So Long October - Welcome November

Over the past several years I have decided that, while I love the festivals and fun traditions of October, by the time we get to Halloween I'm craving the peace and serenity of November.

Mostly, the weather is dreary.  I like that.  Today, when the sunshine came out briefly I found myself feeling a bit disappointed. November is not a time to be out; it's time to be in, so let it rain.

 I look forward to warm sweaters, comfy tights and cozy skirts.  I want the pop and crackle of a wood fire and the warm you to the bone feeling that only comes from radiant heat.  I want hearty soups and stews simmering in the crock pot.  I want blankets, and fleece robes, and flannel sheets.  I want darkness, so I can savor the homey light inside.

November, before the cold gets so raw we can't stand it anymore.  November, when snow is still a rare, fleeting, delight.  November, no big Holiday, no big stress, just a time to Give Thanks and reflect on all the blessings in my life.

Despite it's busy nature, October really was wonderful.  We have so many delightful times with family and friends.

Campfires - just us around the fire on the last few pleasant nights of the fall.  Hot Dogs and S'mores make for simple, and inexpensive Friday nights.

For more years than I can count, we've been making caramel apples with some of our favorite friends.  Really, the kids just lick off the caramel - most of the fun is in the creation.  However, I think it's the easiest dessert I prepare all year.

The annual Fall Campout and Bonfire was much smaller this year - we mostly stuck to inviting the kid's friends and family.  After having had such a busy summer, a smaller, more relaxing weekend was perfect.  But, as the boy said, "This year was a little too small."  I think we'll be back to our bigger party next year.

The girl's tent was quiet long before lights out.  They were reading and talking quietly together.

The boy's tent was a different story - it stank.  They spent most of the time before they went to sleep having farting contests.  I will never understand boys - but they seemed to have a blast. 

 We visited a different pumpkin patch this year, and only picked up two.  Since we've been getting our produce from the CSA, I didn't feel compelled to squirrel away big Hubbard squash and Cinderella pumpkins.  The kids needed very little help this year with their Halloween preparations.  I helped rescue one carving boo boo, and I fixed the devil horns.  Otherwise, it was their own show.

We had a great soccer coach this year, and a really hard working team.  Coach surprised everyone with trophies at the end of the season.  We had a great final game too.  It was wonderful to see all of the kids grow and develop their skills.

We made a few apple dumplings and put them in the freezer for cold snowy evenings.  Apple dumplings were the last of my very limited processing list for the fall.  Now, I can enjoy all of November and enter Advent with (hopefully) a clean house and a rested spirit.

This weekend is the first weekend with absolutely no plans since May.  I've been absolutely giddy about it all week.  I love being social, and I love traveling.  But for now, I'm glad to be hunkered down inside enjoying the last of the fall views on the mountain while catching up on all the small projects that have been needling at me for weeks.  The weekend's menu is full of simple foods perfect for fall:  sweet potato waffles and sausage, cranberry beans and kale, red lentil curry, raisin bran muffins, peanut butter vegetable soup.  Food for the body and for the soul.

How about you?  Are you making time for yourself?  Are you giving yourself the gift of an empty calendar weekend?  We may not go dormant in the winter, but as the months get colder winter is a perfect time to stay in, recharge, reconnect and reflect.  Happy hibernating everyone!

Mammoth Cave, KY

The first stop on our trip this summer was Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky.  We had visited Mammoth on our first big out west trip and had fallen in love with the programming (above and below ground) and with the campground.  Since it is only about nine hours from us it makes a great first stop.

The last time we went The Boy was too young to participate in the special ranger program for kids called TROG (short for Troglobite - critters that live both in and out of caves).  We were so excited about this program that we registered in February as soon as the summer schedule came out.

The first day of driving was beautiful - it was sunny and clear.  It's always so exciting to set out on a big trip, and the mountains of Western VA and KY gave us a good chance to see how the trailer brakes were working, and to see how the engine worked with the transmission cooler (we'd decided to add those two devices to our current Subaru Outback instead of buying a new vehicle).  En route to Mammoth we decided that the hitch was too low, and that The Woodsman would spend part of the day when the kids were doing the TROG program in Bowling Green getting and installing a new hitch.

 After a quick supper we headed off to a ranger talk about technology used in the cave from prehistory until now.  We always learn so much from the ranger programs, and this one was no exception.  The ancient peoples explored much of the cave using only reed torches.   Then the guides took over using candle and then gas lanterns.  Now of course there are electric lights and battery powered headlamps.  An illuminating program to be sure...

It was a very hot and humid night, and in the middle of the night the power went off which meant that the generators that power the hotel kicked on - and they were very, very loud!  I am a light sleeper which meant that I had a very restless night.

The next day we took an early morning tour of the "New" Entrance  (Domes and Dripstones Tour) and saw some formations we hadn't seen before.  The Frozen Niagara formation was really beautiful.  But, overall, we decided that we enjoyed The Historic Tour more since there was more variety of formations and history of the cave.

After a quick lunch we tore the camper down and sent The Woodsman off to fix the hitch.  Then, in the afternoon the kids headed to the TROG program.  I was so tired that I did one of Farmer Dan's tricks and took a nap on top of the picnic table.  Then, because it was so hot and humid I took advantage of the natural air conditioning flowing out of the cave, and sat at the mouth of the cave until I was cold.

All suited up and ready to go

The Historic Entrance- a great place to cool off on a hot summer day.

I heard the kids before I saw them.  Their excited echos floated up out of the dark.  I couldn't wait to hear about this adventure.  As soon as I saw them I could tell that TROG had not disappointed them.  The rangers that lead their trip were great with kids and took them in places of the cave that the regular tours don't get to see.  Two highlights were belly crawling through "the worm hole" and seeing the remains of an ancient Native American sooty hand print on the wall.

We ended our day with a ranger campfire program (our favorite reason to stay inside the parks) called "Bat Chat" where we got to listen to the Bats using a special tool that brought bat sonar down to a level that human ears could hear.

That night we had an adventure of another kind.  Let's just say, there's a reason I carry a bucket, rags, Clorox wipes and Lysol.  Hello sleepless night number two.  On the up side, if there were going to be sick kids thank goodness it happened above ground and not deep in the cave - that would have been a disaster.

Day three of our trip found us leaving Kentucky with an early morning start as we began the push across the plains and into the mountains.  One of the commitments I'd made to myself before leaving was to make sure to walk for at least 45 minutes a day.  So, even though I was tired, in the early morning before the rest of the crew was awake, I headed down the River Styx trail to find where the river exits the cave and to see the Green River before leaving.  It was a peaceful and meditative close to our time at Mammoth.

 As we were driving, we made plans to return to Mammoth again soon.  We love it too much to wait until our next major trip west, and because it's so close we enjoyed knowing that we'd be back underground again soon.

Fall Fun 2014

I love October.  It has to be one of my favorite months - we've had so many wonderful activities going on, and there are still a few more before winter arrives.

Mountain Craft Festival, Somerset PA

Blacksmithing

Shelling Corn

 Daddy Daughter Camping at Trout Pond

The Girl learned how to make mountain pies herself.

 Dad and Kid hike on Old Rag, Shenandoah National Park

These are the same kids that complained all summer when we hiked!  Amazing!

The last long hair picture for the boy- it's now much shorter, and I'm much sadder.

 Applesauce and Woodcutting Party

My cousin and her girls were able to join us.  Perfect Day!

The middle child keeps up a running commentary the whole time while working - love it!

We lucked out this year and got Honey Crisp Apples - maybe the best sauce we've every made.

Every Christmas The Woodsman gives Farmer Dan a coupon to bring in his winter's supply of wood.  What a guy!

Cousin love

Beside herself with joy - wish we saw this sweet boy more often.

 Family Campfires

What have you been up to?

Easy and Cheap - Four Dinners from One Bird

Over the summer I tore a page out of the June/July issue of Mother Earth News with the advice to turn one chicken into three easy meals using your crock pot. It intrigued me, and I knew with going back to school I would be depending on the crock pot for those crazy nights.  So, last week I tried it.

Day 1:  Roast Chicken in the Crock Pot

Spray cooker with baking spray.  Stuff chicken with lemon slices and fresh herbs of your choice.  Cook on low for 8-9 hrs.  Season with salt and pepper - do not add liquid.  Before you serve it, save some good meat for meal # 2.


Day 2:  After supper put the chicken (minus the good meat you've cut off the bone), including the herbs back into the crock pot.  Add carrots, onion, parsley, garlic, ginger and celery and cover it all with water.  Turn the crock pot back on low and let the stock cook overnight.  While you're at it chop up a few carrots and celery and put them in a separate container in the fridge.  If you're a homemade noodle making person this is also the time to do those.

Warning - if you're a light sleeper like me, the delicious smell of chicken soup may just wake you up at two in the morning.

In the morning, pour the broth through a colander placing the broth in one container, and the meat/bones/vegis in another.  Put them both in the fridge.

In the evening, skim the fat from the stock (reserve 2 c. for Meal 3) and add it to a soup pot on the stove.  Heat to boiling, then reduce to a simmer.  Add cut up vegis, reserved meat (from Day 1) and noodles.  Cook until it's all tender - add salt and pepper as needed.  Unless you have a large family, you'll have at least a quart of soup left - use it for Meal number 4.

Day 3:  Chicken and Dumplings

While your soup is cooking, pick through what was left from the stock making.  Put any good meat in a container, and give the rest to the cat.  Return reserved stock, and the meat pickings to the fridge.  When you're ready for supper, add the stock and meat to a pot, and add some homemade cream soup mix (or a can of cream of something - you pick).  When it's simmering, drop walnut sized amounts of biscuit dough on top, cover the pot and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked.

The boy was especially pleased by these meals - he kept mentioning something about dinner getting better, and better and better.  I loved the simplicity, and the happy home feeling you get from a house filled with chicken noodle soup.

The next two pics have nothing to do with food.  They're of our last of the summer adventure, and of the first day of school.  They're just here because these pictures make me happy.

We hiked to our favorite swimming spot in the creek - a wonderful way to spend our last day before the crazy fall hit.

I think I'm going to cry when he cuts that hair, and the girl - when did she get old enough to be in middle school?

 

12,365

If you plan to spend the summer living out of your car, you need to be well organized.

What Was in the Hatch:

The Gear Bag:

We have a large duffel bag that holds our hiking boots, socks, backpacks, backpacking stove, matches, a small pot, can opener, flashlights, rain jackets, bug spray, sunscreen, water shoes and a change of clothes.  This means that even if the weather changes or we change plans to a new activity we have everything we need.  It also keeps all of those items from rolling around in the back of the car.

Food:

On this trip, because we were in bear country most of the time, we kept all of the food in the car.  On other trips we've kept the storage containers with lunch, snack and breakfast food in the car since we wanted easy access.  We also always keep several cans of soup and crackers in case we need a quick supper when we're away from the camper.

Entertainment:

We kept a sports bag with jump ropes, soccer ball, baseball and gloves.  The swim bag (with towels and swim suits) was within easy reach.  We packed the CD case with all of the CDs we could carry, and then listened to them in a the order they were in the case to get a variety of music in rotation.  We also kept a several audio books, a portable DVD player, and a few DVDs (more on this below).  

Emergency:

For the car:  jumper cables, extra oil, extra coolant, extra brake fluid, tire iron, air pressure gauge and a good jack - The Woodsman checked fluids and air pressure daily.  

For us:  a well stocked first aid kit, extra band-aids, and medicine for headaches, and other minor ailments.

For clean up:  Clorox wipes and paper towels - these really came in handy.

In the car:

For the adults:  A small shoulder bag with knitting, magazines and a current novel, a small blanket and pillow.  I also kept a folder for each section of the trip with maps, notes, brochures, and reservation confirmation print outs.  This was kept in the front seat where I could refer to it easily even if I was being both driver and navigator (when The Woodsman was taking his afternoon nap).
For the kids:  lots of books, MP3 players loaded with audio books (downloaded from the library before leaving), a craft bag, a bag of car games and activity books, a trash bag and a bag of summer school work.

Side note:

If it was a driving day (more than 2 hrs. in the car) the kids were expected to take care of school work and to read first.  They then could listen to their MP3 players or do other activities.  If we were going to be in the car for more than 5 hours we allowed them to get the DVD player out for the last 2 hours of the trip.  This kept the DVD player as something special, and was really helpful on those super long days. 

I also created a small box for each kid with little wrapped presents (books, games, crafts, snacks, etc.).   The kids were allowed to open one when they had been in the car for at least three hours and when they were done with their school work.  This really gave them something to anticipate, and helped motivate them to do their school work.

Everything had a place, and everyone knew to return items to their proper location.  This way we did not have to spend time digging to find what we wanted.  Also, the kids had to clean up and reorganize their backseat each day when we pulled into the campground.  

We all enjoy having a few audio books for shared family listening.  It's amazing how quickly the miles fly when you're all enjoying a good book.

Happy traveling!

Working on school work while heading through Missouri.  Stretching out is essential.

How to do Laundry Once a Month

What, and How Much, to Bring

Obviously we don't have 8 weeks worth of clothes.  We also weren't going to have either the time or the desire to visit a laundromat with any frequency while we were on the road.  The solution - wear the same clothes multiple days in a row.

This modern American habit of a new outfit for every day (and sometimes multiple outfits for every day if you have a preteen or teenage girl in your house) is really not a necessity from a cleanliness standpoint, unless maybe you're under three years old, or you're a particularly sweaty person.  We change daily because of the strong social conventions that make us either 1) worry about what others will think, or 2) feel uncomfortable because we're breaking a taboo.

Now that I've returned home, this practice feels wasteful from an environmental standpoint.  Since I work in an air conditioned building where my physical work is very limited, there is no practical reason to need a new outfit daily.  And yet, if I practiced the same habits in my professional life that I do when traveling I'd be a social pariah.  Don't get me wrong- cleanliness is a good thing.  I don't want us all to start having to carry nosegays and have to burn incense in church since we can't handle the stench, but we could probably stand to waste a little bit less water and electricity by increasing the number of times we wear an outfit before it lands in the dirty laundry.  We could also stand to reduce the overall amount of clothing we own.  I don't know about your family, but even though most of my kid's clothes are hand me downs they both have more than either of them need.  I'm guilty too - both my closet and dresser are over packed.  We could stand to consume less.

However, when you're traveling with your family cross country, and no one else knows you, you can break these mores without worry.  We averaged about three days for a shirt, and five to seven days for shorts.  Pants and sweatshirts could last for several weeks since they were usually only worn in the early morning and later evening.  East of the Mississippi (where humidity rules supreme) we had to change more frequently.  Underwear and socks got changed daily - we did have some standards.

Everyone also had hiking socks, a rain jacket, a baseball cap, a warm hat, a fleece, long underwear, two pairs of p.j.s , two extra pairs of long pants, two long sleeve shirts, and one nicer outfit.

For shoes everyone had tenners, hiking boots, flip flops and heavy duty sandals (Chacos or Tevas).

Packing

Everyone had a small bag for underwear, socks and jammies - since those items would be needed every day.

Warm clothes, and nicer clothes got packed together in a separate compartment since we wouldn't need to get to them very often.

All of the other clothes were rolled.  If you're not rolling your clothes when you pack them, you're wasting space.  Rolled clothes fit better in your bag, or storage compartment, and they don't wrinkle.  

Clothes were grouped by type (shirts together, shorts together) in bags and compartments.

Odds and Ends

Because of these practices we only did laundry three times from the middle of June to the end of August - twice on the road (once at a commercial campground and once at a laundromat), and once at home in between being out West and heading to the beach.

When planning your trip think about stops where it might be convenient to do laundry.  It's wise to plan to stay at a commercial campground in that time frame, or schedule extra time in an area where you know there will be a laundromat.

Carry quarters:  we took $20 worth of quarters, and still had to pull $20 more before we returned home.  You'll need quarters for laundromats, showers and sometimes tolls (not all states use the same auto toll readers for toll roads).

You may feel a little uncomfortable if you're headed out of the wilderness and into a city or other place where most of the tourists are staying in hotels.  We often chose new outfits for those days.

Let go of your hygiene squeamishness.  In all likelihood, when you show off your vacation pictures, no one will notice that you're in the same clothes multiple days in a row.  And, when you're on the road, no one will know you - so who cares?  If you have elementary or middle school boys in your group they may think this is the best plan in the world.  The Boy loved the lack of frequent showers and clean clothes - hmm... boys.

Happy Packing!

Three Different Days - Same Clothes

We don't look too bad do we?

OK - to be fair, you can only see what The Boy is wearing, but I promise that since we're in Colorado here no Park Service personnel or other visitors were harmed by being in close proximity with our unwashed, three day clothes wearing selves.  Also, I think The Girl snuck in an extra clothes change that day - she's tricky like that.

Packing for a Cross Country Trip - Food

Once all of my planning is in place, I start to pack.  First I organize all of the non-perishable food, and make a list of what I need to purchase closer to leaving.

Breakfast:
The breakfast box contained several boxes of cereal, packets of instant oatmeal, breakfast bars, Pop-tarts, and bagels.  It also included several cans of fruit.

Lunch/Snack:  The lunch box held PBJ, jerky, tuna and salmon packets, shelf stable salami and pepperoni, trail mix, pretzels, fruit cups, applesauce packets and a few sweet treats.

Dinner:

This time around I started with a weekly rotational dinner menu.

Sunday:  Breakfast for dinner:  pancakes, eggs (fresh for a while and then dehydrated), and fruit  (sometimes fresh and sometimes canned)
Monday:  Soup, crackers and cheese
Tuesday:  Asian: a boxed rice meal, a can of chicken and a can of mixed vegetables (all cooked in the same pot), or dehydrated split pea dahl and instant brown rice with a side of canned vegetables
Wednesday:  Spaghetti and canned green beans
Thursday:  Oat burgers, canned baked beans, instant mashed potatoes, and canned peas
Friday:  Tacos (TVP with taco seasoning, queso dip, tortillas) and canned corn
Saturday:  Cheesy Pasta (mac and cheese or tuna helper) and canned vegetables

Once I had created my menu I first went shopping in my pantry to see what I already had on hand.  Then, I made a list of the bulk food items I needed to make the pancake mix, oat burger mix and taco "meat".  I also made a list of canned and boxed items I needed to round out what I didn't already have.  I bought enough food for five meals of each type - figuring that we would go out for dinner a few times, and have some days where dinner had to be quick and we would eat lunch food.

After knowing what I needed, I made two grocery trips.  The first to our local Sharp Shopper - bulk and reduced price food, and the second to our regular grocery store to purchase anything I still needed.  Once I got it all home I spent several evenings creating individual trail mix bags, and mixing up the other items I needed for the dinner box.

Taco Seasoning Mix

1/4 c. minced onion

1/4 c. chili powder

3 T salt

4 t. cornstarch

1 T garlic powder

1T cumin

1T red pepper flakes

2 t beef boullion granules

1 1/2 t. dried oregano

Mix together and store in an air tight container.  Use 2 T taco seasoning with 1 c. re-hydrated TVP

Oat Burgers

Mix together

1/2 T beef bullion granules

1/2 t. Italian seasoning

1/2 t. garlic powder

1/4 T onion powder

1/4 t. salt

1/8 c. dried onion flakes

1 1/2 T yeast flakes

1 1/2 c. quick oats

1/4 c. ground walnuts

When ready to use...

Add 1 1/2 c. boiling water, 1 T soy sauce and 1/2 t. hickory seasoning.

Once the mixture cools, shape into patties and cook on a griddle.

Split Pea Dahl

Cook together - simmer for about 30 - 45 minutes until tender.  Dehydrate, then re-hydrate when ready to use.

1 1/2 c. split peas

3 c. water

1 c. chopped onion

1 T curry powder

3/4 t. ginger

1/4 t. salt

Trail Mix Combonations

Dried Apples, cinnamon yogurt covered pretzels, peanuts

Dried Cherries, chocolate covered pretzels, almonds

Dried Pineapple, pecans, coconut flakes

Raisins, peanuts, chocolate covered sunflower seeds

Dried Blueberries, dried strawberries, cashews, dark chocolate

Finally, it was time to get it all organized.

Dinner Boxes (sorry it's blurry - I was in a hurry)

Breakfast Box (again, sorry for the poor lighting)

Having everything planned out and organized meant that dinner was usually on the table in less than 15 minutes.  Normally, I love to cook.  But, when we're traveling I want to keep it cheap and easy.  Then I have more time for this.....