We took a short break from our remodeling project to join our[\*](#2007-06-30_note1) cousins, Gilbert and Mary Ann, in celebration of their [golden anniversary][] on Friday. Sylvia and Heidi flew in from New Mexico, but sadly Steve was stuck up in the hills fighting the Angora fire.
More pictures from Mary Ann and Heidi are in the [golden anniversary photoset](http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonicchicken/sets/72157600613792735/) on Flickr.
Many friends and family were in attendance, and it was great to see everybody again. The party was held in [Occidental][] at the Union Hotel, which Gil informed me was chosen because that was where he and Mary Ann used to go dancing when they first met. It was a neat old place, and the food was almost as good as Sylvia’s and Heidi’s. (They set the bar *very* high, Sylvia and Heidi, and I figure effusive compliments might get them to cook for us sometime!)
We went home via Petaluma because Barb wanted to show us her *Ava*‘s house. Barb has some wonderful memories of the place, but as we drove by the old co-op creamery she noticed something had changed–it now has a retail operation out front. We decided to stop and check it out, and we’re glad we did! [Spring Hill Cheese][] is operating out of “The Creamery”, and they’re producing some excellent cheeses. We picked up ‘Mike’s Firehouse Jack’, ‘Dry Jack’, and ‘Old World Portuguese’. (How could we pass on something named after Portugal?)
\* Actually they’re Barb’s cousins, but I hope the family will forgive my impertinence for claiming them as my own. š
[golden anniversary]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_anniversary
[Occidental]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental,_California
[Spring Hill Cheese]: http://www.springhillcheese.com/
You forgot about the wonderful homemade ice cream that the kids devoured from the creamery!
Jim, I couldn’t imagine a nicer kinder gentleman to call cousin. Thanks