— a shooting star
— the splash of jumping fish in the lake after dark
— a feast of chicken on the grill
— my pregnant friend Kerry lying out on the float in the lake, on her back, wearing sunglasses, wearing her bathing suit, with her pregnant belly rising magnificently to meet the sun
— the exploding glory of a potato cannon – (constructed following the directions in a book called Backyard Ballistics) – We had a potato war with a dude across the lake who ALSO had his own potato cannon
— campfire on the beach, all of us sitting wrapped up in blankets (chilly night air!!) around the fire
— delicious fruit smoothie drinks
— a cool morning run with my friends
— a daddy long-legs hanging out on the underside of the umbrella table. He did not move for the entire time we were there. WTF?? What is his purpose in life? Make a web … or SOMETHING. Don’t just sit up there, you freak of nature.
— the Big Dipper
— a 70 year old woman windsurfing on a windless day – literally standing on her board with the sail up – in the middle of a lake so still it was like glass. She was 70. Apparently, her 80 year old husband had been out earlier on the windsurfer and got caught in some of the greenery protruding out into the lake – and Mike had gone to save him. The 80 year old man said something like, “The only issue is with my defibulator …” A windsurfing dude, on a windless day, with a defibulator
— endless conversation, wonderful, my wonderful friends
— we had a surprise baby shower for Kerry that night … it was great fun!! Also: keylime pie. mmmmmmmmmmmmm
— we heard all about the nearby state fair and how Mike basically took over. He won the watermelon-eating contest – and then he randomly entered a peach and cherry pie he baked – and WON – much to the chagrin of the local ladies who didn’t like being shown up by a man. His ribbons were pinned up all over the bulletin board
— I read some of my Gene Wilder autobiography during a slow lazy afternoon
— paddle boats
— sunblock – major obsessive sunblock … we had the spray-on sunblock – we had 15, 40, 65, 210 … We talked about it constantly.
— cool cool lake water, heavenly
— outdoor shower. Omigod. I wish I could shower outside every single day. Seriously. Is there anything better? We all took showers just for the fun of it. “Gonna take another shower now!!”
— salt and vinegar potato chips. GET THEM AWAY FROM ME.
You just hit upon one of my favorite memories.
One weekend in college, we were setting up a bonfire for a party, when we heard “Poom!” We look to see where the noise comes from, and a potato hits 10 feet to our right. A couple of neighbor kids were out with their homemade potato cannon…firing at us….
I’ll never forget my buddy Brad muttering to himself “motherfucker…” and sprinting to his house, and returning with his own, and a bag of potatoes.
We probably spent a half hour firing potatoes, the remains of potatoes, nuts we found on teh ground, and anything else we could think of to stuff into a potato cannon at a couple of kids who were all too willing to return fire.
Then it got dark, and we quit. It was a minor skirmish. There were no decisive winners.
sounds like fantastic time. most of these images remind me of our camp up here.
there’s nothing better than taking your morning bath in the crisp, cool lake with the fine mist of fog rising from the water, as the sun rises above the pines and makes the water on the horizon shimmer into thousands of diamonds. absolutely breathtaking. and of course right next to you on the rock that breaks the crest of the water, your teetering, steaming cup o’ joe.
you also reminded me that we are in the throws of fair season!! food, livestock, and carnie-folk…the best combination for late summer and early-autumn!! YIPPEE!!!
Tommy – hahahaha that is totally great!! I couldn’t believe how loud the explosion was as the potato shot forth. There was a REVERB to it.
It’s one of those sounds you feel in the middle of your chest. I liked firing it, because it’s almost like you felt it in your eyes.
That party also included my trying to vault my big hefty butt over a barbed wire fence, resulting in a gnarly scar on my left knee.
It was the only time I ever left a party bleeding like a stuck pig.
Great scene i flashed to Swallows and Amazons by AR ‘loved those books.
Yep. On an Independence Day now ten years gone, I went to a farm downstate and spent an idyllic evening firing bottle rockets back and forth across the pond at the guys who are now my brothers-in-law. We had these homemade copper-tubing-and-duct-tape handheld launchers. Took me months to get the scorch marks out of the silver ring I used to wear.
You’re right about outdoor showers, too. When we vacation on the Outer Banks, I never shower indoors. If we ever relocate somewhere further south, the next house is gonna have an outdoor shower.
The issue with the daddy long legs cracked me up.
Seriously – like: WHAT is his purpose in life? I hate “s”s as we all know – but at least I know they have a purpose and I am grateful for them for performing that service. I get that they have a POINT.
This dude just lolled about for 48 hours. Not cool.
210 sunblock?? You and me both, Sheila. Hahaha!
Sheila, if it was a daddy long legs (not a daddy long legs spider, two different things) then it doesn’t make a web, because it isn’t a spider, it’s a harvestman. If it is a daddy long legs spider, they kill their prey by lying in wait. So, he was just doing his job. I wish my job were so easy. . .
Kerry
So … he just sits? And … waits for the bugs to come to him? He is a “harvestman”? That gives me the shivers.
There were quite a lot of black flies hovering around the umbrella table – so daddy long legs was taking his own sweet time!!!
What is his purpose in life? Make a web … or SOMETHING. Don’t just sit up there, you freak of nature.
Haha! You’re so funny!!!
Outdoor showers: oh, I hear ya sister. I had one in Thailand once and I seriously think about it EVERY TIME I SHOWER! It makes it so much more enjoyable!
Sounds like a great weekend – good for you!
Colin–mad props for the Swallows and Amazons reference. I think that might be the next bedtime book for the kids (just 2 chapters to go in Treasure Island).
I was just up in Hamden, NY for a week and a half (it doesn’t even have a sign) building a cabin for a family of strangers I met before we left for the Catskills and the past few days the Delaware County fair started in Walton!
We didn’t go (14hours a day for construction) but we saw a couple of really pretty (soon to be destroyed) Demolition Derby Cars. The best one was a black and white ex-cop car with words like “Real Cop Brakes” and “Real Cop Tires” painted on the sides.
I really could have used that outdoor shower.