Jim Anne Jacob Ben

We had a fine day yesterday with the California relatives. It was nice to have such a full day with good weather. The boys seemed to get more relaxed with us as we were less distant relatives and more regular folks.

Part of the relaxation was to participate in a farting contest around the poker table. Anne or Elizabeth pointed out that this meant the boys were relaxed with us. Oh, the joy of family life, how sweet it is!!

Breakfast was a good success. That Plumfarm thick cut bacon lured the boys down early for the the first round of omlette. My egg pan worked great as it did before. I think I got the hang of it. Jacob liked cheese, but Ben like plain and I managed to get cheese in just one half and keep my mind on where that was so when I split the omlette in two, the boys got what they liked.
I drove in to Brueger's early for a fine assortment of bagels. Stupidly I left my keys hanging of the Elizabeth's trunk and did not find them until late last night. Lucky for me we used the van the rest of the day.

So early breakfast was a good visit with the boys.

Then we had the second breakfast with Jim and Anne and another successful omlette, this with mushrooms done with some of Jim's garlic sprouts and sweet white onions. That went well too. Plenty of talk and much of it about our current lives, giving them a sense of our children and listening to their reports. It was the kind of solid family visit that breakfast invites. It pointed out to me that we just have not had very much of that with them so far and that the space between such sharing makes for great changes in our lives that call for reporting.

The boys had some time with the musical instruments here although I am not good enough to play with them as Tico can. The banjo was interesting as was the uke. And Jacob had the keyboard rocking some over the last two days using the earphones so it did not disturb us.

We hit the water for a while using the small paddle boat. The boys are a bit skiddish about bugs and the boat was just turned over for the first time since winter so the hosing down I gave it left it with some crawling things. Ben came down first and was a bit taken back by a cricket, but soon he gave it a whirl with me. Jacob then was lured down and the two of them had a ride, but the most fun was when Jim went out with them and swamped the boat, and then they dumped it and the larger folks swam around it while the boys jumped off. I went out for a bit. My first venture in the water this year. I don't know why I am so slow to indulge the lake. It felt great.

Poker took up much of the rest of the day. The boys are as attracted to the game as I am. We played two cent chips and the competition was heavy. I guess we broke near even. I did by the end of the day. Jim and I also played a bit of head to head at one point. I had some good hands, but he is well ahead at this point.

In the evening we drove around the area and showed them the other lakes and the countryside so they could get the rural nature of the place. Anne felt it would be too isolated for her as much as the peace and the setting was a lure. It is a contrast to their neighborhood and they enjoyed seeing the difference. The Lakeview Inn on Crystal Lake offered a good meal on the back deck with plenty of stories and laughter. That gave a flavor of the town as well although it was pretty quiet there. Perhaps Tuesday is the night to go to keep away from the crowds.

Hoffay's was closed for dessert, but Stewart's served to top the night off with iced cream. The dinosaur crunch lured in a few tongues. I do like those malt balls and Jacob and Anne seemed to agree.

And the rest of the night was poker until we were too sleepy to shuffle with plenty of the banter that goes with it.

I regret that we could not have had a night to play with all the cousins. That would have been a funny game. So there might be a goal for next time.

Today Jim heads home and Anne and the boys go by train to New York City to see the sights. That will be a good bit of fun for them. It should be great weather there and less crowded than on a weekend.

We will be sorry to see them go. But then I guess folks still have to work and take care of the energies of young boys. Neither activity seems very real to us. Anne said she has a tough time sitting still, and that is a good thing with these young boys to keep up with. Elizabeth and I are lured into this sedentary life of reading, processing and contemplation with plenty of time for quiet reflection. I am especially too lethargic lately. It has been good for me to have all this activity to wake me up.

Looks like the party continues because Dana is coming in again this weekend to great Frank for Father's Day and Jen's dad will make the trip down from Utica for a party here. Should be fun.