A Good Weekend

      It was a good weekend day with my sisters, though I  had a slap in the virtually face at breakfast. We have not eaten inside many restaurants yet, and since our local Perkins is temporarily shut down after a kitchen fire and now a remodel, It's been pre-pandemic since I was in one, likely our last sisters day two years ago. I think I've shared I really like going out for breakfasts (When I've had enough time for my meds to settle) and Happy Hour more than for other meals. As I eagerly looked over the menu, all the regular breakfasts combos looked like massive amounts of food, and with no place to put a take home box, I wasn't sure what I'd order. My sisters, the helpful B's they are, LOL,  were happy to point out that I can now order from the 55+menu! How did that happen? I tuned 55 over Covid, and most  "senior" menus don't start that young. I was able to order a smaller version of the eggs Benedict, and got the reality check that in some circles, I am now a senior citizen.

     We had all our usual stops, and being a beautiful Saturday in November, the little towns and villages we visit were full. One village markets this weekend, the hunting season opener, Women's Weekend, so there were extra treats and give away drawings at a few shops. We all donned masks inside stores despite all of us being vaccinated. I saw outside one store a perfect table for my porch, the ones above, but we were already packed tight to lug it home. I may talk DH into driving down with me, or as I have time off this week, might take myself. I have looked for ages, and the price was right for this. I didn't do a ton of buying, though found a few treats-cherry rhubarb jam, some vegan Swedish fish for DD1, locally made beef sticks for DH, and a Minnesota and Wisconsin cookie cutter. I've always wanted them to make for summers at the lake, to have fun with the Minnesota-Wisconsin connection, and for work functions. At the cidery/winery, I didn't buy any beverages to take home, but did find this insulated wine glass and napkins for one sister. It is very much a joke between the two of us, so as insulting as it seems to give her, I know she will get a kick out of it. 

     We met up then with  our cousin, my mom's one sisters daughter, and then four cousins who are actually the daughters of my mom's cousin, so does than make them my 3rd cousins?  Their mom and my mom were best friends as well as cousins, so these women grew up with my cousin and older sisters. The closest one to my age is 8 years older, so I didn't know them in the same way, but they very much are family. The one who hosting had just moved into a gorgeous townhome that overlooked the Mississippi river valley. She and her sisters put out quite a spread of  hors d'oeuvres  for our dinner, and we all brought lots of beverages to enjoy. Basically Happy Hour four multiple hours! We ate and laughed, and ate more' then we played four games of silly Bingo. Now my oldest sister, and her cousin  counterpart love to go to the Casino to play Bingo-serious Bingo, no chatter allowed. We all had fun joking that we'd be kicked out if we kept laughing. Both gave us all the stink eye, but of course that just made us chat it up more. The balls kept getting knocked off the counter and we used candy pieces for dobbers, which kept getting eaten. It was all just good fun. 

      My cousin even had prizes, but we also anti-upped $25 a game, so the big pot was a whole $3 if you won. I won the double postage stamp game and got some Dino-Snores slipper socks, but traded with my sister for this dish towel, as she doesn't drink coffee, and it just seemed like I should have the coffee towel. We were 13 women, ages 54 to 74 and we talked and laughed like we were teens at a girls sleep over. Yesterday morning the effect of too much snack food, a couple Truly's, and likely the fatigue from my booster caught up and I was happy for the extra hour of time to do nothing. Now I'm back to being the angel I usually am, as illustrated in the picture below, captured outside the wall of the cutest shop. I hope you had a good weekend, and if you are still reading, I didn't bore you. Happy Monday, gems. 

The camera adds, 50 pounds right?