A Barbecue for Will

My brother Will graduated from high school this spring,
and we had a barbecue for family and friends to celebrate last weekend.
Wonderful guy!

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The front door was scrapbooked with pictures of Will growing up. Greta studied them. ~

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The coffee and cream were beautified with art by my talented brother.

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~ wildlife art in prisma colors, woodcarvings, furs & his beautiful wildlife photography;
also present: his certification in piano tuning & in the national registry of EMTs ~

(Isn't he a cool guy?)

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The dessert table was a thing of beauty.

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(More pictures)

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My man smoked brisket for the party. Mesquite smells good in the rain.















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My cousin Grace brought a lovely new toy to occupy Greta Rose.

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Living room dessertage and a place for drinks on the Hoosier ~

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.(Oh the loveliness of Mama's home that evening!)

















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The evening before we took buckets to the ditches and gathered flowers...

Yellow Sweet Clover and Birds-foot Trefoil, Red Clover and blue Lead Plant.

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Caleb, the Smoker of Briskets & Master of Sauces, doing his thing~

(a very handsome thing I might add)

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...and his faithful sous chef, Olivia, who helped to make it possible.

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It poured rain all day...after a week of sun! So we put up tents and canopies...













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and brought straw bales into the garage to sit on.

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(Don't you love Mama's bundt pan centerpiece idea?!)

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In spite of many preparations, the guys still found time for a little basketball.

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The coffee was made...

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and the cream was whipped.

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The desserts were a thing of love and beauty, all homemade.
Gingerbread (by Mama) & Apple Pies (by Olivia)

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Banana layer & Chocolate Bundt (also by Olivia)








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Blonde brownies (Olivia) & Applesauce Raisin Cake with caramel frosting (Mama)








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The friends started to come a little before 5pm.












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Greta watched them arrive from the door,

pleased (and a bit overwhelmed!) to see so many people she knew all in one place.








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She wore her new cherry skirt and cowboy boots to be 'specially fancy for Uncle Bill's party!






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Are these not the most delicious folding chairs you've ever seen?.

The food was put out,







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and the cakes were cut.











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(I believe we were admiring a sweet little one, Olivia and I.).

Finally, it was time to fill our plates









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...and cups.

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Yum.

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Right around 5pm the sun came out and shone brilliantly all evening!

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The Man of the Hour (and Ben, too) caught going for sister's pie :)

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People visited and kitties were enjoyed.

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.Aunties admired the skirt, and basketball was played.

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Livi was beautiful.

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And Ben hid.

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Dear ones chatted until late evening.

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Good sounds came from the other end of the living room!

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Precious times.







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Wonderful memories for always.

We love you, Will!