Posts tagged camping
Another catch up post
Aug 26th
We’ve been busy lately. First we went camping with my family down at a “park” (I use the term loosely) out in the country near my hometown. It was a lot of fun, even though it rained off and on all weekend.
My nephew kept making this face all weekend, any time we pointed a camera in his direction. He cracks me up.
I love my nieces and nephews. Here are a few of them. There are about 6 missing.
My dad won the fishing tournament's "rough" fish category (not Northern or Walleye). Nice trophy, huh?
We had a wedding to attend this past weekend. It was FABULOUS, as is the couple that got married. We didn’t take many pictures (too busy having fun!), but we had a great time.
The core group of friends I hung out with in High School - aka the Fab Five.
Holy cow! We remembered to get a photo of ourselves! Together, even!
And finally, after spending yesterday evening cleaning the kitchen and bathroom (they are about 99% better – we are just waiting for the ceiling to be fixed in the bathroom), we test drove and then bought a pickup today. We knew we were going to need a 2nd vehicle by the time the baby arrived, and since Ryan lost his company vehicle (since he doesn’t go out of the office much) having only one vehicle was going to get annoying pretty quickly. We’ve wanted a pickup for a while, just for the convenience of being able to haul stuff, and also because in case you didn’t know, Duluth is built on a huge hill. Have you seen pictures of San Francisco? Yeah, like that. But with Northern Minnesota winters. We live only 1 block up from the bottom of the hill, and yet there were still a few times last winter when I didn’t think my car was going to make it up the hill. And we had a couple mornings when I had to hike up to the bus station because I couldn’t get my car out of the lot. That’s ok when I’m not pregnant, but I do NOT want to be hiking up the hill to the bus stop when I’m 7, 8 or 9 months pregnant. No thanks. So we kept our eyes open and looked around on the internets and found this truck. It’s a 2001 Ford F150 extended cab with 4-wheel drive. We got a good deal on it, and it’s got lower miles and is in better shape than most of the other trucks we saw in our price range. It gets TERRIBLE gas milage (less than half of what I get with my car), but we won’t be using it to regularly commute, and we’ll take my car on trips whenever possible. So yah. We are very excited. And don’t worry, we already have a request for help hauling some stuff. But, like I told a friend on facebook – we have received help so many times from other people with pickups that we owe it to all of them to pass it along. At least for a while.
So, here it is! Our “new” truck!
The new truck!
We are already planning a trip down to the twin cities and Ikea to put this thing to good use. Of course, thinking about the gas costs of going even that far are kind of overwhelming, but it’ll be worth it!
Whew…I really need to get better at updating this stuff more often. It is DEFINITELY time for bed now. I’m wiped out.
Quickie
May 25th
Camping was awesome. I will try to post pictures later (I need to get all my photos moved to my laptop so I can do that kind of thing). The weather was gorgeous during the day Saturday and Sunday, and we got to go canoeing and hiking through the red and white pines, birch, spruce and aspen trees. The first night was cold (I think it got down into the 30s), but the second night was cool but comfortable. And it didn’t rain before we got everything packed up, even though the forecast said 80% chance of rain and thunderstorms today. So that was awesome.
The loons were crazy, yelling at each other at night, and diving in one place and coming up in a totally different one during the day. Loons are really interesting birds – they have a hard time taking off flying, and aren’t at all good on land. Read more here. After hearing them at night, I can understand why people are creeped out by their calls or think they make a lonely sound. I totally agree. We didn’t see much other wildlife, though – just the loons, some crows and bunnies and LOTS of squirrels. Very friendly (or aggressive, depending on your point of view) – they were running around in our camp all weekend, picking up crumbs and seeds and stuff and chattering at each other.
We put our Pie Irons to really good use this weekend too. We made apple and cherry pies, breakfast sandwiches with eggs, bacon and cheese, and Elvis sandwiches (I hadn’t heard of them before, but everyone else was familiar with the name) with peanut butter, bananas and honey. And we made potatoes and carrots in them the first night, to go with the brandy-marinated arm roast (which was a HUGE hit – thanks, Aunt Janice!). We have decided that we want to try camping for a weekend and doing something with the pie irons for every meal for the weekend. Like dutch oven chili and pie iron corn bread one day, and hot ham and cheese, or sloppy joes or something for lunch. And they are the best kind of cooking utensils – you just wipe them out with a dry paper towel. In fact, you AREN’T SUPPOSED to get them wet/wash them. Awesome.
Anyway, Ryan and I are super-sore from all the canoeing and hiking (and eating), so I think I’m going to call it a night and head to bed.
We’re hardcore…or something
Sep 16th
My birthday was fabulous, I thought I would let you all know, because I’m sure you’ve been holding your breath. On Friday night we went out to dinner and drinks with some friends, and then proceeded to go back to our house (by way of a bar for me and DQ for Ryan) to continue the party with drinks and an ice cream cake. It was awesome.
Saturday morning we got up and it was pretty foggy, but that’s how a lot of mornings start off in Duluth in the fall and spring. So we packed up and went on our backpacking trip with our other friends, Chris & Erin. The day got brighter, and by the time we got to the trail head it looked like it was going to be gorgeous. And the hike out was. It didn’t start sprinkling until after we had camp set up. But it didn’t really stop sprinkling/raining until the middle of the night (I was sleeping, but I heard from Chris and Erin that the moon was shining on the lake at 4am). The morning was very dewey and overcast, and before we could get camp totally broken down it had started raining again. It rained for most of our hike back to the cars (about 2.5 miles I think). Obviously by the time we got back to the cars and then back to Duluth we were very thankful for a hot shower and a yummy meal at the Brewhouse. And then Ryan and I watched “Anatomy of a Murder” and went to bed. It was a very fulfilling weekend.
I honestly have to say that I’m glad we went camping. I really wanted to go backpacking this summer, and this was our first and only time all summer. But I really wish it hadn’t rained almost the entire time. We spent most of the time at camp in our respective tents or standing around shivering, waiting for the food to be done. We did go on a hike without our packs, and the forest up there was beautiful. It was all maple and birch, and the maples were just starting to turn. Unfortunately, because it was raining almost the whole time, we didn’t even take the camera out.
This week is “clean up our disgusting apartment!” week, I’ve decided. Especially after coming home with everything wet from backpacking, our place is a disaster. And it wasn’t helped by the fact that we went and “completed” one of our bridal registries last night, so now we have more stuff to put away. Not that I’m complaining! I love having curtains! And a roasting pan! And a card table and chairs so we can actually have people over to play games! But yah…we need to do some organizing/cleaning. ASAP.
Also, just to share; Oktoberfest is in 2 weeks! My grandparents on my mom’s side have been HEAVILY involved in their hometown Oktoberfest celebration since it started (I think Grandpa and Grandma may have been the initial instigators??), and my family tries to go every year. And by my family I mean me, as many of my sisters as can make it, as many of my mom’s siblings and their families as can make it (she has 7 siblings) and usually 1 or 2 of my grandparents’ siblings. We kind of take over (it’s a small town). And it is AWESOME. So yah. Ryan and I will be heading up north in a couple weeks to drink beer, eat yummy German food and dance the waltz, polka, schottish and two-step. And attend Polka Mass in a tent on Sunday morning. Because you can’t go to Oktoberfest without having Polka Mass with a live band in a tent. I will take pictures, don’t worry. Probably not of Mass, though. That’s kind of frowned upon.
In closing: a photo of my sisters and myself at a wedding we attended this summer. My youngest sister was a bridesmaid, hence the blue dress. Also, we are klassy at home, and some of us *cough*youngest sister*cough* keep cigarrettes in our cleavage. Or something. Don’t mock – you know we are fun!
Ahh…the weekend
Sep 12th
It is finally Friday afternoon. We have plans to go out with some friends for dinner tonight, and we have tentative (weather dependent) plans to go backpacking with some friends tomorrow. And it is my birthday tomorrow. And these things make me extremely happy. Well, that and the fact that I just ordered 2 new sweaters from Victoria’s Secret for a total of about $3.50 including shipping and handling. Yay for giftcards that I didn’t realize I had! Also, what is wrong with me that I ordered sweaters and not undergarments*? I don’t know. Other than the fact that I now have no problem justifying the expense of undergarments* from Victoria’s Secret due to their far superior quality compared to Target undergarments.* So I therefore like to use a giftcard for something that I have a harder time justifying to myself. Or I just like clothes. Or something.
On a completely different note, I would like to share my theory of work-related motivation. I believe we each only have a certain amount of motivation each week. So if we are VERY motivated on Monday, by Friday we might have absolutely NO motivation. I believe that is exactly what happened to me. Over the course of the week I used up all of my motivation, and now there is none. Good thing it’s almost time to go.
*Knowing that there are some of my family and male friends that read this blog makes it awkward to talk about this. And yet I do it, using an even more awkward word like undergarments. Is there enough awkwardness yet? I hope so.
In closing, a picture or two from our wedding day:
Ryan and I between the wedding and reception/dance.
Ryan and I kissing near the lift bridge as a ship comes through. We had 2 ships come under the bridge while we were doing photos down there. This is one of the many fantastic shots our photographer got.
Grrrrrrr….
Sep 8th
I’m so frustrated right now with people not researching their issues, with people making blanketly false statements, and with people being totally judgemental of others that I can’t even stand it. As a side-note, since the Republicans are supposed to have the big “Christian base” you would think they would be LESS likely to show such hate toward others. And yet…no. I don’t even know how to explain all of these issues without becoming extremely angry, so I will just link you to the best articles I have read on the topics.
Jess describes my thoughts on John McCain and Sarah Palin very well, and links to a lot of other blog entries and articles discussing the same topic. Go read her entry. And remember that important point – the Republicans had to LIE during their convention to make Obama seem like a bad guy. If he’s so bad, why do you have to make up lies about him and his record? There has been misinformation about Sarah Palin too, and I think it is important to know the truth about candidates (www.factcheck.org is a good site for checking information, and I’m sure there are others). But none of the information that is wrong about her has been pushed by her opponents.
The fact is, the Republicans have been a huge factor in bringing our country to the place it is at right now. McCain and Palin are running on a platform that admits that – they said it during the convention even. But they want another chance to show us that they can do better than all of their colleagues. And I just don’t think that’s the right path for America. If a CEO and his team run a company into the ground for years, you don’t then take one of the team members who stood by the CEO but now “promises to do better” and put them in charge. You get rid of the whole lot and get some fresh blood in there.
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Onto other things that are less contentious. Because this isn’t a political blog, and I don’t like people fighting, even though I know that many people are passionate about their political beliefs (and that is totally fine – great, even).
I still haven’t figured out how to post photos, so there aren’t any on here. But there are some on facebook, and I’m sure we’ll get them on our flickr site soon. Hopefully we’ll remedy the whole not posting photos on the blog thing soon.
UPDATE: Pics are now working!!!
This is a view of the lake from the State Park we were at over Labor Day. Yay!! More pics to come!
END UPDATE
WTF is up with the Vikings!? Come on, guys! You CANNOT lose to the Packers. This is unacceptable. And depressing.
Ryan and I are going on a backpacking trip this coming Saturday (my birthday! Happy camping birthday to me!). I am hoping it won’t be freezing cold. We’ll see. We will be going just overnight, and it will be somewhere on the Superior Hiking Trail, but I’m not sure where.
Does anyone else have a total love of the Mac vs PC commercials? Because they all crack me up. “I’m a free pizza!” “I banish you. You are banished.” They all make me totally LOL. Literally. I’m pretty sure you can watch them all on Apple’s website. And you should if you haven’t yet. Go now. I’m all done here.
