A Barbecue for Will

The planning and preparation for Will's graduation party has been my main occupation these last weeks. So much background prep goes into an informal evening of food and fellowship! I had a wonderful team to work with, though. Caleb was in charge of smoking briskets and making sauces, and the menfolk here did garage prep, yard work, and handyman projects. And then there's the Katie and Olivia factor! By some amazing daughter instinct, they know just what is needed to bring my hodge podge of food and decorating ideas to reality. Olivia poured her heart into baking, cooking, and serving. Katie did hours (and hours) of creating, cutting, hanging, arranging, and all around beautifying--she does that wherever she goes. Then she took pictures of it, so that I can enjoy the event all over again! She gathered the best pictures and posted them on her blog, The Rose Garden, and gave me permission to repost her post here. Thank you so much, Katie!

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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.

















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

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

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





















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.

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...

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.

The coffee was made...

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and the cream was whipped.

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.

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

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

.The food was put out,

and the cakes were cut.

(I believe we were admiring a sweet little one, Olivia and I.)
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Finally, it was time to fill our plates

...and cups.

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Yum.

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

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

People visited and kitties were enjoyed.

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Aunties admired the skirt, and basketball was played.

Livi was beautiful.

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And Ben hid.

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Dear ones chatted until late evening.

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!