July 4th Annual Croquet Tournament and Picnic

We arrived back in Quincy from Carlinville late Thursday afternoon. Kyle arrive about 8pm and Trevor and his friend Chris Vaccaro, the center for the EIU Panthers, arrived later in the evening.




It's good that we always keep plenty of breakfast supplies around since Friday morning we ended up with breakfast for 9 as bodies kept resurrecting from the basement where they'd sacked out after partying the night before. I'd much rather have the guys' friends spend the night than drive after they have been partying.

On Saturday, the weather did not want to cooperate. We were thrilled that niece Monica, her husband, Phil and daughters were able to join us since they aren't often back in Quincy from Baltimore. Monica is on left, Phil in center, during one of the few times it wasn't raining and croquet was in full swing.

We beat a hasty retreat to the garage with the food tables when the rain decide to come full-force about the time the brats were ready.

There was a circle of folks settled in the garage

and some on the front porch

Needing some level of competition, the guys resorted to Euchre

All in all, everyone seemed to have a great time despite the obstinate weather!

By 10pm Ken and I had everything back in order.

On Sunday we had a big evening meal for the guys of baked chicken, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cauliflower with cheese sauce and garlic cheddar biscuits. By 9pm Sunday it was quiet at the homestead and Ken and I were bedding down, in prep for getting back on the road Monday.

Hugs, C