Monday, April 26, 2010

Neither Rain, nor Sleet, nor Snow...........

.......nor high winds, tornadoes or dropping temperatures can wipe the silly smile off the face of the crazed campground lady. We schedule an event, and we have it! I know I look like I hit the liquor cabinet, but I didn't........
Here is the tent the high winds blew down. We won't be eating under this shelter.

He who mows is also he who grills. Under the shelter of the front porch as the aroma of charcoal lighter wafts through the air. He looks so happy, huh?


This is right after the lightning and ferocious clap of thunder. After the tree fell and crushed the picnic table, it actually started to clear up and I optimistically called for the great tent to be erected. (I was going to say great tent erection, but there are some out there who take that opportunity to think bad thoughts).


Cody arrived in his quickly assembled rain gear to supervise the event.


Hooray!! We have a dry space to put the tables up!! He who grills was duly impressed and wanted to leave it up forever as a parking shelter. I vetoed that rather quickly. Didn't matter anyway since the wind blew it all down in the end!

Here comes Tom to lend advice from the dry safety of his golf cart. You will note that he stays on board, lest anyone ask him to actually help. John is conferring there on the side.

All for not, anyway. The tent collapsed and we all crammed into the store.

Mostly wet, but in good spirits, they all came inside.

Familiar faces happy to kick off a new season of camping.

How many people does it take to spread a table cloth?
Keep moving to the back...... you won't need those jackets long. It is going to warm up soon with all these bodies in such close proximity.

Watch out, Cody looks hungry!!



New faces to look forward to knowing.


Sweet faces I hold dear! Sorry, Nan, I didn't take it. An unidentified one had my camera!!

Very happy faces!! I think there may have been alcohol involved.

Marshall is a take charge kind of guy and was happy to serve the desserts. He stayed and swept my store, too! Yes, Marshall kissing up is a wonderful trait to have!


As you can see we had quite a spread and I doubt anyone left hungry. We all enjoyed the food and the company of each other. We will be gathering the recipes of all the wonderful dishes of this season and publishing a cookbook this fall. One of our events is going to involve only recipes that can be cooked over an open fire.......
The weather remains cold and dreary today. The tent is still lying where it fell. I did manage to pull the stakes up out of the ground, but the tent is full of water and is more than even two people can move. Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow and I will be able to dry it out. In the meantime I will rest in the afterglow of my weekend that should have been a disaster, but wasn't.


















16 comments:

joanne said...

you can turn any situation into a sunny day! Looks like fun..;p

Brian Miller said...

nice. way to make the most of a stormy situation...by the look of the food he who grills under and awning did a great job! smiles.

houndstooth said...

That looks like a lot of fun just riding on the edge of disaster!

SkippyMom said...

Nicely done - looks delish and so much! Everyone looks like they had a great time. Wish we had been there. Maybe next year? :D

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

wow,
I wish I can have one piece of your ckicken...lovely post1

Boozy Tooth said...

(I was going to say great tent erection, but there are some out there who take that opportunity to think bad thoughts)

You're talking about me, aren't you? LOL!

LOVE all the photos - especially the first one. You look amazing - and very Zen for someone who has to pull off a huge event during a gully washer.

He who grills looks about as happy as Larry at any given moment. Good thing they're pussycats.

Glad you had a fun event. Wish I were there! Mmmmm!

The Good Cook said...

When friends are involved they bring their own sun, right? it's been rainy here too and cold and windy. Here's hoping we both see a bright spot in the sky soon.

ps. The cookbook sounds like a wonderful idea!

ellen abbott said...

It looks like a good time was had by all. Can't let a little weather keep us from having now, can we? Otherwise no fun would ever be had.

Teresa said...

That looks like great fun! I bet you all had a wonderful time together. Great way to start the season!

Whitney Lee said...

I admire the attitude. I'm also now hungry!

It looks like you had great fun. We were camping once when the weather turned crummy-a horrific thunderstorm amidst a tornado warning. I only wish we had had someplace as fantastic as your store to hide out in!

mamahasspoken said...

It's always fun when friends are part of your day! Love that you made the most of it and had a wonderful time. Yeah to a begining of a new camping season. Though have I ever told you my idea of camping is staying in a hotel that doesn't have cable?

Meggie said...

You are a truly wonderful host!! It looks like such a success, and a good time had by all.
Good Luck with the Tent.

Pat said...

You are ever the optimist, aren't you? LOL! Looks like a great time was had by all, despite the weather, and tent disaster! It was nice and cozy in the store anyway! The chicken looked delish! Made my mouth water! I like the idea of the cookbook! Will it be available for your blogger friends?

Unknown said...

I love your spunk and tenacity. I would give anything to come up there and stay for a season. I have my own tent. I will work for food to cook for you.

Karen said...

Looks like a great time was had by all, despite the un-cooperative Mother Nature! Hopefully no damage (other than the picnic table) done by the storm?
PS the chicken looks wonderful...

Sunny said...

Your post brought back many childhood memories. My parents loved to go camping, back in the days of canvas tents. I remember the times Mother Nature tried to ruin our vacation, but campers are a hardy bunch, as you know!
I don't think anyone left your bash hungry, that's for sure!
Sunny :)
I have have been reading and enjoying your posts but having a real problem leaving comments, hopefully it has been resolved and you can read this.