Fourteen Of Us, Finally

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Mitchell Is Back From Barcelona (with a mug for his Granny)

Tyler

Nick

5:22

6:15 

Henry

A beautiful morning sky, partly cloudy with lots of pinks and oranges, like something you might get in Arizona magazine.  It's cooling off for a couple of days with a high in the low 70's, so it looks like a great Saturday, the final day at the lake for both Tommy and Jill, alas. I took off for a paddle at 7:00, leaving Mitch and Rami to their devices.  The sky was schizophrenic, dark and overcast in one direction, sunny in another.  I did catch a heron hanging out above the reeds until he dropped down, behind them, hoping to catch a fish.  I paddled in, trying to find him, but he was too well hidden.

Beth

Moi

Yesterday was a busy day for all of us, lots to enjoy and do.  I was up early but instead of going kayaking at 7:00, Ramiro set up my Amazon Dot, so we played around with that instead of hitting the water early.  Around here, grandkids seem to be the last to rise, usually around 9:30 or later, some up to 11:00.  Oh, to be able to sleep in until 10:00or 11:00.  Beth took over the making of breakfast for all of us, eggs, bacon, and bagels if you were up by 10:30.  After then, you were on your own.  Around 11:00, Beth and I went out for a paddle, my usual circle, looking for herons but we were too late I think, as they seem to fish early. And Evie took the girls to the Blueberry Patch, another tradition, and came home with six pounds of blueberries, for pies and crisps and pancakes.

Margaret AndThe Girls

Petting Buddy, The Good Dog

Halle And Hayden

Everyone else just hung out, usually on their devices and Evie started to get things organized for both lunch and dinner, getting out the two trays of frozen ziti she made a week ago, hot dogs, and the leftover sloppy joes.

Working It

Hanging Out With Dad

Sisters

After Jill, Rami and Marisa did their workout, most of the girls went out to enjoy the sun on the dock.  Mary and Tommy, however, volunteered to make another run to Wegman's since they were going to work out at The Fitness Bunker in Lakewood.

Ready For The Dock

Docking It

Around 1:00, groups came in from the dock in dribbles, made themselves some lunch, then either went back out to enjoy the afternoon or stay in the house, play on their devices, or even take a nap.  I chose the latter., then sat with my grandson, Nick, on the porch with an Atlas, talking about his stay in Italy and travels for six weeks in May and June.  That's how most of the afternoon was spent.

Enjoying Microbrews At Ellicottville Brewery

Around 4:30, a group took off to enjoy a libation at the Ellicottville Brewery, about a 15-minute drive from our home.  Evie and I stayed behind with the girls and played some competitive games of bean bag, with Evie and Marlena beating Halle and me twice.

Bean Baggers 

Around 5:00, Beth left for the airport in Buffalo to pick up her # 2 son Mitchell, who was flying in from Barcelona, Spain that is not New York, after a three-month internship and class. The Southern Tier group were back by 6:00, in time to help set up for dinner.  And we relaxed before dinner, entertained by our crazy daughter, Jilly Bean.

Jill's Rockin Out To Barry White's 'Can't Get Enough Of You Babe'

Baked Ziti Dinner

We ate dinner around 7:00 and devoured the baked ziti, with or without eggplant.  We also had a huge salad and garlic bread and lots of red wine, so we feasted for a good hour, enjoying the food and family.

Mitchell's Back In The States

Mitchell and Beth arrived around 7:30, to great fanfare as we had not seen Mitchell since December.  He was tired but hungry so Evie put together the last of the ziti and salad for both he and Beth.  Tyler took the girls out for ice cream at Boxcar Barney's in Mayville while the rest of us just hung out, talking with Mitch.  Around 9:30, all of the grandchildren and a few of the adults squeezed into the TV room to watch Shark Week, this episode featured Shaq.

Moon Over Chautauqua Lake: 9:15

Most stayed up and watched it but Evie and I were exhausted and were the first to go up to bed, around 10:30.  I am not sure what time the girls came into our room to sleep but they were quiet.  I am sure the guys stayed up watching a movie till late.