We've all bitched and moaned now for over 80 entries. How about a little joy and sunshine on a Monday?

At our family ranch I can picture mealtimes for over 25 people. My cousin-in-law and I chopping up a storm...after someone has nicely mixed us drinks. Younger kids are working together at the table making a salad. Even smaller kids are sent to pick flowers for the table. Great music is either being played for us or blasting out of someone's very cool Ipod mix. The graduate school cousin crowd of vegans are at different counters having lively discussions while getting dinner ready. The "fancy" naysayers who usually just talk, not help, can be ignored in the feelgood fest.

No one is assigned a job, there is not a spread sheet...it just happens. The food is usually shopped for by a different set of people. Everyone pitches in cash at some point-over 25 years and I have not heard of hard feelings over the money.
And best of all those who have shopped or cook sit out on the deck while the rest clean up --by hand (it's pretty rustic) while others again play music.
Pretty kumbayah? With large crowds I find the fussing gets pretty diluted. Like I said it's rustic but we turn out some of the best meals and have the best time.