Kickoff to Summer....Part Two

For day two of my friend Debbie's Kickoff to Summer BBQ event I am going to turn back the clock a couple of weeks to a family event, my nephew Brian's high school graduation party, that I was lucky enough to attend in Conroe, Texas. Here is the good looking kid in his graduation gown with diploma in hand. Way to go Brian!!! He's bound for Saint Xavier University in Chicago on a scholarship and plans to major in Organizational Psychology. He's got it all planned out!


I have to brag a little bit...look at his ropes and medals!



Growing up, for nearly every major event that happened when it was warm enough to be outside (most months of the year in Louisiana & Texas), our family celebrated with a BBQ and we always had lots of extended family and friends over. Living up in the farthest Northwest corner of the lower 48, far away from my parents and brothers and sister, I miss out on these family get togethers. I was so happy to be able to fly out for the weekend to see my smart nephew get his diploma AND to enjoy a party in his honor.



My brother and his wife have a great home for entertaining and it's just one of those place that people like to be! This event was a great kick off to my summer. Looks like Brian and his friends enjoyed it too.



Besides swimming...there was plenty to eat! On the BBQ menu was country ribs, sausage, hamburgers and hotdogs plus boudin!


Here are my Dad and my brother Mark....dueling BBQ!


Here's some of the finished product


If BBQ weren't enough there was something else on the menu that I was MORE interested in. Something I only get to eat once a year if I'm lucky....Boiled Crawfish! Here they are taking their salt bath before boiling.


And here the the supplies for the boil



I lost my pics of the little guys boiling, but here they are all done and ready to eat. Looks like someone couldn't wait....


Here are the men folk digging in..looks like the might be spicy...might Dad was reaching for his glass!



Potatoes, corn and garlic (mmmmm) went into the boil too.


Even better than the food was being with my family. Everyone was in the pic, even new baby Clara, except for Randy and Jigs who were holding down the fort back in Washington.


Happy Summer!


Don't forget the next big event over at Kathleen's Blog, Cuisine Kathleen on June 23rd! Get out your whites. White dishes, white flowers, white tablecloth's, even white food!


SHOW ME YOUR WHITE event, JUNE 23rd