Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Never Lost a Party

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The ESPN Road Warrior named it number two on the list of the top ten best places to tailgate and called it “so sublime even William Faulkner would be at a loss to describe it”. The Grove at Ole Miss…officially it’s a tailgate party, a picnic. But experience it firsthand just once and you will know it is so much more than that. The New York Times called it a cocktail party, a family or class reunion, fraternity and sorority rush, and a political handgrab all rolled into one. This past weekend the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss, hosted number one ranked Alabama. Over 62,000 people attended in a damp cold mist. Most of them, I think, started in the Grove where outdoor tablescaping has reached an art form. Beginning at midnight on Friday, people start arriving with tents to stake out their real estate. They bring flowers, chandeliers, tablecloths, chairs, sterling silver, televisions and, of course, food. The centerpieces alone are worthy of magazine layouts.

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Pumpkins are a familiar theme this time of year.

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Faux magnolias, the state flower, make their way onto some tables.CIMG0427 I can’t repeat what Beloved would have said if I had asked him to haul this one in.. :).

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Colonel Rebel, the school mascot, stands guard at many tables…but all are welcome here.CIMG0433

Some people branch out from the traditional red and blue theme. I’ve seen this zebra tent (yes, the whole tent is zebra) for a couple of years now.

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Custom designed tablecloths adorn many tables.

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And although most are red and blue, some tailgaters branch out… .

CIMG0436and bring all the comforts of home.

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At game time most head to the stadium…CIMG0418to watch the Rebels and hear the Pride of the South marching band. We watch…. ever hopeful and return to the Grove to continue the party and finish off the food —win, lose, or draw. CIMG0440

Pimiento cheese is a staple….at home at a cocktail party or a picnic. People think I have a secret family recipe. There are two secrets. First, grate your own cheese—sharp, medium, whatever you like best. The shredded cheese in a packet never produces the same texture. Mix it up with the amount of mayo you like. But here is the secret—dry Italian dressing. Just add it to taste for the best pimiento cheese ever!CIMG0414

So… we lost to Alabama. We’ll ride off into the sunset. I remind the men in my family that it’s a game. We came, saw old friends, feasted on good food and had a good time. No matter what…We may not win every game, but we never lose a party!

Click on the TT button to join our gracious hostess Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. On Friday join Michael for food and recipes at Designs by Gollum. Click the button on the side for immediate transportation!

47 comments:

  1. There's nothing like the fun on game day. Great pictures. I enjoyed my tour of your site.

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  2. That looks/sounds like so much fun. Thank you for sharing all the amazing tents, centerpieces etc. and the secret ingred. to pimento chz. My niece that is featured on my post Wed. Words graduated from Ole Miss Law School a few years ago. I'll give her your blog to look at - she will LOVE it! Have a great day.

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  3. What great pictures! Looks like such a fun event! Love, love, love the pumpkin with the flowers!!! Beautiful!

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  4. What a fun blast! But, chandeliers at an outdoor party? Oh, I wish you'd had taken a picture of that!

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  5. Thanks for visiting my blog!! Yours is great!!! I've been lost in it reading your previous posts!! Love this post.....Ole Miss is just an hour's drive from here. They are really getting fancy with their tail-gating parties in the Grove!!!

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  6. Great pictures. I heard someone say they went to the games for the tailgate party not the game. My Brother is in that crowd somewhere. :) I will have to try the dry italian seasoning in my pimento cheese - sounds good. How much do you use? Time someone turned the faucets off for a while around here.

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  7. How fun! What an event! I enjoyed reading your story and the Pimento cheese sounds good with your added seasoning:)

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  8. Yes, I do believe Ole Miss has it over every other SEC school when it comes to tailgating. We've enjoyed tailgating in The Grove several times. Love all of your pictures.

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  9. Looks like you had a fun day out Susan.
    What a big crowd there.
    I love the red, white and blue car.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  10. What a fun tail gate party girl...and some of those tables you could do for susan's TT...thanks for sharing this fun post...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  11. WOW Susan! This blows any tailgate parties I've ever attended out of the water.

    Thanks so much for sharing! xoxo

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  12. Wow! That is some tailgate party, Susan! What fun! You know, I live in MS but where we live, 60% are for LSU and only 40% are for Ole Miss. I think it is because we are located closer to Baton Rouge where LSU is....Christine

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  13. Oh, Susan! This looks like an absolute blast. Some of my family went to Ole Miss, and seeing this makes me almost wish I had, too. LOL! My dad, though, went to the University of Alabama. ;-)

    I can't get over the tablescapes. They really pull out the stops, don't they? And I love your recipe for pimento cheese! YUM!!!

    How do people leave their stuff there and go off to the game? Are there people there to watch it? Or is it the honor system?

    I'm in love with that first centerpiece. Cute as can be!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  14. What fun tailgate post. Isn't all so much fun? I had no idea about any of this until I moved to the south and my daughter went to UGA. She planned her wedding date and babies birth not to be during tailgating football season. Oh and the Pimento cheese is the staple here too.
    Joyce

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  15. Hey Susan... Looks like way to much fun... Love all the tables and Thanks so much for the recipe for pimento cheese
    xoxo
    Julie

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  16. What a great tailgate party!! The centerpieces were so colorful. It sounds like you really enjoyed the day...win or lose!

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  17. WOW!!! I had NO idea! We tailgate here, but nothing in comparison!!! Everything looks devine!

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  18. What fun! sorry your team lost, but it looks like a great day and lovely outdoor time and great old car too! thanks for sharing with me!

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  19. Susan, I went to one of these years ago, and it is amazing! We do the same thing in Ark. - maybe not quite as big, but a lot of fun! Great photos, and great attitude about the game (it would be nice if everybody just felt that way about football games). laurie

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  20. Oh, my, this looks like so much fun!
    Well, she's going with green and yellow! Generic baby colors! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    shelia;)

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  21. This looks so pretty and colorful and perfect for gameday. Thanks for sharing and happy TT to you!

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  22. Wow, that looks like a feast for the eyes and the pallette!

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  23. Love all the pictures and loved the flowers and the zebra on one of the tables, wow

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  24. WOW...oh WOW! What a fun time! Love the tables and the centerpieces are fabulous!

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  25. This looks like so much fun! I loved seeing all of your fabulous pictures. The tablescapes are awesome. What a fun time you must have had ♥ Thank you so much for sharing.

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  26. This looks like so much fun. What a great time you all must have had. The tables and the food look incredible. Thanks for sharing such a huge event..hugs ~lynne~

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  27. That is definitely the mother of all tailgate parties!!! I'll bet it is a blast. The photos were fabulous. Too bad your team lost. Boo hoo!! Thanks for sharing & thanks for visiting my blog.

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  28. I have been to tailgates, but heck, nothing like that! It looks like such fun..love all the colorful tables..and food!
    Yep, it's only a game.if you had fun, you won!

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  29. I've never seen anything quite like that! WOW!

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  30. Well that was really fun. I can't imagine it really, although they get pretty wild with things at Illinois too. I don't think it is quite at this level.

    Sue

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  31. Susan,
    Thanks for the visit. I loved your comment, and you are so right. I'll read your post on Erma. Rita

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  32. Oh what an amazing post! Even as a teenager, 50 years ago, way up here, in Missouri, I felt the pull of Ole Miss. I have no other reason, other than facination, that continues today. Even the words Ole Miss, conjures up memories of a place I had no real connection to, other than the romance of it all.

    Great post!!

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  33. This is all so so cool.
    I am thrilled with your recipe of your pim. cheese...

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  34. Oh the Grove - one of the most fun and amazing sites in the SEC world and beyond. I'm so glad to see some of the tablescapes. Wish ya'll had pounded those guys last weekend.
    Happy Twirls
    Thanks for the Giveaway button.

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  35. My, oh my, that is some gathering. I wish I could be there it looks so fun! Loved seeing the table decorations and centerpieces. Loved the black with colorful streamers just like a gypsy skirt! What fun. Thanks for sharing that with us!

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  36. I didn't know tailgate parties were so elaborate. Thanks for sharing all these photos. Looks like a fun weekend. Sorry your team lost!

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  37. What a fun event this must be! I loved the instructions for that gorgeous pimento cheese. I've never made it and I think it's about time I did. I hope you are having a wonderful day.

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  38. Hi Susan! What an interesting post this was for an Australian girl! Wish we partied like that Down Under!

    Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for your kind words. Another first for me today-my first Foodie Friday post! I never knew blogging would be so much fun. Best wishes, NM.

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  39. Oh my gosh! Those centerpieces "are" worthy of a magazine layout. Too cute! Sorry ahead of time - Roll Tide! ;) Come see my Buttercrust Corn Pie recipe.

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  40. Whaw, what a great party you had even when your team lost. I have never seen this in my life. Love all those fancy tables and flower decorations.

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  41. Gorgeous, fun tablescapes! I've never attended a tailgate party but if ever I do, I hope it is as fun as this one looks!

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  42. This is amazing. I have never seen anything like it. Here we go to our sporting event. Drink too much $12 beer and go outside after and fight in the streets.
    You guys should try it sometime and we will try your tailgating. Wow.

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  43. Wow! This may be what convinces me to become a sports fan...almost,lol.
    Why can't they do this and offer shopping too, Hmmmm, I guess that's whats called a mall and foodcourt...oh well.

    sweet wishes,
    Sara

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  44. Glad that you provided a link to this tonight. I'm new to blog world, so I appreciate the rerun. Great tailgate panorama. We are Sooner's, and the tradition here is pretty special, too. The other one that I saw that blew me away was USC. Thank you for sharing the tailgating tour. Cherry Kay

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