Lots of TV - Family Pig Roast

(Avon Park, FL) Hi 78 Lo 46 -- This week is all about the Olympics and NASCAR. We recently switched from DISH to DirecTV, and our receiver can record up to five programs at the same time. So we won't have to miss anything. I started another afghan, which makes two going at the same time, so my hands stay busy while watching TV.

Saturday we went to Jim's cousin Andy's house out in the country near St. Cloud. Every year he and his wife Dee have a family gathering. There's many wild pigs in that area, and they sometimes come into their yard. Andy "raised" five small ones to full size, then slaughtered and butchered them. He put one in the smoker for a day or so and we had a great feast of pulled pork. There were over 20 people including Andy's kids, grandkids, great grandkids and friends. Jim’s Aunt Adele and Uncle Richard were also there, down from Maryland, so we got to see them too. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)

This is Tom, Andy's close friend.


Tom is one of the few remaining members of the "greatest generation." He's 92 years old and was a Marine in World War II. Three weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor his small contingent of marines on Wake Island was captured by the Japanese. Tom spent the rest of the war as a prisoner in various POW camps in China, Korea, and Japan. When he was finally rescued a few weeks after the war ended he weighed 82 pounds. It was very moving hearing his story. His love for his country is so strong that at the end of his enlistment in 1946 he tried to reenlist, but his years of captivity took such a toll on his physical condition that he didn't qualify. What a true American hero and patriot!

Dee, Jim's Aunt Adele, and Andy's wife Dee. Adele went by the name of Dee in her younger years, so you could call this "The Three Dee's."


Andy, the host and master pig roaster.


Part of the group.


Adele and Richard. We enjoyed visiting them at their mountain home in Maryland the last two summers.


Food line.




We had a great time. We stayed till almost dark then headed home. Thank you Dee and Andy for a wonderful day!

We got home in time to watch the first NASCAR race of the new season, the Sprint Unlimited from Daytona. We had to re-learn some new drivers and car numbers. It should be a fun year of racing.

Today I had a late morning chiropractor appointment, so we decided to make it a full day by having lunch afterwards then taking in a movie. We saw Monuments Men. It was a really good movie about a small unit of soldiers who searched for and recovered thousands paintings and art objects that were stolen by the Nazis in WWII. Any movie with George Clooney and Matt Damon is a good one as far as we're concerned. :) We highly recommend it.


We’re playing cards tonight with everyone. See you in three days.