Amped to Camp

Winter!  Some people love it and I suppose the rest... don't. Perhaps some folks are indifferent about winter but maybe they are hibernating because it seems most people have an opinion and don't mind sharing.  Perhaps you won't mind if I share mine.  I love winter. 

This years seventh annual winter camping trip was in jeopardy.  With the weather milder than a sloth on Valium, our opportunities to camp were as bleak as the dark blacks, browns & grays of the woods.  We needed some cold weather and some snow to remind us we actually don't live in the banana belt.  Thankfully, it happened.  Ten beautiful inches dropped on Pittsfield.

Actually, I'd resigned myself to the likelihood that this winter's camping trip wasn't going to happen and my enthusiasm had dropped to almost zero.  Colder than the weather.  Then on Wed. morning I heard the forecast for snow and decided to call Bruce.  Hearing the weather forecast boosted my excitement a notch or two but talking to Bruce is like getting a booster shot of enthusiasm when it comes to adventure!  So, phone calls went out to fellow campers of years past.  Unfortunately, not all could make it because of other commitments and short notice.  Here are some photos.

   

Conditions were ideal. About 10 inches of snow.  Temp in the high 20's Friday night and 11 degrees on Saturday morning.  The woods we camped in are off to the right of this gravel road.

What do you need to camp in the snow?  A good sleeping bag, skillet and nice selection of stuff you can't see in that green backpack!!

Rob & Robert gather some firewood.  Setting up camp next to a downed Osage Orange tree is always a good plan.

Next, start on the food.  It's a pretty integral part of the proceedings.  Emily slices the peppers...

Andy takes care of the onions.  The camera flash lights the area only for a moment of course.  The headlamp Andy wears is vital in this onion chopping process.

 

Another of the highlights.  Conversation.  Most any discussion with Andy will be interesting despite the impression Anthony might give you.

 

Emily finishes her vegetables for stir frying as I discuss who knows what.

Our grill grate sits over a bed of coals supported by 3 Osage Orange blocks.  As good as any gas range or electric stove top and only slightly less convenient.  Actually, it might be more convenient as the grease splatterings don't have to be wiped up!  The stir fry and chicken & black bean soup tasted as good as they look in this photo.

 Cajun seasoned venison brats.

Surrounded by coals, the dutch oven holds our desert.

A can of pineapple, butter, can of cherries, butter, box of cake mix and butter.  It's so good.  And we need the calories!  It's cold out there!!

My bed for the night.  And how do you like that!  Turn-down service.  

Emily has a spot by the creek.  Looks cozy and inviting wouldn't you say??

This is how you keep warm.  Except after the photo you pull the bag a little higher!

Sat. AM.  The early risers were Kenrick & Anthony.  Those fellows were sawing logs (literally) somewhere around 5 AM.

There was a pretty good quantity of firewood that went on the fire due to the 

endeavors of ...  Kenrick

... and Anthony.   And Andy too for that matter.

Breakfast will be soon.

Cinnamon rolls are becoming a staple since Doug started tradition.  

Andy in front, then L-R...  Anthony, Rob, Kenrick, Emily & Eldon

Bruce takes my spot for this photo.

I didn't see this but perhaps someone found some ice on the creek?

About time to break up camp but you just can't let a campfire go out without some marshmallows.

Thanks for all the fun guys & Emily.  Hope to see you next year along with Don & Doug.

Thanks Bruce for all the photos in this blog. 

Did you read this?

One of my blogs several months ago suggested reading some of the stories written in a blog called From Under My Hat.  It is linked at the right side of this page under My Blog List. 

Whether you have or have not read Kevin's stories before, now would be a good time to do so.

I cannot imagine you won't enjoy the story: A Shed Full of Memories

Sidewalk

This fall & winter has been busy enough that when I had time to blog I just didn't feel like it.  So here is a bit more in the way of catch-up.

After adding a new entry, two sidewalks became obsolete and needed to be removed.  The sidewalk to the drive/garage needed replacing.  So with a rental jackhammer in hand, I and every sidewalk on the place took a beating.

Sunny Lane sidewalk ready to be hauled away.

Sidewalk from the front porch to side porch also is ready to be removed and will be replaced with landscaping this spring.

This version of sidewalk was in place for a few months.  Thanks to all our visitors who tiptoed to the
door without complaining.

We spent some time deciding what we wanted to do for a replacement sidewalk.  Then more time deciding exactly which materials, design & such.  A week before Christmas, a local landscaping company showed up and...  24 hours later it's done.  We're not use to that kind of start-to-finish time frame around here.  It sure was nice!

 

Update from last March

Last winter/spring I posted some photos and updates from the new entryway.  In March, I did a blog showing some photos of the exterior in its final construction stages. Entry from outside

The interior views never made it into a blog.  Perhaps it's not too late to remedy that.

Above is a daylight view and below is later in the evening with lights on.

The blue trim on right side of photo and partly across the top is where the exterior wall was located prior to the remodel.

We wanted to avoid making the 9x12 addition look like a box thrown on the front of the house so we

installed 6 windows.  This corner lets in morning light and gives us a view of Main Street.

Opposite is another nook that holds a couple windows and lets in afternoon sun.

Code name? Project Complete!

Without discussing just how many nerves have been frayed, this project is done.  Brenda and I have agreed (for different reasons) we are done remodeling.  :)

Here is how it looks...

It's time for another project.

Whenever someone visits our house, it seems there is always one room which has a closed door because we're working on it, about to work on it, or some such excuse.  Just short of 2 years ago, we remodeled the basement living area.  The bathroom however?  Its door remained closed and has been totally out of commission.  The only thing you would see if you opened the door would have been debris. 

Finally, the fix has started.  I have some photos of the progress.  Perhaps it's just as well I don't have any "before" photos.

Shower will be here.  But floor drain from old shower doesn't line up with new shower and the lavatory will be on a different wall.  So cut out the floor to place new drains.

Entry.  The wall to the right of the door was moved back into the laundry room about 16 inches to allow for this sitting area and an area for shelves as seen in the next photo.

I'll have about 43 inches for shelves in the area where the chair stands.

The old lavatory sat below the window, but the new one will be on the wall to the left of door. 

Back to the sitting and shelf area.  The wood is going up.

Shower surround is in place and drywall will soon be ready for primer & paint.

Paint is now on, so time for the tile to go down.

Shower glass installed and trim is going on... one piece at a time.  Cut it in the garage, make the trek into the basement.  If it fits, nail it.  If it's a 1/16 inch too long, walk out to the garage and cut it again!

Shelves are in place.

As soon as I finish a couple more things, I'll shoot some more photos and show the finished project.

Deer Season

Where were all the deer this year?  Well, this one is in the freezer but the others eluded Kyle & I this season.  The statewide deer harvest was up slightly this year.  But the number of deer we saw was down.  I may have another hunt opportunity during the late season.  My wish is that Kyle could have another day or two in the woods but living in OK doesn't exactly make it easy.  We did have a great time together though.