Hanging Out Around the Lake

We spent the day at Choke Canyon, relaxing and walking around the campground and checking out the birds and the facilities. The lake level is quite low, but the birds seem happy enough. We saw some herons and a Great Kiskadee and heard an abundance of white winged doves. Bruce saw a vermillion flycatcher and a

As we ate breakfast, a fat tom turkey strutted past outside our window. It headed for the tall grass and disappeared before Ken could get the camera for a good shot. Instead he got the aspect that animals usually present to him: its backside.

This evening everyone came over for chili. I made two kinds of chili, my standard tomato and some white chili, since cooked tomatoes don't agree with him. I made some corn bread, too. Rebecca made a fantastic spinach salad with avocado and water chestnut slices and some Parmesan. Bruce and Mary Sue brought along the leftover watermelon and some unusual applesauce jello for desert. Everyone pronounced it refreshing.

We put the leaf in the table and pulled it out from the wall--making just enough room for six (with two folding chairs from Rebecca and Willis). We finally got to use our new tablecloth. We put the food on the island. Altogether it was a rewarding dinner with friends. Oh, and Blayde came over after dinner. He is exceptionally well behaved and a real charmer.

After dinner some of the group went for another walk. Ken and I strolled down to the lake, where we saw some ducks. I used some Off! because the bugs were most definitely out. The flycatchers and swallows have plenty to eat around here, that's for sure, and I guess the people provide a banquet for the biting gnats and mosquitoes.


Tonight we watched a Woody Allen film, Midnight in Paris. It's basically a lighthearted comedy, but with some philosophical twists and angst. Owen Wilson channels Woody Allen's neurotic persona very well. We remembered Wilson from The Big Year.