Elif and Mina came to visit us for a couple of weeks. Mina has grown so much and so elegant. I missed the pilgrimage visit to the American Girl Doll store. The weather was too hot for me to be outside. The girls enjoyed the visit and returned home after a couple of stops on the way back.
We have gone out to eat quite often so that they enjoy the things they like. The evenings were good times for movies. Mina liked a movie she had watched so much she wanted to see it again: How To Steal A Million, with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole. Alice in Wonderland – Through The Looking Glass, Avatar, and a movie I found, The First Position, were all hits. The last one was about young ballet dancers getting ready for an international competition. The intensity of practice and lifestyle changes were quite impressive.
One day we all went to see Karma at a dog show, where he won quite a few ribbons and many hearts. There is a post coming about that too! Elif and Mina also went to see a show with their friends at the Theater By The Sea in Matunick, a town about 45 minutes from where we live. That was a full afternoon affair.
Dinner in Pawtuxet
Last Friday we decided to visit a local pub, O’Rourke’s in Pawtuxet Village, a nearby neighborhood center. The village used to have more of old-time charm. It still maintains a good amount of it with old buildings, a river running into the Pawtuxet Cove, a small bridge, and a series of small shops and eateries. We found a table outside, and the hostess seated us. We ordered drinks and food and enjoyed the passers-by with kids, dogs, interesting attire!
My Guinness along with the other drinks came in a plastic cup. I told the young waitress that I would refuse to drink my Guinness from a plastic glass and she kindly replaced it with a “glass” glass! The calamari was good, as it usually is in most eating places in RI. I enjoyed the Ceasar salad while the girls enjoyed their orders.
After we were done at O’Rourke’s, we walked down a little to a good ice cream place where Mina got a soft ice cream flavored with strawberry syrup, and Elif got a smidgen of regular ice cream. While we sat at the outside table, I saw a bird on the ground and geared up to take a photograph of it. While focusing on the bird, I saw Mina’s head dipping down into my frame and photographed her instead. The photograph that shows her face up close and sideways is actually her tilting her body sideways to “block” my view, lucky me!
Mina Dancing
After we came home, we sat outside and enjoyed a private dance performance Mina put on for us. You will enjoy the few photographs I took. I hope you will gather the gist of the full show. And, yesterday I saw Mina with her nice hair that Elif braided for her as they left to see another friend of theirs, mother and daughter. I told her that I would photograph her after I picked them up and brought them home. She was a good sport, we walked out to the backyard and took a series of photographs that I hope you will enjoy as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Today, Mina is playing with our neighbor’s daughter Mina! Yes, they are both named Mina. The guest Mina is a couple of years younger than our Mina, and she has a twin brother Finn. You will see them at lunch. I called them M&M! Equally sweet!
Deb
Looks like a wonderful visit !! Mina got so tall !! Nice series of photos. Karma is a star !!
Cemal Ekin
Thanks, Deb. It has been a good visit, you are right and Mina got so tall. Wait until you see the next post with Karma!
Cemal
Barbara and Dennis
Jan and Cemal, you certainly have a beautiful granddaughter !! Mina is really turning into a lovely young girl. So glad you are enjoying their visit. Our best to all. All the photos are great.
Cemal Ekin
Good to hear from you guys! She is indeed a beautiful girl. I will pass your note to them. Has your email address changed?
Take care,
Cemal
Elif Alptekin
Mina looks like Elif at that age so much. I do miss you all. Would love to see you Cemal Anne and all the girls!
Kisses
Cemal Ekin
Elif, good to hear from you! Yes, Mina at times looks like her father but most of the time she is very much like her mother. We would love to see you too, maybe on one of your trips to Perdue, you can stop by? The girls are in Salt Lake City, you may see them there if you go for a ski vacation!
Love to you all,
Cemal Anne!
Binnaz Melin
You are not only an excellent photographer but a very good story teller, too. We very much enjoyed both aspects of your site. We wish we were there, too. Love and best wishes to you all from Ayvalık.
Cemal Ekin
Binnaz, you are the second person to comment on my writing, Nukhet mentioned the same on Facebook. I think writing has also become quite instinctive for me like photography but to a lesser extent. Love to you as well.
Cemal
Haluk Atamal
Beautiful essay with fantastically sharp portraits.
As per usual, you seem to focus tack on eye-lashes.
Dede olmak da bambaşka!
Love and best regards from a warm and wet Antalya!
Cemal Ekin
You are right Haluk, being a Dede is a privilege. I’m glad you enjoyed the reading and the photographs.
Love to you all from all of us.
Cemal