They’re off!

Yesterday started off pretty leisurely.  We were all ready to sleep in after such a long day on Friday.  It as a waffles-and-newspaper kind of morning.

But in the early afternoon we hit the grocery store for the second time in two days and took Nelson to the library booksale (where, yes, I bought more kids’ books).  By late-afternoon the guys were each planning to make a big dish for dinner, so they went to the garden and brought home a whole bunch of produce.  By early evening Sydney was slaughtering the pumpkins that he managed to grow before the frost hit, baking the flesh so that we could freeze pumpkin puree, and throwing all the seeds and such into a big pot in which to make stock.  He also, before the night was over, managed to pull off a great pumpkin rice pudding, made with real vanilla bean and a bit of lemon zest.  I have no idea where he got the energy.  Nelson, meanwhile, was advising Sydney on the stock and making a delicious pasta dish with chicken and fava beans.

Only by about 9pm did the talk turn to camping.  So the flurry continued.  Camping gear was dragged from the attic, maps were pulled out, and food was packed.  Despite the huge mess that had been my kitchen, with help from three adults all was cleaned and packed by about midnight.  And by 7:30 this morning they pulled out of the driveway for the four-hour drive to the Adirondacks.

I have to wonder whether Sydney intended such a flurry near the end in order to make me very glad to have the house to myself for the next two days . . .

Erin