Visitors!

In about 2004, at an MCC Europe retreat in Hungary, I met Jen and Nate Kauffman. Jen and I had some really good, late-night talks that summer - and then again the next year in Lyon, France. Since then we've (sadly) kept in touch only minimally, save for one brief visit two summers ago in Harrisonburg, VA.

Their family moved to Omaha, NE last May and so they're now only about four hours away from us. And this last weekend they came to visit us! Back in Europe none of us had kids (not even a spouse for me). Now it was a rather happy, crazy joining of forces.

We made giso in our new cast-iron pot (and other gear made by Ramont), the men/boys did some field work (still planting in between rains), rode a lot of little wheels around the yard, and ate mostly outside (with varying degrees of success).

No matter how you look at it, a mini-tableful of kiddies eating outside is pretty cute.

Sidenote: all the rain has turned our yard into somewhat of a park.

Nate and Ramont eat Sunday lunch.

And Anna, well, what can one say about this?

It really was a great weekend, and I think a great start to our North American friendship with the Kauffmans!