Hodgepodging the Family Reunion

 'Here, little cousin, let me help you.'

This past weekend, we had a family birthday party for our oldest son. Everyone was here, except for the daughter who is in Italy and her husband, stuck at home (his own choice, silly boy) in Texas. It was wonderful to have the group here for the two days and an overnight. The weather was perfect.  Camping and swimming* and shooting and a trip to Valkyrie, the local craft brewery were on the agenda. And the best part is, we're going to be doing it again the first part of August, but that time we expect the Texans to join us! All the photos are from the past weekend

 Our large, above-ground pool
Remember? I did say *swimming.

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1. Is your home air conditioned? If it's not air conditioned, is that by choice? Did you grow up with air conditioning? If not how did you cope with the heat? Share about a time or place you remember as being too hot-the temperature kind of hot, lest anyone be confused.

Yes, our home has central air, although we didn't need to use it until July, and then only occasionally, and only during the warmest part of the day. It's been a beautiful summer. When I was a kid, no one had air conditioning. No one had lots of things that people think are 'needs' these days. Everyone got along fine and didn't whine about it. Being too hot in the summer was part of life in the summertime. I remember my dad and brothers getting hot and sweaty putting up hay in the summer. The chaff from the hay would stick to my brothers' sweaty, shirtless bodies. It wasn't a pretty sight. Then again, we didn't have to look at their sweaty, white skin. :-)

The only place I remember being too hot was when we landed at the airport in Panama. It was  smotheringly hot and muggy. There didn't seem to be much oxygen in that thick air. I was glad there wasn't a long layover before we took off for LaPaz, Bolivia.

Oh wait! I remember it being too hot at some of the 'tent meetings' when I was a kid. They were outdoor evangelistic meetings held for the community. Sawdust floors, a huge tent, uncomfortable wood benches, and sometimes very hot inside. That is a memory that hadn't surfaced for a long time.

 The Birthday Boy (l.) and part of the crew at breakfast

Mr. C. making one of his morning specialties - 
French Toast and Bacon
Full English Breakfast is his other specialty.

2. What's something in your life right now that falls under the heading 'up in the air'?

Possible revision surgery. More on that later, if there is more later.

3. Your favorite light and airy dessert?

I'm not really a fan of light and airy; rather, more a fan of dense and delicious. But if there were something very lemony and not too sweet that was light and airy, I'd give it a try. Also, I guess my Strawberry Freezer Dessert is somewhat light and airy - and far too delicious, so that I have to keep any leftovers in the freezer in the basement or it would be a constant temptation. After a good freezer burn, I don't mind throwing it out.

 Front Yard Weekend Encampment

4. When did you last feel like you were 'floating on air'?

A couple things might make me feel like I'm 'floating on air.' One would be the daily encounter with God's beautiful creation: flowers, blue skies, puffy white clouds, green fields, gentle breeze, the songs of birds in the early morning, beautiful rivers, etc. etc. The other would be having the family home for the weekend. It's wonderful. Exhilarating, exhausting, and wonderful!

The cousin pals, together again

5. Airport, airmail, airtight, airhead...which have you most recently encountered? Explain.

Remember when airmail meant thin writing paper and thin envelopes with a stripe around the edge? Anyway, I avoid airheads, almost nothing is actually airtight, so I guess an airport would be my most recent encounter of air things. And that reminds me, airports aren't nearly as much fun as they had been before the big beef-up of security. Remember the days when we could go to the airport and watch the planes take off? Now we aren't even allowed to go to the gate to see friends or family off on a vacation.

 Downton Shooting Party

(without the costuming, the killing, or the posh accent) 
target shooting, of course

 Birthday son and lovely wife

6.  Have you ever been to the Alps? If so where did you go? If not, is this a destination on your must-see list? If you were headed that direction this summer, which of the following would be your preferred activity...a gentle walk, a serious walk, a bike ride, a boat ride around one of the lakes, or summer snow skiing?

I've never been to the Alps and don't have a desire to go, but could have a desire to be in Verona, where you can see the foothills (or maybe the foothills of the foothills) where our daughter is studying Italian this summer. Just Skyped with her and was given a tour of her apartment with its views over the city. (The up-side of technology). Sigh. BUT, of the activities mentioned, I would take a serious walk if I could. Until I get that issue resolved, a boat ride around one of the lakes sounds great. A row boat, or a boat with a punter (punter?) or a gondolier. No noisy speed boats for me, thank you.

Aspiring forest outlaw archer

7. What is one saying or phrase that was considered 'cool' when you were growing up?

'Neat' and 'cool' were considered neat and cool when I was a kid. But actually, I was never into being cool or knowing phrases that were. I grew up in the Mostly Pre-Cool Era (for which I thank God.)

 Prayer before lunch

The weather was beautiful, so we were able to eat outdoors.

 Our daughter (r.), striking an Egyptian pose

Cousins

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Nary a random thought is floating past at the moment, so I'll just post a few extra photos.

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This post is linked to
 
Mosaic Monday

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