A Favorite

Well, I've decided that I like to read Blogs. All sorts, those that are humorous, those that talk about life experiences & mostly those where I can add a little knowledge that this world has to offer. So in this entry, I am going to talk about my FAVORITE tent of all times.
Now, mind you, my husband has been working in the Outdoor Retail business for over 20 years & his specialty was 2 things. Repairs & tents. (These days, purchasing tents). Now, Repairs included using a sewing machine to repair tents, screen houses, tarps, custom made whatevers anyone had special needs for, etc. He also fixed zippers on many a tent and many a sleeping bag. Just because the zipper no long zips, does not mean you need a new tent or sleeping bag. He also repaired stoves, lanterns, stuff with propane - I never felt comfortable knowing he was playing with gas...but he seemed to know what he was doing & never was there a fire in the building. (whew!)
Well, anyway, when a hubby deals with tents for his livlihood, you as the spouse does, also. Over the years we have set up many tents in the backyard. Of course, setting them up also requires taking them down, folding them correctly so they somehow fit back into that friggin' teeny, weeny, tiny tent bag. Can hear the angst? (Reminds me of trying to fold a map the exact way it came to you when you bought it -- oooo the torture). That is always the hardest part for me. Getting everything back in that little bag & being able to close the bag. That's the key, right there! CLOSING THE BAG. Oh, I had no trouble getting some of those tents back in the bag, just the bag would not close. Many of time, hubby would send me with a tent that was "easy" to set up & tell me not to worry about getting it back into the bag... He was pretty confident I'd get the tent home, somewhat stuffed in its bag - not stuffed in a garbage bag - but not quite folded so it could be properly stored. I rarely failed his expectations.
A couple of years a go, DH brought home a Zeus tent. A 2 person tent. (Now, you all know when a retailer says 2 person tent, they mean 1 person comfortably, same for a 4 person tent 2 to 3 people comfortably, right?)

I like this tent. It is easy to set up & take down. Perfect for 2 kids, one adult, or 2 adults who dont mind getting "cozy" with each other. The vestibule in the front provides space for gear & rain protection.

Not sure how well you can all see the clips, (OK - biners - technical term), used on this tent, I find them most manageable to use & my boys do as well. As for the other picture...2 words..STUPID ROCKS! Cant be sure if damage occured at Hickory Run or NoBE (local Boy Scout Camp - which IMHO - is a cow pasture, but I hear they serve great food during summer camp..LOL).



Looking like it going to fit right into the tent bag...yes indeed!!

Oh, well done, once again, Maple Leaf Red!!! *nodding*

This is a great tent for scouts & young campers!

We used the Aurora 4 for years. Took that tent on our honeymoon down to Florida. Love that tent. But could never manage to set it up by myself or get it back in bag without help. Then we used "The Condo", (10 x 20) for a couple of years. (The boys were still quite young & we wanted them in the tent with us; we knew when they awoke in the mornings, they would be heading right towards the river to frog. Imagine! 3 boys under 10 wanting to catch BIG Bull Frogs as soon as they woke up. They probably dreamed about them all night). Now the "Condo" actually had "rooms" in it. 3 to be precise. So much room! Plenty of room for a queen size air matress & 3 twin mattress's. These days we use The Pine Lodge Tent, AKA by Maple Leaf Red, The Fan Door Tent. Plenty large enough for just the 2 of us.

Thanks, Eureka, for all those great tent designs!

Hickory Run

HICKORY RUN


My family & I went to Hickory Run Park in PA this weekend for The O Boxer Where Art Thou” Gathering. This was based on an Orienteering Course. The last Orienteering Course I did, well, let’s just say, it was a good thing my husband was with me. This course was far easier to navigate. I could have probably managed to get thru this one on my own. And Lightnin’ Bug had said he’d be around on the course, if anyone was in need of help. But, I was glad to have hubby with me, this time , too.

We set up camp Friday evening, went out to eat – A&W and Long John Silver’s. A treat for us since neither of those fast food restaurants are in our home area. We knew there was a chance of scattered thunderstorms for the day. We rarely cancel plans with weather forecasted such as that. Well, let me just say, that front stalled right over our camp site!!! Over 2 hours of thunderstorms!! Luckily we had our gear set up. Not so lucky we skimped on some of set up technique. (no ground cloth under one of the three tents). 2 wet air mattress’s & 2 wet sleeping bags, & 2 wet tents.

If you look closely at this tent, you will notice it is not like most you see. This is one of the first of this kind given to my husband to use & to make comments regarding its design. We got it last year. The door it quite different. It is of a fan design. No zippers here. It actually slides open from the bottom to the top. It was designed in mind for those using wheel chairs. It is a rather large tent, as well, we probably did not need something this big for a quick weekend jaunt, but we do like it & the design.




We got to Gather, did a few exchanges and headed off to the Orienteering Course. We knew we would run into the Frisbee Golf Course along the way, so the boys brought their frisbee’s along as well. Found 1st 2 markers & boxes quite easily. Next marker found, but had lots of trouble with clue to box. Did find it, finally, well Hubby found it whilst being bombarded by off target Frisbee throws. We ran into Pete and Wanda at this marker & an old friend of theirs’, Randy. We tottled around a little bit longer to let Pete, Wanda & Randy get a head of us.
Sure enough on the way to the next check point, we found ourselves walking thru the Frisbee Golf Course. Needless to say, that was where the 3 boys stayed & played 11 holes while hubby & I continued on the course. Once again, we ran into Pete, Wanda & Randy a couple of check points later. On our last point, we finally ran into a dear friend and her party – Lotus & her dad & Celtic Cat. I was really hoping to run into her & her dad at this Gather. We met last fall at Tyler Park for dinner, conversation & ummm...well, let’s just say there were a few (a lunch bag (?) full) cooties exchanged by all!
Back to Gather for a few more exchanges & conversation.
Back at our campsite, we remade beds before dew set in. A beauty of a day on Saturday. Everything was dry when we got back from Gather. WHEW!! No company in our tent for the evening. Made a quick platter of Nacho’s & an apple & cheese plate to take to the “HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST” – Pink Panther - after party gather. Can I tell you, she is a most gracious hostess. Always a smile on her face! The Blonde Frogger & I walked down to introduce ourselves the evening before, in between downpours. Very bubbly & immediately likable! We did a little night boxing on a course set up by Pink Panther & Scout. Boy oh boy, Scout has done some awesome carvings! Thanks for sharing, Scout. We met a few new boxers, so very nice & full of questions, all which were graciously answered by all of us there. Enjoyed conversations with boxers we have previously met, as well.
The kids & my husband thoroughly enjoyed themselves at Pink Panthers that evening. How could you not with all the great people there?
We wanted to leave by 1:00, so we knew we’d be busy packing up in the morning, but of course, Mother Nature was to get in our way once again. More thunderstorms early that morning. All tents & canopy were taken home wet & will have to be set up again this week to dry out. We left sight at 12:05. One more stop before hitting the Highway for Home. Boulder Field. Holy cow. You all need to go there if you are in the area! All the boys could not get their shoes on quick enough to get scampering into the “field”. Stewie, man oh man, that boy was RUNNING across those boulders! Amazing. I made it almost half way across. My pace was far slower. My oldest had recorded my staggering pace on the boulders. If he shows the video to ANYONE he is in BIG, BIG trouble. That 15 year old will never be able to say “I Love You Mommy” in front of his friends enough to make up for my potential embarrassment!!! The boys were happy for that little detour to Boulder Field.

The girl is this picture did the entire field in BARE feet!!!



I once read, not too long ago, that camping and Gathering is the way to go. (Bull Dawg quote, I believe). I so agree. It is so very nice to see everyone after the Gather & come & go to each other’s sites & converse about whatever topic may come up – camping gear, boxing stories, music, food (my personal favorite!), sports, new places to visit, etc. It is all good!
My many thanks to our gracious hosts for the weekend Pink Panther, Lightnin’ Bug & Indigo Vulture. And also thanks to all who carved the beautiful stamps we had the pleasure to find.
All of my boys made sacrifices this weekend to come with me to this Gather & I truly thank them for being such good sports so their Mom could have some good simple fun.

A New Family

My oldest son was Confirmed today at our Church. He really did not want to go through the process from the beginning, but as “good” parents, we have always tried to expose the boys to all we can. One never knows where one’s “calling” may be. His biggest problem – not Church related – the other kids. We do not live in the same town where we attend Church. All the kids would get together & talk about this teacher, that class, that event in that town so on & so forth & unfortunately my son could not really relate to any of those things. Hence, boring! I can see his point, yet he still went, did all homework, wrote all papers, went on trip to LA to work for Habit For Humanity for a week. OMG…you’d think I’d sentenced him to prison for the week. He so did not want to go. “My Spring Break spent with a bunch of kids I don’t know very well who are going to talk about hometown issues & I can’t spend the week with any of MY friends!” Ooooo…the daggers I received the morning of the flight! I had already told him, you have to go at least once, if you really hate it, I won’t force you to go your Junior year – they go every other year. I have never worried about this son going away without us. He is a pretty responsible kid, knows right from wrong – well most of the time J - can carry on conversations with others knowing them well or not. But boy, this time I was quite concerned because he was so mad! He was always in my mind while I was attending BABE. Well, to make a long story short, he had a great time & can’t wait to go back his Junior year. Oh and surprise, the classes after the trip were far different! He was more comfortable with his Confirmation Classmates. *wiping sweat from my brow & patting self – for sticking to my guns - & the adult chaperones – for steering conversations away from school & home town doings while in LA - from trip, on the back*

Well, in order to be “Confirmed”, the kids must write 4 Credo papers. I read them, was appalled & told “Confrimand To Be” so. “You’d better not be handing that kind of stuff in at school” – misspellings, lack of punctuation, etc. “You really did not pull your answer together with good examples.” *pointing finger, shaking head, stomping feet, Blah, blah, blah.* Finally he said…”Mom, it’s my paper, leave it alone!” Well, with that being said, he was right & I did have to grant his wish as that is how I have tried to bring him up. So I left it as it was –well not exactly – so I changed the word “weather” to “whether” without him knowing – I just couldn’t help my self!
Today 2 of the Elders that read his papers thought they were something else. They both waited to read his papers last. And one said, he could truly see my son’s true self & was very touched by what he said about family & relating that to the Church family. The other thought he was quite strong in his opinions & she understood exactly what he was getting at. Did they read the same papers I did? Ummmm… I guess I need to go back & reread them with different eyes tomorrow or maybe later tonight.

Time for the Homily during service. This one started out about The Peanuts Gang. Lucy & Charlie Brown were out on the deck & talking about deck chairs. Lucy asked Charlie Brown how he likes to place his deck chair because everyone is different in that regard. Some place it facing so they are looking to where they have been, some place it facing where they are now & some place it looking forward. Well, Charlie Brown answers, “Lucy, I can’t even get my deck chair open!”
Now, years ago, Doug (Minister), used this example in a Homily. It so touched me, I actually sat down and penned him a letter. (I have penned him only one other time – when Timothy McVeigh was put to death & he read the letter to the entire congregation…what! Me just a stay-at-home middle class mom & you’re reading my letter aloud to a whole bunch of UPPER Class families…Holy Moly!)
Anyway, I digress…In my letter, I told Doug, that I, too, am having trouble getting my dang Deck Chair open, of course, at that time I had 3 boys under the age of 5. Some days were just overwhelming, but I always got through the day & was able to get through many more…mostly thanks to a most understanding loving husband & the inspiring homilies & music at Church each week. When the Doug began the Homily today, I was thrilled!! I knew exactly where he was going & couldn’t be happier for all the Confirmands, knowing they would get oh so much out of it! Then, it hit me, did Doug remember the letter I sent him years ago? Was this just a coincidence? One will never know. Then Doug mentions, the book “Watership Down” which is about a COMMUNITY of bunnies, for those who have never read the book – a great read, I recommend to all to read this at some point during your life time. The name of our Church is Upper Ridgewood COMMUNITY Church, (our Church is located at the top of a hill). & YIKES…I just finished this book last summer!! *Cue Twilight Zone music*
So I asked the newest member of our Church - in our family - what he thought of the Homily today. He said what do you mean? I said could you relate to it? He said, yes especially regarding the Deck Chair. I then told him I had written to Doug years ago regarding that subject. He said “Really? What did you say?” I told him. His response “ I KNOW where my Deck chair will be placed…looking forward, but gosh, Mom, I can seem to get it opened only half way, cause I can’t follow all of the directions!” How much do I love that kid?! “Son, that’s great! ‘Cause that is exactly where you should be at this very moment in time!”

Oh…just in case you’re interested…I finally have my Deck Chair open…sheeez; lots of hard work…..I just place it different directions these days depending on my mood. J

How about you all? Still trying to get that Deck Chair open or trying to place it? Whichever the case may be…please know that you are loved, for whatever or wherever you may be right now at this time & place, forever.

May God Bless…