Ball Family Reunion

Brian Douglas my grandson, but we call him Doug

Reva & Doug

My youngest grandson Brandon and myself

Me and my son Brian

Brandon having fun

Jimmy with his uncle Ben who was the oldest to attend
the family reunion

Today we attended the annual Ball Family Reunion usually held on the last Sunday in July.  I think the youngsters out numbered the old people because they have all grown up now and are having babies of their own.  The food was great and of course all of us ate a little too much.  Home cooking is very much in demand these days and greatly appreciated.  There were several door prizes, an auction and lots of good eats, and of course fun was had by all.  We're looking forward to next years family reunion.

Ball Family Reunion date changed this year

It seems to me that I haven't been spending much time blogging, but it's because I've been spending more time outdoors and with the kids.

This summer is shaping up to be a good one and Brian, Jimmy, Reva & I discussed having a family cookout soon.

I also want to remind everyone that the Ball Family Reunion, usually held the last Sunday in July, has been moved to Sunday August 1 and it will be held out in Cartersville like the last few years....So please mark your calendars so you won't miss it. Remember to bring your favorite dish because it's pot luck.

Gotta go because it's time for me to go outside and enjoy this beautiful day. If you're on the road traveling be careful, or if you're working outdoors in the sun drink plenty of water and rest, or jump in the pool when you get too hot, but by all means, have a nice day.

Ball Family Reunion

Today we spent the afternoon at the Ball Family Reunion which was held in a beautiful country setting in Cartersville, Kentucky. I've always been fond of Cartersville because this is where I chose to build my dream house at one time, among the wild turkey, deer and rattle snakes far from any towns and in perfect seclusion.

I wasn't prepared for the reunion because we had completely forgotten about it so when I turned on my camera, the battery was dead. So if you want to see pictures you will have to go HERE to see last years pictures. I never even thought to use the camera on my cell phone until just this very moment.

It was a beautiful day with just the perfect temperature for a gathering. This year there was an abundance of babies and very young children so we are assuming that someone must have slipped something into the lemonade at last years gathering. LOL Jimmy's granddaughter's alone were responsible for 3 of those babies this year bringing the total to five great-grandchildren for our family. We still have five more grandchildren who are childless but they still have plenty of time...some of them need to grow up first and then get married, so there's no hurry.

Getting back to the reunion....
We had three people missing this year. My best friend Lucy who died of bone cancer earlier this year and who was Jimmy's cousin; Jimmy's brother Elmer Lee; and his sister Alice who we all called "Sis." I'm sure they were all looking down at us and smiling.

All in all everyone had a good time although the gathering seemed smaller this year. I forgot to remind Brian, Sharon & Suzanne's family of the reunion, but it's because I forgot all about it myself.

Family Reunion

We had a "Ball" Sunday at our Annual Family Reunion....even the Daddy Longs Legs gathered for the festivities of the day. Our table was the host to two large bunches of these long legged spiders...one at each end of the table beneath and hidden from view of most guests there. Nobody dared bother them for fear of causing a stampede and they didn't seem to be bothered by our presence either.

Seated below, on the right side of the table, Doug, Reva & Brian
and on the left is Scott, Sharon & Megan.

Here is Erica, Valerie & Jimmy

Makayla

Dylan hanging from the monkey bars,
and Makayla on the ground

Doug, Reva & Brian

Sandie and Kyra

Dan the auctioneer
auctioning off a carved walking stick that was
carved by Brian

Odie's grandson won the bid
and walked away with Brian's walking stick

The old folks
(but please don't tell Jimmy I said that)

Tuffy won the bid and walked away with an
heirloom dress that belonged
to Mom Ball many, many years ago

The reunion is held the last Sunday in July every year and as in most reunions everyone cooks up their favorite dishes and we have a feast fit for a king. Instead of collecting donations to fund next years reunion, some smart person came up with an idea to have an auction of donated items. The items that are donated must be family heirlooms, special pictures & photographs of family members sometimes framed and sometimes not, handmade articles like wooden benches, foot stools or carved items like Brian's walking stick, and even on some occasions special jams & jellies or pickles. This year Rick made & donated about 5 booklets which included the Family Crest with a brief history of the beginnings of the family along with pictures...Jimmy got one of them. It was a novel idea. This is about the 3rd or 4th year of the auction and it has been quite a success. Those not participating in the auction can still donate money and some do.

The auction is fun and a simple way to collect the needed funds for the rental of the property used each year and items like paper plates and all the extras needed to make this event a success. Our thanks go to those behind the scenes who are in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly....especially with this bunch, hehehe.