Celebrating Independence Day Part Two: The Great Pig Roast

To celebrate the Fourth of July, our neighbor halfway down the street had the wild and crazy idea of roasting a whole pig.  In the ground.  It didn’t take much convincing before Dr. Peds and our neighbors up the hill were on board.  Arrangements were made to procure a pig.  Much online research was done on procedures for roasting whole pigs.  Banana leaves were ordered from Amazon.com.  Details were worked out, such as whose yard would be the site of the “burning pig grave,” how early the fire needed to be lit, how long the coals needed to heat before the pig was trimmed wrapped and smoldered.  It was quite the project.

Eventually it was decided that the party would be held at the top of the hill, because it’s beautiful and wide open up there, and the neighbors at the top of the hill are gracious and know how to throw an amazing party.  We needed a lot of people to come to the party because we were roasting a whole pig. The pig would be roasted half way down the street, and somehow I got out of pretty much all responsibility, I’m not sure how.  The dads were up at dawn or before on Independence Day, preparing the pit and the pig for roasting.  Some of the kids were there helping as well.  (I slept in until after sunrise.  I’m not of very much help in roasting a pig).

At 3:00 people, lots and lots of people, began arriving  on the top of the hill at the party, bringing dishes and wonderful things to eat, and a bit after 4:00, the pig was excavated half way down the street. Eventually one of the dads zipped up the hill to gather up all the kids and a lot of the grown ups for the pig procession, where the pig was toted up the hill for eating purposes.  It was more than slightly hilarious.

As soon as the pig arrived, the vegetarians quietly started eating off to the side, while everyone else gathered around to watch the dismantling of the meat.

Then there was a feast.

The limbo was done as music blasted away.  The Tiki torches were lit.  There was even a large “volcano” smoking away in the middle of the yard (a fog machine had been concealed inside).  

There was some amazing pie to be eaten.  AMAZING pie.  

Dr. Peds carved a coconut and drank the coconut milk.  Or maybe it was coconut water?  I’m not an expert on coconut. 

There were hot dogs.  Mr. TOF had two.  There were cookies.  Mr. TOF had two.  There were snow cones.  Mr. TOF had four.  Grandpa Bob enjoyed the snow cones too.

Eventually people began to trickle on home, and so did we.  Dr. Peds was tired and on call.  Mr. TOF and I chilled out during a little thundershower, and then headed down to watch the fireworks from a safe and comfortable distance.  It was hard for him to stay awake, but he really did enjoy them.