We made giant batches of coleslaw and potato salad, and I got to use up some of the mountain of eggs I've been collecting by making deviled eggs for finger foods. I even baked a cake, a real one with sugar and everything! I picked the rest of the homegrown lettuce in the greenhouse, which was just starting to bolt, and topped it with egg slices and strawberries for a giant salad.
Not that anyone had room for salad on their plates when we had smoked beef brisket, whole chickens, pork roast, lamb roasts, and racks of lamb ribs, plus hot dogs and chili. The smoker worked wonderfully this year! We used a thermometer with six different temperature probes that communicate via bluetooth with smart phones. Jamie had it set up so his phone would sound the alarm when the temperature got out of range, and the guys must have perfected their technique for adding wood, because all of the different meats were tender and juicy, and they came out of the smoker right on time.
We were out on the lawn, enjoying the breeze and watching the corn hole game, when Brandon got a text from a friend who said he wasn't coming because he was afraid of the weather. Huh? Sure enough, the forecast had changed, and we were in a thunderstorm warning. Should we take down the four canopy tents we had up for shade? Surely it was going to miss us, right?
Wrong! A huge gust of wind slammed us, and everyone scrambled to either hold on to the tents or run for cover in the house. Those of us clinging to run away tents were soaked by the deluge of rain that poured down from the sky. We managed to take the canopies off the tents, but three of four were broken by the force of the wind. I was just glad no one was badly hurt - the wind was so strong.
It was a good thing I had been drinking for several hours, because it didn't stress me out at all to have about thirty-five damp guests crammed in our tiny house during a big storm. Ha! You can't help but bond with the people near you during extreme weather, so I think the storm made us closer, as a party.
The rain came just in time to keep us inside when the food was ready to be served. All the baskets of picnic supplies that had been on a table outside, were now stacked on every surface in the house that wasn't occupied by a person. We made the best of it though, and cut all the meat and served the food.
The rain stopped, the sun came back out, and corn hole and swimming resumed, although all the camp chairs were wet and the ground was soppy.
As the sun went down, the lightning bugs came out, and the kids had fun running in the dark with flashlights, catching insects and bringing them to me put in a jar. The camp fire was roaring, and those of us who didn't have to go home sat around the fire snacking, drinking, and laughing. There are always moments during a party that I try to hold in my memory, and there were many from this party, so I hope I never forget the laughing faces glowing in the firelight.
I was late to bed that night, and my mind was buzzing from all the drinks and stimulation, so sleep was hard to come by. Some of the campers were up and gone before I woke, but eventually everyone who stayed the night was around the campfire drinking coffee and working up an appetite for brunch. The sun was out, and the breeze was perfect. Jamie used a giant cast iron skillet on top of a metal fire ring, and cooked us sausages, pancakes, and scrambled eggs with potato and vegetables.
Dad picked up all the drink bottles and miscellaneous party flotsam from the yard, and we all admired the cut grass, bird song, and wonderful weather while we drank pots and pots of coffee. The morning after party might be my favorite part!
Wendigo wasn't the only one who needed a nap! I finally made it into my bathing suit and got to enjoy some time in the pool and in the sun. We didn't have to cook anything as there were plenty of left overs from the party and the big campfire breakfast. Brandon and I had agreed not to worry about washing dishes for at least one more day.
At the end of the day on Monday, as Brandon and I were relaxing in the hot tub, admiring the fireflies, and reliving our favorite party moments, Brandon asked if we were going to have fireworks for the fourth of July party. Doh!
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