Success at the Farm!!

Well the Celebration At The Farm (C.A.T.F.) was a huge success! :) We had a couple VERY minor glitches... but nothing we couldn't figure out a different way to handle it.

(P.S. No, we didn't have a fly over from the Blue Angels, though that would have been SWEET, ... the blog photo is from a link that my dad emailed me today... & this one picture just fit the patriotic theme! Side note... my dad & I enjoy the Blue Angels and The Thunderbirds! When I was little he would take me to air shows!)

Anyhoo, there was lots of family I hadn't seen in many many years! Many from out of state... I think Uncle Terry & his new wife Linda traveled the farthest from Florida... & then Aunt Sherrall came from Georgia... My cousin Mark (Uncle Terry's boy) came from Tennessee. And Uncle Art came from West Virgina (close to the Maryland border, I found out!) ... many relatives from the Cleveland (or surrounding areas.)

Oh, I forgot mention my hubby had family from out of state too... From South Dakota... They gathered together on Friday & I didn't get to see them because I was at the farm. But that's ok... It hadn't been that long ago that I was able to see his side of the family. (It was due to a death in the family, though.) It would have been nice to catch up with them... however, I was just too frazzled & thought it best I relaxed before the big party at the farm.

The C.A.T.F. started around 3:00p as planned... The pork from the pig roast was delicious & so was the rigatoni! Oh & can't forget... one of my cousin's brought Greek Pasta salad! SCRUMPTIOUS! (Oh, Ginna, if you're reading this... I need that recipe!!)  My sister Renee brought down from Michigan a huge Frosted Brownie sheet cake! Talk about YUMMO! (said in her best Rachel Ray impression!)

Oh, yeah... the fireworks did NOT arrive.  However... Mike, my son, had a huge bon fire set up... & neighbors down in the valley had fireworks going off... They lasted a LONG time! Very good show... (had to be to get past all them trees for us to be able to see too! LOL)... My understanding is that my mom is thinking of getting some fireworks of her own & setting them off next weekend. I don't know if I'll be there for that... It would mainly just be for Mike's benefit anyway.

I'm already thinking of ways to make next year (or when ever we do it again) even more organized. I think we should do it every year now... (because a lot of the "Tyson kids" are getting up there in years... making harder & harder to travel) ...but more like a pot luck... than to have Mom shell out the majority of the money for food.

We did have those who could, bring side dishes... however, my mom still bought a lot including the Pork (I think). Oh... don't worry, I won't have any pictures of a pig being roasted... it was roasted in a pit by one of the neighbors of the farm & carved back at the pit. THANKS RON!!!

So, how did I do? Well, during the heat of the day I kept escaping into the house to keep cool. Though it was only about 80° (thankfully not any hotter!), it didn't take long for me to get over heated. (How the older folks (like Grandma Fulton, who will be 90 years young in December!) dealt with it, I don't know!) All I know is that heat & I do not mix!!! I must had been standing or walking around to much because my back was sore most of the day. (Nothing a day or two on the couch won't cure! LOL) HOWEVER, I did not have a headache except at one point & I laid down on one of Mom's love seats for a few minutes whilst the pain & nausea subsided.

As I reflect back on the day... I did get around to talk to just about everyone. If I missed anyone, sorry... it wasn't intentional. Even though conversations were cut short most of the time... it was great to be able to chat with all!

One thing I didn't get completed in time was the guest book... however, I did create a make shift one... & it worked out fine. Though a couple people may have missed ... all & all I think the total number that showed up was 110. (Give or take a few! LOL) & Yes, majority of them was there at one time.

My hubby even commented when I got home... (he rode his Harley... & If I hadn't needed the truck & I didn't have a messed up back... I would have rode mine... It was a GORGEOUS day for a ride.... (Thank you Lord!!) ... "Were they all your family? Where did they all come from?" I'm like... "Yep! You have to remember my mom had 6 siblings growing up. (1 has passed away long ago.) Then add in their kids & their grand kids & friends of the kids & grand kids... & a some of my mom's friends & neighbors... Oh & can't forget... The Kenyans (as my mom & sister calls them)!! That would be my brother-in-laws family from Africa. They are just as sweet as Aloys (my brother-in-law) is!


This picture is of my mom & her sisters & brothers. (L to R: Aunt Sherrall; Aunt Billy; Uncle Terry; my mom (in front of him); Aunt Lynn; & Uncle Greg. (Now do you see why we had such a big turn out??!!!)

I'll have link to more photos later. I had them all ready with descriptions & all... but due to operator error... they didn't upload to Flickr as planned. I will either post another blog or a review with the photos link. (But don't expect it tonight! I plum worn out!!!)

So, yeah... it was a huge success!!

It was fun for the most part & enjoyable to see all the relatives... however, just like Mama Di is today from her family outing... I'm "paying for it"! But you know what... IT WAS WORTH IT!!!

Time to lay back & relax now!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

P.S. If you haven't seen my front / home page here... you best be taking a gander at it very soon... because it will be changing as early as tomorrow!! (Wouldn't want you to miss out seeing the other cute kitties!!)