Yesterday, What A Day!

6:20

Beth Administering Reiki to Halle' Headache 

It's a fine morning on the lake, as I sit inside because the porch has become art studio for now, as the rock painting took place on the porch because of yesterday's rain.  A mostly clear morning, some puffs of clouds off to the east, 58º and it's supposed to be sunny and pleasant all week end long, though not particular warm, highs in the 70's, just right for me.

Halle and Marlena Mixing Pancake Batter

It rained early morning yesterday, was overcast until about 3:30 when the sun came out and it became a great day on the lake.  After the girls arose, they, along with Evie, made pancakes, in various shapes, for everybody, quite a chore feeding fourteen of us, as they were at the griddle seemingly endlessly, feeding the pack of boys.  And Tyler wanted banana syrup, so Evie helped him make it, with butter, brown sugar, water and cut up bananas.  I have to admit it's tasty, worth making. And on and off during the rest of the day, various kids painted rocks, at their leisure, as the piles got bigger and bigger.

Front Porch Turned Into a Painting Studio

Lazing Around, Waiting For Breakfast

After breakfast, despite the overcast skies, the girls wanted to go tubing, so I went off to Hogan's, got gas, corn, and ice, gassed up the boat and off they went for a half hour,  Tom driving, the girls loving it, of course, even though the boat has little speed.  We had a lunch of leftovers, ate up most of the cabbage rolls, and lots of sandwiches for the kids.  It always feels like breakfast had just finished when we start getting together lunch.  Mid afternoon, the jocks took the boat over to Bemus, to go for a run, including Hayden.  Marisa, Marlena, and Halle stayed behind and worked on a new gymnastic routine. Evie went off shopping by herself, to Topps, and Beth and I stayed home, helped the girls, cleaned things up,

Deep Frying the Calamari with His Girl

Calamari

Scallops, with Butter, White Wine, Parsley and Shallots

When the athletes returned, it was about 4:30 and everyone went for a swim.  It was about this time that I had a hint that something was up...one of the painted rocks said 'Happy 70th birthday.' So, I learned, we were going to celebrate my 70th birthday early with a special dinner, including appetizers and dessert.  How cool.  So, everyone but me got cooking, pulled out the special wines, beer, and mixed drinks, and the fun began.  Tom and Mary cut up and fried the calamari on the back porch.  Jill and Beth made three sauces for it.  Evie and Drew got the shrimp ready; Evie put some hanky pankies under the broiler, and we also had cheese and crackers.  Once the calamari was done, we adjourned to the front yard, on a sunny afternoon, and had a feast.  The appetizers were filling, like a main course, so we put off dinner till about 7:00.  About 6:30, the cooking began again, for dinner, browning scallops in butter, adding white wine and shallots, one of my favorite dinners,  Tommy and Evie did the cooking of the scallops, Drew  grilled marinated shrimp on skewers, and the girls got the rest of the meal together, sweet corn, a salad, an a broccoli and cheese salad that Evie made.  Fortunately, everything had dried up nicely outside, so we could eat dinner in the yard.  It was a cool night but with a sweat shirt or fleece it was perfect, as were all my favorite foods.  We sat outside as the lake darkened, finishing our meal, our wine, laughing about the day's preparation,

Getting Dinner Ready

Helping Out In the Kitchen

Dusting the Calamari

When it got dark, we went inside and sang Happy Birthday before digging into the ice cream cake, and two pies from Portage Pie in Westfield, a mediocre peach pie and a scrumptious coconut cream, my choice for the night.  After that, the kids pulled out the gifts.  Each grandchild had painted me a special rock, for example, Nick painted the Besiktas banner, my basketball team in Turkey, on a rock.  And I received some cool things from the kids, Merino glasses, two artistic birds, made out of wire from the American Folk Art Museum in NYC and an overly generous gift card to Amazon, to buy what I like.  O, yea, I forgot, they also purchased  two ten dollar raffle tickets for a boat, sponsored by the Bemus Point Yacht Museum.  Both Evie and I feel were are going to win it on September 1st when they have the drawing.

Tyler and Mary, Doing Dishes

The Birthday Boy, Up Close

After all the fun, the girls went up to bed, very excited by the party and lots of cake,  The boys watched Shark Week, Tom and Drew the Kansas City Chiefs game on Tom's IPAD, and when Shark Week was over, the boys and Drew, Jill, and Evie played another game of Telefunky to round out the evening.

Today is going to be a sad day as at least two families have to leave for home.  Tommy and his family fly back to KC, from Cleveland, at 5:00 so they will have to leave around 12:30 for the airport.  Jill and Drew and the girls will head back to Virginia about the same time.  Hopefully, they can enjoy the morning before taking off.