Winner and still "champeen"....

Yesterday was a great day.  I took my mother up to her homestead for a family get2gether.  There was lots of great weather, food, and laughs.  It was good to see everyone, some cousins and 2nd's that I hadn't seen in ages.  It's always nice to reconnect.  And with every good BBQ there should be a rousing game of "stink pipe".  I'm proud to say that I have followed in my father's footsteps with regard to my "stink pipe" ability, and have carried on the family honour of winning.  And not just winning...I kicked ass!  Sorry Frank!  And some would say whipping the butt of your 81 year old Auntie is nothing to celebrate....but you know what I say to that???  Beatcha, beatcha, beatcha...in your face!  You know I'm a touch competitive.  I chalk it up to years of having no one to play games with, being the youngest meant that everyone was "too cool" to play with little ole me.  So, when we went up country and I was allowed to play "Mystery Date" or "Lie Detector" (2 of my MOST FAVOURITES I might add), I reaaalllly liked to win.   Somehow that has carried with me through the years.  Of course, the reactions to my victories were mixed....

Bill sees no evil, Auntie Lena hears no evil and Bonnie speaks no evil

I took a bit of a tour around what's left of the homestead.  Thankfully the woodshed/outhouse is long gone cause the memories of my little backside perched on the edge of that hole, ever afraid of a snake coming up and licking my behind with that forked tongue, are just too vivid! 

So off to the old butcher shop I went, where I recall seeing huge carcasses hanging (bear in mind that I was just a little tyke...small enough for Trip to knock over, pin down and lick my face till I cried in terror)...(wait a minute...I'm detecting a bit of a pattern here....is it possible??  It seems I have an aversion to being....LICKED!  First the fear of the licking snake...then the licking collie...and even the licking pugs up in Gael's kitchen....hmmm...never realized that before....apparently I DON'T LIKE to be LICKED!!!!)  Anyway, I wasn't long in the barn and you can see in the photo that I ran out in fear....it was the ghosts of cows past...they were "mooing"!!  (cause everyone knows that cow ghosts don't say "boo"!!)

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  It's often said that friends are the family that you pick yourself.  I can honestly say that my family are the friends that I picked myself!!!  Thanks for a great day, Gael and Jim.  It was great seeing you all and we'll plan to do it again in October at my place...so practice up on the "stink pipe" cause I'll be defending my championship!!!