Camp Out on Ms. Beth's Mountain!

This is "Miss Kitty". She showed up on Beth's doorstep with a belly full of kittens. All she wants to do is eat and sleep ... right in front of the food dish! She's very sweet. We're waiting on the delivery.

This is Beth's Bungalow. If you look right inside the door, you can see her angel I mosaiced for her. Her front door is a gorgeous blue, but the glare was too much to photograph it. This is the bungalow we "house sit" for when Beth is out of town. It's a very calm and healing place.

These are the 3 amigos. This was upon departure from the top of Beth's mountain where we'd camped over night last Saturday night. The photos on this post are in reverse order because I'm too tired to think and I loaded them backwards. But hey, everyone is fed, bathed and in bed having sweet dreams! That counts for something! :-)

Beth and Cade pulling out tent pegs with heavy equipment!

Christian watching the camp break down and conducting his very own symphony, no doubt!

Austin helping Paul with tent folding. He's one heck of a helper!

Austin going into Ms. Beth's mansion tent to help break down ...

No doubt there is a lesson on life going on here ...

The view is exquisite! Paul is doing some weed whacking here ...

The pied piper. He spent a lot of time cutting, sanding and blowing into the bamboo seeing which had what pitch. Then he bound them together and made an instrument which he ended up gifting to Beth. She was absolutely thrilled.

Sleeping boys ... Austin on the left, Christian on the right.

Cade slept in the mansion with Ms. Beth ... no one had to be lonely! This is one sleepy headed boy!

Austin learning how to fan the camp fire so we can have s'mores!

Paul at dinner! Foil, with new potatoes, zucchini, summer squash, onion, bell pepper and hamburger with cheese in the middle ... "hoboes" .... YUM!!!! Perfect camp food.

Cade and Ms. Beth at dinner!

Austin & Christian at dinner!

Camp Beth . . . the kitchen, dining area

Ms. Beth's two room mansion. The boys were ultra impressed with this tent! As well they should be, it was quite a hit! Could've fit the whole gang in there!

Paul (having his first beer of the season) and Christian trying to make his bamboo a musical reed. Also, Christian and Austin's tent in the background ... however it ended up next to our tent on the other side of the camp. ;-)

Paul & my tent with the privy in the background. (objects are not as close to each other as they appear! thankfully)

Ms. Beth and Cade tending to the cook fire for dinner.

Introducing Beth ... our hostess and mountain camp owner! We are so very grateful to her for having us up to the mountain and letting the boys gain the experience of primitive camping in a very safe and comfortable environment.

The gorgeous view from the campsite.

Setting up camp ... SO much fun to watch the excitement in the boys eyes and hear it in their speech. What a TREAT!

Upon arrival ... setting up camp! All the anticipation has finally come to pass!

We all had such a wonderful time. We didn't actually get to the mountain top until about 4:30. It was perfect timing. By the time we had things set up it was time to start the cook fire. By the time we ate it must've been 8ish. Then we started the camp fire in the big pit for the smores and dancing around the fire things ... GREAT fun. We sang and played until we couldn't hold up, then we all crashed, slept hard and woke early. We had coffee and tea, hot chocolate and breakfast, broke down camp, packed up, cleaned up the site and left. I think we were back to the house by 12 noon. It was a PERFECT experience for 3 little guys who don't usually go camping. Left them wanting more! Maybe another night before they leave. We'll see!?!

Next post should be about gem mining...well, more like panning for gems. We're behind on the posts a little, but you'll get the picture!

Happy Trails!

Paul & Cheri