Perfection

Our afternoon and evening with my brother and sister-in-law was fabulous, thanks for asking.

They live in Chelsea, Quebec, a tiny hamlet of sorts nestled in the Laurentian Mountains, also known as the Adirondacks, with a history as rich as many of its current residents. The village has gone through many a transformation, and is now a very desirable area of residence for those who have lots of dough. It's about 20 minutes to half an hour from our house to theirs, and I don't know why we don't get together more often. It's ridiculous, really. Especially since Gee and Ess are the only family on my side that we have left. My younger brother, Leo, is incognito, and that's the way he wants it. Long story. Maybe someday I'll tell you about it. Suffice it to say that I pretty much had written him off for dead and gone about 10 years ago. I don't talk about it much because it's still very difficult for me to accept.

My brother and sister-in-law do not exactly fit the stereotypical Chelsian (is that actually a term?), yet here they live, in heaven really, surrounded by gorgeous trees, wildlife, and winding roads through the mountains. Their home, a cottage really, backs onto a lake, down a long hill. In the winter, you can see the lake, but in the summer, when the leaves grow on the trees, you're pretty much encompassed in your own little cocoon, which is really something more people should have in this day and age of busy lives and stressful days.

I envy them for their life, a life of simple, but good, things: each other, lots of love and acceptance, and the knowledge that material things don't mean a damn thing without the above. Their home is simple, but it's theirs, and theirs alone, and they live in the midst of heaven. What more could anyone want?

After arriving and allowing their dog, Agatha, to reconnaitre with Gryphon, we gabbed for a few minutes before Ess (my brother Gee's wife) told us dinner was ready. Good timing, you say? Perfect timing, I say. Especially since I had barely eaten all day, unless you count a few dozen chocolate Easter eggs, a few cups of tea, and an anti-inflammatory.

Roast pork with peaches on a huge platter, gorgeous fluffy mashed potatoes, boiled baby carrots and green beans. Yup, pretty much perfection. As well, Ess made this wonderful sauce to go with the pork, with maple syrup and Worcestershire sauce and other goodies that rounded out the dinner just so. And, Ess being Ess, she's selflessly given me the recipe! So here's the link for the roast pork dinner, so that everyone can now make this deelish dinner for their loved ones. You are welcome.

The rest of the evening was spent jabbering and laughing, having conversations using our parents' accents, and watching the dogs attack one another. And then Gee went through his old Beta tapes and pulled out a few that showed me with a mullet (no, I do not have a picture of that, unfortunately so) and pregnant with Em, Em as a newborn, and Dee at age two. I didn't remember that I actually had a mullet (I am pretty sure Gee just super-imposed someone else's abhorrent hairstyle on top of my much younger face), and I didn't remember being so sickly and skinny after Em's birth. But that's the great thing about video. Or is it?

At some point, I pointed out all of Ess's gorgeous artwork that hangs on their walls, as well as Gee's amazing sculptures, to Mr. Handsome and the kids. Ess and Gee are such talented people, and are unknown to the general public as of yet, but not for long. I am starting to work at getting them both some publicity, because in my opinion, talent like this should not remain invisible and unknown to the world.

Because this:

And these:

And these:

... are absolutely gorgeous. Aren't they?

Do you see what I mean?

She's amazing, isn't she?

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of my brother's sculptures, so you'll just have to take my word for it, but believe me when I tell you he's very very good. So far, he's completed a couple of our late father, one of himself, one of Ess, and other odds and ends. Now he wants to work on one of our mother, who recently passed away. I'm going to try and get some good shots so that I can post them here so that you can see what I mean and I'm not accused of being the liar that perhaps I actually am!

By 9 p.m., Gryphon was lying on one couch, fast asleep, and the rest of us were prostrate on various other chairs and couches, watching videos and oohing and ahhing over tape of Em's first days on earth, her first birthday, Dee eating birthday cake in his high chair, and Agatha as a puppy. By 10 p.m., we were on our way home, and within minutes of driving off, Dee was asleep in the back with his mouth wide open, Em was silent as she listened to her Ipod, and Gryphon was lying quietly with his head resting on my left arm as Mr. Handsome drove us all safely home.

I'm pretty sure no one had a better Easter Sunday than we did.