¡El Grande Fiesta! Arrivals and lead-up / 18-21 Julio 2006

4 As I mentioned in previous posts, for the past few months Bud and Laurie have been planning a large Mexican-themed get-together at their place in Oxford Station.


A big party would be a great way to celebrate Bud's return from duty in Afghanistan, but mainly it would be an opportunity for lots of family and friends to re-unite and have some major fun. And it most definitely was! The entire week was filled with great food (the main course on fiesta-nite being a slow-roasted hog stuffed with prime rib), great music (both Spanish-themed and 'Canadian-acoustic,' courtesy of some of the attendees with guitars) and lots to drink (namely an ice-cold keg of Pabst and well...a wide assortment of everything else, considering the size of the crowd that turned out).

Y lejos vamos...

The crew from NB got things rolling! Bill, Barb, Julia, Pam and Jessie arrived mid-week; the Coopers, Jeff, Rick and Roxy the dog arrived on the 20th. Mom, Uncle Del and Del's girlfriend Margaret pulled in from Leominster MA the next day, followed by Brent, Nerissa & Sabrina from Kingston and then old pal Dan McCardle from Newcastle ON later that evening. (Gerry Cluett was in and out all week. :) Weekdays before the Fiesta were generally spent with visits to the Burritt's Rapids lock...

...with some additional relaxation & party prep (thanks to Dan for the big chili pepper)...

...and of course, a few drinks around the fire before the big bash.

[Bill on Bud's tractor. Dig that funky pipe.] 6

Bud scored the pig-roaster the night before the Fiesta. (Brent slept in it. You can tell the idea has just dawned on him below.)

[A few more July 21 "party-before-the-party" photos...olé! :]

It wasn't long before L'il Aggie (a ridiculous ventriloquist puppet Brent and I found on eBay) emerged and made the rounds. He takes a perfect photo every time, doesn't he? (The puppet, I mean. :) Thanks go out to Mom for the tiny tuxedo.

[ My camera's "night portrait" setting does weird things with light if there's movement when the picture is being taken (I need a tripod). Check out Aggie's evil twin's face 'reflected in the fire' below. Trippy, huh? ]

El mañana grande de partido!

,

-B.