Perch Fry on a Perfect Day

Today’s forecast was spot on. It said “sunny and hot,” and that it was!

Tom and I finally recruited a couple more fisher-persons (Leah and Zach) in hopes of increasing the odds of catching more fish. We did manage to up the numbers as we pulled in a total of 19–ALL perch! We tried to hold out for 20 in 2020, but the heat finally got to us after nearly 5 hours on the lake. When the last minnow was gone, we called it quits. Still, we were pretty sure there would be enough for our fish fry dinner.

Even though we’ve all gotten plenty of sun (and some have bright pink/red skin to prove it), the shade near the beach and the breeze blowing off the lake called many of us back outside. Leah and Nicole had fun laying out and swimming together. I visited with Beth and Melissa, occasionally taking a dip in the water to cool off (and to play with Ben).

Before supper, the Migizi bike trail was calling to several, and Tom hopped on his bike, followed shortly after by Bill and Beth, William, Elise and Zach.

The kayaks were calling out to me, so I asked Chloe if she wanted to go, and bribed her with the usual Mike’s Hard Lemonade…our traditional kayaking refreshment. (It’s fun having a 21-year-old baby!)

After working up our appetites, we were all ready for that fish fry! It’s messy and takes a little time, but oh! the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of fresh lake perch can’t be beat! Add to it some mouth-watering onion rings, and a healthy salad and roasted veggies to counteract the not-so-healthy deep-fried delicacies, and you have an amazing meal. Everyone agreed.

More food art from Chloe.

After dinner, Bill took his three younger kids out for a short round of skiing, and Beth and Nicole joined the girls and me in a game of Shanghai–a traditional family card game. I won’t say who won and who lost because I wouldn’t want to rub it in that the elder sister reigns supreme over the younger sister (and ALL those young ‘uns!)!