Kayaks and Steak

A gorgeous Sunday morning, I was up near 745am. By 9am I’d enjoyed coffee, stretched, and ran 3 miles. Mindy wasn’t up until almost 10am. We didn’t have any solid plans and we didn’t expect the kids home until about 8m that evening after they called the evening before asking if they could watch the USA soccer match with their dad & Molly.

Once Mindy was up, we talked about what we might do. Instead of going boating we decided to spend some time cleaning the debris from the pond, the stuff that’s lodged in and around the fallen ash tree. There was quite a bit, most of it small tree branches stuck after big rains storms, but there was some trash too.

I’m guessing it was around 11am when I slipped into my hip waders, this time without benefit of a shirt of any kind. Figured that would leave me somewhat cooler since it was so warm and sticky. Mindy got into some old shorts, a shirt and water shoes. Like the summer before, she stayed near and around the bank gathering what I pushed her way and placed it on the bank and tarp. Oh, we leashed Eiknarf too so she could be near us.

We spent a good two hours freeing, gathering all the trappings from the fallen ash tree. And just like the year before, way more than one might otherwise assume. One good thing, we were right there near the compost/brush pile, so dragging and stacking all the wet wood wasn’t too big a deal. Some of the wood was completely submerged but still trapping any passing debris, and some of the submerged stuff were the giant vines once climbing all the way up to the top of the tree. When handling it I remember telling myself that I hoped it wasn’t poison ivy. More on that later.

We finished up around 2pm, Mindy a bit earlier than me . I was out longer cleaning and putting away all the tools. Earlier in the day I was on the Dick’s website looking at Kayaks. Glenn sent an email earlier in the week sharing that he might buy one when in town to take down to mom’s, Lake Ruppert. Asked if he could store it at our house. Agreed to go halfsies on one.

Just so happens Sunday was the start of a big kayak sale. However, the only local Dick’s that had one that I liked was Sawmill. I offered that we drive up and check ‘em out. Figured we’d stop at the Anderson’s too and see if they stocked oak porch swings. On our drive up we agreed to pick-up some steaks at the Anderson’s as well. And since we didn’t want to leave fresh meat in a hot car, we stopped at Dick’s first.

Immediately in the door two of the kayaks I wanted to look at were going out the door with another customer, one in my color of choice – lime green, and the other purple. When asked how we might be helped, the store associate shared that he was afraid that those were the last two kayaks in stock in that
model. Shoot! Offered to show us a couple other models they had on hand as well as calling around to other stores to see if they might have more. He also shared that they may very well get more on Tuesday.

I didn’t particularly like the other models they had. Mindy went with him to search the inventory of other Columbus stores while I browsed in the life vest department. Selling neoprene PFDs 50% off. After 5-10 minutes I couldn’t find Mindy. Just about to ring her phone when mine rang. It was her calling to tell me that they actually found another Pelican in stock and that it was purple. In addition, they agreed to sell us the lime green display model hanging from the balcony. Cool! Walking in I was only committed to buying one, and then another later if we found that we liked it. But with them flying out the door we opted to buy the two right then.

To make use of the kayaks we also needed oars. We picked out two. And it made sense that we buy two new PFD’s as well. That way we wouldn’t have to borrow them from our boat and then possibly forget to put them back. All totaled, spent a pretty penny. I went to get the Pilot. The sales guy convinced us that we could get both in the Pilot without needing to leash one atop. Cool! He was right. To accommodate the kayaks, we left the rear glass hatch opened. The two kayaks protruded more than a foot.

On to the Anderson’s. Walked through the home & garden department. Inside, we asked if they had oak porch swings. No, however, they did have one unfinished in poplar. It was ugly. Out to the butcher shop and beer and wine department. Mindy offered that we should stock up on good beer. We bought a few six-packs and a rocket of Hoppin’ Frog’s Goose Juice.

I pulled a tab from the butcher shop - #6. Waited a few minutes until they called my number. By then I knew what I wanted – 4 - 8oz NY strips and 4 bacon wrapped filets. Turned out there was a price faux pas with the strip steaks. The sign said $7.99 per lb. but the butcher said it should have read $7.99 for each 8oz cut. I called them on it insisting that they honor the price posted. After some hemming and hawing they agreed.

By the time we left The Anderson’s I was very thirsty. I pulled in the 161 & Riverside Dr. Wendy’s and bought a lemonade. Boy did it ever hit the spot. The sugar and water left me feeling refreshed. At home we wasted little time getting the grill going. Opted to grill two of the NY strips and froze the others. While I grilled, Mindy steamed fresh green beans that we bought while at The Anderson’s. Good dinner. The steaks turned out perfect.

As soon as we finished dinner we agreed to head out and give our brand new kayaks a try in the pond. We put in near the shed, Mindy first. There was a little wobble while initially launching into the water but otherwise very stable. We paddled back to the four or five acre pond going just north of the center island. Really shallow there. MY kayak bottomed out. Took some doing to free myself from the much but eventually did. We did a couple laps. It was gorgeous and peaceful – like being in the middle of nature. We happened upon some herons and other large birds. Probably out there about 30-40 minutes.

We hosed off the kayaks before putting them away. Hosed myself off too. Walked the pug next. On our walk back to the house Jimaken and Molly pulled up to drop off the kids. Chatted with the two of them briefly. Back at the house Mindy and I walked down to talk with the neighbors – Kenny, Chrissy, Mike and Teri. I took a beer, Mindy a glass of wine. We visited for maybe 30 minutes before heading back home. Quick shower, we were off to bed early – by 915pm.