Memorial Day Weekend!!!!

Saturday May 29, 2010

It's summer and time for a little beach get-together....

The idea for today came together on the beach last Sunday when Ruth and Pilar started talking and decided that a pot-luck the following Saturday would be a great idea. Ruth was going to bring fried chicken and potato salad. So Ruth started looking for a fried chicken recipe...it called for a dry-spice rub, a dip into buttermilk and a spiced flour dredge--simple! Here she is on the front patio cooking twelve pounds of bird for the party-out of doors with an electric skillet--the only way to deal with the mess. Naturally Dan and I had to make sure it was good enough to share with the other kiters. We were the kings testers.

Here Kristin and Ruth approach the "camp" with one tray of special chicken. I think it's almost time for lunch.

It took three trips but we finally got everything to the beach. Here Rijk and Dan bring the all important things: the table, chairs, food and most important "The Beverages."

Here are the worker bees, Pilar, Ruth and Kristin. And a special thanks to all of the "catering crew" too. We really enjoyed the day.

Al, Pilar and Ruth have everything set just how they want it. Check out all of the great food.

I don't know what Dan and Rijk were doing here but I'm going to guess they are pointing at the wind goddess or maybe a passing seagull or one of the several new women on the water!

The dinner bell is about to ring. Thanks to everyone for bringing something. Klaus brought his famous German cucumber salad, Annmarie & Michael D. brought a green salad with blue corn tortilla bits, Rijk brought fresh cut pineapple and cookies. Pilar and Jorge, Mike Noel, Steve Lee, Al Navas, Dr. Bobby, and Juliano and Juliana brought a combination of fruit platters, more chicken, watermelon, macaroni salad and a great desert dish--a beautiful fruit tart and meringues. Those girls at Babette's Feast must know Al on a first-name basis!

Juliano and Juliana drove down from Marina del Rey to sample the yummy goodies and check on the Belmont wind action. He's giving a big THUMBS UP to the event. On the far left is Rijk saying hello to little Sidney Jeremy Van (one month old!) as mommy looks on.

Here's a close shot of Sidney Jeremy Van, the perfect baby, taking a nap at the beach.

Kristin looks on as Elisa (mom) and Kyle (dad) make sure no one messes with little Sidney.

You can see the diverse group that came down for the pot-luck. I see Bill, Omar, Jorge, Charles, Bongo, Faycal, Dan Slater, Mark Moore, Dr. Bobby, Suzi, Al...and the list goes on and on.

In the mean time Klaus set down his camera to have a little sparkly with Annmarie.

Steve Lee could actually watch the wind coming so he put down his plate and got ready to go out.

It was time to put the food away and get ready to kite. Michael D. was getting ready to go, Klaus was not sure and Rijk was bummed for not bringing his equipment---little did he know that the wind was going to go nuts!

As you can see the wind direction gave the kiters a great angle and very small waves.

Dan and Klaus were on the water within minutes and loved every moment too.

I don't know what Klaus ate for lunch but he was jumping like crazy. This is just one of his many jumps.

With the wind going up and down kites were falling and kiters started losing their boards. Here Omar grabs someone's board and brings it into shore. Now that's "Special Delivery."

I got a shot of Drew who was out with Faycal. Sorry Faycal I didn't get a shot of you. Next time.

I don't know why Dan likes jumping so close, maybe he's doing it for the cameraman??? His mother doesn't know if she should be proud or worried!

At the end of the day everyone started to wrap things up--the kites and the party.

As we walked home on Saturday evening, the sun was starting to set. It was a beautiful gesture at the end of a great day.....and this is just the start of summer. There's a lot more to come.