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.