The Morning After the Day Before

As promised, another morning blog

Yesterday was quite an event.  Cockers out, Baybays out.  Then I had to assemble and fry my 50 spring rolls.  The innards I made the day before to marinate all night.  I also had to make my now patented colored deviled eggs.  My daughter helped me with the spring rolls, although I was not happy with the wrappers we used.  I tried a new kind and they soaked up too much oil and got soggy.  Lesson learned.  I then moved on to the eggs.  This time I dyed them all blue as this seemed to work the best with the yellow filling.  I ended up taking a carrot cake, the eggs, my best beets and the spring rolls.

My daughter and I left early to help set up for homecoming.  Then Jim showed up with the brisket.  I was too busy to ask where Gmar and my nephew were, but I saw Gmar just before we went into the church.

They had the bagpiper playing in the cemetery as a call to worship.

Playing for the departed

I also sneaked into the church to get some pictures of the flowers and found the bluegrass band setting up.

Dulcimer, mandolin and banjo

alter flowers by God

We also had a pianist who played our pump organ as well.

She started playing in our church at age 13.

So we gathered in the church and I noticed that my nephew wasn't there.  It seems that there was a disagreement between Gmar and him and she left without him.  Jim went to go get him but couldn't find him.  Apparently he had gone down to the river.  This was the first snafu.  

So the service began.  I looked around and noticed there were only about 75-80 people this go-round.  there is usually twice that number.  I guess it's getting harder for people to get home.  Our moderator/pastor Paul started things off with introductions all round and it turns out that our impromptu bluegrass band was made up of retired ministers.  Ministers that play bluegrass.  Gotta love the country.

Everything went on well until we got to a part in the program where the piper was to play Amazing Grace.  We waited.  And waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Nothing.  Jim and one of our other members went out to find him.  Finally after about 4 minutes, Paul got up and said he was not sure what happened so he went on.  The next bit was a silent prayer accompanied by the bluegrass band playing I'll Fly Away.  So they started.  Just about that time the piper showed up in the foyer and started Amazing Grace.  And neither of the musicians would stop.  So we had the piper on Amazing Grace and the band on I'll Fly Away.  And let me tell you, these two songs do NOT sound well together.  This went on for about 3 minutes, and the whole congregation was laughing and Paul was very red in the face.  FINALLY, the bluegrass band quit and the piper continued on.  He came into the church and walked up one aisle and down the other.  Very solemn.  

Now we have 4 very low chandeliers hanging from the very high ceiling in the church, attached to very long chains, and they are very old.  As the piper passed each one, his pipes hit them and started them to swinging.  He had to have known after the first one, but he never missed a step or a note.  On the down side, the third chandelier caught and released and really swung in a wide arc.  Half the men on the asile were ready to jump and catch it should it come loose, but it never did.  However, it swung the whole rest of the service.

Disaster waiting to happen

Meanwhile the rest of the congregation was trying hard not to laugh yet again, as it was a very serious hymn.  At last, the piper exited the building.  Paul stood up and with heartfelt expression, said, "Let us Pray."  And the congregation started laughing all over again.

I now have to go back a bit and tell you that in his introduction, Paul said a little about the Church's first pastor, Colin Lindsay.  He was a colorful fellow called over from Scotland.  Very interesting history.  Anyway, after the prayer, Paul, still kinda red, said (paraphrased), "I forgot to mention that Colin Lindsay was also known for bringing two pistols with him into church, advancing to the pulpit and laying one gun on each side of the bible stand.  It is a very good thing that I did not continue this tradition today."  Laughter for another minute.  I swear, I have not EVER heard that much laughter in a church service.  This one will go down in history.

One of our former preachers, George Slaton, gave the sermon.  It was VERY good.  I approached him afterwards and asked him for a copy.  I will start collecting the Homecoming sermons in a book for posterity.

So, to get on, after the service, the FOOD.  Here are a few pictures of the spread:

you can see my blue eggs in the front

you can see my spring rolls in the front.

you can see my carrot cake in the front.

My food was not in the front each time on purpose.  It just that I got there first.  Everyone filled their plates then went out back to eat.  The day was beautiful.  Sunny but not too hot.  The bluegrass ministers played throughout the meal.  They were actually jamming.  You could hear them asking each other whether they knew such and such a song.  It was really cool.  We want them back for next year.  WITHOUT the piper.

jammin on the grounds

Well, after church, we went home to change and we all went over to one of my aunt's houses for a traditional after Homecoming get together.  It was kinda sparse this year as a lot of the family didn't make it.  It was a nice conclusion to the day.

That's Homecoming for this year.

Bak Bak