Postcards from the Lake: A Birthday and a Mass Invasion!

Everything this summer has been more than a little topsy turvy with a few big monkey wrenches thrown into the mix. Would my birthday be the same? Nope! It was terrific!

Early in the week, Rick's brother and his family, including two nine-year-old granddaughters, came for a visit. You'd think that adding five people to my usual semi-solitary existence would be a challenge. It was more like a delightful vacation! The Massachusetts Oberle gang pitched their tents (and hammock) in the yard (with one grand girl taking the guest room!). 

From then on, it was just the fun of it. Bike rides for Rick and his niece...

...and Randy and the girls. 

There was fun in the sand on one of our rare warm and sunny days.

Rick helped the girls dig a massive hole and build a tall mound of sand so firm they could stand on it...

 

...and deep enough to sit in!

Randy took the girls on individual kayak rides in the fold-up, origami kayak that Annie Linda Hyders brought.

Then Rick took a spin at the Golden Hour.

 

There was a lot of grilling! Those Oberle boys all look alike!

A bit of an accident (a tipped over grill) caused some consternation...

...and sent Rick to the faucet to wash off the brats!

 It was always a happy crowd....and even happier after post-dinner neck massages by one of the girls. This young one has a career in store for her as a massage therapist if she chooses to take it! And the strongest hands of any nine-year-old I've ever experienced!

Birthday was a good day. Greg came down for breakfast, bringing his lovely friend, Amelia, with him.

(And a few presents too, but the best present was his presence!)

Rick, Olivia and Randy made my birthday pie -- or rather, pies. Key lime. Yum!

And we also had corn from the market, wonderful steaks and pasta salad.

Summer food! All our dinners were served up with big smiles!

I was sad to say farewell to my Sister From Another Mother and the whole gang. We had so many good, long talks and completely on the same wavelength. That's a real gift too.

They're welcome back any time.

I leave you with the sunset that, unfortunately, we didn't roll out for them during their visit. 

It was a beauty, rivaled only by the enormous Sturgeon Super Moon shining through the bedroom window like a spotlight. No photo of that one. Just wonderful memories of a terrific time.