Hoedown Lowdown

Yeee-ha! The Harvest Hoedown was a smashing success! And you'd better believe that I've got LOTS of photos and details to prove it.

Twenty-five adults and thirty-one "buckaroos" (ranging in age from 4 months to 19 years, and everything in between) were present at the neighborhood shindig. Four new families joined in on the fun. We are blessed to get to live next to so many nice folks.

Grilled tri-tip, brisket, pulled pork, and tube steaks were on the menu. The neighbors brought appetizers and side dishes to share. Our kitchen island was filled with just about every kind of food from salad to beans to hatch chili casserole to yummy potato casserole to a baked "grown-up version" of mac-n-cheese to this to that and the other. I am missing several other offerings, but you get the idea. There was no shortage of chow.

Here are some of the smiles I was able to capture:

Claire, Jacinda, and Quinn

Macias Family

Jennifer, Cooper, Jack, and Judy

Alex and her Mommy 

(Alex is holding the "Dandy Duds" Award that she won for donning the best western outfit.)

Harris Family

Misailov Four

Cecily and Jens

Katie, Millie, and Lexie

Andrea, Liesey, Judy, and Barb

Dean and Jack

Cooper and his parents, Russell and Jennifer

Lanier, Livvy, and Lauren

I love fall decorations, so I have to share some of the fall-ish items we used to prettify the Smith Haus.

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Thanks to timely order fulfillment from Oriental Trading Company, and speedy-quick delivery via USPS, the kids had projects/crafts to do. Millie assembled this adorable scarecrow as a demo model. We also had an Indian corn craft and coloring activities.

Easy as pie!

The 2nd Annual Pie Bake-off was highly anticipated, and competition was fierce, in a neighborly kind of way. Seven pies were entered into the contest. The flavors represented in this year's event were: apple, pumpkin, peanut butter, buttermilk, and chocolate cream.

The highly-esteemed (upper crust?) panel of judges tasted each entry, took notes, then tasted a second time. It's a crusty job, but somebody's gotta do it...

I captured Dave, a.k.a. the General and head pie-tasting judge, and the "other" Dave engaged in an important discussion. This judging stuff is serious business, so there was much deliberation, debate, discussion... and disposal of pie. A third tasting was required. The judges reportedly had a tough time deciding which pies were the best of the best, since all seven pies were tasty. 

Scores were tallied,

Alka-Seltzer administered,

and the results were revealed.

3rd Place: Lexie's Triple Chocolate Pie

Somehow I missed getting a photo of this sweet eleven-year-old with her prize. Lexie won 1st place last year, but had to settle for 3rd this year. She was thrilled with a top tier finish, especially since there had been a three-way tie for 3rd place that had to be resolved.

2nd Place: Liesey's Peanut Butter Pie

(Thank you, Southern Living Dessert Cookbook!)

1st Place: Barb's Apple/Cranberry Pie

After the winners were announced and prizes awarded, it was time for dessert. YUM!!! Obviously, I had lots of forks and napkins at hand -- or in hand. Thankfully, everyone had saved room for pie. 

At the risk of having an illustration on my blog that is deemed as being in poor taste, I am going to share a tee shirt graphic that made me chuckle. It seemed to fit the occasion. (Please refrain from sending me any snarky comments.)

The aftermath

I'm thinkin' pie for breakfast...