McDonald's Crawfish Boil

 

Every spring, our friends, the McDonald brothers and their families host a huge Crawfish Boil in the their backyard. This year we were invited, and it was our first time to experience anything like it! There were about 100 people who came to the feast, this past Saturday. We heard that before the COVID years, the attendance was more like 200!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The spicy boil was typical Louisiana style and included the crawfish, shrimp, potatoes, corn, onions and sausage. While that was boiling, someone was roasting oysters over flames in the fire pit. Dessert was an amazing bread pudding (I've asked for the recipe, because it was the best I've ever tasted). 

Among the guests were three sisters - all in their 80s and 90s - who were aunts of the McDonalds, and who had all recently had birthdays. The birthday cake to honor these ladies was an amazing piece of art. It looked just like a pot of crawfish boil, but was all made of cake and fondant icing ... even the pot itself!

This was the birthday cake - everything sweet and edible!

The three ladies who are seated are the three sisters whose birthdays we were celebrating.

Cutting the cake - CHOCOLATE inside!

 

It was a marvelous day, with new experiences, great food and fun, friendly folks! Many thanks to the McDonalds for hosting this extravaganza!

Happy Birthday Twilla!

Our friend, Twilla, had her birthday back on March 7, but between some illness and some travel, we didn't get to celebrate until last evening.

After a great time dining at The Gin at Nolan Creek, we came back to our house for birthday cake and a nice visit. May the coming year be a wonderful one for you, Twilla!

Clara - Growing Up!

For Christmas, Chris and Kelsey gave Clara four tickets to the Broadway show, Hamilton, which was coming to Houston. One ticket was for Clara, two for two friends of her choice, and one for Kelsey, who would chaperone them.

The evening of the performance finally came on Saturday! From what I hear, it was everything Clara dreamed of. Kelsey sent me a couple of photos taken during intermission. I was stunned by how beautiful she looked, all dressed up for her big night out.

Then, last evening I received another text from Kelsey with a picture of Clara working the lighting for her school's one-act play. She only started working with the theater tech group this school year, and has enjoyed it so much.

I'm so proud of Clara for so many reasons!

Family Reunion

Marci, Linda, Dan, Kathy and Mike

Yesterday was a day filled with joy. Dan's cousin, Kathy, and her husband, Mike, who live in Montana, were in Waco, visiting Kathy's sister, Marci. We drove up to join all of them for a mid-day meal at Texas Roadhouse, and then an afternoon visit at Marci's house.

Marci and Kathy are really more than cousins to Dan, for from the age of 9 they were raised together as siblings. We haven't seen Kathy and Mike in many years, so it was a very special get-together.

Mike and Kathy are celebrating their 52nd anniversary by traveling around the country for 52 days and visiting 52 people/couples/families who have had an impact on their lives. We were honored to be among the 52. 

One reason that Kathy is very special to me is that she was the person who introduced me to Dan, while we were all students at Abilene Christian College.