I'll Fifth--AND SIXTH--that.
Jeff & Cals's oh-so-gracious hospitality was over-the-top world class, and their home, fascinating, a visual delight with every turn into each new nook or cranny, from the complex gardens with a secluded air-conditioned bedroom in it, to Cal's architectural room, and EGADS! Jeff's laundry with a working Neptune TL, the, one with the paddles. Jeff and Cal actually hosted two parties, a smaller early one on Thursday for the early birds who came to help either there or at the museum.Thursday's was a circus and we had a real howl. Cal's cooking was fabulous. No words of gratitude are up to the task for what those two guys did to make this convention happen.
When the 50 pound bags of onions were delivered at the museum's door on Thursday, I knew something BIG was going to happen in that dazzling kitchen of Jon's. The variety of delights coming out of there rivaled Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory--HONEST. A big fave were the platters of meatloaf, as festive and eye-catching as a crown roast of pork, with green pepper rings and cherry tomatoes; too many cakes to list, the lemon pound with caramel frosting and the double chocolate pound, outstanding. It was truly Christmas in July. Late in the night I had the best piece of coconut cream pie I've ever eaten. Dynaflow said it was his gram's or aunt's and promised the recipe. The 17 casseroles were all tasty surprises. A foodaholic, one did not stop eating!
Seeing the faces that go with names we've seen for 10 years was too much fun: warmsecondrinse, washoholiic, newvista, philcoford, Jerry Gay, Martin, Phil, Big Al, jons1077, Joel, Jason and Matt and on and on --you knew everyone, and some whose faces we've seen for years, look exactly like they do in old pix from here. Kevin, the cook and Pete, Peteski--it was as if I had just seen them yesterday. Everybody was happy to meet everybody.
If any of you have seen Kevin's and Ralph's food videos, you won't be surprised to learn the they both worked for Detroit radio stations, and Ralph talked on NPR. Loved hearing that.
As for the washers and Jon's biblical museum, I'll have to come back later, but for now, the Yellow Maytag Combo is as big as a stove, the Calpyso in action is both stunning and unforgettable, And Jon's 1-18 at home in his basement is one of the most impressive machines I've ever seen, in both the way it looks and behaves. A powerhouse!
I hope and resolve never to miss another wash-in.
