Say What? - Part Deux

Well, let's see how you did with my little "Say What" game.

1. "I was talking and I lost my focus." This was said by Katie to her father when he asked her why she hadn't turned down the path she should have when taking me for a ride in the go kart. She had turned to earlier during the ride and had stated she wasn't sure where we were which had resulted in us coming back on the wrong path. Eight-year-olds, gotta love them.




2. "I don't really care about the rules." Said by Michael when someone said how unfair it was that the rules on his blog weren't the same rules that had been stated when everyone was gathered. That someone didn't press for an exemption, she lived by the rules as written. What a sport!




3. "In honor of the Veggie Throwdown I just put my steak on the grill." Texted by Dave to me during the Throwdown.

4. "Can I have an ice cream bar? My throat is starting to hurt." With the bonus quote, "Yes, for medical reasons." Katie needed the ice cream and the response was by Marv. Dads are such softies.





5. "I regret the day I ever played the coronet." That was Marv responding to something I had said or done. Yes, we were in band together.





6. "There are a lot of cooks and no one in the kitchen." Spoken by my not that much younger sister. I'm not sure if she was referring to her mental state or the chaos of the kitchen.




7. "Everyone's always got an extra one in them." This was first uttered by John but quickly morphed into "everyone's got an extra mile in them", and was repeated ad nausaum for the remainder of the weekend.





8. "He's got a false sense of confidence with the beer." This was spoken by Scott after seeing this spectacle.




Even funnier is Scott's reaction.




9. "Pretty good hat if it wasn't for that." This was said by this unnamed person.




While being questioned why he still had the cardboard in his hat he proceeded to tell us about the writing on his hat. Seems Stubby had given him the hat the summer before but this unnamed person didn't like what it said so he took a black magic marker and blacked out the words he didn't like. What do you think? Did it work?




So how did you do? Had you been paying attention? No worries, there is always next time. If you were there it was good to see you, if you weren't we missed you and hope to see you at the next family gathering. After all you wouldn't want to miss this would you?

Say What?

Were you paying attention during our weekend of fun and frivolity? Did you really listen when people were speaking? Well, let's find out. Tell me who said what. I have no prizes but you will have bragging rights until the next game of "Say What?". Here we go.

1. "I was talking and I lost my focus."

2. "I don't really care about the rules."

3. In honor of the Veggie Throwdown I just put my steak on the grill."

4. "Can I have an ice cream bar? My throat is starting to hurt." Bonus points if you can identity the person who responded with
this, "Yes, for medical reasons."

5. "I regret the day I ever played the coronet."

6. "There are a lot of cooks and no one in the kitchen."

7. "Everyone's always got an extra one in them." This quickly morphed into "Everyone's always got an extra mile in them.", but
the first quote is the original.

8. "He's got a false sense of confidence with the beer."

9. "Pretty good hat if it wasn't for that."

Well, were you listening? Or were you like most Porters and just talking? Answers to follow tomorrow.

Who Put Her In The Driver's Seat?

There are some advantages to living on a dirt road and one of them is driving. That is driving at an early age. We did when we were young. We had snowmobiles and a motorcycle. Things haven't changed all that much on dirt roads, just the names and toys. Katie has learned to drive a go kart and she was eager to show off her new skills.

Maybe I should have been worried when her dad asked her if she could reach the gas and the brake pedals. No that didn't worry me. What worried me was when I saw this on our ride together




and then she declared, "I'm not sure where we are". Luckily all of her paths are mown so it really wasn't that hard to find our way back.

Sarah was next. She looks quite happy to let her younger cousin drive her around doesn't she?




But her expression soon changed as they started to take off. Are you regretting your decision, Sarah?




We decided to wander over the field and watch. That is my baby in that go kart after all.




Here they come! She's still smiling and this time Katie didn't miss the turn she should have made when I was riding with her.




Now it's time for the fun part. Donuts! Be careful with my baby, Buttercup.



Shouldn't Marv be describing the intricacies of donuting to the driver and not the spectators?




Well done, Katie.




The next victim, or should I say enthusiastic cousin, was John.







As Katie headed to the open field to show John how donuts are done we could hear her yell these words to John, "It might get a little scary now!". She wasn't kidding. From me to Sarah to John her speed had increased and her donut circumference had decreased. It is amazing what a little confidence can do to an eight-year-old's perceived driving ability.







Of course she learned from the Master.

It's A Parade!

We woke up to another beautiful Michigan morning and decided to head for the annual Memorial Day parade. Well, actually it was decided for us since Katie was in the parade and really what is the sense of being in a parade if there is no one there to watch you.

We weren't the only ones gathering for this big event. I see the flag girls have arrived.




We got Katie settled with instructions to meet us at the slide after the parade was over. Her question, "Which slide?". Uh, there's only one, Buttercup, it shouldn't be hard to find.




We headed out to find a prime viewing spot. On the way is a sight not to be missed if you should ever decide to vacation in Coleman and want to see one of its historical highlights. This would be the building where I attended fourth grade. Our annex had burnt and there was no room in the school for us so we finished out the year here in what was the American Legion Hall. Every time we opened our books the smell of smoke would fill the air and that was the year I started to wear glasses. Truely a sight not to be missed on anyone's tour.




Here comes the parade led by veterans of course.




I believe this is a veteran from WW II. I do know that he had run us off the sidewalk earlier when we were dropping Katie off. Forgive and forget that is what I say. After all he had risked his life so I could be run off a sidewalk.




Of course, no parade is complete without bands




and bikes.




There's my little Buttercup!!




Here's another small town parade fixture. I never feel like I've been to a parade until the firetruck drives by.




Of course, the real reason for having a parade is to honor the veterans who gave their lives in the service of their country. We stayed for the cermony afterwards to honor those brave men and women.







No parade is complete without ice cream and this one was no exception. We decided to head here




to enjoy some of this





but alas found this.





I feel your pain, John. Well, the pain of no ice cream. Certainly not the pain you're feeling from riding that ill-fitting bike 40 some miles the day before trying to keep up with Gramps in white socks.

All in all it was a very enjoyable morning.

Throwdown Three - Vegetarian Style

At our last family get together it had been decided that our next Throwdown would have a vegetarian theme. Since Michael is the only vegetarian in this meat eating family he was in charge of the rules. Well, let's just say the rules while standing in the kitchen that day didn't end up to be the rules written in his blog a few days later. I listened but didn't read, or didn't remember that I had read. I was out because I used seafood but we still had plenty of cooks in the kitchen.

Here is Katie making her Macaroni and Cheese. Poor Katie, she had to share an oven and that was her demise. But don't feel too sorry for her because she was the winner in our last Throwdown.




Vegetarian Nachos was my not that much younger sister's choice.




John grilled up Portabella Burgers. He had trouble keeping them in one piece but they sure tasted good.




We had a newbie with Sarah. Her entry was Pesto Pizza. It was an interesting choice of ingredients.




Brother had finally decided on Fake Sausage with Pasta. It looks like he is keeping an eye on his competition instead of tending to his own business. Maybe he should have kept a closer eye on her because it turned out to be an epic battle between the master and the newbie with stunning results.




We seem to have a lot of cooks in the kitchen but some seem more content to watch and comment than do any actual cooking.




But then there are others who are more than willing to find missing ingredients




and lend a hand at the stove. It's like we have our own sous chef. Thanks, Marv!




After a lot of measuring, grating, stirring and cooking dinner was served.




Well, look who is first in line.




Others soon followed.







Someone is loving her Mac & Cheese entry. Remember, Katie, no voting for yourself.




We even had a guest judge, Danna. She is even a vegetarian which was a bonus for us and for her. Remember we are a meat loving family and vegetarian dishes are usually in short supply at our gatherings.




We decided to get fancy and upgraded from voting with spoons in cups to real ballots. Next time sister has demanded that everyone will have their entry choice in two weeks early so she can do the ballots up real pretty.




Because of a certain unnamed person Sister declared that she was going to hold the ballots and everyone would have to show a driver's license in order to vote. No 25-year-old photo ID's accepted. She relented under pressure but it still may be something we consider for the future. Be prepared, unnamed person.

Let the voting begin!




And now it is time to count.




There was no doubt in anyone's mind who the finalists were. It had come down to Vegetarian Sausage or Pesto Pizza. Everyone was torn between the two. Would it be a battle to the end or would there be a runaway winner? Brother anxiously waited for the verdict.




Then he heard the words no Survivor wants to hear, "The tribe has spoken ...... and it's time for you to go". His fire had been extinguished and Sarah was the sole Survivor of Throwdown Three - Vegetarian Style.




Even though she had won in a landslide, truth be told it was much closer than the final vote tally had indicated. The tipping point for most was the fact that Sarah had taken various recipes and made one new recipe. Everyone agreed though that Brother had made the best vegetarian sausage ever tasted by this group of yahoos. Creativity had won out over skill.

Throwdown Four is in the works. Rice, I believe, is the theme. Subject to change of course. Shaelynn is in charge of the rules which will be posted on her blog at some future date. Good luck to everyone and meet you around the stove for Throwdown Four - Rice Rules.