Family (and Friends) Picnic

Wagle's Army put together a terrific day for Friends and Family on Saturday, September 26. These are some of the moments from that event.

Photos courtsey of Alan Purcell and Dave Cummins.

Muc Rosta Ochtu Bliantuil (8th Annual Pig Roast)

The 8^th annual Pig Roast has come and gone and we are at this point all recovering. Try as it might the week of rain could not put a damper on the day. Having attended previous Pig Roasts I was blissfully ignorant of the work involved in setting up this great day. This year, for the first time I saw just what it takes to put this day together. So what’s involved in putting this day together? Ordering a mountain of supplies, building a sophisticated box to roast our porky friends (three in all). Cooking and serving countless burgers, hot dogs and 18 turkeys, trays of Italian sausage, salads and a partridge in pear tree. Not to mention organizing a small army of helpers that work together to make sure food and games go off without a hitch.

I saw folks turn up at 6:00am and work through the day and I saw them smile the entire time. I saw folks work in the kitchen, stand over grills and at carving stations for hours on end. Whether cooking, carving or serving, folks did it and laughed while they did it. I saw them turn up the day after to clean up the grounds and put everything back in its place. I can’t mention names because there are too many and to leave out one would be wrong. But as you go through the photos you’ll see them and when you see them in person slap them on the back and say thanks.

Why did they do this? I don’t know. Maybe to see the smiles on the kids getting ice cream or to see the thrill of a child winning a medal for the three legged race, maybe to see friends and family sit, laugh and eat at the Friendly Sons… their Friendly Sons. Or maybe because they are part of the Friendly Sons and they just want to give back. Whatever the reason I for one am grateful.

To Mac and John… Congrats on a Great Pig Roast.

Some photos are just too good to pass up.

Check out the photos

More photos by Mike Callaghan and Joe Mulvanerton

The Heat was Hot

The day of the Pig Roast was hazy, hot and humid, it was day two of a heat wave bearing down on the North East. This was not a good day for any kind of gathering as once again the mercury was pushed to a hundred degrees in the shade. I didn’t need to worry about the heat in the shade though, with mulch in the driveway and landscaping to be done before friends arrived next weekend, I was on a mission. Having started at 6:30am to beat the heat I knew I’d have all the work done before the blistering heat of high noon arrived. Of course by the time high noon arrived I was on my third change of clothes, the chafing was starting in, the fantasy of my sons coming to my aid had long since faded and the steaming pile in the driveway seemed to be daring me to continue... so I did. By 3:00pm I was walking around like John Wayne, having just dismounted his horse after a 3 days in the saddle, all chafed and blistered in the nether regions.

A shower, change of clothes, slow walk to the car with Barb and we were off to the Sons. We were late... but we'd made it. All I could think about as I got there was “how do I walk without moving my legs?” Within minutes all that was gone as friends with smiling faces greeted us and an ice cold beer was put in my hand. Everywhere the sounds of music, conversation and laughter filled the air. You’d catch someone’s eye on the Great Lawn or in the Pavilion and they’d return a smile, a nod, a wave, a wink.

The smells that filled the air from the BBQ pit to the cutting tables were mouth watering. Corn, garlic, potatoes, deep fried turkey seasoned to perfection, barbecued pork, hot dogs, burgers, beans, greens and well, you get the picture. The cooks, the heroes of the day, who had stood over coals and fryers preparing food for all were smiling to the last baked man. As I looked at them memories of gardening began to creep into the out edges of my consciousness. It was time for another beer. 

Duly inoculated I continued on my stroll past the smiling pork to the horse shoe pits.  Here there was plenty of competition as men at both ends took up position and launched there shoes. The thud or clink that followed would lead to a nodding or shaking of heads and perhaps a little ribbing as scores were calculated and  recalculated. “Good try Joe, does your husband throw?”, “Were you aiming for this post or that one?”, "Hey, I'm glad you're on their team"'

Walking from the pits to the stage you passed by the kids playing in the pool. They didn’t notice the heat at all they just squealed with joy as they leapt into and out of the water. One way to stay cool. Going into the club by the back door I saw another way, two kids sitting on kegs to cool down… glad I wasn’t drinking Bud! And though my dreams of winning big in the pool for the Belmont were shot down only slightly faster than my plans for where I’d put the kegerator should I win, it was in all, a good day. I ended it sitting in the shade laughing and talking in the company of friends and thinking to myself… “Every day should be like this.”

Photos provided courtesy of Jeff Schuld.

Sunday Family Picnics on the Great Lawn

Now that the lazy hazy days of summer are here so are Picnic Sundays. Every Sunday during the summer we will have a DJ at the pavilion from 1:30pm until 6:00pm. Great music, great friends, great venue. Bring your frisbees, volley balls, bocce and your picnic. You can enjoy the shade of the pavilion or sit in the sun. Most importantly bring your family and friends. See you on Sunday.