Whew!

Well, we've survived yet another storm passing through the plains. A day and half without electricity. Two days without air conditioning. I HAD to eat those two gallons of ice cream before they melted. It was hard, but I sacrifice when it's important. That's just the kinda gal I am.

I'm a real life pioneer woman who can be tough when I need to be, but I think AC is probably the greatest invention of all time, followed closely by the microwave. Cool air when it's 101 outside tends to make my family get along better. Slightly less likely to kill each other. Heat, close proximity, chocolate cravings, and a teenager who can't stop drumming on things tilt things the other way.

Now that the cool breath of life has been restored to our abode, we can concentrate on more important things. The Whee is studying for her scuba class. I'm writing lecture notes for fall classes. Philoboy is finding the 127th way to call a ball player 'out!'  We all have our passions and our duties.

Summer is usually thought of as 'downtime', but in our house it's also planning time. Planning fall gardens. Planning school schedules. Planning Christmas crafts (yes, I'm very serious. Don't judge, I'm not crazy, I just need a lot of lead time). And of course, planning for fall B.O.W. (Becoming an Outdoors Woman) encampment. If you'd like to know more about BOW, read about it here.  I'd love to see all of you gals at the workshops.

But summers not all work and no play. We do leave some time for a slower pace of life, for food on the grill, for reading a magazine in the hammock, which is where I'm headed right now. I leave you with a wonderful picture of peace and reflection, courtesy of my friend Susan Bencke. Think of it as your own little corner of summer.

Another fix for my camping addiction

I just had another fix and a serious intensification of my addiction, all in the same weekend, by the same activity. I got my camping fix, but I am having serious d.t.'s fighting off the travel bug.


I spent the weekend with the gals of Okahoma B.O.W. (Becoming an Outdoors Woman), at the annual Thanksgiving campout. Do I really need to tell you that it included food, some food, some more food, and was topped off with some food?


In just a few hours, the group campsite sprouted abodes like a rainbow of mushrooms.

We swarmed upon Kaw Lake like a hive of bees, swinging dutch ovens, wielding trash cans, sporting leather gloves, and towing kayaks. I don't want to give away too many of the fun details yet...



There was an ugly hat contest. This one won prettiest ugly hat.

There was fire. A LOT of fire. It was one big pyromaniac party. Our queen bee, Vicki, shared her expertise on building a one-match fire. First, clear all the dead leaves. I thought it would have been a lot more interesting if we skipped this step, but I was outranked in this decision.



Then you make an "A". So far so good, I can remember this.

Pile up super tiny tinder, with room to get the match underneath them.

Success, one match fire!!! 

While Vicki and Amelia were playing with petite fire, these gals were going for the mondo flame-maker. Hey lady, do you have a license to drive that saw?

There was a lot of tomfoolery, a lot of cooking, a lot of eating, some more cooking and eating, and some picture taking (duh).

As always, I learned something new from these ladies. Decorate your leather gloves with neon orange, glow-in-the-dark paint so you can find them in the dark after you leave them lying around somewhere.

Grab a free hammock whenever you can.  Don't worry, Elaine's not in pain, she always looks like that. I think it comes from teaching first graders.

I'll share the big feast event tomorrow, after I finish digesting.