The Washers Tournament

Jim & I hosted our annual washers tournament yesterday and the weather was great compared to last year when it got up to 90 degrees. We decided to have it a week later this year because I was very disappointed last year when we weren't able to have a bonfire because it was too darn hot! Unfortunately, Ron & Janet couldn't come because it was the weekend of her family get-together at Sam A. Baker Park. Ron is usually the scorekeeper and keeps the losers & winners brackets straight for us so when Jim found out he wouldn't be here, he took charge. He did a pretty good job but was harassed continuously by one person or another. I made a big pot of chile which I proceeded to burn (and I'm boiling soapy water in it trying to get the gunk off the bottom as I write this blog) when I tried to get it hot too fast. Pretty much of it got eaten and I told everyone not to scrape the bottom when they served themselves. Everyone brought a dish so we had lots of good food. Jessica & Mike stopped by with little Max and he is so cute and so tiny. I made sure to hold him before I got too many beers in me!

Although the invitation said to come over at 1:00 for practice and the tournament would be starting at 2:00 sharp, we didn't get started until well after 3:00. Jim put a new spin on the game this year by making everyone (or shall I say the guys) draw for a female partner. When he first told me his idea I wasn't too keen on it but said it might work. It ended up working very well and it was alot of fun mixing it up a little. Matt drew my name and we did pretty good. About an hour after we started, we heard the big machinery from the farmer down on the bottoms and Jim & I thought it was only a matter of time before there would be a big cloud of dust & alergens descending on us as we experienced the first year we held the tournament in our new house. I don't know why, but it never happened and the games went on. There were 7 teams and it ended up me & Matt played against Gene & Mary for the grand prize. It was a close match and it was pretty dark when we finally finished with an overtime score of 24-22 but Gene & Mary took the money. Mary was a first-timer so I was glad she won although I wouldn't have minded winning myself!

Jim lit the bonfire and we sat around talking & laughing and had a great time. I think the temperature had only gotten into the low 70's so it cooled down alot and the party was a success.

Gene & Mary are holding the trophy backwards & I didn't realize it when I took the picture!