The long awaited BBQ season is here! It was a long, COLD winter, making it seem like we'd never get to BBQ season! We opened the year close to home in Valley Junction. It was a great contest with some tough competition. We ended up with a 10th place call in chicken, and 3rd place brisket. When I left to turn in our pork box, I told the guys that if that wasn't top 1o pork, we were selling everything and finding a new hobby. You can look for all our gear on Craigslist.....apparently my idea of perfect pork is much different than the judges. Oh well....
This weekend takes us to Owatonna, MN. Hopefully the cool, possibly rainy weather will be our good luck charm.
Many of you (all 2 readers) have asked for our contest schedule, so I've posted it below. Please know that this can change at a moment's notice. We've offically entered all those below, so unless something crazy happens, we'll be there, but wanted to post that disclaimer.
June 4-5: Owatonna, MN
June 18-19: State Center, IA
June 25-26: Marshalltown, IA
July 9-10: Shannon, IL
July 16-17: Waterloo, IA
July 17-18: LaPorte City, IA
July 23-24: Mason City, IA
August 27-28: Nevada, IA
We may add a few more to the schedule, we'll just have to see how the year goes.
Life outside BBQ is great! We are absolutely loving married life and all the quirky things you learn about yourself and your spouse after you get married. We laugh every day....what a fun adventure!!
The 4-legged kids are still great, too. Gretchen is getting grayer every day, but is still just a laid back sweetie. HP (or Gary, or Doug, or whatever his name might be at any given moment) is hilarious. His clownish personality is so opposite Gretchy's laid back, more serious one.
Our families are all doing well - not much to report there! I do post updates about Mom on her Caring Bridge site: www.caringbridge.org/visit/joanferguson
We feel very very blessed. Some of our friends and former school mates have gone through some really horrible, gut wrenching times lately, and our hearts ache for them. No parent should ever have to lose a child. As we've prayed and cried for those families, we've been learning that every single moment is unique and special, and we need to live life to the fullest every day, because tomorrow is not a guarantee. It's definitely taught us to change our priorities and spend more time with family and friends and less time at work (don't worry, boss, I still get my job done!) In these economic times, we are blessed to have great jobs, a roof over our head (actually we have 2 roofs now, so if you know anyone that would like a lovely house in Ankeny, please let me know!!!!) and food to eat - and we are so grateful for those privelages.
We hope you have been as encouraged and blessed as we have felt this spring. LIFE IS GOOD
Hope to see many of you soon - stop by on the BBQ trail - we love having visitors, and we usually can find a morsel or two of some delicious smoked meat to share : )
