Parables in the Park

Last evening Tom & I attended the first of a series of lessons from the parables that are being held in the park next door to our marina. Our Lutheran congregation is hosting these sessions, hoping to draw in many people from other congregations and the surrounding area. The event was a great success. The weather was perfect, and the setting was just right for a worship experience that was unusual for Lutherans! The message, based on the Parable of the Lost Son, was a blend of skit, narration, and audience participation. As many times as I've read or heard that story preached, this event truly provided new insight into a message that I thought I knew. We also had a Christian rock band, Michael Zane and the Red Letter Band. The bass guitarist had to brave the flood waters in Binghamton to get to us, but he finally made it, and their music was awesome! Have you ever really listened to the words of the Beatles tune, Help Me? We did, and in the context of the Lost Son, those words took on new meaning.

Don't tell the kids!

Today was very rainy with heavy rainfall that caused flooding in many areas. It was quite warm, though, and when it started to clear toward sunset it became very muggy. I went for a long walk, and when I came back, there was no one about, and the lake was very still and clear.

I have only been in the water once this year, as this lake is very, very cold, but I decided to wade in a bit this evening. Much to my surprise, the rain had warmed up the top layer enough for me to decide to dive right in. Once in, I had to swim, and actually managed to go much farther than I had thought I would, given my out-of-shapeness!

Heavenly! but don't tell the kids- swimming alone in the almost dark breaks all the rules!

Where do all those goldfish go?

Ever wonder what happenes to all those fish in a bag that kids tote around at carnivals? They get dropped in drains or flushed, and end up in our marina! No joke- we have several resident gold fish that have grown to be several pounds. we had a picture-our neighbor Rich hooked one - but it got away!

Telecommuting

My daily commute is 100 miles round trip. It's a good thing I enjoy driving! Thankfully, I work for one of those enlightened employers who support flex time & telecommuting. That is, until these pictures showed up.....

Lunch break!


Tom's working from home too- going to check out some lake property on the other side.

Boys will be boys!

This is the Lansing fire department "training" with their fireboat.














Feeding the flock! I'm distracting Bernie, the goose, while Ed & the other Ed, (no joke) feed those baby ducks.

Loon -y Tunes

We have recently been blessed with a pair of visiting loons. These water birds do not often stop in our lake. They normally live further north in the Adirondack Mountain area, where we have heard them at night calling to one another across the stillness of the wilderness lakes.

These two have been spotted plying the waters in front of the marina for a few days now, and I have heard them calling at night. We hope they will stay with us for a while longer.

They were too far out for Tom to get a good photo, so I borrowed one from the Net, along with
some "technical" information on these birds.




The common loon (Gavia immer) is anything but common. Red-eyed, with distinctive black and white markings, the loon has a dagger-like beak that apparently is perfect for its long, underwater fishing trips diving to depths of over 90 ft. The loon is most closely related to primitive birds, and its soliloquy of cries can sound eerily prehistoric. It is silent in winter, but in summer the loon is truly loquacious, with a repertoire of sounds that haunt the lake or waterway with strange laughter-like calls, falsetto wails and strange yodeling. At night, the effect is absolutely mesmerizing.
True to its reclusive and solitary nature, the loon prefers a secluded lake or estuary. It is very territorial, normally with only one family to a small body of water. This bird is an excellent swimmer and can stay underwater for long periods, but its life on land is another story; larger than most ducks, and with its feet well toward its tail, the loon is extremely awkward and most vulnerable on land. As a result, the loon nests as close to the water as possible, nearly throwing itself out of the nest and into the water. Graceful in the water and in flight, they are almost comical on take-offs and landing. Their size, solid bone structure and weight distribution result in thrashing water take-offs that can last 100s of feet. The loon's landing is nothing so much as a controlled crash-glide.

Ah..Summer!

June is always an unpredictable month up here in Central NY. We know that eventually the sun will shine and it will be warm, but the waiting and not knowing when can shake that faith. We have had above average rainfall so far this June, lots of winds from the north, and below average temps, so that umbrellas and hooded sweatshirts have been close at hand.

Until yesterday that is! We finally had an entire weekend that was warm and sunny, both days!

I even joined the youngsters in the lake for my first swim of the year.


Our new Tiki umbrella for the top deck!

It doesn't get any better than this!

Feathers, fins and .......scales?

Even with all the rain, wildlife abounds. Tom has been amusing himself with his camera. I'm not very good at getting the photos and text lined up, but I think you'll get the idea.



Misty morning....









Trouble in paradise- the cold shoulder, and the question- What's wrong, dear?

I think she's

telling him...........

Always someone looking for a handout...

This is probably too hard to see, but there's a heron on the dock- butterflies in the road, and...

a snake in the lake.

Rain, rain go away....

all the marina wants to play!

Memorial Day (which was last Monday,) is the traditional start of summer in upstate NY. We had a break from the rain & cold temperatures, and enjoyed lots of sun! There were many people about, and the smell of summer picnic foods wafted over all the marina. Some brave souls here actually put on swimsuits and went into the water, although I noticed they came out rather quickly too. The water temperature in the lake is still only 50 degrees or so - too numbing for us! Winds were calm, and we went out for a nice cruise. Great to know the old lady still has some life left in her!

Ready for company! Tom says "Put that book down, it's nice outside!"

Live entertainment - company from the east ...

All in all, quite a nice day.