Fair & Cook-Off Pictures

Better late than never....

If you follow me on Instagram and FB, then you have probably already seen these pics but I'm bringing them here anyway...

Miss Bella getting ready to milk a cow...well not a real one anyway...

Somehow I don't think she would be smiling like that if this were a real cow and all...

On to the petting zoo...one of her favorite activities.  She keeps telling me she's going to be a cowgirl when she grows up.  We shall see little one.

Had to show y'all this. Remember that fringy flyaway I snagged in Canton.  Well, she made her debut twice at the fair.  This was Friday night.  I got all gussied up to serve beer at the concert arena.  Didn't see anyone but a crowd full of youngin's but dang my outfit was purdy! 

This was Sunday when Bella and I went out for a little while to milk cows and visit the animals...

My sweet friend Callie was kind enough to help me shop for some britches a few days before and these destruction britches are what we went with....

Later during the week we had the BBQ Cook-Off.  I was not able to help them get set-up on Thursday but we made it out Thursday after work.  Our friend Danny who used to own Paradise Sports Bar & Grill came out to see us.  Paradise is now Mulberry Bar & Grill in Angleton.  Danny retired from that business several years back.  Anyway, Tony had an old sign he put up so we all gathered for a picture.  That's Danny standing next to me.  

And one in front of our camp...

I was awful at taking pictures this year at the cook-off.  As you know, I just wasn't feeling it this year.

This was Thursday night...

and a couple of pictures I snapped over the weekend...

Love that my kids love cooking with us and want to always learn from us...

My girl cooling her tush off.  Underneath that tarp was iced down beer....ha!

Hitting the rides Saturday night...

We didn't win big at the cook-off this year and let's not even talk about my Friday Night Feast because that was just total disappointment, mostly in myself.  However, I did enter the Rice Plus Cook-Off again with a very special recipe that was my Grandmother's.  I asked Daddy if he remembered Grandma ever making these muffins and he said no, especially since they had zucchini in them.  Yellow squash was the only thing they grew in the garden that was close to the zucchini family.  However, after looking at the date of the cookbook (1982)...he said she could have very well been making all kinds of things by then because all her children had moved out.  Ha!

So here's how I did.....

Yep, that's a first place ribbon and a silver platter my friends.  It absolutely made my day.  And to know it was Grandma Berger's recipe made it even better.  I wasn't keeping track of time well so I totally missed them announcing my name as the winner but still had my picture taken. Once they post it, I'll share it with you.  

And in case you're interested, here's the winning recipe....

So there you have my recap, well sort of.  I kinda sorta got into the cook-off but just never really found my groove.  Maybe next year...

Y'all have a good one!

Cook-Off And Other Stuff

Cook-off begins tomorrow (well set-up is tomorrow) and I'm not ready.  To be honest, I'm just not looking forward to it like I usually do.  I'm hoping that will all change once I get out there.  We shall see.

I have decided what I'm going to make and submit for Friday Night Feast, just need to pick everything up tonight. I also need to finish the sponsor sign so the guys can have that to hang up Thursday when they set up.

We were off Monday for Columbus Day.  As I was folding laundry and making my lists, I kept thinking it sure would have been nice to have the whole week off so I decided that if we do this next year, I'm going to see if I can work that out.  There's just so much running and prepping to do that it would be nice to have days and evenings to get everything done.  This whole work thing is getting in the way.  Ha!

Oh yes...have to share this with y'all.  Not that you want to know my lady business but I had my well woman check up Monday.  Nothing like a visit to your ob/gyn to remind you that you're getting old...

Doc:  Do you have someone checking your skin? Your skin is showing your age.
Me:  Yes I do.  My appointment is actually already scheduled for later this month.
Doc: Good. Your skin has that look so you really need to have a skin check every year now.

That look?  Of what?  Too much sun in my teen years without sunscreen.  And I was feeling pretty good about myself Monday. That blew it to shit.  I had prepared myself for her to drop the M word again because she did that to me last year.  And yes, by the M word I do mean MENOPAUSE.  Quite frankly, I'm ready for it.  I already get the hot flashes and night sweats so what else is there other than mother nature not punishing me each month for not being pregnant?  To be honest I've been over the headaches and cramps for years now.      

I'm off to go do this work thing.  We're having dinner with Daddy and Lena tonight and then I'll be hitting up the grocery store to pick up supplies for cook-off and stock up the house.  We are out of mustard at home.  How the hell that happened I have no idea.  We are never out of mustard. Crazy. I'm still having issues with that one.

Y'all have a good one.
 

Its Cook-Off Time in Texas!

The second half of fair week started off with a bang....or is it bust?  I came home Wednesday evening to no A/C.  Thank goodness a cool front had come through and the nights were much cooler otherwise I think we would have been bunking with some of our family.  I opened all the windows in the house so that made things better than they could have been.  I called the A/C guy (Wayne) first thing Thursday morning and honey (aka, Scott) met him at the house so I wouldn't have to take off work.  He had been down helping Tony get things together and set up for the cook-off.  Yay honey! After assessing the situation, getting a part (some dang valve) and changing it out, my A/C was running.  Big thanks to honey for handling that for me and for flipping the bill :).  I was scheduled to be off Friday for the cook-off so him being there was a huge help, otherwise I would have had to go into work Friday. Boo Hiss!  Honey did manage to help the guys get some things set up at cook-off before he took off to tend to my mess.  We headed out to cook-off Thursday night and hung out for a while...then spent all day Friday and all Saturday out there.  Sunday was tear down.  We placed 10th in Beans (thanks cousin Patrick) and 14th in Ribs (Kudos to my nephew Paul for entering those tasty ribs!!!)  We were so proud of Paul...nothing else mattered.

Our shrimp peelers...Paul, Chris, Levi & Scott...

Best of times with family....Me, Kristian & Bryan

My little cowgirl...such a little stinkpot prissy pants!!

One of our sponsors Mr. Hosaka came out to support but also wanted to help.  He dug right in and helped prep the ribs and whatever else he could.  He brought his camera and took a ton of pictures.  These are some of the few he sent us...they are so good!  I usually don't want anything to do with bbq for a couple months after cook-off but I have to say that after seeing these pics...its looks right tasty!  

Delicous Chicken...

 Brisket...

Shrimp...

Tony's Pulled Pork Sliders...

Secret Sauce

Levi working the pit...Tony in the background

View of our camp from the back....

It was another fun year, more fun for me because honey was able to join our family,help out and see what all the fuss was about too. Kinda hoping that man sticks around for years to come. As always, we got to see lots old friends and even made some new ones.  We love cook-off because it truly is a family affair...even Bella got in and rub some ribs down this year.  Everyone jumps in and helps.  Its a wonderful thing to observe in my opinion. If we do this again next year, y'all should come out and see us.  We'll be glad to feed ya!

We hope to see you again next year cook-off!!

BBQ Cook-Off. Check & Done.

The BBQ Cook-Off was last weekend and I have to say that as much as I enjoy it every year, I am super glad it is done and over with for another year.  Other than my brother and sister winning raffle prizes, we didn't walk away with any big wins this year but we sure did have some fun! 

 

It truly is a family event with everyone pitching in and helping out. 

 

Many thanks to everyone and we'll see you next year!!