A VISIT WITH MY COUSINS

Tuesday, my cousin Jimmy and Claire picked us up and took us out to lunch at a Chinese Restaurant in South Glens Falls, NY. I had not seen my cousin Jimmy since 2004, but I had kept in touch with him via e-mail and phone. He is 72 years young - and I really mean young. He is sharp as a tack and despite the fact that he retired only two years ago he is still constantly involved in something. After lunch, he suggested that we take a ride out to his brother, and my cousin, Paul's home in Schuylerville, NY. He and his wife live out in the country and along the road there, Jimmy pointed out an Osprey nest that was on a platform on top of a power line along the side of the road. Apparently, the nest was originally built on the pole itself, but the local power company built the platform and moved the nest to the more secure position. Local residents have been faithfully watching the parents and now the babies grow. It reminded Robert and I how we had watched the Ravens and their babies in Alaska.
Paul and his wife Pat live in a charming "country home" on the outskirts of Schuylerville, NY. The inside is cozy, comfortable and decorated with antiques and all different "country" items that they have collected or made over the years. I don't think that I have seen Paul since I was a little girl. It was wonderful to sit and listen to the two of them reminisce about their boyhood and all the pranks they pulled and the trouble they got into. Of course, they probably embellished their shenanigans a tad for our benefit. We had a wonderful visit. Pat's flower gardens around their home are awesome. She has unbelievable perennial beds and not a weed in them. I was very envious. This is an area of small family farms and the view from their front porch was so peaceful with a farm right across the road. The mountains in Vermont were visible in the distance. Time flew by and before we knew it evening was quickly approaching. We said our good byes, with a promise to meet again, and headed back to Fort Edward. Jimmy and Claire dropped us off back at Michelle's home. We hope to have a little family reunion, with relatives from my mothers side of the family, before Robert and I head back to Arizona. I have not seen the majority of them in years and it will be nice to touch base with them again.