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Food for 4 days of camping: 85$
Gas for a 120 mile trip: 35$
New tires to end annoying vibration: 400$
The coach battery catching fire ten miles from our destination: Priceless


All of us are OK thanks to some very observant kids and good teamwork. We set out yesterday to go to Ophir campground on U.S. Creek Rd in the White mountains. We made it 57 miles up the Steese Hwy to the rough and winding road to the campground. As we were slowly motoring up the hill for about 3 miles, Kyle and I noticed a hot smell we attributed to the engine that was working hard to pull us up the long hill. It was raining and misty outside and the kids were noticing the clouds on the nearby hills, but when Abbie said "Why is it cloudy inside?" we stopped in a hurry! We had the kids stand outside and kenneled the dog and began tearing everything apart to look for the source of the smoke. Kyle made a circuit of the outside to look at the exhaust system while I started unloading cabinets to look at the power panels. Meanwhile the kids are looking around outside and notice smoke and the flicker of flames coming from the battery door (under the small window on the passenger side of the coach). After getting the keys and getting the door open, the fire extinguisher was found and used to put out the side of the battery and the bungee securing it. After the smoke was cleared out and the now holey battery tied down, we started back home. Kyle says the bungee used to secure the battery in to its compartment, wore a hole through the side causing a short which in turn lit the side of the battery and the rubber of the bungee on fire. Just a small fire, but not how you want your camping trip to go!
Now after some wine, sleep and a shower, we are gonna try this again! First to town for a new battery, extinguisher and some more gas, then on to the Chatinika campground on the Elliot Hwy. Hopefully nothing else will catch fire, but at least we will know we can handle it!

Apples?

Pretty blossoms on the Crab Apple tree outside our bedroom. A few apples to do something fun with would be nice!


These pictures were taken by Liam, we love to watch the robins being busy in our backyard. Liam found this nest in the fender of the plow truck with some pretty blue egg shell on the ground near it.

Camping Season Begins!

We took our first camping trip of the season for the past four days. The weather was wonderful, sunny and hot. It is raining a little now, but we are back home for restocking so I am just hoping it will water my plants for me and taper off by tomorrow afternoon when we go back out. Next up on our list, Ophir campground in the White mountains (link here)
These pictures were all taken at our favorite close to home camping spot. In the Chena River State Rec. Area, across from the Granite Tors trail head (Link). The rock beach means less mosquitoes and there is a nice shallow part of the river to camp beside so you don't have to worry about the kids floating downriver every single second! There is also some very good fishing close by, we all caught some nice Grayling (even Abbie, helped by Mom!) Good times!!

Timber!

Kyle had to drop another dead tree from the backyard. It broke up when it hit because it was so rotten, a good tree to have down in a semi-controlled manner. This one narrowly missed my swing and did hit the burn barrel.

Recycling

The kiddos and I went yard sale-ing today! The Pioneers Home (retirement home where my Grandma lives) has a monster yard sale once a year as a fundraiser. Lots of good deals to be had! Our list of treasures included: 3 sweaters, a wool blanket, a Pedelton woolen mills shirt for Kyle, baking pans, 2 purses, a stuffed dogie and kennel, a runner sled, a sewing chair, divided plate, butter dish, RC cars, coin building set, and a robot project, it was a good day!! Surely we will save the planet soon with all this recycling? We also had to stop by the Farmers Market to get some local milled wheat flour (now being used to make bread) and kettle corn. Now time for all the washing!

Sweet

The Pinn Cherry Tree blooming in the back yard. The crab apple has lots of buds too, but no flowers yet. I wonder if we will see fruit this year?

Spruce tip jelly

I have fond memories of eating spruce tip jelly at my Grandparents house as a girl. It has a memorable flavor...minty-ish, sweet, pine-ish. Kind of like walking through a spruce forest on a hot spring day. That might be why I associate the flavor with their house, lots of big pine trees all around it. I decided I had to try making some:

These are spruce tips, thanks to Stan and Lorna for letting me pick theirs. You want to pick the new growth while still soft.

Pick six cups...rinse and cover with water in a large pot. Simmer ten minutes and allow to steep overnight.

Strain the juice and boil with lemon juice, sugar, and pectin until set. Can in a water bath. I used this recipe. One batch is about five and a half pints.

It is good, but not exactly like I remembered. I think the next time I try, I will not boil the tips so long. The smell about half way through was closer to what I remembered. Still, it is good and also the first time I have made jelly! I have made jams and preserves before but never a clear jelly...success! I am already planning to have some with roasted duck next time we fire the big oven. I should also note, Kyle says his throat itches a little after tasting a big blop. So it may not be a good idea for people with spruce/pine allergies! Liam tried the syrup while I was boiling it and I can't convince him to try it again, he very politely told me it was not his favorite. Abbie will not try it at all, so maybe it is an acquired taste!