Family Exodus

Hugs

More  Jill Hugs For Halle

6:45

It's now 7:30 and I have been up for forty five minutes, to another morning of heavy fog, as I can hardly see the end of the dock.  It's a chilly 54ª outside, fleece weather inside.  Evie and I are sitting here having our coffee, as we hear stirrings upstairs, no doubt adults first, then the grandchildren.  Both families head for home today, alas, but Marisa and Beth will be staying until Tuesday, Beth to attend a  three day workshop at Lily Dale, Marisa to be spoiled by her Granny and Baba for a couple of days.

Relaxing

Yesterday was another glorious day at the lake, a busy one, as usual but a fun one.  We did not get started too early, which is nice in some ways, but half of the morning is gone before we actually get into gear and start enjoying the outside. Ramiro was off early, however, for a bike ride through the hills of Chautauqua County, and Drew took a run, while the rest of us sat around sipping coffee.  About 9:30, the boys had a hankering for sour cream/buttermilk waffles so Tyler drove to Hogan's for sour cream, ice, and picked up some corn from Jeremy's.  Evie and Tyler then made to huge batches of waffle batter, and we were then sated with syrup and waffles, with only two left.  A great morning breakfast for all since Drew and Rami were both back in time to partake of them.

Mitchell on Halle's Lap

Around 11:00, Beth and Jill went off to get hamburger for dinner, from the Lighthouse and some baloney, then off to Tops as well to pick up a few other things for the final family dinner of the Summer of 2014.  They were back in time for lunch, of various sorts.  I made fried baloney for the guys, the girls unwilling to try it.  With pickles and mayo on white toasted bread, the best, a trip back to a 1950's lunch.  The girls had P and J sandwiches, or toasted cheese, or turkey, and Beth made a quesadilla, a typical lunch around here, like Evie's diner, where everyone gets what they want.

The Rough House Gang

Marisa and Hayden

By 2:00, the algae in the lake had all but disappeared, so the gang went swimming for about forty five minutes, rough housing, playing around on the tubes, having a great time because the adults were all in this time.  It was surprisingly chilly, perhaps from the wind, but all came out, wrapping themselves in towels, hurrying inside to warm up.  For some reason, we didn't boat at all, perhaps because of the chop but everyone was happy to just enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the house, porch or yard.  Drew spent a couple of hours downloading pictures, Beth, Evie and I and the girls did some rock painting.  I am actually getting in to it.  See if you can tell which one's are mine and you win a prize, a free night at Chautauqua, a meal at Evie's Diner.

A Table Of Painted Rocks

Around 4:30, we started gearing up for dinner, for thirteen this time, as the Mc Clure's were coming over so the kids could see them.  It's always surprising how much time it takes just to get things set up outside, chairs washed and arranged, bean bags set up, fire pit ready, tables aligned for dinner, grill ready.  I even worked up a sweat.  On the inside, Evie and Beth had put together close to fifty koftes.  Evie then made the girls a chocolate chip birthday cake.  Then, Evie and Tyler made a banana cream pie to compliment the cake for dessert. And the boys shucked the corn.  Everything was ready for the Mc Clure's at 6:15, sort of.  We sat outside and played bean bag, Mitch having set up a tournament, pairing adults with kids.  Tyler and Jill, one of the two adult teams won, however, and even Evie and Drew got knocked out in the first round, an afternoon of upsets, reminiscent of Brazil's loss to Germany in the World Cup!  Mitch and I started cooking the koftes around 7:15, Evie steamed the corn, and Beth made a salad.  We had hoped to eat outside but by 7:45 it was too chilly, so we had to eat inside but it was fine.  We devoured the pita bread, koftes, tomato sauce, and yogurt, a Turkish specialty.

Bean Bagging It

Feeding The Ducks

Baba And His Oldest Grandchild, Tyler

Marisa and Uncle Ursula (aka Jill)

After dinner, Drew built a fire, Tyler and Evie whipped the cream for the top of the banana cream pie, and we all sat outside, around the fire, having both chocolate chip cookie cake and banana cream pie.  Yum. We sang happy birthday to both Marisa and Hayden, whose birthdays are next week.  The party broke up around 10:00, as the kids said goodbyes to the Mc Clures, and then most of us relaxed a bit, or cleaned up the kitchen, before going up to bed, tired from another great day.

Dinner for Thirteen

It's now 8:00, Beth and Drew are up, Mitch is taking a shower, so things are starting to move around here.   I assume the boys will want a breakfast egg and bagel sandwich before they leave and Evie's always accommodating to their wishes.  By 10:30, the house will seem ghostly silent even though Beth and Marisa will remain.  And then the clean up will being, starting with our bedroom.