No Wind, No Rain, Just Cloudy Skies And Grandchildren

July Flowers

6:50

A quiet 64º morning with cloudy skies. It was overcast all of Monday but never rained, just spit for a bit, and it looks like today might be the same, no sunshine and no rain.  Today is my grandson Tyler's final day with us as he flies home to Boston tonight leaving just the five of us.  It's 9:00 and I have been back from kayaking for an hour, putting the finishing touches on the blog with Evie.  No heron pictures, just a bunny rabbit.

Kayak Morning

Rabbit In The Morning

Yesterday began like most of my mornings, with an early rising, writing the blog, then going for a kayak paddle, hoping to catch a photograph of a heron.  I did photograph two so it was a good morning.  The girls slept in, having stayed up until 1:30.  Evie came downstairs for a glass of water and found them sitting on the front porch talking. We had a leisurely morning, thinking it was going to rain so we hung out, the girls slept in, and Evie and Beth made up another mega shopping list for Wegman's, as Evie and the boys had lots of baking and cooking in mind for the day.  I had a few errands to run so I decided to go with Beth.  We made four stops for me, library, Ryder's Cup for eggs and coffee, the Empty Can Man and the bank. We didn't get to Wegman's until noon but Beth, like me, was willing to zip, not browse through the store, so we made good time despite a cart groaning with groceries and found a quick check out line.  Beth also found a couple of neat black Southern Tier Brewery tees for Mitch and Tyler.  We were home by 1:00, having picked up corn at a stand just off of Hunt Road.

Ready For A Run

When we returned home, Evie had been busy, making crepes for breakfast. The girls then went for a run and worked out. Then, they helped Evie clean up the kitchen, living room, porches, and bedrooms.  They are stellar granddaughters, always willing to help Granny.  Lunch was your choice, so I had a sandwich and Beth and Evie made up omelets or quesadillas for the guys and gals. After lunch, everyone went for a swim,  the girls practicing their jumps and dives, although they did not spend much time on the dock because it was still cloudy.

The rest of the afternoon was do your own thing.  I watched some of my program, FAUDA, and took a nap.  The girls played on their devices, worked on braiding friendship bracelets,  colored more of the tablecloth, and played bean bag with Evie.  The boys watched TV, played games on their devices and then helped Evie in the kitchen.

Cousins After A Swim

And Beth was busy making her luscious vodka tomato sauce, with roasted tomatoes.  Tyler and Evie put together a banana cream pie for dessert.  And Evie and Tyler made the dough for fresh pasta around 5:00 and put it in the refrigerator for an hour to rest.

Banana Cream Pie

At 6:00, we pulled out the Kitchen Aid, put on the pasta attachment, and with the help of the boys, made fresh fettuccine to go with Beth's Vodka and tomato sauce.  It's a process, time-consuming, but fun and worth the effort.

Beth's Vodka Pasta 

Dinner, then, was fresh pasta with Vodka sauce, a huge salad, Italian bread, and chicken although we did not really need the chicken because the pasta, salad, and bread were more than enough.

Dinner Inside

We then had a typical evening, of everyone doing their own thing.  Beth and I did the dishes, the rest were on their devices until it was time for banana cream pie with homemade whipped cream, the best.  We loved it but one piece seemed to be enough.  We then decided to play a game my Mom taught us called Telefunky and that lasted for about forty-five minutes before we got tired and silly.  The gang then went into the TV room and finally watched a decent movie, THE TRUMAN SHOW, something the adults might want to watch.  Most stayed up and watched it till late before going to bed, another late night for the girls.  I packed it in early, however, wanting to get back to my book and had seen the film two or three times.  Bah Humbug.

Bean Bag Fun

Marisa Upended

Almost Down To Eight, Alas

The Captain And Her Mate

Cruising To The Chautauqua Institution

5:45

A gray, overcast morning at 5:40, the lake calm, the temperature, 66º as the weather seems to have changed and we have rain forecast for most of the day.  Ramiro was to leave this morning at 4:00 for an early meeting in Indianapolis but he slept through his alarm and will leave later this morning at 11:30 for Dallas, skipping the meeting.  And both Tom and Jill and their families left Sunday morning, leaving their daughters with us until Friday. I paddled off at 7:00 in a light rain but it soon stopped so I had a good morning on the lake, catching two herons before they flew off.

Kayaking In the Rain

Old Henry

And Friend

So yesterday was not the most pleasant of days because some had to get home for work.  I was up early with Rami, went for a quick paddle, then drove to the Lighthouse Point Grocery at 8:00 to pick up a favorite breakfast meat, peameal bacon, a Canadian specialty.  We love it and usually serve it every summer so we wanted to make sure everyone enjoyed it before they left.  Beth, again, took over breakfast, frying eggs, the Canadian bacon, and toasting bagels as people wanted.  The car which was taking them to the airport arrived an hour early so he sat in our parking area until 10:15 when we bid the five of them adieu and then we were nine. 

Off On A Boat Ride

We decided to boat to the Chautauqua Institution at 11:00, a slow 25-minute cruise away.  It was a fine morning to be on the lake but we were joined by lots of boats, making the lake somewhat choppy.  We were able to dock our boat on their dock, then walked up the hill, just missing the morning service in the Amphitheater.

Enjoying The Grounds Of The Chautauqua Institution

So we walked around, enjoying the busyness of it before doing some browsing in the bookstore and a couple of more stores.  Beth and Rami found a neat antique plate, Marisa a sweatshirt, and the three girls found a bracelet they liked.  We then boated home as it started to cloud up and started to rain a half hour after we returned home, so it was good timing.

Cruising Home

Evie and Beth the made lunch, hot dogs, and Italian sausages as we had worked up an appetite walking around the CI. After lunch, there was a palpable drop in energy, mostly because Tommy and Jill and their families were heading home.  So the boys hung out, playing games on their devices, the girls sat on the front porch with Beth, braiding friendship bracelets.  

Making Friendship Bracelets

The rest of us did some cleaning up and prepping for dinner before relaxing as well.  Late afternoon, the guys went upstairs with Evie and put the bedrooms back together, moving mattresses back into the attic, rearranging the chests of drawers, putting them back where they belong.  It was a big help to get it done instead of leaving it for Evie and me to do.

The Thrill Of Bean Bag Victory

Before dinner, the girls and Evie went for a swim and played some beanbag.  Around 6:30, Mitch and I barbecued some chicken thighs while Evie and Beth made the noodles, simmering them in chicken broth, then making a salad and frying up some zucchini and roasted cauliflower. Again, this is a traditional summer dinner when our family is here at the lake, especially the noodles in chicken broth.  

The Reeds, Early Morning

After dinner, we sat around either playing games on our devices, reading or talking.  Around 8:30, the kids talked Ramiro into driving them to Boxcar Barney's ice cream stand in Mayville.  So they were happy and did not get back until 9:30.  Just after 10:00, the grandchildren went into the TV room to watch another scary movie but it was time for bed for the adults.  I have no idea what time the kids got to bed just so they were quiet...and they were.  

I am not sure what today will bring because of the rain but I am sure it will involve some shopping because homemade pasta carbonara is on the menu, a request of the boys.  And we will no doubt be baking something, perhaps croissants, perhaps another dessert with blueberries although the six pounds we picked last week is gone.  

A Wild And Crazy Day (Mega Photos)

The Family, Summer, 2018

Father And Son

Son,  Just 50, Father, Just 75

Our Youngest Grandchild,  Halle

Cousin Love

Beth, Our Oldest Daughter

An Always Smiling Marisa

Hayden

It's just after 6:00 and I have been up for a half hour.  Bass boats are flying by, filling the air with their roar as there must be a fishing tournament.  It's a cool 55º and although rain is predicted, we should have some good weather as well.  The only downside, four of the family are leaving today, as the departures for home sadly begin.  And then there were ten...for a day.  I did get in a paddle, caught a heron at the reeds.

6:00

6:15

Kayak Morning

Heron

We seemed to pack all we could into the last day all of us were together.  It started out as usual, with Rami and me up first.  I then went for a paddle and by the time I came home, all the adults were up planning out the day. 

Pancake Helpers

Blueberry Pancake Cooks And Spectators

Nothing Like Blueberry Pancakes

Our first decision was what to have for breakfast, so Beth pulled out the largest bowl she could find, put together the makings for buttermilk pancakes and started to fry up a hunk of bacon.  And literally for the next hour, she made pancakes for the fourteen of us, timing it so they were ready as the girls got up, a great way to start the day.  I then got busy with my usual Saturday chore, taking the trash to the Transfer Station.  This time I had to make two trips because of the amount of trash accumulated over the week. After dropping off the trash, I stopped at Hogan's filled up the car and a couple of gallon cans of gas for the boat and bought another bag of ice for chilling the libations on our porch cooler. 

Hanging A Ceiling Fan

All the time I was doing this, Ramiro was busy putting up a fan on our back porch for Evie.  He's a handy guy and had it up within forty-five minutes.  Yea.  And while Rami and I were working, the gals cleaned up the breakfast mess, then Evie and the grandchildren put together their all-time favorite Granny food, sticky buns.  It's time-consuming so they were not ready till late afternoon, after rising a couple of times and baking.  They are without a doubt the best sticky buns around, better than those at the Bemus Point Inn. 

Sticky Bun Gang

By the time all this was done, it was lunch time, so Tom, the boys, and girls took the boat over to the Village Casino for another bout of wings, getting them one more time before they have to leave.  Evie, Mary, and I took it easy and Beth and Rami went off to do some shopping at Wegman's and they bought Mitch and Marisa new iPhones, a birthday present for Marisa, another one for Mitch who had his stolen in Barcelona.  Everyone was back by 2:30. 

Father vs Daughter

The rest of the afternoon was spent setting up iPhones, playing around on our devices, and getting dinner ready, Turkish koftes with spices and Juicy Lucy's for the grill.  And most importantly,  primping for our family pictures at 5:00, always a nightmare getting everyone ready to cooperate but they finally do!

Da Boys

Photo Bombing

Beth's Family

Tommy's Family

Jill's Girls But Missing Drew

Cheese

Our Grandchildren

The ordeal was over by 6:00, so we got out the appetizers, our favorite cheeses, Castello and Saint Andre and crackers, and sat outside enjoying wine or beer, playing bean bag, enjoying the beautiful afternoon. 

Tommy And His Mom

Two Crazies

 We started thinking about dinner around 6:30 but the guys decided to try a new drink called a Flaming Dr. Pepper, so everyone stood around watching them light a shot of high powered rum, drop both the shot and the glass in a beer, then chugging it. 

Flaming Dr. Pepper Crazies

It's supposed to taste like Doctor Pepper, according to our recent Dartmouth graduate, well versed in what to imbibe.  Once that was over, all jumped into action, Tommy and I grilled the koftes and juicy lucy's, the girls in the kitchen getting the corn, salad and fixings ready, the grandchildren, setting the table outside.  And I forgot to mention that while all this was going on after the photographs, Beth was making something called a blueberry/peach slab pie for dessert. How she managed is a wonder.

A Turkish Dinner

By 7:30, we were all sitting outside, enjoying our Turkish Iskender kebabs, koftes on pita with a tomato sauce and a dollop of yogurt on top, another family favorite.  We sat around eating and talking until it got dark and was time to clean up the kitchen although the girls had done must of the work which was great.  Around 9:00  Evie was upstairs, yelled down there was a great full orange moon off to the south, over Bootey Bay.

Full Moon

We rushed out on the porch, took photographs, then sat around inside, talking and on our devices, what else, until the grandchildren decided to play cards, a game called Bull Shit. This went on until at least 10:00 when I decided to hit the sack and the young ones moved into the TV room for another movie.  I am not sure what time they went to bed but I was up at 2:00 and the TV was still on. 

Today, as I mentioned, Tom, Jill, Mary, Nick, and Hayden have to head home at 10:30.  Fortunately, Halle, Marlena, Marisa, Beth and Mitch are staying for the rest of the week, Rami leaves tomorrow and Tyler on Tuesday.  Happy they are not all leaving at once!