The Old and the Restless

When we arrived, Tom was playing with his bullfrog...   Joshua quickly found a book to read. Paul found Maggie in her bed.   Tom and Ella found a game to play … But “silly play” was their favorite game. Margot brought a course. Ella deserted Tom to play with Maggie. Time for Joshua and Ella to get their shoes back on to leave for home [but Ella would rather show Maggie how to sit up than leave].

 Gisele and Jean-Louis (Hervé's parents), Hervé and Alicia before the meal. Brandon, Bryn, Sandra and Paul Paul's chevreuil with  Spätzle  arrived Brandon ordered the extra large piece of venison. ( He had been at the swimming competition all day.) He had no problem finishing everything.

Waiting for his turn. Finishing 3rd in the 50 metre butterfly. After the race. "Warming up" with Isabel before the 100 metre free-style race.

To go riding, Alicia and Bryn first had to get the ponies from the field. Then, the pony needed to be groomed. Note that his ears were back. Apache was objecting to Grandma combing his mane. Alicia cleaned his hooves with a pick. Bryn held the tether while Alicia practised voltige (trick riding). Note that she is not wearing a helmet.  In Switzerland, helmets are not used in voltige. Aunt Sharon is VERY concerned about that. After practising voltige, Alicia wore her helmet and safety vest to go for a bareback ride with Bryn. Bryn rode Billy while Alicia rode Apache.

Great use was made of the cottage at Rice Lake by the family, starting with Megan Tom and Maggie on the July long weekend. Tom and Megan finish their first swim of the season as Paul installs a new security device on the outboard motor.     Paul and Megan ready to launch the canoe for its maiden voyage of 2015. The grandkids are not quite coordinated as Megan backs the canoe away from the dock. Still, in spite of the eager assistants, Megan was able to steer the canoe into the bay. Megan looks back at the end of the bay to see Maggie jump in the swamp to try to get out to the canoe! Every grandchild claimed to know how to swim; but the “house rule” was that everyone had to wear either a life preserver or a flotation device or both. Ella did not like the idea of jumping into the lake from the dock, so she walked down to the lake through the flowers and weeds to start her swi...