Oh the People You'll Meet!

David appreciating the selection of food

"Oh the people you'll meet".   That is a play on the line from Dr. Seuss's book The Places You'll Go.  It is a coming of age book for children that is meant to send them out into the world on their own, ready to face their futures... . But there is another connotation to the phrase.   Some of us who have established ties with friends and family still welcome getting to know new people.  We have found that to be especially true with the blogging community.

Welcome all!

When I heard that Larry ( Big Dude's Eclectic Ramblings) was having his yearly blogger get together at his lakeside home called Almost Heaven South, I knew that this was the year that we could be there.  Here is Larry welcoming everyone.  His place has always been a special gathering place for bloggers and friends.  This year the major part of the meal was prepared by Katherine of Smoky Mountain Cafe and her husband  A.J.  These native New Orleans transplants, who now live in Tennessee, are experts in making Crawfish and Shrimp boil.

A.J. and Katherine

The cooks are ready for the presentation.  We all appreciated the authentic tastes and demonstrations on how to eat  crawfish.  It was a bountiful presentation.

And here.

Crawfish, shrimp, sausages, potatoes, corn and whole cloves of garlic were strewn across the paper covered tables.  What a feast.  Thank you Katherine and A,J.!

Sam of My Carolina Kitchen made a Bahamian Pea and Rice Salad.  It was a perfect accompaniment to the crawfish boil.

I brought watermelon and pineapple and cream cheese stuffed celery.  The recipe is here.  There were many appetizers and desserts that I did not get a picture of including a medley of delicious nuts from Cathy of Wives with Knives, who could not be there.  Oregon would be a long way to come, but thank you Cathy.  The nuts were delicious.


Here are some of the bloggers in attendance.

Dave of My Year on the Grill and Inspired by eRecipeCards and his wife Jackie came all  the way from Kansas City.  What an honor it was to finally meet them.  Dave's website eRecipeCards is awesome and Jackie knows how to tell a mean story.  LOL.  In the background you can see David  of Big Daddy Dave and his wife Laurie.  They live close by and are lucky enough to visit Larry and Bev often.

Sam, of My Carolina Kitchen and her husband Meakin were also there.  They go to the event every year and it was good to see them again.  They, along with Meakin's brother Stuart and his wife Sandy, were staying an extra night so they could cook Larry and Beverly a special dinner.  I hope she blogs about it.

I didn't get a picture of  Chris ( Nibble Me This ) and his wife Alexis, but I enjoyed talking photography with him.  Go on over to his blog to see some of the attendees sucking mud bugs.  He has some great pictures of the whole event.

Larry makes the best Margaritas and I hope he will blog about them on Big Dude's Eclectic Ramblings.  Here he is holding the secret ingredient.

Thank you Larry and Beverly for opening your home and dock to all of us.  You are terrific hosts and if you can put up with all of us, we will be there next year.  You are the best!