Weekend of Camping ~ No Electricity

We had so much fun last weekend.  I have been overly stressed and, out of the blue, told my husband that we were going camping - without kids.  Well the first part happened anyway.  We did get one night free of kids, and all to ourselves.

Every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner, was cooked over the fire.  Even our morning coffee.  We also brought along some farm fresh eggs for scrambled eggs.  Yum!  The campground did not provide showers.  We had port-a-potty toilets and a ground water pump.  There were electric hook-ups for those who wished to have them, but we decided to camp without electricity.  

Days were spent in tank tops and shorts, and evenings were spent in pants and jackets.  It was perfect weather for getting a way to reconnect.  The last night was spent with our two youngest children. 

We hiked the lake, and I showed the girls how I could whistle in an acorn shell.  Just to share a tip, it works better with a fresh acorn top, versus an old one that's been on the ground.  They both work, but one works easier.

Thankfully, I had a tote in our garage, already prepared for camping.  We have not had a vacation of any sort, for over five years.  It felt wonderful to finally get away, and for all the reasons of restoring, relaxing, and rejuvenating.  No running around touring this or that, or messing with hotels and motels. 

The garden is still thriving

Although many vegetables are done producing, we still have cabbage, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, green beans, beets, turnips, strawberries, and more squash.

Yesterday I boiled up a dozen farm eggs for after school snacking.  I also shredded the last zucchini and made them a pan of Zucchini-Banana Squares.  I then froze 2 quarts of tomatoes, and have a lot more to freeze.  For dinner I baked a spaghetti squash and used up more tomatoes with a recipe we love.

I spent most of the day yesterday chasing rooster and his women out of my garden.  This time they got into the squash, and kept trying to come back to get more (while I was in the garden).  I finally pulled some corn, shucked it and tossed it to them.  That seemed to keep them happy for a while, and out of my garden.

I noticed our school is having a "market" day where teachers and parents have donated extra garden bounty and are giving it away.  I am so surprised that people do not can and freeze their extras for the winter and spring.  It's easy to have extra squash, but I even shred or cube mine and freeze it.  I'm about to pickle some banana peppers today as well.  My husband came home with an eggplant from a co-worker.  I was, however, truly thankful for that.  Our eggplant did not do so well.  Our okra did, and it was the first year growing it.