Life on the Bay

Plunge boldly into the thick of life,

and seize it where you will,

it is always interesting.
~ J. W. Von Goethe

M & I are off on a wild adventure. Through our business we were selected by American Express to do a national TV commercial for them.  It has been fast and crazy. The last couple of days we have been talking to the people in Hollywood every other minute. Wardrobe people are calling me at home, limo's are being sent. They want our logos, thoughts, and photos. Wow,,,,,,, we will be in Hollywood for three days on the set they have built for us. It's one of those true wild stories and hopefully I'll be able to let you know the whole inside scoop as it happens.

  Life is an adventure enjoy every minute.

The purpose of life,

after all,  is to live it,
to taste experience to the utmost,
to reach out eagerly and without fear
for newer and richer experience.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

ONE CANNOT THINK WELL,

LOVE WELL, SLEEP WELL,

IF ONE HAS NOT DINED WELL.

~  VIRGINIA WOOLF

Wednesday is race night at EYC and M & I have front row seats.  All the neighbors gather on the walkway to watch, enjoying the sights and sounds of the sails flapping in the wind. A glass of wine or two, and something nice to eat completes the preparations.

If you can make it down to the bay on a Wednesday night about 7 PM, the best spot is by the Pepsi Amphitheater. Just bring a picnic and your camera. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. 

When all the sailboats make there way back to their slips, the sailors start to celebrate or commiserate as the beers and stories start to flow. Be sure to hang around and watch as another glorious sunset goes down over the bay.

Never a ship sails out of the bay

but carries my heart

as a stowaway.
~ R M Montgomery

There is a way that nature speaks,

that land speaks.

Most of the time

we are simply not patient enough,

quiet enough,

to pay attention to the story.

~ L. Hogan

A ride around Presque Isle State Park always has its photo moments.  Even the wildlife shows the desire to just have fun and enjoy the park.  These geese are just hanging out enjoying the day at the soft ball field.This little guy just hung out while I took his picture. I think he was trying to tell me to  go play.... I've heard of playing chicken, but M & I thought this was a really bad idea for Mr. Turtle,,,after taking his photo M picked him up and carried him to the other side of the road...did he thank us,,,no,,, but he did move pretty fast into the bay and seemed to be happy about it. We love this park and always try to remember the cameras.

If You get the chance to visit, try to slow down your day.

Enjoy the small residents,,,and moments.

To find new things,

take the path you took yesterday.

  ~ J.  Burroughs

 

They call me

mellow yellow...

~ Donovan

  Some days living here just makes you think

of all the fun summer songs you sang

as kid driving in your first car!

The great man

is he who does not lose

his child's-heart.

~Mencius, Book IV

Here they come. One at a time or in squadrons. They are looking for M. They actually call him "Big M" because there is a little M on the beach, and also Big M is big.

 

They need help. They need someone to chase them and tease them and help them with their fish on the line or their Lobster (read Crayfish) that they have in the bucket. They need someone who will actually spray them with the hose if they go too far. He knows where the herbs are in the garden (and makes them smell each one) and to them, he can always show them new fun things to do.

 

They are happy at the beach. Something is always wiggling, or flying, or jumping out of the water or hatching, or just swimming by. Even in the recent high waters, there were extra worms on the road and some dead shrews near the woods. Nothing goes unfound or un-noticed by the kids.

  

Smiles and wonder mixed with sunshine are their world. The adults that were here as kids realize that they can never leave and that there is no place like this.

 

And then, there he is again. Big M showing them for the 50th time how to tie the perfect fishing knot. His hands 10 times the size of theirs, he will show them again as though it was the first time ever. They see him as one of them. They know he has an extra rubber worm in his tackle box. They have no fear of this giant.

They know there's gonna be some fun and now you know why I love him so.

Have a Happy Birthday Today Big M!

Think what a better world it would be

if we all - the whole world

- had cookies and milk

about three o’clock every afternoon

and then lay down

with our blankies for a nap. 

~Robert Fulghum

Find the seed

at the bottom of your heart

and bring forth

a beautiful flower.

 ~S. Kameoka

It's hard to imagine that we had such a violent storm on the bay yesterday. Today the flowers are blooming and all critters large and small are back to their normal activities. There was a big crowd at the beach and some of them had never seen the water breach the seawall. The storm surge raises the bay at an amazing speed. In what seems like minutes we are gathering chairs, plants, toys etc. before they float out into the bay. Loose moorings are tested and everyone scrambles to help each other Before the storm, I had to jump off the seawall and walk across sand to reach my kayak. During the surge, there was water up to the second step of my house. This is the not so tranquil scene from the other nights photo. We don't have to water the plants, but we do have to get them up to safety before they end up at someone else's house. The rowboats have come up over the wall and are being tied to anything  and everything to keep them safe. Even the local babies and mothers washed up on a big wave,,,we even have fish on the walk way that need rescued and thrown back into the water.Then, as fast as it comes, it leaves. We are all amazed as we clean up and get back to normal.

I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.

 ~ Louisa May Alcott

Good friends are like stars....

You don't always see them,

but you know they

are always there.

~ unknown

Sometimes when I am kayaking along the shoreline, I'm  treated to  little visitors who just look at me with interest....meet today's little friend...Have a great weekend everybody!

Our life is frittered away by detail.

Simplify, simplify. 

~ Henry David Thoreau

 

A lake is the landscape’s

most beautiful and expressive feature.

It is earth’s eye;

looking into

which the beholder measures

the depth of his own nature.
~ Henry David Thoreau

Things are slowing down after the holiday.  There is finally time to settle into a deck chair with a glass of  limoncello and a favorite neighbor... ... We have the time to chat , or just watch someone land a big bass while enjoying a kayak paddle. The bay glows as the waters become quiet and still.    The babies are getting bigger every day. They know us now. We are still amazed that they have two mothers that share in the duties of raising them. We have never seen this before. They are still a group of eight and they are thriving....  And then, if you are really lucky,  a special person brings you a big bowl of her famous homemade strawberry shortcake. Life is quiet now. Life is good!

Strawberry Fields forever......

~ Beatles

The most wasted of all days

is one without laughter. 

 ~e.e. cummings

Find something that makes you laugh today!

There are no

seven wonders of the world

in the eyes of a child.

  There are seven million.

~Walt Streightiff

M and I are lucky to be able to share in the lives of our neighbors children and grandchildren.  There is an amazing  joy in seeing a little ballerina gasp as

she catches her first fish.

 

 Some of the young teens forget themselves and experience the freedom of

simply being a kid again.

 

 They unknowingly begin to gather in groups. The big ones take care to watch over the little ones, untangling their fishing lines, and making sure they don't fall off the docks.

 

 They row each other around our little bay while sharing popsicles and brownies all without squabble and interference from we adults as they form their own pecking order. Life is simple when we let it just be...

 

While we try to teach

our children all about life,

Our children teach us

what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt