Lemonade Spring

Lemonade Spring in Tompkinsville Kentucky 1979.
More HERE

The Barn

Grandpa and Grandma's barn.

I wonder how many times my Dad walked the trail to the barn?

Uncle Joe

My Dad's brother, Joe Fred, passed away last week.
I had the honor of being one of his pallbearers Friday.

This is a picture of him holding me. Grandpa can be seen in the background.




This is Uncle Joe's wife, Aunt Betty, holding me.
Dad is in the background and Joe's son, little Joe/Jody, waits for his turn to hold me.

Here is Dad (Left) with his sister Nancy, Ike and Jack at the grave side.

Grandparents

My Grandpa, Dad and Grandma posing with me.

The Piano

Playing piano with my Grandma.
My guess is that this is around 1967.

Is it just me pr is the lamp shade upside down on the lamp?

Reunion 2010

The day started out with some good preaching from Cousin Brett.

The chicken was excellent as well as the other meats.

The secret sauce! I had mine dipped and also took some extra sauce in a cup.

Elaine and my niece Delaney. Nice shirt Delaney!


Kids playing cards.


Pictures of the siblings.



A little music provided by Joel.

Me and my brother Brett.

Our families kept saying that they could tell us apart form behind.

Brett is normally bald but was sprouting hair this year which caused the confusion.

I saw him the other day and he was bald again. I figured he couldn't handle trying to keep up with my sense of style.

We also went and visited my Uncle Joe.

Sorry for the long intermission but sometimes life gets busy.

Now back to our long weekend.

We made it into T-ville and stayed at the local Inn.
We have stayed here the kids whole lives and they treat us well.
Which means they feed us well.

They lobby always has a cake, fried pies or our personal favorite - rumcake.

Sadly there was no rumcake this year. :(


Joel practiced his guitar while Megan continued to get ready.
We also like to visit Sonic. All the ones around us have closed but the one in T-ville is thriving.

The drinks on the nightstand did get spilled behind the nightstand.

Joel is in Megan's bed.
We double up the boys and take off the comforters and throw down a sleeping bag for Megan between the beds.

We also had a flip contest on the beds this year which all of us participated it.

Chicken!!!

This is very fitting for my 600th post. Our family reunion.
Dixie Belle park, also known as my Aunt and Uncles back yard, was where the reunion was held.

This is the main event. Uncle Georges chicken.

Sadly Uncle George is gone but his son-in-law Todd does a fine job carrying on his chicken tradition.

Here is Uncle George cooking chicken the original way.

This is being cooked on bed springs from and old army cot or something.
No bagged briquettes just catch some logs on fire, shovel the coals underneath and simmer the special sauce underneath on the coals too.


As time progressed so did Uncle Georges process.

This is the coal barrel.
You build the fire on top and then hit the barrel with a shovel every now and then and the coals fall in to the bottom for easy shoveling.

Can't you smell it?
The bed springs got to small or the family got to big but this is the modified grill now.
We still call it the bed springs though.

The special hot sauce.
True lovers have their chicken dipped in the sauce first before eating.
I don't know what the recipe is but Todd said if I got up at four in the morning to help I could learn it.
I think I will keep it a mystery for now.

Church.
Since the reunion falls on a Sunday we have a church service first.
This is my cousin Leslie's husband, Brett, preaching.

Sermons finished and now it's time to eat.

We eat, talk, play games and some preform for the family.

Megan sang, Paige danced and the Carter sisters sang.



Uncle Leslie played a few songs on the harmonica.




Corn hole was played throughout the day.

My brother Brett earns the brown nose of the year award for making this beautiful set.

Amanda also had her staples removed while at the reunion.

Before we leave it is picture time.

My Dad or one of his siblings names are called out and family members gather under the park sign for a picture.

This is my family. This is everyone in our family but my brother Brett's son Kye.


This is the paparazzi.


We even take a picture of guest who come to the reunion.
Levi's girlfriend Hope was in this picture this year.
Many have hopes of being included in the family picture some day.


Family, food and fun.
It was a good reunion.

Cake Walk

The cake walk is a annual event for my kids.
The pay a quarter a turn and walk on the paper plates taped to the street.
When the music stops they call out a number.
If your number is called you win a cake.

We always hope for a rum cake because they are delicious.

My kids didn't win any cakes but my cousins daughter, Havanna, did.
She always does.


The band started playing and people gathered to dance and to people watch.

Mylee was telling us she was going to be a big sister.

Here is some of the line dancing going on.
Which my kids and my cousins kids couldn't help but to join in.

Cumberland River Ferry

After visiting the cabin Dad took us to the local ferry that crosses the Cumberland river.

This river has a ferry versus a bridge because Dad said that the powers that be figured it was cheaper to have a ferry rather than build a bridge.

Not everyone in my car was thrilled with the idea of taking our car on a boat across a river.
Joel was already riding with Mom and Dad so I jumped in with them and rode across.

We had two cars on our trip and I don't think there is much room for more anyway.


Dad said the ferry is supposed to tie off when they load and unload but they just revved the engine to push the ramp into the bank for us.

Dad said that a dump truck was pulling off while the ferry wasn't tied to the bank and his weight pushed the ferry back into the river which he shortly fell into as well.

He also said that in the winter an older couple were waiting for the ferry when their car began to slide on the slick road. As their car slid towards the river the ferry pilot speed up and was able to pinch their car into the bank saving them.

Have you ever crossed a river this way?
If not here is a sample of how looks for those of you who haven't and for those who stayed in my car.