Camping or Glamping

I see nothing wrong with Glamping in fact I rather enjoy seeing how comfortable I can make my camping experience.  I sleep in a tent (I found it) and I do have a air mattress, okay it is more of an "Air Bed" but still it doesn't have a frame but I do put a mattress cover, sheets and blankets on it - and I have been known to match my sheets with the quilts and color coordinate with the color of the tent (sage green).  I don't do suitcases - in fact last year I brought plastic drawers - this year it was bins.  As for showering I think it is a good idea every day  - and for the record I do NOT wear makeup - I am camping and when in nature one must look NATURAL. (except for my hair color)  I think I like GLAMPING!  Here are my thoughts, and yes I did have my cell phone and computer - but no Internet I was camping after all!

Wednesday Wanderings



Camping is always an adventure, especially with my family. With two sisters and a brother plus parents and numerous grandchildren we seem to pack enough for a four week camping extravaganza – when in fact our yearly camping trip last 3 nights and three days! We have tried to go to different campgrounds around the west part of the state, usually the second or third week of July. As we were getting ready and packing for this year’s campout – my dad turned to me and said, “why is it we do this? It takes a lot of work to get ready for three days and then it takes just as long to clean up.” I have thought about this all day and as I watched all the grandchildren arrive at campground, I could help but smile and say “That is why we do this, we are happy to be together, we love the outdoors and we do not have the distractions of the ‘REAL’ world, so we rely on face to face conversation, sharing the cooking and tending of kids – it is a great way to reconnect with family. I love family – it is the most important thing in my life – after my testimony of Jesus Christ. I can wander all over this world and still will find home where ever my family is.

 

Thursday Thoughts


Woke to birds chipping and let me know it was time to get up. The air was clean and fresh. The trees were covered in green, not just leaves but the moss that hangs from them and in some cases covers them. The ferns are abundant on the paths and the lake is gently lapping behind the tent. I tie up my laces and hit the trail and road for my run. When I would hike and run in Hong Kong I would worry about snakes and spiders on my path – none of that here. In fact this morning my running companions happened to be three young deer grazing in the field next to the lake. They watched me for a long time, probably deciding if I was friend or foe – after about 3 minutes I guess they decided that I was friend – finished their breakfast snack of young grass and then scampered off into the other part of the field. As I continued my run I thought about how one tells if someone is a real friend or a foe? And by foe I don’t mean enemy but someone or something that is not worth our time – who would seem like a friend but in the end they were just looking out for themselves, selfish friends –the “what is in it for me” kind of friend.


To me a real friend is someone who loves you, knowing all of your flaws. It is someone who is supportive even if they don’t understand why you do what you do. They are honestly happy for you, and are those who try to see the best in you – especially when you are showing your worst.


A foe on the other hand, is someone who thinks themselves your friend, but is critical of your flaws, who tears you down rather than build you up. A foe would be someone who is jealous when good things happen in your life and who like to compare themselves with you – the friendship is a competition rather than a relationship.


I thought if I was a real friend or foe – I hope that I am a real friend. I try hard to be the kind of person I want and need in a friend. I hope all my friends out there know that my friendship is unconditional and that I am happy when they are happy.


See what happens on a 5 mile run out in the quiet morning hours – my brain engages on a whole new level. I love it!

Friday's Favorites

After our dinner I walked around the campground which actually restored my faith in the American Family.  I could see parents spending time with their children, reading and singing to them.  Many were walking around the grounds or biking together.  They were sitting by the campfires and laughter was heard throughout the campground.  It was a wonderful sound.  The voices of children enjoying the outdoors with their parents, it gave hope for American Families.

Saturday Script

The camp out came to a close - with everyone helping everyone pack up and head for home.   Tents were put away for another year, bikes loaded on bike racks, coolers emptied of food pack into the trucks and children placed into the appropriate family vehicle for the 1 1/2 hour ride home, dirty, tired and happy.  I have one amazing family - we only had 16 (20 on Thursday) of the 30 that are in my family here in Washington - but all were there in spirit.  Some people say that family and fish stink after three days, but that is not true for my family.  Tomorrow is my brother Genes 38th birthday and we will all meet at his house for dinner, now that just shows you that we are not just family but friends too.

So next July you can find us camping, I will be GLAMPING, yet again.  I know that the kids are just counting the days.  I wonder if I should bring my projector and laptop and have a big family movie night in the woods - now that would really be taking the Glamping a bit too far -- well maybe not.....

LOST

Okay, I must have short term memory loss or have just LOST my mind totally.  John and I are getting ready to go on the BIG family camp out tomorrow.  We go to the storage unit to try to get the camping gear - and I can't find my tent!  I used it last year, it is not like it is a small tent - it sleeps six people,has poles and a fly covering in a large tent bag. I have also LOST my deluxe air mattress.  How can one camp without a tent and deluxe mattress?  Maybe I should put an ad in the local paper!  I have three hours in the morning to go back to the storage unit and look again - I am the organizational QUEEN so maybe I put it in a colored tote to help me keep things clean and tidy in the space.  Now that sounds like something I would do - but I have so many totes in the two units.  To be truthful most of the ones in the front belong to David - the junk hoarder keeper saver, and I can't wait till he comes and takes them all away! 

At least I am alive, I haven't been deserted on a disappearing moving island that has a creepy black smoke monster.  I don't belong to the DARMA initiative and don't know anyone named Hurley!  But I feel like I am LOST - and now I have LOST my tent!  It might be the only home I have and it is LOST

Have I made feel sorry for me and are those tears or are your eyes just sweating due to exercise?

The good news is that I haven't LOST the SUN it is out and shining everyday of the camping trip.  Temperatures should be in the high 80's the rest of the week.  Which means, Food, Family, Fun in the greenery of the park with the blue of Mayfield Lake and the warmth of the SUN for the next four days.

I just hope that my LOST tent appears so that I don't have to sleep under the STARS - that is alittle to much outdoors for this county girl.

Highway 89

Saturday morning, July 3rd, I got up early after a short night ,I didn't sleep well.  It was the first time that I have stayed at a Hostel Hotel - and it was a little weird.

I wanted to take some pictures of the mountains in the morning so off I went driving south on highway 89.

Old Barn on Mormon Row, Grand Tetons

Jenny Lake is on of my favorite places to be, I love the cold blue lake against the mountain range.  The last time I was here, I was walking around the lake trail at dusk and turned a corner and almost ran into a large bull moose.  I quietly turned, heart beating fast, around and went back to our camp.  I love the fresh smell of being here and feeling so close to nature.  I wanted to strap on my hiking shoes or trail runners and find the trail head for Hidden Falls - but since I was on a SOLO trip I thought I should be safe so I just grab the camera and just look longingly at the path.  Maybe next time....

I love this picture, I was sitting in a field and just marveling at the contrast of snow and flowers.

From this point I made my way down HWY 89 to Logan Utah.  It took me all day to go the 250 miles...I had to stop to take pictures and to take a nap.  It was a great drive, here are some of my favorite pictures from that drive...

 

"Green-Blue"

"Peaceful"

"Vanishing into Solitude" 

"Worship"

"As far as the eye can see"

"Walk with Me"

"Hidden Places"

It was a beautiful drive

It was a beautiful day

 It was a beautiful time to think

pray and snap some pictures!

Snow

While driving back to the Seattle area, John and I decided to take HWY 410 instead of going up I90.  It was an interesting drive.  I love that drive, up the canyon - the pines and more pines and then the SNOW!  Yep that is right we hit snow going over Chinook Pass.

Dark night, single lane highway and SNOW makes for a great 4th of July Night!

1250

"1250", that is the number of miles that I have driven since last Friday.  I left on my solo drive from Rexburg Idaho drove to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and then on Saturday down past Bear Lake, Idaho and then into Logan, Utah on to SLC.  Met back up with John and the other kids at the grandparents house.  Then bright and early Sunday morning John and I left for our long drive back to Washington State.  We arrived Sunday night in time to see some of the fireworks going off in the small towns we went through...got home after 14 hours and dropped dead in bed!

The "Sense" of JOY

Left Rexburg this morning on my solo road trip to the Grand Tetons! I was excited as a little girl waiting for Christmas! As I drove down HWY 33 on my way to Driggs, Idaho (what kind of name is that?) I had the windows rolled down, my music turned up and a smile on my face! The SUN was out and it felt warm on my skin, and that was just the start of the day!

We live in an amazing world, and a loving Father in Heaven created it so that we could have joy. Today was about JOY. I experienced the day with my five senses…

Eye and sight…

The first thing that brought me JOY was the sight of the green grass moving in the soft wind that was blowing, it made it look as if I was driving next to a green ocean. The movement was like waves on the sea and I was just moving along with them. My solo road trip took me through Jackson Hole up and to the Grand Tetons. I was able to see horses, my favorite animal, out in the fields coming down out of the pass into Jackson. I had to get out and take some photos; I love to watch their power muscles move when they run and to see the manes and tails move in the wind. After that I drove up Moran, Wyoming stopping along the way to take in the view of the majestic Teton mountain range. My camera was in the passenger seat, easy for me to grab and shoot – not while driving of course! After finding my small hotel for the night, I went back to Jenny Lake for a short “TWILIGHT” run (no vampires) but lots of elk resting in the fields! Not to mention all the wonderful and colorful wild flowers, forget roses I am a wildflower can of gal. My eyes beheld the beauties of nature and that is pure JOY.

Hearing…


I decided to something different on my run tonight, since the sun was setting behind the mountains fast I knew that I probably would only get about 2 ½ miles in so I left my IPod in the truck. And I just listened to the sounds of nature. The rushing waters, the evening bird songs, the wind in the aspens and the sound of my own heart beat. It was a enjoyable run.


Smell…

Oh how I love the smell of nature, the trees, bushes and the deep rich smell of terra firma! There is something that the sense of smell does for me, it brings back memories! As I walked among the lodgepole pines the blue spruce and the juniper the smells take me back to my childhood and camping with my family. I love to walk and rub my hand along the juniper bush and then carry the scent back with me. I almost jumped for JOY on my walk next to Jenny Lake.

Touch…

Have you ever rubbed you hand across the bark of a tree, it is an amazing form of protect for the plant. The soft petals of the flowers in the field or the supple tops of grass that is seeding and my all time personal favorite soft thing in nature is moss. In Washington we have in our flower bed and I love to touch it with my bare feet in the summer. Today the there was a breeze that was soft and had a cooling effect on the skin. The sense of touch in nature brings JOY in to my live – it reminds me to be soft and gentle even when we live in a concrete jungle.

Finally the sense of taste…

Okay I left this one for last, because it sometimes can be hard to taste nature, I don’t really like the taste of the bugs that find their way into my mouth when I am running. But I have to say that everything you eat when you are outside among God’s natural creations – taste better. Today I stopped and purchased a Chicken Tarragon Salad sandwich from the “Bunnery” in Jackson Hole. I have to admit that was the best tasting sandwich I have had in a long time! I don’t know what it is but to me food just seems to taste better when you are the wide open plains or in the mountains – or at the park. Food is just JOY on all levels.

I am grateful for a JOY filled day!

Boys and Girls Club

I am the president of the most amazing Boys and Girls club here in Rexburg, Idaho!  I thought I would take a picture of the members so that you could see them in all there GLORY!  I love these KIDS!

Mandy, David, John and Laura

Mandy (soon to be daughter) and Laura

Laura and JBG siblings at their BEST