Waking up at Greenleaf

"Jan, do you know what you did today?" Jeff gleefully asked me as I sat down at the camp fire circle.
"No, Jeff, what did I do?"
"You woke up at Greenleaf."

He gleefully pulled that one off on everyone who woke up at Greenleaf. Waking up at Greenleaf can mean waking up to rain, fog, wind, brilliant sunshine and family, lots of family.

The siblings have landed.

Waking up at Greenleaf meant;
More sunshine than rain.
More dogs than kids -- seven to ten.
More bacon than fish.
More turkeys than deer.
More playing than fighting.
More sitting than walking -- except for Mike and Kathy.
More stories, more reminiscing, more coffee on the porch.
More Bailey's, more Mimosas.
More aging of the family -- thank goodness.
More feasts to consume.
Thanksgiving dinner and The Bacon Fest were huge successes.
More fishing by Tal and Mike than badmitton.
More fish fry than, well, just more fish fry. Thanks Mike, Tal, and whom ever else was involved in that delicious activity.

More cooks with the addition of Chris Miller, whom you can now call Chris Miller or The Millerman, or the New Chris, or Mr Nora, or Chewbacca. Yes, it seems his family nickname is Chewbacca or Chewie or Bacca. He is now officially a family member, poor soul. Due to his love of all things Star Wars Lynn said if Nora didn't marry him she would. So, sorry gals, Chis is taken. Twice.

More fire, more glow sticks, more pumpkin patch, more fishing poles.
More dentistry. Now I ask you what other family can bring their own dentist to the rescue of a loose crown? Cabin/campfire dentistry at its best. Give Cara a beer and a pocketknife and she will get it done.

The biggest surprise was Chris Daley showing up at 10 PM Friday night. He brought a smile to everyone's face especially Jean and Brittany. I don't know who was more surprised, me standing there dumbfounded in my underwear, or Jean and Brittany as they woke their sleepyheads up. They had told everyone Chris would not be coming. He had a new job, he was working too many hours, he had a wedding to go to. Well SURPRISE, Chris arrived with a big ole happy smile on his face.

The ones not there were greatly missed; The Brits, always, seeing some of Josephine's family would be nice, Taylor busy in Texas, Cathy still recuperating in Select Specialties Hospital in Oklahoma City, the Andrews, Jacquie and Dan, Christian and Ian -- who promise to go next year -- who promise to go next year. Anybody have a cabin up for grabs?

Cathy wasn't there but she sure had a pack load of goodies for the kiddies; glow sticks, Superman cups, and lots of love wafting over the campground. Next year Cathy, next year.

All of Marc's family arrived one at a time. Jackson was a superhero to all the little ones. They followed him like Ellie follows Jane. Jackson was tender, rough, fast, quick, taller, and more fun than all the rest of us put together.

Maddie and Avery got to travel home together not separated as threatened by Cara. They must have done something good. Everyone's pumpkin carvings were outstanding.

A special moment was when Michael raced up the road to ask, "Are you Connor?" and off they went. Michael showing Connor all the reunion ins and outs. With his reunion expertise, age and wisdom, he could direct Connor to where the playground was, where the bathrooms were, where the goodie box resided. Michael is so bouncy, bubbly, friendly and fearless he could take over this reunion by the time he is twelve.

Summer's gentleman caller, Ed, was fearless as well as he made an appearance in the midst of all the family hub-bub. Fearless and a very tender gesture towards Summer. I didn't get to know Ed, but I think it was brave and sweet. I think love is in the air. Next year Ed, next year we will sit down and talk.

A not so special moment was when the whole family, THE WHOLE FAMILY, cheated and helped Chis with his so-you-want-to-marry-Nora test. I think everyone wants Chis in the clan and cooking had nothing to do with it. Neither the eight hour chili nor the peach cobbler, both cooked over the campfire, nor any of his other delicious concoctions. Welcome Chris welcome.

Besides we need some new young blood to "haul the bags" Jerry is getting kinda old. Julia is willing but keeps wounding herself.

How is the ankle birthday girl? How is the birthday girl?

Besides Julia helping before she wounded herself, the biggest help probably is a multi-tie between Marc when he was the youngest Taylor there among-est all us seventy somethings, Jeff the youngest sibling -- And Jake. Jake worked, helped, toted, carried, delivered, lifted, moved, and, And, AND manager-ed the biscuits. Jean wasn't feeling 100 % so Jake took over the pans and monitored, baked, and delivered the biscuits, all eighty of them, to the Saturday breakfast. Good job Jake, good job. You made all of our lives better by your generous helping and all I did was buy you a bag of ice.

The best tarter sauce ever made for a fish fry was Mary Lee's as she made a mad dash up to a cabin to fetch it. Unbeknownst to me she made a mad dash up to a cabin to MAKE it, collecting mayonnaise, pickles, mustard and any ingredient she thought she would need as she raced by. Don't believe her when she says it wasn't that good. It might not of been her best, or perfect, or win any food awards but believe me when I tell you it was awesome. Never was anything ever made with more love. And she got to use her new handy dandy food chopper she had just bought in Muskogee to make cranberry relish.

Remember when Marc went to town and bought a blender to make salsa. Ahh the memories of Greenleaf, how they tumble and flitter about. Remember when Mike was a sweetheart instead of a husband of 23 years? Remember when Cara brought the flavor-of-the-month? Remember when Clark was a baby? Remember when Jean cooked biscuits in James' 40 man tent wood burning cook stove? Remember when Janice was less bossy? Oh right, that never happened. Remember pushing Steve up poop-out hill? Yeah those days are gone.

Kenny stayed in OKC with Cathy, attending to her every need. I got a big ole fat hug when we went to visit Cathy. Roger and Stephanie got the use of Cathy's car after Kenny had cleaned it, washed it, and gassed it up. Kenny is good to Cathy, good to Jean, good to Roger and Stephanie, good to me, and outstanding to Dax. Dax is his favorite.

The night of a big storm I was sitting on the "promenade deck" (Jean's porch) smoking and had an Oklahoma lightening show for 180 degrees. It was something to see, 7, 10, 22 lightening flashes going on at the same time. Luckily that storm pretty much missed the campground, however the next storm did not and Jerry had to carry the wiener princess Ellie up the hill under his rain jacket.

More special requests for next year; Oktoberfest. Hot dogs one night, hot links one night, and brats the third. I think we have a go on that mission.

Jackson made a special request to Jean for more cookies. Jackson you will not be disappointed by the cookie lady two reunions in a row.

Jan's special request; give New Chris Saturday night for him to cook to his heart's content. We will eat it and maybe not judge his fire building abilities too much.

Connor was the only kid that I remember not being fascinated by the fire, he kept moving back instead of closer. Jeff said, "Finally, after all these years, a kid with some brains." I love you Jeff.

Have family will travel as we made a few more memories. The year sweethearts abounded.

Michael was gregarious, Branson was perfect. For Connor everything was new, he learned to run the hillside with multiple glow things, participate in playground mayhem in the dark all the while keeping an eye out for spiders and snakes. Oh my.

Nora do you remember what to get your dad for Christmas?
Chris I will send you a list of "foodie" movies. To watch or not.
Jerry The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is the month of April.
Kenny I will try to photograph the wee little lock and forward.
Mike I would like to see the video you made for Dale's memorial if possible.
Mary Lee the recipe for Southwest Stuffed Orange Roughy is on its way.
Jean don't forget I want the recipe for Spaghetti Salad.
Cara the name of the book is In The Lake of The Woods by Tim O'Brien. Very good.
Jean has an appointment with the heart doctor on Oct 30. Yay!
All my bills and pills are taken care of.
My hearing aids have been adjusted to 100%.
My face has been scraped off.
I think it was about 59 stitches, some will melt some won't.
Surface stitches come out Nov 5.

Traveling to family reunion I saw a shifting weather change pattern.
In Seattle all the shirts were Seahawk blue and green.
In Denver I noticed a lot of bright orange.
When I landed in Oklahoma the weather had turned red, Red, RED.

And ad-mist all the good food, I think my favorite is still the Tomato Gravy, thanks Jane.

However here is Mary Lee's recipe for Pecan Bacon Bites, a close second.

Pecan Bacon Bites

1/2 pound bacon
freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pecans bits
4 slices rye bread toasted

Mix brown sugar, pepper, pecans and sprinkle over bacon.
Cook bacon 375 degrees, 20/25 minutes.
Spread cream cheese on toast that has been cut into quarters.
Top with bacon bites.
Smile and be happy.

Jean's observation on a side note: Kathy's clan is starting to outnumber anyone else's. Jerry and Jane had 12, Jean, Julia, Jeff and I had 4 each, wait Jeff had five including Ed. Janice and Art 2. Kathy and Mike had 10 -- if I counted right -- I feel like someone is missing. NOT including everyone's dogs.

Karolyn Taylor -- you are invited, welcomed, and expected next year, and remember Jerry has decreed we all march up the hill and help you chop fruits and vegetables for your now multi-channel, family-famous, delicious, hands-down-winner, what-would-we-do-without-it, Fruit Salad. Thank you for being a blessing.

And The 31st Taylor Family Reunion at Greenleaf is only 350 some odd days away.