We met Robin and Emma at the Albany Train Station and stopped for lunch on the way home. Soon, we were shooting paper straws at one another.

When we got home, I read from a couple of new books I bought for her, and she painted a bit. She sold me the Daffy Duck painting I wanted for $5 (she quickly got over wanting to give it to me for free), and I sat with her while she painted.

Maria took her out to the barn to visit the chickens and see the other animals. I’ve ordered wood-fired pizza from Shift for dinner. We’ll eat it here.

Then I’ll drive her to the AirNb Emma has rented just down the road. I have a whole box of paper straws I ordered for the epic paper-straw-blowing battle Robin, and I will have at dinner. I’m hiding them until then.

They are still out in the barn almost an hour later.

In the morning, we’ll make some breakfast and then we’ll go out for Laotion food for lunch and a visit to a new rock and crystal store in Schuylerville. I want to buy Robin a rock or crystal, and perhaps Emma (Maria also).

They’re going back to New York on Sunday. Robin is great fun; she is also exhausting. She has an amazing amount of energy and curiosity.

I hope to get time to talk with Emma, who seems happy but tired. That’s the father speaking. I broached the idea of Emma visiting the farm for a couple of weeks this summer. Emma likes the idea. We’ll see what Robin has to say.

I don’t think she’s quite ready – the country is still very strange to her – and I don’t want to push it until she is.

More later.