Croquet

Croquet is an interesting game at our house...

We try to involve everyone-
while the "field" was being set up we had an enthusiastic ball collector...

Even after the game started~we had an enthusiastic ball collector...

But the game did get off to a quiet start other than that.

This guy made it the farthest on his first turn...

But he wasn't the last to enter the game.

Here comes Honey...and he has been playing this game since he was a kid...and taught our kids how to play the game.

(Incidentally you will want to keep that fact in mind~Honey taught them to play the game AND he would "send them" on little excursions now and again)

So while Mom watched her "Boy's" playing and maybe heckling each other the tiniest bit...the game was proceeding rather calmly...

I said "rather calmly..." .

Some discussions were picking up around the out skirts of the playing field...

Some strategies, directions, theories....

Then balls started to "tap" into other balls, still they were using nice manners...

It was fun to watch as our son taught his son's the finer points of the game...

He pointed out things as Honey was reaching the halfway mark in the game...

(I think he was asking him if his Dear ol Dad should liven up the game)

Honey encouraged the grand sons. giving them tips and suggestions...

And then...

"Someone" thought the game was a little to nice.

A little to calm.

He thought it might need a little "pick-me-up"...

He set to work with a snickering determination to bring some "life" to the game.

To upset the apple cart as it were.

And the apples were upset.

they were being "sent" in numerous directions...

The sand traps of croquet were introduced to the game...

By this humble guy. He is the culprit.

The "waterfall" hole received the first trip...

Next he
sent his lovely wife on a trip to the middle garage door...

Honey thought he should take the opportunity to slow this prankster down and give him a trip of his own...

Not to be deterred he returned the favor and thus the game proceeded with every one sending each other on side trips...

No one was safe...

Along with the "sending" were the discussions and strategies.

The plotting, and scheming...

Instructions and helpful hints...

Then there were the faces of disbelief when a ball needing to go a short distance would go forward only to roll back to where it began...

Or an impossible shot made it...

(Or was this when her darling husband gave her another "send" off?)

It never hurts to follow the ball with encouraging words...

And then when the end goal is in sight you do the only thing you can do...

try to figure out how to "send" your brother in law on a last trip and get your own ball a little closer to the end...

We had so much fun playing.

The best times are when you can get as many family members as possible together and play games. Eat good food. Share a laugh. Love each other.

Encourage each other and may God bless...