filthy feet and mismatched flip flops
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Camping
Because we go camping so often in the summer we have it down to a science. We also have our little routine that everyone is happy with.
The packing actually starts with me. I tell the boys to bring up to my room 2 things - a change of clothes and a jacket. They can usually remember the jacket and one other item. I then go and fetch the rest. I have learned how to pack the boys overnight duffel for efficiency. On the bottom goes the least-likely-to-be-used items. This is usually their jeans. On top of the jeans go the clothes for the next day. Then pajamas and last but not least jackets on top. When I open the duffel I know that jackets come first before jammies and clothes come after jammies. No digging around in the dark with a flashlight trying to find what I am looking for. I just grab what is on top.
Once the van is packed, see post below, we head out to one of our favorite camping spots.
Immediately upon arriving the boys usually head to the creek to begin the first hour of rock throwing madness and Scott starts building a fire. We have learned that getting the fire down to coals and then cooking our dinner always takes longer than what we think. Scott prides himself on using only 1 match and no paper to start a fire.
We always have tinfoil dinners. The boys would absolutely revolt if they weren't on the menu. And who could blame them? Do you want to know the secret to a great tasting, perfectly cooked tinfoil dinner? Get fatty ground beef. Pre-cook your veggies. Add a healthy amount of seasoning. And use two layers of tinfoil with wet newspaper as insulation in between them. It works every time.
Oh and don't forget Red Vines. What would we do without our Red Vines?
While the fire is doing its magic to our meal, we work on getting the tent set up. The oldies get a nice cot with memory foam on top. The boys. Well they get a sleeping bag thrown on the floor. I haven't heard any complaints from them yet.
By the time dinner is over it is starting to get dark so other activities begin. The boys start clambering for their flashlights and glow-sticks. Within a few minutes they all look like the African ladies with large earrings, 10 bracelets and 15 necklaces hanging off their bodies. No worries about them getting lost. They glow for hours.
We also start to think about dessert. Now don't think that we are so set in our ways that we won't try anything new. That is not the case.
This year we have experimented with one of our favorite desserts - dump cake. Sounds delicious right? It is. We make this routinely when we have neighbors over for dessert. We decided to try it in a dutch oven and it tastes just as good.
Have I told you I have been without a camera for 3 months? True. My iphone is just not cutting it these days. Once our dump cake was finished it was dark, so I had Scott shine his flashlight on it.
I still haven't told you what dump cake actually is. So when I am done with this post I will put the recipe on my other blog.
As if this dessert isn't enough we then pull out the roasting sticks and start on our s'mores. And here is another little secret we learned this year. Do you want to try a new twist on s'mores? Replace your chocolate with one of these. You won't be disappointed.
Finally it is time for bed. Once the boys are in bed, the routine goes one of two ways.
1) They are asleep before their heads hit the pillow.
2) We end up yelling at them for an hour because they can't settle down.
The next morning, bright and early, we see signs of camp sleeping. Bags under the eyes, hair that is standing on end and dirty faces. That is what camping is all about.
And another thing we tried this year. Scones with honey butter. It can't get better than this.
The rest of the day goes as follows:
Hanging out by the fire.
Throwing as many rocks in the creek as possible.
And going for hikes around the campground.
That is our way of camping.
The packing actually starts with me. I tell the boys to bring up to my room 2 things - a change of clothes and a jacket. They can usually remember the jacket and one other item. I then go and fetch the rest. I have learned how to pack the boys overnight duffel for efficiency. On the bottom goes the least-likely-to-be-used items. This is usually their jeans. On top of the jeans go the clothes for the next day. Then pajamas and last but not least jackets on top. When I open the duffel I know that jackets come first before jammies and clothes come after jammies. No digging around in the dark with a flashlight trying to find what I am looking for. I just grab what is on top.
Once the van is packed, see post below, we head out to one of our favorite camping spots.
Immediately upon arriving the boys usually head to the creek to begin the first hour of rock throwing madness and Scott starts building a fire. We have learned that getting the fire down to coals and then cooking our dinner always takes longer than what we think. Scott prides himself on using only 1 match and no paper to start a fire.
We always have tinfoil dinners. The boys would absolutely revolt if they weren't on the menu. And who could blame them? Do you want to know the secret to a great tasting, perfectly cooked tinfoil dinner? Get fatty ground beef. Pre-cook your veggies. Add a healthy amount of seasoning. And use two layers of tinfoil with wet newspaper as insulation in between them. It works every time.
Oh and don't forget Red Vines. What would we do without our Red Vines?
While the fire is doing its magic to our meal, we work on getting the tent set up. The oldies get a nice cot with memory foam on top. The boys. Well they get a sleeping bag thrown on the floor. I haven't heard any complaints from them yet.
By the time dinner is over it is starting to get dark so other activities begin. The boys start clambering for their flashlights and glow-sticks. Within a few minutes they all look like the African ladies with large earrings, 10 bracelets and 15 necklaces hanging off their bodies. No worries about them getting lost. They glow for hours.
We also start to think about dessert. Now don't think that we are so set in our ways that we won't try anything new. That is not the case.
This year we have experimented with one of our favorite desserts - dump cake. Sounds delicious right? It is. We make this routinely when we have neighbors over for dessert. We decided to try it in a dutch oven and it tastes just as good.
Have I told you I have been without a camera for 3 months? True. My iphone is just not cutting it these days. Once our dump cake was finished it was dark, so I had Scott shine his flashlight on it.
I still haven't told you what dump cake actually is. So when I am done with this post I will put the recipe on my other blog.
As if this dessert isn't enough we then pull out the roasting sticks and start on our s'mores. And here is another little secret we learned this year. Do you want to try a new twist on s'mores? Replace your chocolate with one of these. You won't be disappointed.
Finally it is time for bed. Once the boys are in bed, the routine goes one of two ways.
1) They are asleep before their heads hit the pillow.
2) We end up yelling at them for an hour because they can't settle down.
The next morning, bright and early, we see signs of camp sleeping. Bags under the eyes, hair that is standing on end and dirty faces. That is what camping is all about.
And another thing we tried this year. Scones with honey butter. It can't get better than this.
The rest of the day goes as follows:
Hanging out by the fire.
Throwing as many rocks in the creek as possible.
And going for hikes around the campground.
That is our way of camping.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
The Kimball Packing Gene
Have I ever told you about the Kimball packing gene? No? Well let me explain. Scott's father and all of Scott's siblings have this inborn ability to pack a huge amount of stuff into very small places. They all have it. Male and Female alike. Since I only married into the Kimball family I do not have the genetic material to do this. Neither do any of the other in-laws. I know because we have joked together about this trait. When our van needs to be packed I do not pack it. Scott will pack and repack until everything fits without any space wasted. This also happens in his sibling's families as well. So what has he packed into our van on our latest camping trip? Let me tell you.
1 tent
6 sleeping bags
6 pillows
4 folding chairs
2 memory foam pads
2 cots
2 duffel bags
1 CampChef stove
1 emergency car kit
1 propane tank
2 boxes of wood
1 10X10 EZ Up Canopy
1 lantern
1 water cooler
1 briquette starter
1 dutch oven
1 25 gallon tub of camping supplies
1 laundry basket full of food
1 cooler
a handful of roasting sticks
4 boys
2 adults
1 dog
Pretty impressive.
1 tent
6 sleeping bags
6 pillows
4 folding chairs
2 memory foam pads
2 cots
2 duffel bags
1 CampChef stove
1 emergency car kit
1 propane tank
2 boxes of wood
1 10X10 EZ Up Canopy
1 lantern
1 water cooler
1 briquette starter
1 dutch oven
1 25 gallon tub of camping supplies
1 laundry basket full of food
1 cooler
a handful of roasting sticks
4 boys
2 adults
1 dog
Pretty impressive.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Is Your Summer Flying By?
Mine is. But I'm glad I get to spend it with my boys.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
A Sweet Binding
Really. That is what it is called. A sweet binding.
I have wanted to learn this binding for awhile. I tried it on my own and I didn't do it quite right, so when this class was offered a few weeks ago I jumped at the chance. This is a French sewing using waxed linen thread over leather bands.
I have wanted to learn this binding for awhile. I tried it on my own and I didn't do it quite right, so when this class was offered a few weeks ago I jumped at the chance. This is a French sewing using waxed linen thread over leather bands.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Happy Birthday Chasey!
You are three! My baby is three! When did that happen? Time flies so fast. But you know what? He will always be my Little Love.
ps I just posted the recipe for this yummy Cool Whip cake on my recipe blog. It is a family favorite!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Book Review
If you haven't noticed on my sidebar, I read a lot of books. A lot. In fact I prefer to read in my bits of spare time than almost any other activity. If I am not reading a book, I feel like something is missing. I am also fairly picky with what books merit 4 and 5 stars. There are a lot of enjoyable books that I have read, but there has to be something more in order to get my highest recommendation. I don't really have a specific recipe, but I just know.
I think the next few months I will post some of my absolute favorites that I have read the past several years.
Best Stand Alone Book
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - This is truly one of the best books I have ever read. I don't even know where to start it is so good on so many levels. It is about a girl, Liesel, in Nazi Germany who steals books in order to learn how to read. This book isn't your standard read about the horrors of concentration camps in WWII. It is about:
an iron-fisted woman - the smell of friendship - the gates of thievery - way of the words - peace - champagne and accordians - a final kiss on poisoned cheeks - a promise keeper - and a frightened boy with frozen legs
What on earth have I written? Well that leads me to my next point. I think the best way I can describe Zusak's writing style is heavy-handed and well...different. Some may describe his writing style as "over the top." I think given the subject and events of the book, it fits well. You will have to read the book to see what on earth I am talking about and why I wrote it that way.
Zusak does an excellent job of hammering into your head what he is saying, and he does so using "Death" as the narrator for the story who is compassionate, frank and has a witty sense of humor all his own. For example:
A SMALL PIECE OF TRUTH
I do not carry a sickle or scythe.
I only wear a hooded black robe when it's cold.
And I don't have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue.
Not only does Death use plenty of foreshadow in the book, he also describes events and circumstances using words and phrases that you wouldn't normally use. And why is it that knowing what is going to happen and bracing yourself for the impact rarely helps when the storm finally breaks? Good writing, I tell ya. See, that is part of the recipe.
A few examples of his descriptive writing:
Her teeth were like a soccer crowd, crammed in.
The sky was like soup, boiling and stirring. In some places, it was burned. There were black crumbs, and pepper, streaked across the redness.
A bathrobe answered the door. Inside it, a woman!
His character development is also superb. Your initial judgement of some when you meet them will slowly change over the course of the book, while others you love from the first introduction. If I could summarize this book I would say it is full of love and hope. This book is emotionally draining, but worth every tear you will shed. Because you will cry. That I promise.
Now I must stop writing about it or I will either 1) start bawling or 2) start reading it again.
ps If you ever read any of my recommendations I would love to know what you think about them!
pps As far as content goes, there are German swear words, written in German throughout the book. There are a few American swear words as well.
I think the next few months I will post some of my absolute favorites that I have read the past several years.
Best Stand Alone Book
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - This is truly one of the best books I have ever read. I don't even know where to start it is so good on so many levels. It is about a girl, Liesel, in Nazi Germany who steals books in order to learn how to read. This book isn't your standard read about the horrors of concentration camps in WWII. It is about:
an iron-fisted woman - the smell of friendship - the gates of thievery - way of the words - peace - champagne and accordians - a final kiss on poisoned cheeks - a promise keeper - and a frightened boy with frozen legs
What on earth have I written? Well that leads me to my next point. I think the best way I can describe Zusak's writing style is heavy-handed and well...different. Some may describe his writing style as "over the top." I think given the subject and events of the book, it fits well. You will have to read the book to see what on earth I am talking about and why I wrote it that way.
Zusak does an excellent job of hammering into your head what he is saying, and he does so using "Death" as the narrator for the story who is compassionate, frank and has a witty sense of humor all his own. For example:
A SMALL PIECE OF TRUTH
I do not carry a sickle or scythe.
I only wear a hooded black robe when it's cold.
And I don't have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue.
Not only does Death use plenty of foreshadow in the book, he also describes events and circumstances using words and phrases that you wouldn't normally use. And why is it that knowing what is going to happen and bracing yourself for the impact rarely helps when the storm finally breaks? Good writing, I tell ya. See, that is part of the recipe.
A few examples of his descriptive writing:
Her teeth were like a soccer crowd, crammed in.
The sky was like soup, boiling and stirring. In some places, it was burned. There were black crumbs, and pepper, streaked across the redness.
A bathrobe answered the door. Inside it, a woman!
His character development is also superb. Your initial judgement of some when you meet them will slowly change over the course of the book, while others you love from the first introduction. If I could summarize this book I would say it is full of love and hope. This book is emotionally draining, but worth every tear you will shed. Because you will cry. That I promise.
Now I must stop writing about it or I will either 1) start bawling or 2) start reading it again.
ps If you ever read any of my recommendations I would love to know what you think about them!
pps As far as content goes, there are German swear words, written in German throughout the book. There are a few American swear words as well.
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