BBQ Makes Everyone Happy...

So this weekend was my first attempt at coking for a crowd. Since October we have been planning a block party that revolved around shutting down a street and cracking open some beers and some good food while meeting the neighbors. It turned out good. We were able to get McBride homes to sponcer the meat portion of the event so that was awesome. 

I for the first time cooked over 70# of pork shoulders for damn near 18 hours....there were a lot of leftovers but it's all good. Here are some photos....

Why an RV is awesome...

It's  Wednesday. 11:24am. Radio is on. Just got back from the beach. Burgers are on the grill. Kids are relaxing indoors with a episode of paw patrol. I have to work tommorow, Sam has school but we don't have to leave until 4pm so we will take our time.

We are at Carlyle lake in Illinois...at the Coles creek Campground and for being just shy of a two hour drive....it's hard to beat.

Loving this new Weber set up. Retired our gas Weber in favor of this Jumbo Joe. It's awesome! No more flare ups, able to cook indirect and have better control over the heat. Also in this picture is the JAJA pro start Camp fire starter. I am tempted to buy another one just to have at home. This thing is awesome. It just so happens to fit perfectly in the bottom vent of the Weber and can get a fire started in no time. 

It's now May?

I took a look at how I have started most of the posts on here over the last year...I realized that I pretty much start with something referencing how long it has been since I posted anything on this blog. I will save you from this stock, somewhat repetitive statement and just get into things.

Now that the weather is finally cooperating things around New Town are getting a little more "user friendly" and I was able to sip a Mint Julep on the porch and try to catch a fish with Sam last week.

NASCAR...it deserves its own post but I will quickly hit on it. Lots of Beer Bourbon and a near miss by a tornado.

Easter Weekend

For the last two years we have spent Easter Weekend at a Campground of some type....this year we were slated to do the same.  However, a last minute cancellation of a 2 night trip to Carlyle Lake overshadowed the ridiculous effort to stain our fence. I pulled the plug on this trip on Wends this week...in the spring you value good weather and I just wanted to get it over.  Funny thing about being a homeowner...there is constant upkeep that needs to be done. If you think that building a home is finished once you move in, you are dead wrong. Its a never ending conquest to make it your own. This includes putting up a fence, various silly projects that occupy an entire weekend, painting, Walks, pavers, garage organization, landscaping projects, mulching and re-mulching. You get the idea. I put in a solid 20 hours on thie fence this weekend....Ali contributed as well and we are still not finished. The exterior of the fence is done with only the inside left. I took advantage of the 40% off sale at Sherwin Williams last weekend and bought essentially all the paint for the lower level, loft, stain for the double porches, and the fence stain.....$800 dollars later and I have my work cut out for me.

As I sit here Sunday night at 8:54pm....I much would have rather spent the weekend watching a few sailboats dock at the marina and waves lap the shore. Oh Well, it was a productive weekend and that lake will be there in a few weeks. Right?

Also, for the first time we were able to host Easter Dinner!! We were planning on this even if we went camping....good thing as I don't think we could have pulled it off if we would have come back from the lake this morning. It was good to see My Parents, Brother and his Wife and Borhter In-Law. It's Weird haveing eveyone in my kitchen for a meal....It feels a bit strange.