Second Cousins' Turn

Getting the extended family together in this day and age, begins with sending out an email. For thirty years, not annually, but at various times, the venue has been the cabin at Hatzic Lake. It's a good thing my side of the family is willing to share it with his side because it seems they love to come out.

The horse barn my dad converted into a house many years ago, is situated on one side of the lake and, what the kids have dubbed Dinosaur Mountain, rests right across the lake. The sleeping giant lays there, stretched out so, I could not get his tail into the photo.

The place just begins to feel like home after so many years.

 

Yesterday, grown sisters and cousins, remembered coming as little girls who anticipated the fun for weeks in advance. It was fourteen years ago, that Bonnie's wedding reception took place right here and the bridesmaids posed on these steps. She was the first of these five to get married. (there were numerous others before her .. )

First cousins brought their little ones to check out the place.



It looked like they were having fun.



Our Ben, who grew up with his many girl cousins, brought his family from Saskatoon.



And observing him, I caught another father/daughter photo op. Kristal and her family  have not been at many gatherings in the last ten years.

Julene, our artist, set up a kids corner for face painting and crafts.  Older kids found a football to toss around near the lake, who then had to figure out how to get it out of the lake. At one point we had to get out some towels for dripping wet kids. Sunshine and water tend to to that.

I saw that acquaintances were easily renewed. ( it's wonderful how they just seem to know . . .)

Newlyweds, teens and little girls enjoyed the hammocks.

as well as the swings.

 

Oh, and since my mom and Abe live right next door . . . if you remember that story ... they were happy to join us . . . coming across the shared lawn with a warm Platz. At one point I saw her pushing her great-granddaughters on the tire swing, and something came back to me. 

A photo memory . . . many years ago, regular swings hung under that same tree, and my own children's great-grandmother stood there watching over them . . .  did she give them a push or two? Probably. I know my mom would remember too, and I almost called out to her, "Mom ...remember Omi?"

 

Her new hubby, Abe, brought out his accordion to join my sister-in-law, Elvira, on her harp.

Food got pulled from the fridge and an assortment of coolers . . . and plates were filled.

Potato salad, bean salad, broccoli salad, layered salad, veggies, meatballs, farmer sausage, ham, a cold fruit soup and Zwieback were on the menu.




So many people - meant waiting in line ...



but everyone found something they liked ...

and obviously desserts followed suit.

I overheard some young ones talking as they looked at that table and there was a question . . . and the answer was, "Yes, we can eat it, that's why it's here."

 

 And when I looked out of the kitchen window as I was making coffee, I could hardly believe the sight! It was worth sending out an email.