last weekend of summer

While summer doesn't officially end for another few weeks, Labor Day weekend at the lake is always considered the last weekend of the summer. The weather on this family-oriented weekend has run the gamut from bone-chilling cold, windy and rainy to spectacularly gorgeous - blue skies, a light breeze, glorious sunshine and calm seas. We were blessed with the beautiful version of the weekend this year.

On both Friday and Sunday evenings we attended the last two concerts of this year's Canandaigua LakeMusic Festival. Friday evening Jon Nakamatsu and Juliana Athayde played to a large, appreciative audience - certainly the largest audience in the 4-year history of the festival. Standing ovations were the order of the day and then we were delighted to be included at a reception for the artists at the home of a festival supporter.

The grounds of the home beckoned to us, so we took a stroll outside, walked out on the dock and looked back at the house. The plantings around the house were just magnificient, all lit by subtle yet skillfully positioned low-level lights. A woman approached after she heard me make a remark about one of the beautiful plants. She introduced herself as the gardener for the property and asked if we would like a little tour of the yard. She showed us huge white blooms that only come out at night and also pointed out the completely hidden dog run - hidden by climbing, flowering vines that would be cut back down to the ground before winter. A fabulous concert and then a behind-the-scenes garden tour -- what an evening!

Saturday was a busy day at the shop, followed by our traditional family gathering for Flare Night. That's what we call it, but most everyone else calls it the Ring of Fire. A bonfire was lit high atop Bare Hill at 9pm, signalling to those around the lake to light flares that had been placed along the shoreline every 10 feet or so. The 16-mile long lake was rimmed with the red glow of the flares for about 30 minutes. Fireworks (illegal in New York but somehow smuggled in to many lakefront homes) exploded from neighboring docks and beach bonfires sent up smoke and crackling flames. Another summer season at Canandaigua Lake had come to an end.

Sunday evening we returned to Zion Fellowship for the final LakeMusic concert. Included on the program was the husband/wife duo of Maya Hartman and Noam Sivan. Sitting side by side on piano benches, they mesmerized the audience with their 4-hand playing of Stravinski's Rite of Spring. It was like watching a ballet of hands on the piano keys. Following intermission we were treated to Copland's Appalachian Spring performed as a suite for 13 players. Magnificent! The second standing ovation of the evening followed and the festival was over for another year.

Today was a day of rest, sort of - reading on the porch overlooking the lake, digging a few weeds out of the garden, placing an order for some new joolz and just enjoying a perfectly beautiful day. Sure wish all summer weekends could be as spectacular as this one has been.