(in memory of Sam’s daddy Dino–Happy Fathers’ Day from far away)

Much to our delight, my nephew Sam came to visit Sara and me this weekend.  His mother, my younger sister Lynn, is in Cuba for 10 days, so Sam has a series of family, friends, and camp to keep him company.

And his stop Friday and Saturday just happened to be our home.  Goodness–what a gift to us!

The boy is precious–kind, smart, creative, with not only a soul of gold, but also a spirit bright and brilliant.

Sam is eleven.  He plays football, basketball, and a bit of soccer.  He golfs.

But his primary passion is in the kitchen.  He loves to cook, to bake, to create.  I don’t imagine there are many eleven-year-old boys in Kentucky whipping up quiche in the kitchen.  But Friday morning that’s just what Sam did.

So today–a journey in photographs–a quiche-cooking boy–a foodie’s young life:

Aunt Kathy holds her new-born nephew–Sammy’s first day of life:

He’s grown a bit and is visiting Aunt Kathy again:

Sam and Daddy–(Sam’s daddy died when Sam was only six.):

Sam and big brother Johnny visit Santa:

Sam graduates from pre-school:

Sam tends to under-arms:

When Sammy was six, we rode together in our town’s 4th of July parade:

Sam’s school picture:

This weekend Sam and I ate dinner at the Atomic Cafe, a block from our house in downtown Lexington:

When Sam visits, he and I almost always collaborate on an art project:

Saturday morning we visited our local farmers’ market:

Smoothie goes green at Farmers’ Market:

Yet another bike invloved in Sam’s Saturday:

So Sam is off to camp this week, but with Daddy gone, our boy has big pants to fill, as Fathers’ Day approaches:

Happy Fathers’ Day, Dino!  We love you and know if you were here, you’d assure your son, that real boys do cook quiche.

But then Sam knows that already!