We're Back...

Hi Everyone...we're back and we had an absolutely fabulous time. Every year, we go camping with 3 other families (about 20-22 people). Each year we pick a different location, and this year we went to a part of California called 'Big Sur'. It is south of Monterey (think central California coast) and it is gorgeous.







Friday morning we met one of the other families about 8:30am and followed each other up the coast. We ate lunch in Monterey and then drove down highway 1 to Big Sur. We set up camp and then relaxed and waited for the other two families. Once they arrived, we made dinner (hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, veggie dogs, cut up veggies and dip...you get the idea), cleaned up and sat around the campfire playing cards, making smores, talking, looking at the stars. It's amazing how many stars you can see when there aren't any city lights around!




Saturday morning, after breakfast, we drove down to Pfeiffer State Park and walked about 1/2 mile to see a waterfall (to me it looks like someone peeing). It was foggy, so it was kind of hard to see. Then we went back towards our campground and took another hike to see a different waterfall. Mind you, California is having a drought year and the waterfalls are, shall we say...less than impressive, but it was a nice hike (2 and 1/2 miles) and tired out the kids (yeah).






We headed back to the campground where the kids floated on inner-tubes down the river. Yesterday, Sunday, we drove up to Point Lobos State Park and walked around the tide pools, then headed into Monterey and walked around. Today, we packed up camp and headed home. Twelve had something that she wanted to do. Since people have been asking, I decided to include a photo of Twelve, Me, and Ten..
DH was taking the picture...I'm the one in the middle...and just so you know...I was smiling.

Where or Where Has My Packing List Gone?

In less than 24 hours, I will be leaving to go camping for the weekend. Have I packed yet? No, of course not. I had every intention of packing earlier in the week, but life seemed to get in the way. There were lists to be made, supplies to buy, more lists to be made, additional trips to the store for things that I had forgotten. Did I mention lists?

I made lists and then lost said lists and then had to print out additional copies of lists, but couldn't find my 'thumb drive' (which had the list on it). Then I had to spend time looking for the thumb drive, and while I was looking, I remembered that I needed to get out some flashlights to take with us, and while I was looking for the flashlights, I found some bandanas and some rain ponchos...and oh wait then I needed batteries for the flashlights, but wait...wasn't I looking for my list?

Oh, no problem...I didn't need a list to remember that I needed to go to the shed and pull out the sleeping bags, cushions, camp stove, pots/pans, tent, tarp...well you get the idea. So now my family room looks like a camping store and I still haven't found that damn 'thumb drive'. And that's what I get for not saving the list onto my computer desktop. Did I mention, that I needed to find containers to put the paper towels, and garbage bags, and oh I know that there is so much more on my list...where could I have put it??? Where was the last place I had it... wait one second. No seriously...I think I know where I put the list. I'll be right back.

Am I a genius or what?!?...I found my list...under one of the bags of supplies that I purchased. I better stop procrastinating and go pack...Now if I can only find my pen...

A Hodge Podge of a Post

She's baaaack! I brought Twelve home Saturday afternoon. There was peace and quiet and harmony in our house for two days. By yesterday afternoon, things were back to normal. sigh.

I can't believe that it is already Tuesday! Had I decided to work summer school, I would have started working yesterday. I am so glad that I'm not working.


We're getting ready to go camping this weekend. (By "we're", I assume that you all know that I really mean that "I" am getting everything ready). Actually, I haven't started yet, but I will just as soon as I finish this post. I need to get the tent, sleeping bags, tarp and various other camping supplies organized and loaded into my van. I need to pack for myself, and supervise Ten and Twelve in their clothing choices. I also need to make a list of the food stuff and other supplies that we still need, and actually go purchase them. It's the usual 'before vacation' type of preparation. Although, I don't remember preparing this much when I was single, and was preparing to go backpacking in Europe for 12 weeks. Oh well, what's a woman to do?

I am an idiot. Yes, that is the confession that I made to Patches owner, Missus Chicca. In my bookmarks (on my computer) I had her address as the one with the date, and couldn't figure out why she hadn't posted...because everytime I went to her bookmark, it kept bringing me back to the one specific dated post... I am not too smart!

Having made that confession, I will head off to check the camping supplies, and make that list. Before I know it, it will be Friday and we'll be off. I'm looking forward to sitting by a river and relaxing (yeah right, there will be 20 people in our group...relaxing...who am I kidding, they'll be no relaxing for me, between setting up camp, meal preparation, hiking/exploring I probably won't get too much relaxing in, but I think that it will be great to just get away.

She's Almost Back

By the time you read this, I may already be on the road to pick Twelve up at camp. Then again, for those of you on the East Coast, I am leaving early...but not THAT early...(6amPST). I am really excited to hear about Twelve's week. I'm sure that she had a fabulous time. When I picked her up last year, she got into the car and had such stories to tell...I can't wait.

Last year, peace prevailed in this household until about 2-3 days after Twelve's return. It took that long for the calming effects of the camp to wear off. I'm thinking that I may stop at the red bullseye store and pick up some ear plugs on the way to the camp. That way in two to three day's time, after the effects of camp has worn off...the noise of Ten and Twelve fighting won't annoy me as much...I hope.

It Sure Is Quiet Around Here

Well, it Thursday and Twelve has been away since last Saturday. Ten has had no one to argue with, and it's been really quiet at my house. It amazes me that the absence of one Twelve year old girl could contribute to such peace and harmony within the household. I wonder what would happen if Ten went away to camp for one week...

If you happen to be wondering...yes, I do miss her. I am looking forward to picking Twelve up on Saturday. I offered to bring DH and Ten with me, but when I dropped Twelve off at camp last Saturday, she told me that she wanted time to 'decompress' (my word, but her thought) and just talk with me after camp. I'm glad that she still values 'talk with mommy time'. I hope that doesn't change.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day to one and all! I was trying to stay up until midnight to post this, so that the date would show July 4th...but I am soooooo tired, I can't stay up one more minute. So Happy Independence Day tomorrow (which if you are reading this at least 15 minutes from now, then it is probably today). Oh heck...you know what I mean. Have a great 4th!

Lacking in Culinary Skills

Last night we were invited to a friends house for dinner. This friend loves to cook, and it shows. (No she is not overweight, she just makes a great spread whenever we go over to her house for dinner.) Last night she put out some trays with yummy appetizers (cheese, crackers, dips, grapes...you get the idea) with a beautiful presentation of the food... and some yummy dishes for dinner... think 1). flat bread with portobella mushrooms, pesto sauce, goat cheese, and fresh basil 2). Pasta with fresh corn, peas, jalapeno pepper, goat cheese and some other ingredients which I can't remember 3). zucchini, fresh tomato, and seasoning as a salad 4) pound cake with Grand Marnier and vanilla icecream topped with fresh fruit for dessert...and if that wasn't enough, fresh watermelon. (I feel like I am channeling Ralph and Patti with all this talk about food). And to top it all of, she used beautiful dishes and trays to serve this meal.

Somehow, even with this friend's busy schedule, she manages to prepare a lovely meal on a Sunday afternoon for her family and friends.

Me...I entertain, but often find it quite the chore. When I have people over for dinner, I usually prefer to limit the amount of cleaning up that I will have to do after the meal, so I will opt for paper or plastic plates (sorry for all of my eco friendly friends...I just don't have the energy to stand and wash the dishes after cooking all day). Instead of a lovely linen table cloth (which I have) I will use a disposable one (I just can't seem to motivate myself to iron the table cloth, when it's just going to have to be washed and reironed after the meal).

I cook, but I don't love cooking. This friend, clearly loves to cook and try out new recipes. Me, I'm just lazy. I will make the same things over and over because I am too lazy to find a recipe and go to the store to buy all of the ingredients and then make a mess in my kitchen while I cook the new recipe, only to find that I am elbow deep in mixing ingredients and that I forgot one really important item, and then I have to drag my sorry rear end back to the store. Are you suddenly as tired as I am?

My friend was very kind to give me the recipe for one of the dishes, and having tasted it, I know that it is something that I can make. I just feel so uninspired when it comes to cooking. It's not that I don't have a boatload of vegetarian cook books (I do), I just get very overwhelmed looking at the recipes. If it's something that I've tried before, I'm more likely to attempt it, because, I know how it is supposed to turn out. I am so unwilling to try new recipes. What is that about me that makes me so afraid to try out new dishes? Why can't I be like all of those people who LOVE to cook, who LOVE to experiment with different food combinations? It just doesn't seem fair.

You know, all of this talk about food is making me hungry...how about a peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich on whole wheat bread?