Friday, July 19, 2013

Back to Normal

Well, our mini family reunion ended this morning when three rental cars headed out our driveway toward two separate airports both hours away.

This past week we've had nine relatives visiting from California and Kentucky.  This came to pass because Papa Pea's little younger brother stated way back last December that what he wanted for Christmas was this trip to northern Minnesota.  You'll note that even though this was a Christmas present, he booked the trip for July.  For some reason, he didn't want to take the chance of battling knee-deep snow and the possibility of cancelled or delayed plane flights and icy roads in mid-winter.  Just no sense of adventure.

I've got to admit we did a lot of fun things this past week that we couldn't have done in the winter time.

::  We canoed.  Our favorite 8-1/2 year old is now an expert paddler in the bow position.

::  We collected rocks and painted them.  Who knew such talent would emerge!

::  We played croquet.  I haven't played that since I was a teenager.  I was much better then.

::  We got rained on.  Numerous times.  Again and again.  Over and over.

::  We shopped.  Well, it is a tourist town, you know, and there are all those lovely shops!

::  We fished.  And, lo and behold, we even caught.

::  We took sight-seeing excursions with the boat and motor.

::  We lounged and read and knitted and crocheted and worked puzzles and played backgammon when the rain was too heavy.  And it was.  Numerous times.

::  We kayaked way, way out.  And back.

::  We lounged on the end of the dock.  Alcoholic beverages may or may not have been involved.

::  We hiked and sustained only one injury which was a messy, abraded knee.  But he was very brave when I poured Tea Tree Oil on it.  Darn rain and slippery rocks!

::  We looked at old (really old!) family movies showing a few people no one present could identify.

Interspersed with all of this we ate (no shortage of good cooks in the family) and talked and talked and ate.

Gotta admit it seems very quiet in these here parts now.  And I think it's time for me to get back on my schedule.  I'll do that.  Right after I rest for a few days.  

19 comments:

Tombstone Livestock said...

And no pictures to show for all that????

Ok so now it's your turn to come to CA, New Year's Day ... the Rose Parade .... it never rains in California on New Years Day or Halloween where I live.

LindaCO said...

Splendid! Sounds like a good time was had by all. So nice that they came to you!

Sparkless said...

Nothing better than family (ones you like who's company you enjoy), fun and food!

DFW said...

Mama Pea, You deserve the rest time. So glad you & everyone else had a good time. Do you feel like the Matriarch hosting the reunion? I do, & then 'they' expect it again next year. What have you gotten yourself into?

beth said...

Oooh! It sounds PERFECT!

Sandy Livesay said...

It's great having family or even friends over for SHORT periods of time. Then after they return home a vacation is needed.

Sue said...

What fun that sounds like. And isn't it funny how we need a rest (by going back to our routines, which are HARDLY restful!)
Glad you had a nice visit.

Anonymous said...

Oh how wonderful! So glad you got to have that time with family, it's what matters most :)

Unknown said...

Sounds like fun!

Mama Pea said...

Tombstone Livestock - I purposely didn't post pictures in order to protect the not-so-innocent!

Indeed, the California folks saw more rain last week than they have in years, I think!

Mama Pea said...

LindaCO - Yes, we are a couple of non-traveling stick-in-the-muds! (Hubby has an inner ear imbalance that keeps him from flying.)

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - Kentuckians had never been here, others hadn't been here in two and three and THIRTEEN (!) years.

Mama Pea said...

DFW - Nope, this was strictly a "patriarchal" show engineered by hubby's younger brother. He rented a large house on a nearby lake where we congregated. Easy for me!

Mama Pea said...

Beth - I'm not used to so much relaxing. I worked out in the garden today and my body complained a lot! Funny how just one week away from using those muscles can make such a difference.

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - It made us realize just how much of a schedule or routine we have to our regular days . . . and don't even realize it! Now to catch up on everything . . . :o}

Mama Pea said...

Sue - You're right, our routines are hardly restful, but it's what we're used to!

Mama Pea said...

Stephanie - Yes, we had a bit of a discussion on just when in time families started spreading out all over the country . . . and how difficult that makes it to get together often.

Mama Pea said...

Little Homestead - It 'twas, it 'twas!

DFW said...

Perfect!