The Great Outdoors

The Coasters - Yakety Yak

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Before we begin I promise, no John Candy references... But I never said anything about music.

You mean we spent all day in a boat, and there were NO FISH in the lake?!

I can't count the number of times our family (namely me) has planned to the inth' degree for our family trips or activities only to have everything go awry. What I can't do is recollect too many of those times I can look back and laugh about, like my Papa does in this weeks episode. At least not yet, give me a decade or two.

Hansel & Gretel, listen carefully.

In fact, I'm pretty sure if my husband had left me alone with our children in the middle of the woods (Like Papa did with Nana), I may have equipped them with some stale bread and "instructed" them on how to find there way back on there own. Insanity defence at the ready

Ready, Aim, Fire!

Papa's stories wouldn't be complete without at least one reference to hunting. Is it possible that you can tell a persons true passions by the conversations that reoccur without warrant? I would risk that assumption in Papa's case. His voice lifts, shoulders perk up, if you pay especial attention you might just pick up a hint of excitement. Although hunting has never been on the Doppler of interests of mine, I can say I look forward to more references, to not only a hobby but a lifestyle, that bought this man so much joy.

Who thought  camping in the snow was a good idea?

I may be a self proclaimed master of improvisition but there is no amount of magic fairy dust that's gonna  lift my spirits off the ground if you think kids, snow, & camping are a recipe for success. Now for those of you Klondike campers who have made it work, hold on to your hate mail, 'cause apparently your not the only ones who think I'm wrong. Apparently my very own Grandfather found a way to have a good time as well.

Passing on the tradition.

 They must have had a least a handful of fun as it seems my extended family saw fit to hand down the traditions to there children as well. 

Everyone pile in.

And sine our folks made it seem like such a swell time, we thought we would give it a whorl as well. Just look at those faces, they have noooooo idea what's coming. MuuuuHaaahaaaahaaaa.

Camper, we don't need no stink'n camper.

I won't lie, a camper would have been kinda nice. Seeing as it was slightly, pretty, very cold. Making using the "facilities" in the middle of the night a little less then pleasant. Also, lesson learned, if your going to make three kids share a tent, you might want to be sure they are all potty trained first, eeekkk.

What will our children remember most?

It's hard to tell by this image but there were still smiles on all the faces. In fact we hadn't pulled out of the park before the kids were asking when we were going to do this again. We have camped a few more times since and they have all been quite the adventure. There is something almost Disney'esc about camping, it's all in what you make of it. 

Still not inspired? Maybe listening to Papa relive a few camping endeavors will get your juices flowing.

*side note: Papa is not quite as vocal as Nana so you may have to turn your volume up to hear him.

Campfire Omelets

By far and away the easiest and more sanitary way to cook breakfast for a family at a campsite. 

10 eggs (*pre-crack your eggs into a water tight container and you won't have to worry about breaking eggs)
2 cups cheese, grated

Substitute you favorite omelet combos

1 cup ham, chopped

1 cup bacon, crumbled

onion

green pepper

1 cup tomato, chopped

1 cup hash brown (purchased and thawed)

Have children write their name on a quart-size Ziploc freezer bag with permanent marker.

Pour 2 eggs (large or extra-large) into the bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them.

Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheeses, ham, bacon, onion, green pepper, tomato, hash browns, etc.

Each child adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake. Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up.

Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelette's in a large pot. For more, make another pot of boiling water.

Open the bags and the omelet will roll out easily.

Note: I had to fill in SOMETHING regarding cooking time, serving sizes, and amounts. This of course, depends on your situation and how carnivorous the wildlife is. I've tried to guesstimate for five servings.

Delish'

Isaiah 43:19  - See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Holy Roll'n

Shall We Gather at The River 2

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Who needs a reason for a good time?

The answer to that question is, I sure don't! 

Can you imagine living in a place where people were so far separated from one another it was something of an event to come together for one day. A whole community of neighbors from miles around converging.

Now that I think of it, it's really not that hard to imagine. It would seem these day's we are all so linked together with technology, convienances and schedules but somehow there's never time to get together or just stop by.  It's as if we always need a reason, a bbq or dinner, a soccer game or church baptism to justify time with people we consider close.

His sin is coming out in chunks!

And what about the new guy? Lurking by the pot luck table or hiding in the corner, not sure where you fit in or who to talk to as you approach a tight knit crowd. Have you ever felt like that person? I know I have more times then I can count. Unlike the fellow in Nana's tale though, I doubt I would have been hiding food in my jacket.

What's that fishes name again?

 You know, community is really just a fancy way of saying an extension of family. You don't really get to choose your family but many of us try with all our might to choose our community. We live in neighborhoods with HOA's and pick the teams we want our children to play on. All in an effort to surround ourselves with the people we want to be around.  I'm not saying there's anything wrong with wanting to enjoy your surroundings or the people there in, but there is something to be said of a time when people had to not only accept but also depend on all those in their community, wether they were fond of one another or not. It is that very reason Nana know's someone who is on a first name basis with all the fish in the river.

"Can I walk'ya home?"

Ya' never know, you might just meet the love of your life at a pot luck. Nana didn't but she did walk away with a sweet picture of what courtship looked like in the mountains of Kentucky as a young girl. When I heard how a young man would ask to walk a girl home my first thought was, "How old fashioned." My daughter's reply was, "Wow, guys really did that!" What a move from a dusty notion of chilvery to pure romanticism. I envision someday the powers that be will make a BBC/PBS special out of it.

Click Here: As Nana "Takes Us To The River", try considering what community looks like to you.

Matthew 22:37-39 NLT

"Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

Great Grandma Wright's Gingerbread Pone Cake

Gingerbread Pone Cake

Pone Cake, for most of us who have never heard of such a thing, is a loaf or oval-shaped cake of any type of bread, especially corn bread typically made in a cast iron pan.

INGREDENTS:

• 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter
  3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  1 1/3 cups (6 ounces) all-purpose flour
  2/3 cup granulated sugar
  1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  1 teaspoon baking soda
  1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  1/2 teaspoon table salt
  3 large eggs
  1/2 cup grapeseed or other neutral oil
  1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
  Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 degrees. In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the brown sugar over the butter.
  Combine the flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, ground ginger, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to blend. In a separate large bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, vanilla, and orange zest (ok the orange zest was not part of the original recipe) until blended. Add the flour mixture and stir just until blended.
  Pour the batter over the brown sugar and smooth the top. Bake until the cake is deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool the cake in the skillet for 20 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pan and turn out onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.
  *easy alteration is to add your favoriate fruit (like apples or pears) to the first step and make this an easy upside down cake. You could also grate 2 apples or pears up and stir them into the batter for a little something extra.