16th Annual Family Reunion

Record of events from 16th annual family reunion. Rosie and I (Bernie) hosted, on the family farm near Manitowoc, WI, August 4, 2018.
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Friday August 3, 2018.
Sunny, very warm, mid 80's.
We (Bernie and Rosie) travel 55 minutes over to family farm in Manitowoc County.
Brother Bob lives on the farm and has the lawn groomed for party.
The family farm fields are rented out; Planted with corn in every tillable area.
Bob, Rosie and I, clean up garage.
Maynard’s, from Newton, delivers a rented porta-potty with an outdoor sink.
Brother Eugene works on his tractor that will pull the hay wagon.
(Wagon has special steps, side rails, and bails for sitting, Eugene and Bob pulled it home on Thursday before party).
Brother-in-law Bill arrives with his truck and one tent.
Rosie, Bill and I, pick up extra tables and chairs from Rockwood fire department;
We set them up in garage.
Bob and I drive to Konops, in Stangleville, on circuitous sightseeing country route to pick up old time hot dogs, purchasing 40+ dogs in one large sealed bag.
Bob and I continue driving to sister Cecelia, to pick up 2 more tents.
Rosie and I set up a purchased volley ball net.
We set up Bill's tent.
We head home by mid afternoon.

Saturday August 4, 2018.
Sunny, hot into high 80's.
We motor back to farm, arriving 10:30 am, stopping at Festival Food's Appleton east side store to buy balloons, 24+ skinless hot dogs, and 40+ ice cream cups.
Bob, Rosie and I, set up one more tent.
Rosie displays her purchased Bingo game, my 5 tube guessing game, information signs, in garage.
I hang balloons out by road, attaching to brother Eugene's annual family reunion sign that he staked in earlier.
We put up 2 parking signs.
By 1:pm, the guests start arriving.
All available, hoist up the last and largest tent. The 3 tents stand in front of garage.
Appetizers (brought by some guests) are set out in garage.
Brother Eugene starts the hay wagon rides, traveling down the farm lane into a corner of the woods, and back again. Total ride time, about 1/2 hr.
I leave to pick up a 90 pc broasted chicken order, from Gill's, in Whitelaw.
Rosie starts the Bingo games.
Attendees walk by and begin the guessing games.
I return by 2 pm with the chicken.
We call everyone to start the meal.
All main dishes are set up in kitchen, for food safety.
Chicken and hot dogs are the main event, with many side dishes from attendees.
Desert is kept covered until we call for desert once the full meal winds down.
We call for the yearly family photo.
I snap 2 group photos of everyone attending.
Rosie snap 2 photos of us 9 siblings sitting in chairs on lawn.
(Family photo shows at 63 people, plus add 2 more not in attendance at time of photo).
Photo is taken on backyard lawn against the backdrop of high corn stalks.
I hand over ice cream cups to Kate and Penny for delivery. Later, Rosie walks out the remainder.
About 4:30 pm, I call Rosie to ride the hay wagon. Fortunate we both took a break to get a ride in. Well done, Eugene.
Families start to leave by 6 pm.
At 7:30 pm, those still remaining help us take down the 3 tents.
Rosie, Bob, and I, clean up where needed. I wash dishes. Rosie and Bob sweep and put away extra food.
We head home after 9 pm.

Sunday August 5, 2018.
Sunny, very warm. Mid 80's.
We drive over in mid morning.
We take down volley ball net.
We put chairs in truck. Karen, Bill, and Bob arrive a short time later from church.
We all put tables in Bill's truck and return tables and chairs to Rockwood Fire Department.
Bob and I sort out bottles, cans, plastic, aluminum.
We sweep up garage.
We head home with garbage and recyclables by 12:30 pm.

Bob returns tents to Cecilia, and chicken roaster to Gill's, later in week.
Porta-potty is picked up on Monday, as scheduled.
Wagon is returned by Bob and Eugene, mid week.

Notes on party:
Attended by about 65 family members.
All 3 of our children, spouses, and grandchildren attended.
Tractor rides gave an added dimension as people could migrate over to the wagon anytime.
The porta-potty, stationed near wagon rides, was handy.
Brother Eugene drove tractor with brother Jim driving on tractor on later rides; On one ride, Jim let his grand daughter drive.
The 8 foot tall corn surrounding yard made our celebration more private, as no one could see other neighbor farms from our yard.
The tall corn added a sense of adventure when traveling down the narrow lane to the woods.
Bingo was a well timed "rest" game in garage shade, on this hot day.
Volleyball was played by some.
Observed a long food line into the kitchen as I attended inside/outside partying.
The day was quite warm, the one downside to our event. The east side of house stood cooler in shade.
The 3 tents were much needed. They blocked the sun out from garage.
The ice cream cups went over well in late afternoon.
Holding the party at the family farm was well received, with positive comments.

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