Susan and I set out to the VFW 8787 Post in Austin on Friday..  Her and Chad had already taken the camper up so we were in a truck loaded with pits, fire ring, coolers and supplies.  We stopped off at the HEB in Elgin to pick up our fresh vegetables and some refreshments. 

We got checked in and unloaded all our supplies to set up camp.  Then we took some time to rest before dinner.  The Ladies Auxilery of the VFW Post prepared a great spaghetti dinner with salad and bread.  We took our meals into the cantina so we could listen to the daughter of a long time member of the post.  Maggie McDaniel has been singing at the cook off since she was barely old enough to hold a mic in her hand.  She sang karoke many years with Harley's granddaughter Savannah, but this year she was singing her own songs.  Very proud of Maggie! 

Then the work began again, Susan and I went back to our camp site and chopped veggies and seasoned meat to get ready for the cookoff.  We stayed up visiting about all sorts of things and sharing our favorite stories and beverages.

Music quieted down and we went to sleep for a few hours before getting pits ready and starting our chili.  Beans had been soaking since the night before.  Susan worked on pits and getting all the meats cooking at the right temperatures for the weather.  I worked on the chili and beans inside the camper. 

Turn in times for chili and beans came and we got ours turned in on time. 

People are starting to wonder around and come visit.  Our children showed up just in time to try food for turn ins!  Lol, Harley must have smelled our chicken too, as he showed up just in time for us to take them off the pit.  Chicken was tender and juicy, perfect for us.

We finished fixing lunch for our guests just in time to pull ribs off pit for the next turn in.  We tried a couple of differnt seasoining mixes on our ribs.  They were all very good, but in the end we had to turn in the ones that did not fall off the bones. 

Briskets got done a little ahead of time, so we foiled them and kept them moist and hot till time to cut into them.  They all turned out good, making it hard to decide which ones to turn in. 

Now the next round of work, clean up and pack up coolers, and all the stuff not needed while we wait for the judges results.  Chilly Chili has a tremendous silent auction that fills this gap time.  Loading purchases and writing checks.  Shirley and other members of Harley's teams are very big supporters.

Time for awards - the long awaited results of our hard work.  We make our predictions that chicken and ribs will do well, not so sure about the beans and chili and no comments made about the brisket.  And the Judges rulings are:  6th in Chili,10th in Beans, and no mentionable places on other items.  A little disappointed in results,. but they are what they are!  We finished loading up and viisting before heading home. 

Great time with great friends.