Canandaigua Lake Skies #SkywatchFriday

I am hoping that my Florida readers and friends are all safe after Hurricane Ian.  Ian was a reminder of the power of Nature, and how destructive it can be.  

Meanwhile, my area is under a frost advisory.

My post today isn't as exciting but I hope you enjoy it.

The last couple of times we have visited Canandaigua, New York (situated on one of New York's Finger Lakes). we haven't enjoyed sunsets along Canandaigua Lake   The weather hasn't been favorable.  But I sometimes forget that there are other reasons to take pictures of a lake.

Saturday, after attending the Naples, New York grape festival, we decided to recover from the massive crowds and chill back in Canandaigua.  We purchased a turkey sub sandwich (others call them hoagies, or heroes) at a deli we like, and took it to a bench to eat.

It had been a lovely day up to then, but clouds were rapidly encroaching.

I decided to take some pictures.

You could see the bottom of the lake (bottom of photo) and a couple of stand up paddleboarders.
 

The reflections were starting to get interesting.

We took a walk to a nearby marina.

There are some historic boathouses on the lake; I don't know if these were those boathouses but I liked the contrast between water and sky.

One more reflection shot.

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday.

Cloud Assortment #SkywatchFriday

For a lazy Friday, some assorted pictures.

We went blueberry picking on Wednesday.

Hourglass puddle with reflections.

Geese floating on the river, looking like little dots. 

A lake in Pennsylvania.

Another reflection.  It's been dry recently, so puddle pictures are a little hard to get.

Yellow sunset glow.

Sunset over Canandaigua Lake, New York.

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers each Friday at #SkywatchFriday.

A Bumpy Sunset #SkywatchFriday

Another sunset from my recent trip to Canandaigua, New York, in the Finger Lakes.

I looked at the sky over Canandaigua Lake, and it looked promising in the afterglow of a sunset.

Nice glow on the lake.

Now it got interesting. Spouse pointed to these bumps and told me these are mammocumulus clouds. 

A few minutes later, the bumps look even more dramatic, but they then start to dissipate.   But now, back to the after-sunset.

Almost impossible to see, but there are ducks in the lake.

The glow continues.

And the sunset says "good night"

Joining with Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday.

Sunset Moonrise #SkywatchFriday

When I watch the sky, especially a sunset, I can be concentrating on one thing and totally miss something happening just a few things away.

Monday, spouse and I took a short vacation to Canandaigua Lake in New York State.  This is one of the Finger Lakes.  We have visited several times, and enjoy watching sunsets over the lake.

On Monday evening, I had my iPhone SE first edition out, as usual.  The sunset show was beginning.

In a different direction was moored a tour boat called the Canandaigua Lady. I decided to take a picture of it while standing on the public pier.

A handful of minutes later, a couple walked past us, towards (it turned out) their moored boat.  "Look out!" the woman said (or it's what I thought she said).  I thought perhaps I was in their way and I started to move off the pier.  "No, look!" she exclaimed.  The moon is rising. Look!"

The moon was rising behind the Canandaigua Lady.  Here, it seems to be resting on the red canopy.  It looks like a little white ball.  My iPhone doesn't handle the moon well, alas.

Soon, the moon decided it had rested enough, and continued its rising away from the boat.

 

Maybe the sunset was getting jealous.  It put on a nice display, as the couple boarded their boat and motored into the...dare I say it...sunset. (I didn't take their picture).

But I had to return to the moonrise.

I watched, admiring the moon's reflection on the lake.

We left, finally, and walked away from the lake.    

Not only did I get a sunset and moonrise, but there was also a nice blue hour.

If that woman hadn't alerted me to the moonrise, I would have missed it.  Lesson learned.  Pay attention to all of your surroundings!

Joining  Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday.

Kershaw (Park) #AtoZChallenge

 Today, on "K" day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I bring you to one of the Finger Lakes of New York State.  Canandaigua Lake is not full of wineries like some of the other Finger Lakes (especially Seneca Lake), but it is well worth the visit.

I am a sunset watcher, and I've found a nice place in Canandaigua to watch the sunset - Kershaw Park.  It's a city park with a beach in season, and there is a vessel called the Canandaigua Lady if you wish to take a lake cruise.  During COVID, their bookings are limited and I, personally, have never taken one of their cruises.

Instead, I watch the sunset from land when I visit Canandaigua, and admire the outdoor artwork.  Kershaw is a beautiful, clean park on the shore of a clean lake - the Seneca call Canandaigua "The Chosen Spot" and so it is.

Let's go into the park.

This statue is called Hanging Hoof.  It's informally called "The White Horse".

Here's a sundial with a turtle and squirrel, donated to the park by a bank in 1997.

 

A historical marker (sorry it wasn't more close up).  Here is some information about the Seneca Nation.

Finally, the Canandaigua Lady. 

"K" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme "New York State".

Canandaugua Lady

Last week, I watched the sunset over Canandaigua Lake (one of the Finger Lakes of New York State) with my spouse.

Although I wasn't looking in the direction of the sunset for this shot, I fell in love with this vessel in the water, awaiting nightfall.

It was like gazing at a painting, don't you think?

Join Yogi and other bloggers who watch the sky each Friday at #SkywatchFriday.

Local Saturday - Grape Pie Season

I am not going to be anywhere near Naples, New York this weekend for their Grape Festival.  I can not lie, it is too crowded for me.

But that didn't prevent my spouse and I from being in Naples this Tuesday, because the concord grapes are ripe and ready for the eating and pie making.

That's right.  Grape pies. I love them and I can't lie.  Don't laugh if you've never had one.  And don't tell my Weight Watchers leader..um, coach...what I've been up to.

I live only an hour or so from one of the Finger Lakes, and almost no one here has had a grape pie.  They are a true regional specialty, taking a lot of work to make (although you can get premade pie filling for them in the Naples area, in addition to the pies.)


Monica's Pies in Naples, some say, makes the best grape pies.  Actually, they make a number of different pies, depending on the season - apple, cherry, and even quiches (they are delicious) and chicken pot pies.  (I've not had them).

But their fame is based on grape pies, which they carry all year round.

Their theme color (no surprise) is purple.

More purple.

Let's take a walk up her driveway.

When you walk into her store it smells like grape jelly heaven.  There are lot of pies to choose from, plus T-shirts, grape soap (yes) and other grape related products.

Your grape pie choice is small or large, pastry top or crumble top.  We chose both a small pie and a large, and a crumble top.

And no, I'm not sharing.

Grape pie recipe? You'd better be an experienced pie baker and be able to set aside a lot of time.

Me? Maybe one year I'll brave it and attend the festival.

Happy grape eating!

Canandaigua Sunset in July - #SkywatchFriday #BlogBoost

Today is Friday, which means....

....a sunset on Canandaigua Lake, one of the Finger Lakes of upstate New York.

As the sun sets, baby ducks take advantage of the last light of the day.

The sun dips lower.

And then the sun is gone, leaving only its reflection behind.

Join Yogi and other sky-watching bloggers at #SkywatchFriday.

Day 20 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge #Blogboost

A Day of Nature and Calm

Are you stressed out by this election season?

Allow my blog to bring you a measure of calm and peace on this most stressful of days. (If you don't live in the United States, you may well be stressed by this election, too. So why don't you take a few moments out for a Day of Nature?)

As promised, here is your Day of Nature and Calm.  An election free zone.

Breathe in.  Breathe out.

Let's begin with a picture of the resident cat at Warner Castle, Rochester, New York

First, some mood music.  Take your pick or play your own:

Strawberry Swing - Coldplay 

 Peaceful, Easy Feeling - The Eagles.

Learning to Fly:  Pink Floyd

And now, imagine yourself...

Statues on a dock, near Pittsford, New York

On the Erie Canal in upstate New York on a beautiful late summer day, fishing.

On the shores of Canandaigua Lake, Canandaigua, New York, watching a sunset.

Eating lunch at the Broome County Courthouse, Binghamton, New York, November 7.

Near Johnson City, New York, at sunset, November 6

Sitting in a backyard.  It is so peaceful.

Breathe in, breathe out. 

It's almost time to awaken.

Japanese Maple, Binghamton, New York, November 6

Start to awaken.  Feel the peace.

Now, start to awaken a little more.  Stretch.  Go forth, without stress.


Day 8 of NaBloPoMo.

Skywatch Friday - A Lake Sunset

Here is a picture taken of Canandaigua Lake, in upstate New York (one of the Finger Lakes), on October 15, just after sunset.

Some pictures take themselves.  This is one of them. 

Visit the Skywatch Friday website and check out sky pictures from all over the world.

Day 21 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge.