barbecue with relatives

With Tolga here we have a million things we want to do - and resting is one of them.  After yesterday's long day, we got up late, had a leisurely breakfast, drinking tea, fixing some things around the house, and a late afternoon swim.  The water doesn't seem as clean in the afternoon, either wavy or stale, depending on the wind that day - but always hot and sunny, so refreshing anyhow.  

In the evening we had a barbecue of köfte and kebabs.  In the middle of cooking the meat, Tolga went to the bus station to pick up some visiting cousins, and we all sat down to eat, and a little bit later, more cousins came.  

So, a few things about this:
1) Our Kusadasi home is an open to any and all who come - and different relatives come for vacation here and I usually like the company - Anne complains about the trouble - she has to clean, and wash, and wear nicer clothes.  She becomes more dramatic in her ailments.  But she loves it too - there  is someone to chat with, and many to help around the home.  


2) Tolga doesn't like it anymore because he's only visiting for a short time from the field and would like to spend time with us.  But, when Tolga's here, all the relatives, his parents, his kids, his wife - we all want to talk to Tolga, spend time with him, get his help - and he gets a little crazy.

Our cousin Emine abla is about 65 years old (I don't know how she is a cousin, but its this way for most of our Turkish cousins) and lives in Ankara.  Last time I saw her, she had very few teeth.  I'm not sure what happened to them, or if they are back yet or not.  But its on my mind.  She is very kind, giving, energetic, and a bit crazy.  She has six kids and her husband has a second wife and more children in a different city, apparently - I don't ask a lot of questions.  She brings gifts every time she comes and usually takes over our kitchen.  She wouldn't serve the cake I made to our second batch of guests (most Turks don't like the American food I make - I'm not sure what was wrong with the angle food cake I made - I mean, it was from a box...that said, Anne is always proud to eat it and tell others I made it - so I put it on the table anyhow as an act of culinary defiance), and she cleaned our entire kitchen countertop ... with acid.  

I can't stop her.  

Emine abla also brought with her one of her son's bride - Gizem, and her 3 year old daughter, and her Emine abla brought her daughters 6 year old girl - Duru.  I asked, "What if Duru misses her mom?"
"She may come then too."  They also told Tolga the father had left the family because of some Christian Black Magic.  There's a Turkish word for it, it's an actual thing.  Those Christians.

When the second batch of relatives showed up around 10pm - Emine abla prepared the table again with cookies and cakes, serving tea and everyone sitting, chatting, smoking and laughing.  Anne was sitting down because of back pain.  Gizem is overweight and 6 months pregnant - helping some in the kitchen, and chasing her 3 year old around with a spoon trying to get her to eat.  I had gone upstairs to put Tuana to sleep, and brought her right back down so everyone could see her, then said goodnight again.  Teoman and Tomris went to bed soon after that - and once all were asleep and guests were gone, Tolga and I sat with a beer on our roof balcony enjoying the quiet.