Day 251: Chubby chippy

Resting on the deck between sets of laps, with my camera in my lap, I spotted one of our chippies gobbling birdseed and stuffing it into his cheeks.  Either a new family moved in to the neighborhood or Molly did not kill all of the resident chipmunks.  She watches for them constantly and hides under the hosta leaves waiting for them to make a mistake.

Another set of watchful eyes were on our bird feeders today.  Suddenly a huge gliding hawk flew by, panicking the doves and landed in the pine.  With the camera ready, I waited for it to return and in moments it landed with a great whoosh on a lower branch.  I snapped a couple shots and it flew higher in the oak tree.

It may be the last day warm enough to swim for hours so I did 300 lengths.  That gave me 6.7 miles for the week.  I added up all the laps from the summer thus far from June 9 to today and I swam 63 miles this summer!  That gives me a goal for next summer.  If the weather is as good as this summer, I should be able to hit 100 miles.

Day 250: Cable Quest

We spent much of the day trying to find a cable to connect the video camera to my MacBook Pro so I can download all of the Quest video.  We have boxes of cables, adaptors, and computer accessories, but we have no idea what most of them do.  After a fruitless trip to Best Buy, I ordered the correct adaptor on Amazon with express mail.  Now I can get down to the job.

The pool was glorious today and I was able to easily swim a mile.  There won't be many more fabulous days like today.

Day 249: Justin's birthday

Thirty-six years ago I gave birth to our first son at 8:14 pm.  After six weeks of bed rest and ten days in the hospital, we were so happy that Justin was born two weeks early.  Uncle Harry used to say that Justin was born "just in time" and he was right!   I wish we could be in NYC to spend this day with him, but we'll be there in just nine days.

Steve's favorite spot!

Are you taking my picture again, Mom!  NO!

Day 248: The heat breaks

Clouds filled the sky today and torrents of rain poured down.  It's not enough to break the drought, but it cooled the air and provided relief from the intense heat and humidity.  We took a trip into Buffalo and the return trip was hair-raising with driving rain, wind and fog.  However, it created the best sunsets that we've had all summer.

The college campus came alive in the last week.  From the top of Tin Man Hill, we can survey the entire campus.  Classrooms and studios are lit up, students are working and the soccer stadium is filled with scrambling players and cheering fans.  In the rain cooled evening, I snapped away but the photos are fuzzy and dim.

Day 247: Labor Day

At 90 degrees this was the warmest Labor Day since 1910!  We spent the day in our backyard retreat.  Tomorrow the new school year starts and we are finally comfortable with not returning to school.  It still feels strange, though.  We wish all our colleagues and students a happy and successful year.

Day 246: Walk in Burnham's Hollow

Another gorgeous day, warm and sunny, yet so few were outside enjoying the day.  We walked in Burnham's Hollow along the trail to the creek where Colin and April were married nearly four years ago.  One couple zipped by us on an ATV and a family followed us for a bit.  Only a trickle of water flows in the creek.  The undergrowth plants hang limply and crunch under our feet.  A few early autumn wildflowers are blooming.  Hopefully, Isaac will bring us some rain in the next few days.

The new Laona bridge!  

Day 245: Sept. 1

It took ten days to get back in shape after our cruise.  Last week, I reached only 4.5 miles, but this week I hit 6.4.  Course, we had lots of company last week and my time was limited.  Very few swimming days remain in the season and I will miss being able to walk out back and swim whenever I wish.  Paddy always likes to sit in the sun on the deck and today, he curled up in the loops of the hose.  Of course, as soon as I train the camera on him, he gets up and comes to me.