It was IN-TENTS.

Oops, this post is a whole week late. Sorry! Whatever, you're still reading it aren't you? :)


Well, last weekend I went camping in WV with 17 friends. T'was tons o' fun. We camped, ate, hiked, climbed, ate, drank, danced, explored caverns, and ate. It got pretty chilly at night--not to be confused with CHILI, which we didn't get any of because it was all gone by the time we arrived at the Chili Cook-off. 


Staying on the topic of "lessons learned" (refer to Bologna's Halloween post), here are some lessons I learned from the trip and tips for your next camping trip:

1) Don't leave your car keys at the top of the mountain.

2) Don't bring your pet coyote with you.

      

3) DO travel with a doggie, so he can protect you against bears, bugs, mothman, etc.

(...or so that other climbers' dogs can stay entertained while their owners are too busy to watch/control their pet)

4) DO keep your helmets on at all times while inside the caverns (ahem, Erin...)

5) Do NOT feed the West Virginian wildlife.

This little kid actually came up to me and my friends, with an empty styrofoam cup in his hand, and asked for beer "for his daddy"...hmmm...

6) Invest in a nice, quality sleeping bag. While many of my fellow campers complained of their cold sleepless nights, I was warm, comfy and cozy inside my goose down mummy bag from L.L. Bean. I love it.

7) Get a headlamp. Although you may be confused for a miner or a giant lightning bug, you will find that headlamps are useful for so much more than just camping trips.

8) For cold feet, do NOT layer socks. Layered socks tend to be tighter on your tootsies, limiting circulation, and causing your feet to actually be COLDER! So get one good pair of wool socks and keep your piggies warm. I wore my SmartWool snowboarding socks.

9) Good snacks/drinks to bring for hiking/climbing: jerky, Smartfood popcorn, nuts, Clif bars, apples, Gatorade, lots of water.

10) Choose a tent partner who doesn't snore.

Music and Booze for the Swell Season

All summer I found myself bopping along the streets of Philadelphia to warm weather tunes: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Gorillaz, Local Natives and Free Energy. It was a Summer worthy of remembrance. There were plenty of breaks, deep tans, great times with very good people , and parties, oh, the parties. I didn't want to let this Summer go. I think at one point I even flipped Fall off. "This is bologna!" I said to the first change of weather. (And then I said, "No, I'm Bologna. Wait, no, you are what you eat. I don't even like bologna. Who am I? Wait, what?!")

Good People

Somewhere in the midst of the ongoing self conflict, my heels-once firmly dug into the dry ground-lifted and began to carry me along the turned leaves scattered along the sidewalks of suburban Maryland. And now, I am so happy Fall is here.

Source

I am ready to trade my brown leather sandals for my brown leather boots. I am ready to turn in my sundresses for sweaters. I am ready for hearty, heavy, rib-sticking meals!

So, play this one more time:

The Swell Season covers Neutral Milk Hotel

And for goodness sake! Pour me another one of these:

Krupnik Polski

1-1/2 cup honey

2/3 cup water

1 tsp. vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

8 sticks cinnamon

2 whole cloves

3 strips lemon peel

1 bottle of vodka

Combine honey with the water, vanilla, spices and the lemon peel in a large saucepan. Bring this to a boil cover, and simmer for about 5 min. Add vodka, remove from the heat serve hot or cold.

Today's Thirsty Thursday beverage of choice comes from Ms. Lea Burns' blog A Pot in Time. Follow her most recent adventures, hints and suggestions while she lives the green life here: La Vita Verde

FALLing

Among this season's most celebrated treasures (pumpkineverything!leaves!applecider!coolweather!) I look forward to Fall because of food. October and November are hearty, earthy, rustic months and my appetite tends to reflect that. As the middle months of the year dwindle down I become increasingly lustful after the perfectly spiced taste of beer brewed for Fall. (Note: Fall beer is also usually brewed with the perfect ABV% to get the job done, quickly.)

Enjoying some delicious Oktoberfest beer at the Ol'Heidelberg in Huntsville, AL.

Last night the nest hosted an oven's worth of pumpkin scones topped with a spicy sweet glaze (bring it- Starbucks!) and this weekend some of the birdies are caravaning to a chili cook-off hosted in the forest of WV. In fact even tonight's dinner menu at the nest is loaded with foods that answer Fall's call: "Comfort me."

Just thinking about it has exhausted me with Fall possibilities! In fact, I'm ready for another relaxing mug of ginger tea followed by a long, somber sleep. Good night!


Do any of you have recipes or traditions reserved especially for Fall?


"To be great- feel great, act great." -Yogi Tea Wisdom