I come from a large family. We are spread across the continent and don’t get together often. The brother who taught me to fish decided to come for a short stay, which led two more brothers to arrange to be here as well. A fourth brother already had a full dance card and couldn’t make it.

We mostly visited and ate good food, but did manage to get out on the water one day.

My fishing brother taught me how to wield a fly rod. I practiced while the boys canoed. We collectively caught sufficient for dinner and then some.

They got to see my girls, their fellows, and my Grands. I have one grand niece, whom I have yet to meet. I hope to make that trip someday soon. Grands are the best.

They agreed the tykes are pretty darn cute.

We treated them to a true midwestern thunderstorm, which dumped more rain in a few hours than we’ve had all summer.

They got to see sideways rain….

…quarter sized hail…

…and the results of some amazing wind.

We showed them the wine bottling process. There is a tear-drop shaped primary fermenter behind me. We didn’t read the instructions for this new equipment and had more excitement than usual when the valve failed and we suddenly had a fountain of wine to staunch. We salvaged most of that batch, but it took many hands and quick action. Whew.

We got the apple tree straight again.

We enjoyed the fruits of our gardens.

Seeing them was the best gift a girl could have.