head around the near shore, so i can stay in the sun for as long as possible. the golden sunlight is almost unbearably rich today, glowing off leaves, highlighting the reds or browns. part of my paddling method is to drift as much as possible. and while i am drifting, notice the small grey cat, perched on a fallen log. he is intent on something - could it be me? more likely, a fish has caught his attention. i sit, quietly, and snap a few pictures to commemorate his hunt.
rounding the corner by the marshy end, i see a small bird dart into its birdhouse. i'd never have seen it, if i hadn't been drifting so slowly, trying to absorb as much nature as i can before i head back into the house.
a tree's reflection reminds me of a vanilla bean. hmm, what can i bake today? something warm, to take the chill off the fall air in the house.
the overturned boat is also a sign of fall. putting away, turning over, bringing in the docks. preparing for the next season.
pass the channel, with its beaver dam. it's also the home of a multitude of ducks, birds, the loon. nothing in sight today, though.
the sun is quickly setting, so i paddle faster (not a chore, since i was hardly paddling before) and head across the open expanse of water toward home. few other boaters have been on the lake tonight - a sure sign of fall. the air is brisk and clear, tinged with the slight smells of fallen leaves and lake water. pull up the kayak onto the lawn, and turn around and view the last of the sun, highlighting the barn across the lake and the ripple from the lone fisherman's boat, also returning home.
Copyright 2006, Jessica Voigts
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Comments: 18
What a wonderful combination of images and narration. I truly believe that the moments before sunset on a lake (or at the edge of a lake) can be one of the most arresting scenes in the outdoors.
BTW, I ate fish tacos tonight. Or maybe it was fish tacoes. ;-) Excellent! Thnx.
kr - glad the fish tacos turned out! ed salts his coleslaw more than i do. did you find that you needed that?
beryl - wow! you SHOULD have had your camera! you live in such a photogenic place....your words brought it all back to me. i love those big lakes...
i love sunsets, too! i have a lot more pix of sunsets. i am trying to think how to write about them...
thanks, friends!
Only change I'd make: I bought corn tortillas (soft) and we're used to flour burrito shells. Think I'd go with small flour shells next go-round...
Tomorrow it's the Italian Wedding Soup for lunch (PA Moed's) and chili for the Bowl game. Maybe Monday for the white bean soup (though weekdays get dicey for me, timewise).
introduce the fish tacos. whoo!! great job! and better than fish pills. choke choke...
hey make the beans tomorrow for the soup, while you're home. you can do all the cooking part, and then just reheat and squish it up during the week. oh, yum. might have to get more beans soon! we're making this pulled pork roast tomorrow, yum i can't wait! we had so much overflow of food ideas for the superbowl, we did the potstickers tonight.
Hmn. Did I print the Japanese Chicken dish, too? I printed around four last night in a fit of breaking things up around here, eating-wise. You know how we all get in ruts with the dishes we eat. If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgian waffles. Yes -- we have breakfast for dinner at least once a week.
the northen beans expect the dark, even though it is daylight savings time..... ;)
i cook new recipes all the time. lillie and ed beg for their favorites amidst the new ones i am always trying. gotta love it! make that japanese chicken! under 10 min prep work. i am all about easy cooking...
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