Wanderers, Friday, July 3rd posted July 4th

As I mentioned in the last blog post, these Waylands know how to cram a lot into every minute. We have enjoyed having them here. They entertain themselves.
Yesterday, everyone was busy doing their own thing: It was Neenee's 12th birthday and her laptop computer gave up the ghost, so her family went to the mall and got her a new Dell laptop. An aside: everyone here has a laptop. With only one exception. Our dining room table is filled with laptops which everyone uses at one time. Or another. Or all together. Our (Paul's) laptop is in our bedroom for now, which is very handy - since our computer room is used as a bedroom for Brenda. Frankly, I don't see any reason to get my own, as I have this here, and one in Florida, and Paul's is always available.
Brenda and Emma took my car and went to Montour Falls to see Becky, an old friend, one whom she's kept in touch with, and is the daughter of an old friend of (Paul's) ours.
So - Paul and I were alone and able to go over to Keuka Lake. It should have taken 45 minutes or so...but took longer as we stopped to get cookies, for gas and traffic in Watkins Glen was awful due to the holiday weekend.
We went to see Nancy, Dan and Vincent at the "cottage" they rented for the past week with two other couples. I hated the idea that they were so close and we didn't see them and where they were staying.
The house itself was a very grand old meandering house, which was across the road from the lake. It had lake access and a beautiful front porch that overlooked it. The house had six bedrooms, part in a new wing - one for each couple, and one for each child. Vincent was the oldest at 3, the other two boys were 18 months and 10 months. Cute as buttons. The furnishings were modern/cottage. ex. folding tables and chairs for the dining room, kitchen. We had lunch with them and only stayed about an hour. Aunt Brenda had gotten Vincent a present, so he excitedly opened it before lunch. After lunch he went in for his nap. They had to pack and get ready to leave tomorrow (today) as Nancy starts her new position at the college on Monday. Vincent starts pre-school (half days for a couple of weeks). So after sitting on the front porch for a while, we left.
Going back home, we stopped at the Windmill which is a huge open/area/ enclosed four buildings that the Mennonites started years ago and has expanded to include little areas that people rent to sell crafts, goods. We were looking for a colorful ceramic garden gnome and found one. He's reading a book. After seeing that, in my mind he was the best one, and my retired reading-teacher label required we buy it. He has found a home out front by the ceramic mushroom that our friends Hal and Marcia got us and near the ceramic cat that Jane and Scott got me.
We also stopped at a nursery or two and got a dark purple lilac bush. Paul is so good to me. Whatever I think I'd like outside he gets for me. Lilac bush, daisies, hydrangea bush. After we get these things we think about where they should go. I think that's the wrong sequence of things. Shouldn't we be doing the opposite?
Last night we all went to a Thai restaurant in Ithaca, to celebrated Neenee's birthday with the rest of the family. This is also 45 minutes away, but in the opposite direction from Keuka Lake. The girl cousins and Brenda went with the Corning relatives and stayed overnight last night at their house. This was in celebration of another cousin birthday coming up. There were 16 of us. The children were old enough to order on their own, except Ida, (6) who sat next to Emma, who helped her order. It seems that Charlie Sidle, age 11, was the only one who ordered a hot spicy dinner. He ate the whole thing but ended up drinking more than 5 glasses of water. That must have made for an interesting trip home.
So long for now. Pictures on next post.