Sunday, August 12, 2007

Family Campfires ... and Such

It's been party time here lately, for Althegal and Puff have landed from the left coast to visit with us — Cuppa, me, Thesha, Theboy, and Her Royal Smudgeness — here in Central Canada. First, Cuppa and I travelled to Riverwood where Althegal was visiting with extended family to fetch her from there to here for a short visit with her more immediate family. But for one evening we found ourselves in the country sitting around the campfire (photo below) chatting amiably and swapping stories.

Riverwood Campfire

Before it got very dark, I was fortunate enough to take this photo of the colourful sky beyond the back gate. (Okay, I admit to playing with the photo a bit and using some filters, but still ... it was quite a nice moment.)

Riverwood Gate at Sunset

The next day we brought Althegal back east along highway 7 to the capital to spend several days of fellowship with us. Puff also flew in from Vancouver, and we have been enjoying each other's company ever since. It's a short window of opportunity, but it's an open, and we'll enjoy the fresh air of companionship that blows through it.

The six of us have grilled burgers and steaks, feasted on lasagna and a big breakfast consisting of a dozen eggs, two pounds of bacon and two dozen biscuits -- all of that for only 6 people! And since Althegal and I share the same birthday, 31 years apart, we've also consumed an early birthday cake. We never manage to be together on the actual day anymore, but so far we have usually found a way to converge fairly close to the event. In the evening following the birthday supper, we had a second campfire: this one here in suburbia in an enclosed pit. We roasted marshmallows and hot dogs and just a wee bit of refreshing beverage and laughed and talked about anything and everything.

It's been a good few days. (Here's a photo of Thesha, Althegal, and Smudge.)

Mom, Aunt, and Smudge

6 comments:

ChrisB said...

That camp fire photo looks so real you can almost feel the heat. It sound like you are having a wonderful get-to-gether :)

Ginger said...

What a fun family time, AC. Having family folk sprinkled about across the land is not so fun when one enjoys one's children a great dea. But it seems there's no net on the market for pulling them all together in the sort of little convenient clump that would make campfires and family chitchat a regular thing. How sad.

cat59 said...

What a cool pic of the campfire! The sunset is beautiful, but I am most impressed with the campfire shot. Glad ya'll are having fun up there!

Ginnie said...

I have such fond memories of long talks around a campfire...it's been years and I envy you !
Great pictures, AC

Anonymous said...

Amazingly beautiful photos. They so capture the essence of your words. You have such a lovely family. Althegal must be thrilled to meet little Smudge.

Bonita said...

Ah, just the girls together, so sweet. I'm glad you had a nice time out in the country.