2nd Annual Dough Dog Days

I recently saw a quote, "Family, like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one". I have no idea who wrote it or where I saw it, but I thought it fit perfectly for this occasion.  I am the oldest of 11 grandchildren on the Johnson side and the youngest now in high school.  We are all "spreading our wings" either with going off to college, in serious relationships, engaged in busy careers or starting a family of our own.  We used to spend most holidays together and get together for everyone's birthdays, but it's just too hard to do all that now.  We make an attempt, but are usually missing a person or two.  Dough Dog Days is a fun event for us all to get together for no reason.  Granted we were missing a few, but that's hard not to do.  

My grandparents used to watch my brothers and me when we were younger and on very special occasions we would make Dough Dogs. Some people call them Elephant Ears.  Bread dough fried in the deep frier and then shake it in a bag with sugar and cinnamon.  A fancy doughnut it does make.  

I remember one of the last days I spent with my Grandpa Vernie before he died.  I was a senior year in high school and we talked about our family history for a school project I was working on. After we were done, we all made Dough Dogs and sat around and talked. The dough dogs have always seemed to have been around on fun occasions.  

This year we added some games to the mix and have a bean bag tournament.  Some people (A. Lori) even thought stretching was necessary for the occasion!  I was somehow paired with Andy and we won our first round against Uncle Mike and Anthony, but lost against Frankie and Robbie.  I believe Uncle Beno and Maia won the tournament.  My Grandma would rather play cards so there was an ever revolving game of cards going on at the kitchen table.

It was a great day to get together and hardly any mosquitoes either! New memories were made and we will always have a reason to come back together.