Brownsville, Oregon

July 3-5, 2009

What's better than camping on the Fourth of July weekend? Camping in a friend's backyard with all the benefits of party festivities.

Every year, Carla and Eric Gerber put on a Fourth party on their Brownsville acreage that lasts for days. This was our first, and hopefully not our last. Around 100 friends came at various times throughout the weekend, many camping in the backyard. Kids, dogs, games, horses, and lots of wonderful food.

Friday afternoon there was horseback riding and softball, followed by a private family-style dinner at a local restaurant and some extraordinary backyard entertainment by the Exquisettes.

Saturday started with the Brownsville Pancake Breakfast. Then there was the Gerber "Fun Walk" to the Pioneer Cemetary, swimming in the river, ice cream making, pizza cooking, and general backyard fun followed by a fireworks show in the park next door.

Sunday morning, there were stacks and stacks of pancakes, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee. Then all the friends who'd come from as far as Seattle, packed up their tents and gear and headed off to let Carla and Eric recover.