Camping

We finally made the decision to camp for Rhinebeck and it could not have worked out better. Which is still a bit of a surprise for us. We're from South Dakota where you never count on outdoor activities unless it is in June, July, August and maybe September. Our snow likes to surprise us. 

Anyways back to beautiful fall in New York state. Our mornings were spent sitting under some beautiful fall foliage. 

Leaves rained down on us from time to time.

And in keeping with Yarnkettle camping tradition we had rain lots of rain our first night out. It was great because it took away the heat. Then it was mostly the temperature D and I like best.

I went to a Ravelry meet up on Friday night but felt a tinge guilty leaving D alone with some of our new RV neighbors. He was perfectly happy talking to someone that hiked NY's high peaks. A nice cold beer and a fire is what he likes best about camping.

On our last night there I pulled out my trusty cast iron dutch oven and put it on a campfire for the first time. I had visions of true campfire cooking since I recieve it so many years ago. We had some lentil stew I'd made a while ago. We fired up an old sauce pan D's Mom had given him and made rice for the first time that way.

I overheard a kid walking by say me food smelled soooooooo good. That is right, my vegetarian cooking is now random kid approved. It tasted as good as it smelled. Lentil stew over rice is mighty fine campfire food. A little Chipotle sauce did not hurt either.

D is now thinking spring and fall camping is our goal. I liked fall camping because I got to toss a few leaves in the fire to light up the evening. Plus there were way less bugs and I put some of my knit items to good cool weather use.

I do so love camping just not as much when the air mattress goes flat on the first night. Good thing our sleeping bag is so squishy and soft. My bones did lodge a "we're not 16 anymore" complaint.

Ramblings

Since I think I have figured out the formula for D's socks he is getting more pairs. Lately at least one of the socks on the needles are for him. I think we may need to assign him a new sock drawer.

So now I need a ruling, the sock above is not giving me the warm fuzzies. I think the yarn wants to be a scarf instead, or not. I am getting mixed signals. So what do you all think? My knitting group said it was fine but I'm still having doubts.

In other news we're getting pretty excited about camping season coming on. We've set up the tent and dining fly a few weeks back. They both look great even considering they've been stored for a couple of years now. The boy scout side of my husband loves putting up and taking down tents. The air mattress was tested too. Yes I know I am such a prima donna, I require an air mattress and flushing toilets. I am pretty sure I will want to shower too. Did anyone see my camping tiara? I'm sure it is around here somewhere.

We keep discussing food options and planning meals. I have checked out a couple of camping books from the library. (Have I told you recently that libraries are one of man's great inventions?) One of the books is written by a Canadian and talks about making love in a canoe. Yeah I skipped that chapter. (Yes, a whole chapter on it!?) We're going to the same campsite that I had my first and last canoe outing at (same trip). It has been a few years and the memories are starting to fade for me but D is still remembers the look of terror in my eyes from that outing. You've heard of cats in a canoe? That was me and my claws were definitely unsheathed.  I have never loved dry land quite as much as that day.

So don't forget to tell me what the yarn wants to be and I will remember to tell you any funny camping stories if they happen, all stories will need to be cleared by the Hubby though.

Camping

D overhauled a bike for a friend and she in turn loaned us her new camp for a weekend. We are tent campers and usually it rains when we camp. It's not a big issue as D and I are from South Dakota farming people, we love rain. This time however since we had a firm roof over our heads, Mother Nature laughed at us and did not make it rain but added a nip to the air. That too did not bother us too much since the primary reason we go camping is to enjoy the campfire. 

D in his preferred natural state

One of the things I love about beach houses and camp houses is naming of these houses. The Dog House was a neighbor. (There you go Big H that is for you.) The Nut House was close by too.

Our temporary home was sadly unnamed. As we sat basking in the glow of the campfire we pondered names for a camp of our own one day. D thought mine should be the Yarn House/Tea House. We threw Cat House out of the running very early on. If we named it Bacon House for D, I think we would receive too many visitors.

Inside it was a cozy little place just enough room for two. We did bring the electric kettle from home. Some traditions are not to be messed with. Hot tea sure was welcome the next morning before the fire was going. I think the thermometer read in the 40s. It sure is tough to pull yourself out from under the sleeping bag.

I'm not sure how I feel about camping with a TV but hey who am I to judge. I am not proud to tell you we watched Super Troopers and 40 Year Old Virgin, but I did laugh, so that is what camping is all about.

We even had a neighbor join us to bask in the warmth of the fire. This little guy would get close to the flames then back off just enough not to bake himself. I think Daddy Long Legs are super cool spiders, mostly because they eat other spiders, or so I am told.

I'm telling you the mornings were quite brisk! And by brisk I mean three layers in front of the fire brisk. I used my time to finish my socks, finish a book and start Mom's mitts you saw last time. I even found a spot of sunshine to doze off in.  It is really nice to do a quick get away and recharge the batteries.

What I did on my Labor Day Weekend

You know the funny thing is I've never had to do a report on what I did on summer vacation.

We went camping! First time out this year. It has been a rainy summer and time just flew by. Of course I still am counting D's charity bike rides as mini camping trips. You're up early, trying to figure out where you're going, once you arrive in the designated spot you have to sign in, everybody has special equipment everywhere and I've packed a huge bag of things to entertain myself. Sounds a lot like camping to me, in theory anyways.

This weekend was a lesson in me giving up control of the situation. I love to plan things and that did not happen this trip. I only found out where we were going the Saturday prior to Labor Day. Luckily my brilliant Hubby and I had most stuff arranged in Rubbermaid tubs so we are mostly packed at any given time. I did not have the energy to go grocery shopping before hand so we decided to buy it all there. It seemed to go well except for some urgent texts I received while shopping as to what the beer status was. Apparently in progress is not a good enough answer, when you've kept them waiting for an hour.

We tried to find the beer on Friday night when we were picking up stuff for breakfast. This store must have thought that beer was like gold because they hid it in a back corner behind the floral department. Or maybe that was by design for dudes that are trying to get out of the doghouse, flowers to get you out, beer to console yourself if the flowers don't work.

That is the happy Hubby making the sign for camping. You can see we do not go camping without our morning starter of tea in the black and gold tin. You should also note the lovely cup cozy I knit for outside tea enjoyment. It worked pretty good, but maybe I just drank the tea before it could get cold.

D is holding my ingenious converter that turns a camping coffee pot into a teapot. We've tried to find a method that works as good as at home. That is the upper aluminum portion to the percolating basket for coffee. I used some handy dandy cotton yarn to hold it together and we were makin' tea. That was my third method and methods one and two leave you with a lot of tea leaves in your pot which makes it way to strong for me. I'm starting to believe that D could drink tar if you made it smell like Lapsong Souchong. Who am I kidding I would at least try it too.

This was the path that we took to get to the beach! Yeah it was a nice campground.

Yep that is the before mentioned beach. We got to spend some time there on Sunday and I did not even get sun burned. Sunday they had a beach party, bonfire and fireworks over the lake. It was our first time at a beach party. Hey what do you expect we grew up in South Dakota, not that many beaches there. That and the fact that I am at my heart a fuddyduddy. Is that how you spell that?

So all in all a good time was had. Not the most rest full time but a good time. I did finally learn to get over loud campers this weekend so I can say I grew a bit.