Busy
We have had a busy couple of days. On Friday, there was much excited barking from Arthur as he heard the front door open. I thought it was Barry, coming back because he’d forgotten something – he’d just left to take the big dogs out.
The barking increased and eventually eldest daughter, Gillian, appeared, bearing a large box containing all sorts of comestibles. Very generous!
It was lovely to see her, and so unexpected. Much as I love seeing my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it was very pleasant to sit and have a conversation without interruptions.
While she was here, my daughter-in-law ‘phoned and we had a chat. By that time, Barry was home again, so he and Gillian were chatting in the kitchen while he made coffee for them both.
On Saturday – today – youngest daughter, Bethan, and her family came to see us. Barry cooked a beautiful joint of beef ‘sous vide,’ and we had a lovely lunch, though I do think I overdid, or, rather, underdid the vegetables – they were more almost raw instead of the ‘al dente’ for which I was aiming.
The cats received an inordinate amount of attention, as usual, and the dogs weren’t overlooked, either. They all were given toys!
Tomorrow, middle daughter, Susannah, arrives to spend a few days with us. Arthur will turn himself inside out when he sees her and his little heart will overflow with joy.
How wonderful, lovely gatherings with family and very enjoyable to share in. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful time for you and Barry to spend time with family and good food and conversation. Arthur will indeed be thrilled. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lynn. Dogs, cats and humans are tired today . . .
DeleteDogs and humans were happy.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they were.
DeleteHi Janice - lovely ... sounds a great pre-Christmas time - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIt was fun!
DeleteLove those surprise visits from loved ones. My great granddaughter was here Thursday and spent the night. She was sick and didn't go to school. She wasn't contagious, thank goodness
ReplyDeleteI hope your granddaughter feels better now. Children often fall ill around Christmas time and start the new year still recovering.
DeleteLovely to spend time with family especially a surprise visit. Have a great Christmas.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely and gave us some happy things to think about.
Deleteyour holidays are coming along fine, all these family visits, the best presents of all.. family, food and fun, that is what holidays are for.. Happy Christmas! take photos of Arthur turned inside out. ho ho ho
ReplyDeleteArthur has not left Susannah's side. If she were to turn round quickly she'd trip over him!
DeleteIt's nice when family can come for a visit.
ReplyDeleteIt is. 😊
DeleteIt sounds like a lovely stretch of days.
ReplyDeleteIt has been/will be. Thank you.
DeleteHappy times 🙂
ReplyDeleteIt's a great life if you don't weaken!
DeleteFamily is everything, happy times
ReplyDeleteWe don't have the big family get-togethers that we used to, but it's nice to have smaller gatherings when we can actually have proper conversations.
DeleteIt certainly sounds a lovely few days and always good to spend time with family. Enjoy ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thank you. Enjoy your weekend, too.
DeleteHow lovely, I've had a long and laughter filled phone call from my eldest son..its always nice to chat to our grown up children.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to have conversations with our adult children, isn't it?
DeleteIt all sounds so happy! 🙂
ReplyDeleteIt was/is. 😊
DeleteIt does sound very busy, but a happy busy, not the frenetic house cleaning busy. I'll have to look up 'sous vide'
ReplyDeleteThere was quite a bit of house cleaning, but I'm a bit limited at present - stamina still improving.
DeleteThank you for teaching me a new word. I didn't know what comestible meant. Now I do. :-) You have the true holiday happiness. Having family come and spend time with you is the BEST! My daughter and family are coming on Jan. 1st and we're really looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThat's really special for you, as there's such a distance between you. Thank goodness modern methods of communication make life easier. I can remember the days of having to book calls to other countries.
DeleteIt's so sweet to see how our fur babies react when they see their loved ones. My dog and cat love their family and are right in the middle of all the unwrapping frenzy on Christmas Eve. They truly are part of the family.
ReplyDeleteThey love to be involved and why not? They're part of the family.
DeleteHow lovely that your family comes together and enjoys time together. It sounds like Arthur is thrilled to see them.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to catch up.😊
DeleteIt's a great time of year when family comes to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is.
DeleteHow nice to see your family! Mine are so scattered it I s never cerfain when I will see them, but always a pleasure when it happens
ReplyDelete. . . and even more special, no doubt. 😊
DeleteHow lovely!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I love seeing Baby A, but it is lovely when just daughter and I go out and spend time together.
So many questions go unanswered when there are little people around, but little people grow into big people all too quickly, so it's a small sacrifice really.
DeleteHow wonderful to be able to spend quality time with your family, especially at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteWe really do appreciate it. They're all busy people, after all.
DeleteThat must have been so nice to have daughters visit, and then another to come. Wistfully, I wonder what it is like to have children visit.
ReplyDeleteCook al dente and add a few minutes. A metal skewer is your friend. I am an expert cook, who doesn't cook.
We all agreed that we like raw vegetables. Actually, we have a lot with our salads.
DeleteI can just imagine Arthur beside himself with joy!
ReplyDeleteHe has not left her side since she arrived this morning.
DeleteWhat a delightful surprise. Always good to have a visit from our children
ReplyDeleteOh, it is.
DeleteYou picked three lovely distinctive names for your daughters - Bethan, Gillian and Susannah. Co-incidentally, before we discovered that our first child was a boy, the alternative name we had picked was Susannah.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Neil. We were never any good at deciding names before our children were born. We had to see them to see what fitted!
ReplyDelete