The Pond

I always try to get a few good photos when I go down to the lake.

Kayaking

I went to Wyman Pond to get out of the house for a bit, and enjoy the fresh air in a kayak. I spent from about 3pm to 4:30pm paddling and taking photos, and drinking a Wachusett beer.

MQ 2015 No.1

At 3:30 pm today (Friday) I headed over to Mount Wachusett to hike the Harrington Trail.

It was a perfect day, dry and cool. The hike took about 45 minutes from car to summit, and for a first hike of the season, it went amazingly well (most likely because I am 30 pounds lighter than I was last year at this time). At the summit I ate a white chocolate Kit-Kat and took a few photos. The trip down was about 30 minutes. I listened to Author and Pete Yorn.

Then I went to the lake to soak the pair of custom selvage jeans I got from Brave Star last year. I got into the inner tube with nothing but the jeans, and floated in the middle of the lake for about a half hour. They didn't dry before I left, though because it was too late in the day, so I left them in the trunk of my car until Sunday, when I washed them, and wore them damp for several hours.

It was a great day.

Ah, The Lake

After sleeping in 'til noon, I spent the afternoon doing random household chores. I also cooked 2 boneless pork chops and some broccoli mac & cheese for lunch. Then it was off to the lake from 5:30 to 7:00.

A nice time of floating and drinking a pineapple Goya soda, and then listening to new songs as I reread a JLA graphic novel. I foodshopped on the way home, too. What a great 2 days off...

Niemi Cove Family Time

All of Dad & Ma's kids & grandkids (minus Celia) spent the afternoon at the lake.

 

1st Lake Day

How the hell is it possible that today is the FIRST day I've been down to the lake all year?

It was so nice to be there, I forgot to smile.

I brought 3 of each, but only had 2 of the Summer of Lager.

I had planned on swimming, but Sarah had the girls and 4 of their friends over,
so I read instead.

Beer & Sunset

Lake 6 - 8 pm, floating with 2 red Hook ESBs!

The sky was nearly cloudless, and the temp was 88 degrees (but dry).

Sunset & Beer

Ballast Point Brewing Company's Sculpin IPA - SO good!
...and yet another amazing sunset down at the lake (the 2 photos were taken 15 minutes apart, 7:45 pm and 8:00 pm).

Sunset

I went down to the lake today from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Second Fyah

I went down to the lake today (after drawing for most of the morning, and then deciding not to waste the sunlight after 3 cloudy days). I made a fire, read a bunch of "Wrath of a Mad God", and broke in my Brave Star Selvage denim and my new Vans shoes.

I ate hot dogs & Wachusett chips (ruffled), drank 2 Wachusett beers, and read until it began raining. I packed up the car, read some more to see if the rain would stop (it did for about ten minutes), and then drove home in a downpour that included a few minutes of pencil eraser-sized hail! It was worth the trip, though Two hours of sunny lakeside peace.

First Fyah

I had 3 hot dogs and 3 beers (Sam Adams Summer) today at the lake. I also read 100 pages of "Flight of the Nighthawks". It was a great afternoon.

Dig and Build

I went down to the lake today to clean out the fire pit. I also tore it down, and moved it a few feet farther from the water before I reassembled it. Then I built a bench out of a good piece of lumber and two of the more sturdy tree stumps. It will hold either two adults or three kids safely!

And except for all the biting flies, it was a perfect spring day. I read some of "King of Foxes" (Feist), had a Magic Hat 'Ticket to Rye' (finally, another good beer besides their #9 from their Spring Sampler),and enjoyed the sun and breezes.

Lake & Beer

I raced home from work directly to the lake, and had just enough time to see the tail end of the sunset, and drink one beer (and eat 4 small Slim Jims - yum!):

July Interlude: Day 6

text & photos later

Lake-ish

I went down to the lake today (after runs to the comic shop and the liquor store for beer). It was great to be out in the fresh air. The lake had the following craft making noise in front of my property: a boat towing two inner tubes while blasting crap-hop; two jet skis; and two upright jet skis. I didn't really mind.

It was very windy (and cloudier than anywhere else within a 5-mile radius - what the hell?), the beer (Wachusett Summer) was disappointingly warm, and it even rained for a bit as the temperature dropped. So I only stayed for an hour, just enough time for half a beer, some Slim Jims & Wachusett potato chips, and to read Astro City #1 and Earth 2 Annual #1.

I'm still glad I went, though! Any time at the lake is a good time.

Beer on a Kayak

I went down to the lake for a couple of hours to kayak, draw, read, and listen to music.

I paddled around in the kayak for a half hour or so, took some pictures, drank a beer (Magic Hat #9), and then read some of "Hostile Shores" , before it got too dark to continue. I never did get around to drawing, though. A nice outdoor interlude nevertheless!

Mt. Wachusett

 

WPMF IV

For this year's 4th Annual Wyman's Pond Music Fest I sent out invites to the alumni:

• Elizabeth Lorrey
• Almanac Mountain
• Vanessa Kafka

...and I am looking for two new acts to round out the event, which I am hoping has an 'after dark' element this year.

Day One: The Studio and The Lake

I didn't get to sleep until 4:30 am last night because I was busy inking a drawing for the group blog Back to Drawing Bored. And when I awoke at 8:15 or so this morning, I decided to get this 4-day span of days off to an early start.

Breakfast was coffee (Sumatran of course) and cereal, and after a bit of tv as I ate, I spent several hours "Kirbying up" (blocky black inks) the drawing. I shaved my head as I goofed around online, so I would be all shiny for the rest of the weekend, and after a late lunch of Mandarin oranges and reheated chicken fried rice, I showered.

Then it was off to the lake! I spent three hours in the following ways: I did some raking and removal of rain debris; I read "Lord Hornblower"; I finished the inking and then most of the coloring of the drawing; and I took many photos. I had a Granny Smith apple after my one beer (the always dependable Magic Hat #9), and decided to not do two planned things: swim, and try the Lost Continent Double IPA (some other time!). IPod music was supplied by Sun Sister.

When I got home I ordered a pepperoni, mushroom and anchovy pizza from Liberty Pizza (the best!), and after eating half of it in front of some sports tv, I fell asleep in my big chair from 9 - 11 pm.

Great Afteroon

I spent a few hours (4:30 - 7 pm) down at the lake today. I drew, read, swam/floated, listened to music (Almanac Mountain and Eastern Sun), and took a lot of pictures. It was awesome.