We did it! The First Evah Baja Arizona Kossacks Picnic.
Left to Right:(back row) rasbobbo and Azazello, (middle row) ItsaMathJoke, AZ Sphinx Moth and Bisbonian, (seated) AgavePup and piratedan More below.
The weather was fine, we got what turns out to have been a one-day break from the wind. (Can anyone remember a windier spring than this one?) passionatprotagonist was down from The City That Shall Not Be Named to visit the young'uns and they all stopped by. She didn't raise no fools, both of the young protagonists were smart enough to choose the University of Baja Arizona for their Alma Mater. The food was plentiful and well-prepared. Dogs, brats and chicken satay were grilled. Sides included some delicious lettuce-wrapped spring rolls, a most excellent Mac & Cheese (Mrs. Z wants the recipe rb.), various sauces and pies for dessert. Baja Libres were available, of course. (I wish this drink would hurry up and sweep the nation, I'm getting tired of lugging a bottle of Squirt around.) A Baja Arizona statehood petition was passed around. If you're in Pima County, you must seek one of these out and sign it.
After our time for the Ramada ran out a few intrepid Kossacks, not yet tired of each other's company, adjourned to Rancho Tres Palmas to keep the party going. Here we got a surprise from the Bisbee Chapter. It turns out that Bisbonian makes banjos (a banjothier?) and is a damned fine player in the claw-hammer style. We were treated to a long set of cool old-timey Americana. Here's a taste:
All in all a splendid bit of community building. Kossacks are truly wonderful folks. All agreed that we must do this more often. We'll get serious in the Fall of 2012, right now it's about getting to know each other and having some fun. I can't wait for the next one.