Another Season in the Grove

Another season spent in the Grove in that town up north has come and gone.  Its time to pack up all the gear and store it away for next year.  The winter, spring and summer will be spent buying something new for the group, cataloging new recipes, and adding new members to the group for next year's season of tailgating.

By now, everybody has acquired "the wagon" that has a mind of its own,  It is an art to pull that thang without it climbing up you heel or running over somebody else.  Its amazing how much stuff you can pile on one of these, especially when you have a bungee cord or two!

My biggest score this year was a bar height 10ft table that you secure to the tent legs, and but the food tables up next to it.  I knew it was a score when several tent neighbors came and asked, "hey! where can I get me one of those???"  Its an Ozark brand from Walmart.com.

After "the big storm" at yesterday's game, there will be a lot of new tents for 2018.  We had four tents bungee corded together and had people manning all the poles.  Several gusts of wind had the food tables rise up off the ground almost a foot!  We had side walls up to protect the ladies and their hair from the rain.  You had to be ready for the downpours coming between the tents, or you would be soaking wet!

We are lucky with our tent spot, being across the street from the grove.  The "inner circle" of the Grove does not allow any type of gas or charcoal cooking.  We are lucky to have Chef Kyle and his gas powered Weber Q.  Grilled sausage is an every game occurrence, along with grilled quail.  Skewered shrimp have become our new favorite treat!

On our corner of the Grove, we continue to be entertained by the Ole Miss fans who forget the "beer rule", no exposed packages of six packs, twelve packs, or cases please.  Bush Natural Light seemed to be the most common beverage that was sacrificed this year.  Who actually drinks that stuff????  Starving, budget minded, college kids, I guess....

The clothing choices leave nothing for the imagination.  I call them the micro-mini skirts.  Why would you want your cheek lines exposed for all to see.  I just knew the winds of yesterday were going to invert some of those skirts like an umbrella, poof! But no such luck :-(  .  Velcro or duck tape must be involved!

As we were leaving for the last time, all our Popo buddies wished us well, and can't wait to see you next year!  These are great people, that watch your stuff while you are at the game.  And cleanup is a breeze, since all your leftover food has been consumed by said Popo!

We'll give it a couple of months, and planning will begin again for 2018.  We might be on the lookout for some younger folks to join us.  Great spot, great crew, and memories to be made!