch for the day. After docking and arriving home, we hopped in the hottub for a couple of hours; then we headed down the street for the campfire. No campfire, though; too hot. So we just party-ed without one. Gary/Carla as well as Larry P. stayed as our houseguests. On Sunday morning after breakfast, they left.

Sunday Neal W. and I drove to Nokomis for an afternoon deck party at our former Superintendent's home. She has taken a new job in Arcola and will be moving this fall. My Larry was just too pooped out to party some more. Got back and then finally relaxed on the couch, watching a movie. Felt good, too. Come Monday it'll feel really good to get back in our normal routine of day-to-day living!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

A Week's Vacation

On July 4th week, the entire neighborhood of friends scheduled their vacations simultaneously. It has been twelve days of fun 'n games, both on and off the Lake. The Penwells, the Wuebbles, the Tegenkamps, and the other "Four Schurmans" made the week enjoyable for us, the only "retirees" actually living on the Lake. In between the inclement weather (with the spotty showers as well as a few storms) we did quite a bit of boating, barbeque-ing, and boozing! Someone once said, "Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life." How true that is!