Gem-fest 2024-Canada
Editor's note: I'm writing this 5 weeks post-event, so those of you who were there, feel free to send me corrections.
This year's family gathering would be a little choppy. I'd only be there 1 1/2 days so I could fly to be with my mom for her knee surgery. Buddie's parents would be arriving late due to his dad's brother's memorial service.
We were only going to Canada and for us the 4 hour 11 minute drive was a short one.
Buds and I were up early, dropped off the compost at the park, then home to start packing up the van. We were leaving at 10, with a planned stop at the public market for coffee beans and people's choice of pastries for their breakfast.
The drive was quick and smooth. The cleaning crew was still at the house when we arrived, but wrapped up quickly.
This year we stayed in Carrying Place, Ontario, Canada. It was a great ramble of a house. Communication with the owners had been spotty, so we weren't really sure what to expect.
Airbnb
Our family and Buddie's sister's family were the first ones to arrive. We roamed all over and attempted to make sense of the twists and turns of this crazy house that had 3 kitchens, 5 or 6 fridges, many, many bedrooms, and almost enough beds.
The house definitely had some quirks. In the kitchen extension, this igloo block maker was sitting on the floor. It covered a protruding floor plug in the owners wanted to be sure no one tripped on. Effective? Yes. Quirky? Also, yes.
This room ended up having a multi-day leak issue, so I was extra glad we chose it so no one else had to deal with it.
Buster ended up sleeping on a couch in an upstairs living room that was tucked in a back space. When you have 22 people, it can be tough to find a place that truly has a bed and a slice of privacy for each person who needs that.
Overall though, the house worked well, and it had gorgeous outdoor spaces for playing.
During my brief time there, there was time to grocery shop to make a first meal.
My time also held lovely meals, games, bowling, volleyball, and lots of conversations and connections inside and out.
I had a difficult time getting good candid shots of people during the bowling outing. They were good to agree to a group shot at the end.
A stop at Tim Hortons on the way back.
Another highlight was a game one of the cousins had made up with his buddies, "Red Ball!" Low skill, high drama, much laughter.
And then, too quickly, it was time for me to leave. Buds and I had one final walk out to our dock.
Then the two hour drive to Toronto airport where he dropped me off in the early morning.
They had many good times after I was gone, especially after Buddie's parents joined the crowd. A few pictures:
What a gift this time is since we only see some of the folks once per year. And thanks to our nieces who designed and got this year's t-shirts printed. They looked great.
Next year...Vermont!
