đŠ The First Piney Creek Duck Derby
Not everything went as planned⊠and somehow it turned out even better.
Around three-ish, people started arriving.
It didnât take long before Piney Creek started to come aliveâvoices catching up, laughter carrying through the air, and that slow build of something good happening without anyone needing to say it out loud.
People wandered up to the shop, taking their time exploring all the new bizarre finds, and just easing into the afternoon.
By four oâclock, most everyone had made it in.
đ Food, Friends, and That Piney Creek Feeling
The smell of pork butt rolled through the airâthe kind that makes you hungry whether you planned on it or not.
And as the afternoon went onâŠ
the fire got hotter.
At one point, the smoke had a mind of its ownâdrifting wherever it pleased, finding whoever it wanted.
And then we learned something newâŠ
Apparently, if you say âwhite rabbit,â the smoke will pick up and move on somewhere else.
Who knew.
Did it work every time?
Hard to say.
But it gave everyone something to laugh aboutâand a reason to try it again.
Sandra Hill brought homemade peach cobblerâŠ
and by the end of the night, there wasnât a single bite left.
Fatima brought coleslawâ
and all of our paper goods too, including the most beautiful plates that made everything feel just a little more put together.
John Kushmal brought strawberries straight out of the garden.
And just like that, it wasnât just an event anymoreâit felt like a gathering.
High school friends who hadnât seen each other in years were reconnecting like no time had passed. People pulled up chairs, leaned on tables, and settled in.
And in between all of it, the Bazaar quietly did its thingâ
a few one-of-a-kind Bazaar finds making their way into new hands while everyone waited for the race to begin.
đŹïž The Wind Had Other Plans
Now⊠about that race.
The wind had ideas of its own.
It came in strong enough to delay everything, and for a minute it felt like it might throw the whole evening off. But instead of ruining anything, it did the opposite.
It slowed everything down.
People stayed put. Conversations got longer. Stories got better. Nobody rushed.
And the ducks?
They werenât going anywhere.
The two 6-foot ducks were very well staked downâwhich, as it turns out, worked out perfectly. They became the spot of the evening, with people gathering around and taking pictures like they were part of the show.
As the evening started to shift toward night, we noticed something we hadnât even planned forâŠ
Those big ducks lit up.
And they looked so good.
đœïž Simple Food Done Right
We kept the menu simpleâbut it didnât feel simple at all.
Two styles of pork butt:
- One seasoned with Big Samâs
- One with a strawberry barbecue seasoning (unofficial winner of the night đ)
Macaroni salad. Potato salad. Coleslaw.
And instead of the usual?
đ Barbecue nachos
Sandwiches were there if you wanted oneâbut most people went straight for the nachos.
And honestly⊠they made the right choice.
đŠ The Race Finally Begins
Around five-ishâcloser to 5:15âthe wind finally eased up.
It was time.
All 40-something ducks were launched from the NARS, starting their slow journey down the creek. They moved strong at first, but there was one tricky curve that tried to hold them up.
For a moment, it looked like they might get stuck.
But Jim wasnât about to let that happen.
He got in, kayak and all, and made sure every duck kept moving. One by one, they worked their way through and back into the current.
From there, it turned into a steady drift.
About 45 minutes from start to finish.
And the ending?
The race was tight.
It came down to a near photo finishâclose enough to keep everyone watching until the very end.
And the winners?
đ„ First Place: Mrs. Elsa (and half the entry fee pot)
đ„ Second Place: Jim Morrow
đ„ Third Place: Chris Murray
It was the first time we got to meet Mrs. Elsa and her husband Jeffâhigh school friends who made their way out to the eventâand they didnât just show upâŠ
They left with a first place win and half the entry fee pot.
đ The Quack-tastic Awards
Of course, we couldnât end it there.
The Quack-tastic Awards were handed out for:
đ„ First Place â Mrs. Elsa
đ„ Second Place â Jim Morrow
đ„ Third Place â Chris Murray
đą Last Place â Brent Nickles
đŠ Best Looking Duck â Little Miss VanZant
Because around here, itâs not just about winningâŠ
Itâs about showing up, having fun, and maybe having the best-looking duck in the creek.
đ§ș The First Scoop Bar Moment
After the race, once everything settled and people started drifting back toward the shopâŠ
We had our first official Scoop Bar shopper.
Sandra gave it a whirlâand we couldnât have asked for a better first run.
We walked through it together, piece by piece, curating her a basket that actually felt like her. Not rushed. Not random. Just a really good mix of fun, useful, and a little unexpected.
By the end, it wasnât just a purchaseâit felt like a collection of finds.
And standing right there beside us?
Heatherâtaking it all in as it happened.
Thatâs when it clicked.
The Scoop Bar isnât just something you doâitâs something you watch, something you get pulled into. You start wondering what youâd pick, what youâd end up with.
It becomes a moment.
And thatâs exactly what we hoped it would be.
đ The Part Nobody Planned
If you ask anyone what theyâll remember most, it probably wonât just be the race.
Itâll be the waiting.
The conversations.
The food shared between friends.
Sandraâs cobbler that didnât stand a chance.
The laughter over âwhite rabbit.â
And that Scoop Bar moment that pulled everyone in after it was all said and done.
That unexpected pause?
That was the best part.
đż The Piney Creek Way
Not everything goes according to plan out here.
But somehow, it always turns into exactly what it was supposed to be.
Thatâs Piney Creek.
Come for the event.
Stay for everything in between.
đșđž Next up⊠Memorial Day at the Creek.
If this one was any indicationâ
you might want to show up hungry⊠and maybe claim your spot early.
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