Waterskiing - I'm not as good as I once was, but I'm as good once . . .

I waterskied last week and left my skis down by the basement door. I've had them since 1972 or so, and we're in about the same condition! Both worn out and needing a coat of paint! But they were apparently the perfect thing for the dragonfly nymphs to cling to as they emerged from their old exoskeletons. It's creepy that they must crawl out of the lake and across the grass to the patio.

A great day to be on the water!

Here is a Friday in June, not another boat in sight. Just me in the Hobie kayak, with the sail up. Perfect wind today.

Painted Turtle Baby - A Tittel Tale with a Turtle Tail

Back in the olden days . . .

When we didn't know some fact, we went to the Encyclopædia Brittanica set which Lloyd had purchased, or we just argued about it, and finally said, "Forget it! I don't need to know." (after arguing for a while)

But now, to find out what a baby turtle is called, the internet is the place to look. Maybe! So far I've found that a baby turtle is a Tittel, a Hatchling, or a Guppy. Forget it, I don't need to know.

What is a herd of turtles called? A bale. Here's the website for any animal you would like:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/animals/Animalbabies.shtml

Here's a tittel I found yesterday, walking across the road as I was walking down the road by the lake. Maybe it's from last year's hatch?

Mayflies and Hungry Fish

Really, Andrea, it's the sign of a healthy lake. They don't bite, eat, sting, nothing. Just hang out. Like teenagers around Legion Park on summer nights.

While only one fish was eating bread, the others were already on the appetizers - mayflies. The mayflies that don't make it up to the house to stick there and annoy us, actually flutter around on the top of the lake, and the fish are having a feast. Here is a video showing the underwater progress of a hungry fish eating mayflies.

Sunfish Training Has Begun

Every year we feed bread or buns to the sunfish at the end of the dock. Way more fun than catching them. Or cleaning them. It's why there are extra hot dog buns that don't quite match up to the number of hot dogs in a package. (Hot dogs come in packages of 10, and buns come 8 to a bag. Why is that? So we buy extra buns.)
Tonight I only had one customer, and lots of skeptics waiting nearby, plus several bass, who never eat the bread, but always come to see what the excitement is about. As you can see, there is some raking to do in the swimming area - maybe tomorrow when it's supposed to be 90 F and humid. It would be good to stand in the lake in the afternoon.

Mayflies

It's Mayfly season again. We've called it Old Country Buffet for the blackbirds. It's so funny to see the birds fly by with a beak stuffed full of Mayflies. Mayflies have an exciting, but short, adult life. Most of their lives are spent on the lake bottom as nymphs. Then for one short day, they emerge from the lake, become adults, mate, drop eggs, and die. Right now we can't walk through the yard without them flying up and sticking to us. I had one riding around on my back today, and Chuck told me I was moving pretty slow if I couldn't get away from a Mayfly.

A Midsommar's Day

Chuck's birthday and Father's Day are the same day this year, and he always is concerned that there will be doubling up on gifts. So I got him two. After he mowed, and we washed the house (plastic houses in the USA you know) I gave him the Father's Day gift. These are the coolest chairs - SOOOO COMFY. I'll have to use it when he's not.

The Camouflaged Cat

We couldn't find the cat right away today. She got to relax, we worked all day.

My Lake Ida neighbors found this Swedish apron at a garage sale, and seemed to think it was perfect for me. Of course Tom is always willing to wear something silly, so here he is. His "pun loving" personality had him asking, "How much does a Swedish hooker charge? One Dala."

Summer vacation? Uffda.

Alex and I are painting the house this week. He's making me feel my age - I'm worn out after 6 hours, and he can keep on going for 10 or 11 hours. What a hard worker. This is THE LAST TIME I'm painting this house! The first time was in 1978, when I was pregnant with Andrea. The ladder slipped on the driveway and I rode it down to the ground back then. Ouch, and scary. I'm painting the low stuff this time.