A "Cousin Reunion"

Cousin Family Reunion, first night at our place, dinner!

Family reunions are very special to me. After leaving my roots in New England when I was ten, I was privileged to live in many different states adapting from east coast to west coast environments...thanks to my Dad's job. Now that I've been away from
aunts, uncles, and cousins for so many years, it's been a blessing to reunite and reconnect to these cousins.

My sister and I prepare a week's worth of activity for our cousins arriving from New Hamsphire and Florida. Our New Hamsphire cousins flew to my sister's place in WA, and our Florida cousins drove (from Wisconsin, where they summer) to my place in Montana. Sis and her gang drove to my place to start off the reunion. Great visits, catching up, story telling, and of course lots of wine sipping!

Kathy and I enjoying catching up!

John and Kathy enjoying our visit and enjoying the view!

The next day we were off to my little town that could (Philipsburg) doing the walking tour of all the shops, candy store, and a bit of sapphire mining. Oh, and did I mention that it was "Flint Creek Valley Days" all weekend...lots of folks in town, parade, and a vintage car show?

Cousin Vi and husband Dean, and hubby

Dan and Cindy (sister) strolling our town.

Cousin John and Kathy enjoying the shops.

Sapphire mining right in town, John and Kathy found some nice gems.

Intense work, looking for sapphires.

Then off to "Glacier National Park" the next day, amazing sites, photo opportunities, and more family time. We stayed over night at the "Belton Chalet", my sister, "In a Garden" posted links of this destination stay over, check out her recent post on our trip also.

Just entering the park, gorgeous day.

Glacier National Park

Mountain Goats

John and Kathy, at the top of "hwy to the sun".

Big Horn Sheep

The Belton Chalet, where we stayed the night.

Next day a boat ride on "Lake McDonald", very relaxing and beautiful. Our FL cousins left us after the boat ride, back to Wisconsin they went. That afternoon the rest of us were back in the car, heading back to my place for the night, only to get up early the next morning to get back in the car to head to my sister's home in WA. More fun to come with our New Hampshire cousins.

On the boat to tour around, "Lake McDonald" inside Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald

John and I enjoying the moment!

Enjoyed the next few days of family dinners, wine tasting, and more late nights chatting it up! 

Dinner at my sister's house, good Italian food!

A little wine tasting at the Farmer's Market

Our yummy cheese platter pared with our wine.

Next day in Prosser WA, enjoying a wonderful dinner at "Wine O'Clock".

Dinner at "Wine O'Clock".

My dinner, a trio of grilled Sole, garden greens and veggies!

A view from outside the restaurant, check out the all the raised beds full of greens and herbs.

More views looking towards another tasting room, check out the lavender.

Leaving the "Wine Village" in Prosser, a long day, heading back to my sister's place in Tri-Cities.

We left the net day for home, cousins flying back to New Hampshire and me...a six hour drive back to Montana. I didn't mind, I'm use to driving long distances to get to family, six hours is nothing, plus it's a gorgeous drive.

Happy Summer everyone, aren't we ALL busy during this season!