A decadent dames weekend, with my three maternal woman cousins. Halcyon days ... in a classics professor's ivy covered oikos (she's a Greek specialist). 
Inside, the classic arrangements reflect her sophisticated tastes. For example, her sideboard, displayed here, reveals the quietly elegant aura that permeates her home.
I have three women cousins on the maternal side of my family. Patty is the youngest. She is lively, chatty, and replete with amusing anecdotes and comments about books and films. 
Donna, our eldest sister and cousin, is a contrast. She can be, by turns, serious and solemn, or lively and laughing. She enjoys discussions about books, music and ideas.
Sheila, in the background in this mirror reflection, is pragmatic, adventurous, philosophical, always ready to have a discussion about any topic. Perhaps that's that's her professorial background.
A rainy afternoon's outing. We meadnered with our umbrellas, laughing with youthful glee as we danced over the puddles.
I was without an umbrella. Donna shared hers, keeping me sheltered from the heavy downpour. 
We stopped in a shop, where Donna bought a huge umbrella. That meant that I had my own shelter to return to the car. There we were, three little black umbrella ducklings, and the bright red umbrella duck. 
Three sisters and a cousin, There is something unique about our relationship. This is the family with whom I have been closely connected for my whole life. Donna and I were babies in the same house, on Walkley Road, in Ottawa. During my childhood, teens and subsequent decades, I visited my Ager cousins at every opportunity. In a sense, I grew up with them. Certainly, I am sure that some of my values and approach to life is a reflection of time spent with Auntie Anne, their mother. She, in her gentle, tolerant, loving way, taught me, by osmosis, how to give and receive joy and acceptance of persons and situations. She certainly gave her daughters that perspective, and it is from that platform that they address all aspects of life. That means that, for me, it is always a pleasure to be with them. I can laugh, joke, be serious, talk about books, films, ideas, news, and fully relax in their company. It creates the best possible scenarios for sisters and cousins to enjoy each other, nightclothes and all, and that's as it should be.
