Seven Hours to Darien, CT

 LovIn' Other People's Dogs

We are up later than usual at 7:00, sitting around drinking coffee, talking with Drew.  We are driving to Connecticut to visit the Albarrans and we are in no hurry this morning which is rare though I suppose we will be on our way by 8:30 anyways.

Yesterday was a warm, Virginia spring kind of day, sunny, blue skies, in the 80's with a breeze to cool us off.  We were all busy in the morning.  Drew cut the lawn, trimmed, things like that.  Jill went off to the mall to get more curtains; it's like picking out paint.  You cannot tell if you like them till they are hung and then it's easy to return and get more.  She's tried a couple of sets already and may look for 'just the right ones.'  I took the dog for a long walk, helped out some, watched the first half of last night's Cavs victory over Atlanta.  The girls did not get up until late, typical teens.  Evie helped Jill do some planting of hydrangeas and dahlias and they look great, a good choice.  After Hayden and Drew worked out, Evie made BLT's for all of us.  We then drove to get Hayden some running shoes because she is getting serious about being a runner which is great.

Old Bust Head Brewery

We just relaxed the rest of the early afternoon until about 4:00 when the four adults drove off to a nearby brewery, called Old Bust Head, a smart thing to do on a hot afternoon.  The girls stayed home, preferring their friends and the quiet of home to a beer garden I guess.  It was a great day to be out, lots of people both inside and out, enjoying the various beers.  We only stayed for one beer because we wanted to get home to the girls.  They were fine, of course, playing at a neighbor's party which went from 3:00 to who knows when.  In fact, after dinner, around 9:00, Jill and Drew went over to the party and it was still going strong, for both neighbors and kids.  I guess the neighbor takes whatever he saves from Costco and has a party, a great idea.

The Bissells

Mother and Daughter

After the beer garden, we decided to stay home for dinner, with burgers and Italian sausage; so Jill made up a guacamole and we sat out on their porch drinking margaritas, wine, or beer, enjoying the late afternoon on their great porch, surrounded by trees in full bloom.  We did not even want to get dinner started but decided we had to around 7:30 so Drew fired up the grill, cooked the burgers and sausage, with potato salad.  It was just the four of us as the girls were playing with the gang from the party (about 20 kids), racing in and out of yards, and played a game called "Manhunt," hiding, then trying to tag the tree before you are caught.  Things never change.

Halle, Hayden and Neighborhood Gang, Playing Man Hunt

Evie and I were happy to relax for an hour while everyone else was at the party.  We were invited but it sounded good to just stay home and enjoy the quiet.  We kept Coco company and watched the beginning of the NBA playoff game between Golden State and the Rockets before going to be around 10:30.  The gang, including he girls, did not get home until midnight, so it was a wild night for the Bissells.

We should be off this morning by 8:30; I am not looking forward to the drive but it's worth it to see Beth, Rami, Marisa and Mitch.  Tyler is still at school getting ready for final exams.