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.)
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.)
