A grand summer gathering on Long Island

Kathy's summer house has been filled with family this summer. Genevieve, John and their children - Beatrice, Jack and Liam - are spending the season at their house nearby. Vivien, CJ and theirs - Charlie, Austin and little Oliver - are visiting from London and staying at the Fair Play cottage. It's three-month-old Oliver's first trip stateside. 

For a few days in late July, Dan and Julie stayed with Kathy, enjoying her hospitality and the chance to meet Oliver and the rest of the gang. Robert was there for part of the time, but CJ was back working in Europe for that week. Also in the photo above is CJ's cousin Allie, who was staying with Vivien and helping watch the kids. 

Click here to see photos Dan took at the house, the beach, and during a walk he and Julie took on the nature trail at Jessup's Neck.

Midway through summer season on Eastern LI

Your faithful reporter, Dan, paid a quick visit to Noyac this week along with Brien, staying at Fair Play and visiting with Kathy, Robert, Genevieve, John, Bea and Jack.  

Loridan has returned to Kathy's dock on Mill Creek, after some needed refurbishing. The intrepid vessel has been in the family for over 50 years.

Dan and Brien arrived Sunday evening, at the end of a long stretch of 90-degree-plus days. Monday was windy as a cold front approached, but threatened thunderstorms never hit, so they were able to check out the area beaches - including the oceanfront in Bridgehampton, where the surf was churned up by the winds.

Tuesday saw pleasant weather, and Genevieve brought the kids to Kathy's house to play in the yard and then talk a walk to the "back beach."

Later, Kathy, Dan and Brien enjoyed paddling kayaks around Mill Creek before Dan and Brien headed back to the city.

A Midsummer gathering at the bay

The last days of July brought beautiful weather to the east end of Long Island, and this flock of family members was lucky enough to all be there to enjoy it.

Dan and Julie rolled out from New Jersey for a five-day stay at Fair Play. Vivien, CJ, Charlie and Austin joined Kathy at her summer home. And Genevieve, John, Bea and Jack spent the weekend at their cottage.

Family friend Robert was also in Noyac, mooring his sailboat off Mill Creek. He and Kathy treated Dan and Julie to a sail around Noyac Bay, something they hadn't had a chance to enjoy in the past few years.

The weekend was the first opportunity for Dan and Julie to meet their new grand-nephew Austin, born last September in the midst of pandemic precautions. They were captivated by his near-constant smile.

It was the first visit of the season for Dan and Julie, and they made the most of the good weather with a hike on Jessup's Neck, a visit to a North Fork winery, and a day in Montauk, where they enjoyed the beach at Hither Hills State Park, a walk on a wooded trail and an evening concert on the village green.

Here are some photos Dan took of wildlife on Jessup's and Montauk Light at sunset.

Enjoying late summer on Eastern Long Island

Dan writes: For as long as I can remember, I have spent at least part of every August in Noyac on Eastern Long Island. And even in this very strange year, I was able to keep that tradition going.

Ocean breeze

Julie and I headed out Aug. 26 to the Birch Street cottage that's been in the family for 35 years. The next day I stopped in a lawyers' office to sign the papers selling the property to Genevieve and John (see previous article). Then (as guests of the gracious new landlords) we spent the remainder of August and the very beginning of September enjoying the nearby beaches, parks and villages in very relaxed fashion.

Long Beach

Although limited by the need for social distancing, we were able to spend time visiting Genevieve, John, Bea and Jack, as well as Kathy and Robert, in outdoor settings. And Andy and Wren drove down from Upstate New York to join us for a few days. Fortunately, they were able to adjust their schedule to avoid some rain and enjoy beautiful sunny-and-warm-but-not-hot weather.

Of course, we took the nature walk on Jessup's Neck to feed the chickadees (and, increasingly, other species such as tufted titmouse and nuthatch) and check out the other wildlife.

We happened to be on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor just as the setting sun put on a spectacular show.

Here's hoping we can spend more time, see more family - and do without the masks - next summer.

Jack celebrates first birthday

Jack celebrated his first birthday with Mom (Genevieve) Dad (John) and big sister (Beatrice) at their summer home in Noyac on July 16.

A few days earlier, Uncle Dan and Aunt Julie made a quick weekend trip to Noyac, and were able to spend a little time seeing Jack, Bea, Genevieve and Kathy at Long Beach - while keeping several feet of "social distancing" between them.

A quick visit to 'the island' for Dan & Julie

Dan and Julie got their first taste of Long Island Summer on the weekend of July 11-12. With concessions to the ongoing health crisis - avoiding crowds, getting takeout dinner - they were able to enjoy a bit of beaching and visiting family.

The previous day saw a tropical storm pass by, so they checked out the waves at the ocean beach in Bridgehampton, where a couple of young guys were attempting to ride the surf.

They arrived on their luxury yacht checked out the luxury yachts docked in Sag Harbor and strolled along Main Street - which was less crowded than on a summer weekend in normal, non-pandemic times, but still active. They and many other people (though not all) were wearing masks. Dan and Julie stayed outdoors except for a brief stop for tradition's sake at the Wharf Shop.

They later met Kathy, Genevieve, Bea and Jack at Long Beach - carefully maintaining social distance but managing to converse and enjoy the beautiful day together. The water was warm and the breeze was just right to be cooling but not chilling.

Genevieve, John and their children have been living full-time at their summer house, and Kathy at hers, and working remotely since the pandemic hit the New York area in the spring.

The natural and unnatural progress of Spring

Dan writes: As May passes into June, the azaleas and cherry blossoms have faded and the first roses are blooming here at Birch Street Web HQ. Julie and I are lucky to live in a neighborhood that's very pleasant for taking walks and watching the progress of everyone else's flowering plants and trees. The early magnolias were followed by the dogwoods, and now rhododenrons are in full bloom. For "sheltering in place," this isn't a bad place.

Some of our family members have decamped to their Noyac houses -- Kathy to hers, Genevieve, John, Bea and Jack to theirs -- where they can continue to work remotely and in somewhat more pleasant isolation.

Shanna, Rick and Lucy are safe at their New Jersey home, where this lovely family portrait was taken.

Likewise, Vivien, CJ and Charlie at their home in the Garden State. And yes, there was Easter this year, if not traditional Easter gatherings.

Dan and Julie have been having weekly get-togethers on Zoom with Julie's parents and a cast of family members that varies from week to week. Christine and Jamie, Andy and Shannon, Cathy, Christopher, Stephanie, Lisa, Elizabeth and Rebecca have all participated from time to time. This shot is from late April.

We hope it won't be too long before we can see each other in person again. But in the meantime, let's all stay safe and well, and keep in touch as best we can.

2019 Christmas family snapshots

We hope everyone in our extended family had a wonderful Christmas season. Here are just a handful of photos from the holidays. We'd love to post more if you send them our way (birchstreetweb@gmail.com). Happy New Year to all!

Lucy's first Christmas, with mom Shanna and dad Rick

Charlie with cousins Bea and Jack

Christmas on the Cape with Nolan (aka Capt. America) and Josie

Josie's first Christmas

Bea and Jack with grandma Kathy

Andy and Shannon with Julie and Dan on Christmas Day

Christine and Jamie playing with a Christmas gift from Julie and Dan