family

How I love the Sundays when we all come together here, at the farmhouse for brunch. Especially on a fine May day. When no one is sick. Nor in a rush. When the kids' moods soar. When the farmette lands are at their best.

I move quickly this morning. There's food to prepare!

 

 

 But not too quickly. In May, you have to pause, smell, take note. These are the weeks we've been waiting for for such a long time!

 

 

 

 (The daffodils are still radiant. Most of them. The tulips are, of course, the attention grabbers.)

 

 

I chase the cats away and put a leaf into the table. This makes it just long enough for the 11 of us.

 

 

 

The first arrivals, finding their way along the secret path.

 

 

When everyone's here, the big three go off to plot something. When I ask for details, I get nothing. You'll find out after brunch!

 

 

 

But I can spy! I see that it involves the new orchard...

 

 

 

A pause in their scheming for brunch. Which is easy and wonderful in its variety and ease. (I did manage to bake a chocolate cake this morning, but even that was pure simplicity.)

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, the kids are ready to make their announcement.

 

 

 They are going to run for dollars (or pennies, depending on the grownups' generosity). Each of us pledged a certain amount for every lap completed by one child. It was suggested we pledge a $1 per lap. None of the other grownups followed this suggestion but dumb me didn't know that. But what the heck, my runner was little Juniper. How many laps around the new orchard can she do in a mere five minutes?

 

 

 

Turns out quite a few. She simply, um, cut some corners. Before I knew it, I was handing over my life's savings to the Cousins' Bank (for a future use).

 

 

 

A pause, a book, shared stories...

 

 

 

And now it's time for them to leave. Ed does the group photo...

 

 

And they are off and away.

There will never be a departure and dispersal that'll be easy or fun, but on the other hand, as I clean up the house, I know how completely happy they are in their chosen lives. There is nothing more that I could wish for them.

The late afternoon warms up a little and so Ed proposes a walk. Maybe the Brooklyn Wildlife Area? I'm reluctant. I'm tired and couch time seems awfully tempting. And yet...

I've never regretted taking a walk with him. And in fact, the trail is magnificent on this fresh May day. Full of apple blossoms and dogwood blooms and puffy clouds in a deeply blue sky.

 

 

If this weekend isn't a model of good energy, good spirits, beautiful celebrations, fantastic cousin games,  walks, talks, foods, shared and loved, then I dont know what is. And all on a weekend of blossoms and beauty that only May can deliver. Total heaven.

with so much love.