A few years back, I started arriving a day early to help set things up, and I began bringing my turkey frying pots and flame thrower to add fried turkey to the menu. This is in addition to the 2 roast beef, smoked ham, sometimes smoked turkey, bean hole beans and smoked pork loin that we serve. Everyone else brings potluck.
The number of people who attend varies year to year, but there is always a pretty good crowd with several families camping out in the field.
The day after, Sunday, we cook a pancakes and bacon breakfast for anyone who shows up. It's often almost as big as the previous day's party.
About 5 years ago, I bought a 3 burner Camp Chef outdoor stove to hasten the pancake cooking. Then my brother got one for his birthday, so there's now 2 in operation. For about 3 years now, Marion runs the second one.
Marion is my teenage 1st cousin, once removed. Those genealogists among you can figure that out for yourselves. She is firmly ensconced as the second breakfast cook and has successfully withstood the annual takeover onslaught perpetrated by her other cousins. Cooking pancakes with her has become one of my favorite weekend events at this party. Collectively, we are the pancake czars and take no abuse from anyone without meting out equally satisfying retribution. "No pancake for you!!" is a terrifying threat to the hungry masses.
It's a wonderful thing that my brother and sil are happy to have this party. There are times when it is the only chance we have to see other members of the family and, in some instances, their friends that I also grew up with. Because it's really a 3 day event for me, it's an opportunity to actually catch up and spend time with people instead of trying to jam it all together in a few hours. There are few things that are more important or satisfying than this.
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