Last Day at the Farm

The paddleboat - a great way to exercise.

A gull (aka Jesus bird) appears to stand on water but is actually standing on a mostly submerged log.

Aaargh. Pirates live here.

Lots of algae in the water. Spider webs on a low hanging branch.

The fruit trees in the yard were heavily laden with apples and pears.  The limbs were straining with all the weight of the fruit.  We tried to lighten the load.  I think we picked 30 pounds or more of apples.  The lower limbs looked relieved but the top of the tree was not.  The fruit looked great although the pears were hard.  One of my nephews gave us and the paddle boat a ride to the lake.  While they prepared for bow hunting, Offspring #2 and I paddled around the lake.  We started with the Stoney Point resort side.  We had the entire lake to ourselves today.  I guess we saw one man sitting in a chair reading a book but other than that, we were alone.  We saw turkey vultures, a bald eagle, cormorants,  and gulls.  We disturbed one kingfisher several times near the cabins by the dam.  We disturbed another kingfisher on the north side of the lake by the farm property.  We tried to maneuver up to the edge of the dam. Unfortunately so many reeds and cattails surround the area that the gates of the dam are hidden.  Foamy clumps of wicked stuff floats on top of the water back there and smells really, really bad so we quit looking for the dam gates.  We saw lots of fish jump.  A large and beautiful brick house is on the north side of the lake.  They had a black flag flying on a flagpole.  I guess there are pirates living there because they fly the skull and crossbones flag.  When we got to the last corner of the lake, where the two roads intersect, we texted our driver.  By the time we made the boat landing, we had only a few minutes to wait. I've spent a lot of time on this lake and I like it very much.  I only wish it wasn't so green in the late summer and fall.  Some parts on the north side looked so green that it appeared you could walk on it.  The algae was so think it looked like a manicured lawn.