"Weekend"

I got my first "weekend" on Monday and Tuesday, and it was so great!

As soon as I finished work (around 7PM) I jumped into Peppy, and we sped down the long winding road to Campbell River.

As much as I love being at Strathcona it is frickin isolated out there, and you don't see anyone but who you are working with, so I was ready for a change of scenery and company! It was a very exciting and freeing feeling to fly out of there just as the sun is going down, a little sprinkle of rain dotting the windshield, and my music turned up loud!

I also love the Campbell River ferry because it has such good memories attached to it, and such a strong feeling of anticipation. I couldn't wait to get across and see Tim and the Homewood crew again!

My coming Sunday night was a bit of a spur of the moment thing, and as it turned out the staff had gone to the Woodsman camp unaware I was arriving! I had a really good visit with Irwin and Rita Harder (camp directors) and then my friend Jenna and I drove out to Woodsman at 11PM and snuck out to where the staff were camping out. It was pouring rain, and extremely dark, and extremely fun! When we got to the girls tent they were already in bed, so we crept up and I started whispering their names and saying creepy things to scare them. It was SO FUNNY! Charlene was freaking out, half-asleep and a little delusional. They finally figured it out, and then we all had a hearty belly laugh and packed all 7 of us in a 4-man tent.

I got to spend some time with little brother Timo, and I even got a chance to go to Campbell River and watch him play ball hockey, which was so awesome! There were only one or two other fans in the stands with me to begin with, and I think I out-cheered them all. Tim was really amazing...he's a quick little guy, and he spent most of his time up by the other team's net, and I think he even got a goal (it was a little confusing with so many people leaping about).

As much as I like watching my brother play, it was a little lonely, so I was super happy when my friend Graeme (who I know from camp) showed up to watch the game with me, and we got a chance to catch up too.

Wednesday morning I was back on the ferry and then driving down to Courtenay to visit my friend Barb. It was quite a delight...we did some gardening (she has a greenhouse!), and we ate some really yummy things, and we did some window shopping in Cumberland...cutest little place. It was such a relaxing and fun day. To top it all off we watched "Once" and it was a great movie, with an amazing soundtrack that I simply must have! It was also cool to watch because its an Irish-produced movie and there were some spots they filmed in Dublin that I had actually been to, so that was neat.

I left Barb's early this morning so that I could be here to work at 11AM, and I just got off work now, so its been a pretty full and busy weekend. But I wouldn't change any of it, because it was just about the greatest thing ever.

However, I didn't get any of my "chores" done, so I've decided I will have to take one of my next days off just to do those annoying necessary things. sigh.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to! This week I'm going to be pretty much on my own as far as dinner is concerned, and I'm cooking for 260 people tomorrow...so that should be interesting!!!
You might not be hearing from me. I might be passing out after my shift is done :)

Gingersnaps

After a very long week(end) of being very sick, laying in bed, hacking up both lungs, and trying to get them back in, I think its time for something nice and comforting.

Gingersnaps.

This is where it all began for me.
When I was helping in the Homewood kitchen in '07 (that long ago??), I got tired of making the same old, same old...Dad's Cookies, Chocolate Chip, Haystacks, etc, etc. I mean, chocolate is great. But sometimes....sometimes....you need a little variety.
So I called up the mother, and asked for "that gingersnap recipe". She used to make these for us when we would go camping. Huge batches of them. And my brothers and I would live entire camping trips on these cookies.
To me, these are THE camping cookies. The sustenance of camping life. The nectar of the outdoors.
So when I got my greedy little hands on the recipe, I promptly quadrupled the amounts and baked the most enormous batch of gingersnaps known to man. Or something. I did have a huge Hobart mixer at my disposal, after all.
And here is the important part of the story: these cookies made me famous. Everyone adored the new mug-up snack, and kept asking for more, and more, and more!
I tweaked the recipe, making it spicier and more luscious than ever before; made it my own. Gingersnaps became the new favorite, and it was fun making food that made people so happy! I was hooked. There's nothing so satisfying as making yummy things for people I like! But since I'm at home, nursing a sickly body and you don't want my to get my germy hands on your food, I'm going to share the recipe with you!

Gingersnaps

3/4 Cup Butter or Margarine, softened (We both know in our hearts which is right. And I don't mean for our arteries)
1 Cup Granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 Cup Molasses

2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Cloves
1 tsp Nutmeg

Cream the margarine butter and sugar well. Beat in egg. Drizzle in molasses, and mix well.
In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, and spices. You can also throw in 1/2 tsp of salt if you like, but I never usually put salt in my cookies. Mix it all up real good, and then start adding it in portions to the batter, and blend.

Once its all mixed, roll it in little balls, and then dip one half of each ball in a little bowl of granulated sugar. Then put it on the baking sheet. Grease the sheet unless you have nifty Pampered Chef stoneware, like my mom does!

Bake the cookies at 350F, for 10-12 minutes, but no longer! Usually 10 is long enough, because you don't want them to get dark around the edges. You want them to get all crinkly and split, so you can see the oozy goodness inside. Then pull them out, give the sheet a little tap on the stovetop and they will fall and get really chewy and good! There's nothing worse than gingersnaps that are dry and crumbly. Ick.

This recipe makes...I dunno...somewhere between 2-3 dozen. I think. They just seem to disappear so fast, I can't count em. They go down really nice with a big glass of cold milk, too. Mmmmm!
Enjoy!

Chilling in the Boonies

I've just got back from a few relaxing days spent at a tiny little cabin in the middle of nowhere with some great camp friends.
The much-anticipated convoy of 5 Victorians arrived around 2AM Thursday morning. I was getting some beauty sleep at the time, so I didn't see them until a more reasonable hour, but it was quite exciting to see Barb, Victoria, and the guys again! Katie also joined us before we headed out.
Ted's dad has a place somewhere up near 100 Mile, very close to the tiny little village of Lake Bridge. He is a great man, and allowed a total of 8 Homewood crazies to borrow his place for a couple days.

Its a pretty awesome spot, with a great view, wild animals (we saw 2 moose --mama & baby-- on the drive up!!) and total quiet. Not to mention a solar panel, propane stove, wood heat, and no running water! I love it. The seat in the outhouse does tend to be a little chilly at -15 though...
We had to pack our stuff about 10 minutes up a hill to even get there. Unfortunately, I was under the impression that this place was accessible by car...not to mention I don't even own a decent backpack...so I packed all my stuff in a huge suitcase. It made sense at the time...I fit my pillow, sleepingbag, snowpants, extra blanket, and change of clothes in there, so actually it wasn't so much bad packing as it was a bad choice of luggage. (of course the guys wouldn't understand that.) Luckily, among our number was the truest gentleman I know, David Nadeau, and he hauled the beast up after I was about halfway. Thanks Dave!
Friday morning we tempted Whiskeyjacks with crackers. Dave was at one with nature...
Mark didn't have so much luck.
It was a pretty chill couple of days. we spent our time hanging out on the deck, playing board/card games, snowshoeing, chatting, and having lots, and lots, of fun!

Lost Forever

I've had some prints from my trip to Yorke Island sitting around for probably like nearly 2 years. Since that day had a militant/paintball theme I told myself I was going to find some camo style paper to scrapbook them with. That's why they've been sitting there for so long! I couldn't find the paper anywhere...until today.
I was so excited when I spotted it at Michaels this morning, and so pumped to get some serious scrapbooking done.
When I got home, and had all my stuff set out, I realized I was missing 2 pictures....so I was like, "Oh well, I'll just find the CD with the pics on it, and print them next time I'm in town".
So I went to find the CD.
But it wasn't with my other picture CDs. So I looked on my laptop. Not there.
Wasn't on mom's computer either.
In fact I couldn't find any of my Homewood pictures.
I began to wonder if I had ever burned that CD. If it even existed.
Panicking, I searched the whole house-- everywhere I could think of that those pics might be.
Nope.
No Homewood '07 files anywhere. Except the ones I loaded onto Facebook. Which are no good for printing.
Somehow they must have been deleted without being backed up.
Six very special months of my life ERASED!
I am sooo upset. Its SO FRUSTRATING!
ARGH!

Summer Photo Update #2

Mom and I spent about 10 days down at Camp Homewood this summer, cooking at the Woodsman (wilderness) Camp. That means outhouses, no electricity, a homemade running water system (boiled in the "missonary pot" if you want it hot), and only tents and tarps for shelter. I love it!!!
During the time we were there they were running a Jr. Boys camp (ages 10-12) for a number or roughly 50. It was a lot of fun, especially since Tim was counseling there that week, and I knew most of the guys from previous summers.
Mrs Burdett, the head cook, taught us a card game called "wizard". We played it quite a bit!
Each tent has to take turns in doing the dishes. This little guy, known as "Gorgeous James", or simply "Gorgeous", had a slight problem with shorts that were too large...Otis came up with the satisfactory solution of putting Gorgeous' extremely long braids to good use (as suspenders)!
Here Mom is demonstrating the grueling task of cleaning the grill. Of course, after the posing is done, the real work gets handed off to me...ha ha....
We saw a lot of mink while we were down there. I think there was a whole family of them living beside the lake! They were almost tame...not scared of us at all.
It was a beautiful week to be working there. The weather was perfect, and the lake was warm! We had a great time, and even got to spend a couple extra days at the main camp after to visit with everyone! That week really made my summer :)

Blaaaaaaahhhh....

Don't get me wrong- I had a really great week out at Homewood. I'll probably do a post later.
But that's just it...I'm doing everything "later" and its making me feel soooo disorganized and rumpled up in my mind.
My room has not yet recovered from the post-painting mess, I have a few appointments I need to make AND attend before school starts on the 27th, I'm trying to get a job, considering buying a car, should get rid of my "N", I still haven't had my orientation at the university....I need to buy JEANS (my absolute favorite shopping chore...), my emails are way behind, and what am I doing...sitting here BLOGGING about it.
I don't understand myself.
The fun part of my summer is OVER. No more hanging around, no more putting things off...its time for me to get down to business.
In fact I will make a list. And I will start tomorrow.

Argh. This week is going to be so much fun.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

I have quite shamelessly neglected my blog this week. I'm tired of it to be honest. I think I might just quit.
But not really.
Its been a pretty good First Week Home. We had lots of company over, and I went to a road hockey night (and nearly coughed up a lung-- I really need to get in shape!), and a "surprise" birthday BBQ, and a youth & young adults BBQ, painted my room (maybe I'll put up pics later), and went to Gateway church on Sunday...its a little different than the Presbyterian services I've been attending all year!! It was good to sing some of the newer worship songs I like again.
I was supposed to go to my TRU orientation yesterday, but....apparently someone forgot about it, and that person wasn't me...
So now I have to get in touch with the program coordinator and find out if that is going to happen after all. But she's on vacation until August **th? So we'll see how that goes.
Anyway, its been so great to see everyone again! I really missed you all! I'm so excited about this year :)
This week will be busy as well. I'm hoping to catch up with out-of-town friends who will be IN town, and then Mom and I are heading down to the Island to cook at Homewood for just over a week. I can't wait to see my camp friends again, and of course the 2 Homewood-ing brothers! Contrary to popular opinion I am not going to Homewood for a long period of time! Somehow it seems word got around that I was leaving you all again. Not true! I'm pretty much in Kamloops to stay...for a while.
I start Culinary school on the 27th of August, which seems SO close! I'm really excited, but really nervous too, big surprise there! Its a 12-month program, and I'm hoping to snag a part-time job so that I can do it all in one go. Then...we'll see if I survive before I plan any further ahead :)

Anyway, I should go. If you're lucky, I might update this week :D

Memory Catcher

"Leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! Don't send a message, leave a comment on here. Next, re-post this in your notes and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses"...

It Feels Good

It is very satisfying to my frugal Dutch nature to find good deals.
There are "pretty good deals" which for the average item might mean anywhere from $10-20.
And there are "good deals", which are under $10.
And then there the deals that are "Rip-roarin' Steals!" for under $1.
Yesterday while shopping for a few miscellaneous items, I stopped my mom to show her a set of dishes I had noticed previously that I thought were pretty sweet.
My Mom is a Bargain Master Supreme. and naturally her sharp eye caught the 50% Off last ticketed price sign, that my yet-to-be sharpened eye had missed. We looked at the price tag and I was blown away! Each piece was about $1.99. The teapot was the most expensive, at $4.49.
It wasn't long before I was loading up a box and we lugged them to the till.
As the cashier was running them through, she goes, "Oh that's funny. They're even cheaper. We must have missed a markdown."
There is something so contenting about good deals.
I had a lot of fun comparing the original full price with what I paid.
Teapot: $24.99.............I paid $2.25
Creamer: $8.99...............I paid $.75
Sugarbowl $9.99..............I paid $.94
Plates: $11.99 each....I paid $1.12
Bowls: $8.99 each......I paid $.75
Mugs: $7.99 each......I paid $.75

In total, the whole six piece set cost me $22.05, and I walked out smiling!

Hooray for Hi-speed!

After using the slowest dial-up Internet in the history of the universe for the past 5+ months, I decided to make good use of my parent's hi-speed, while I could. Unfortunately I was delirious was I was packing, so I didn't bring my laptop. No Homewood pictures. Sorry. I'll do it in September.
Instead you get to learn with me about the little town of Fermoy, co. Cork, in Ireland! The picture is of Fermoy Fellowship, where I will be working! Isn't that amazing?! It was built in 1834.
Fermoy is small town "nestled at the foot of the Galtee Mountains", with a population of approx. 5,000. Its located right on the Blackwater River, and apparently its mostly known for its fantastic fishing. I might have to learn how to gut a fish after all...ick.
It is also famous for its abbeys, and its military history. Sounds like I won't have to go far to soak up some interesting Irish sights! Cork county is the location of the Blarney Stone...which I am debating going to see. I don't really cherish the idea of kissing a rock so many other people have touched....but its sort of one of those things you HAVE to do. Besides, I could use "the gift of the gab" that is supposedly bestows.
It is also said to have a "disproportionate" population of musicians, playwrights, artisans, and poets! Unfortunately it doesn't sound like there are many handsome sheep herders around....I may have to further Northwest for that. Oh well, I've got time.
There are so many castles, and cliffs, and interesting old buildings to see in the surrounding counties. I am sooo excited!

(Ps. I am also excited about my 'job' at Fermoy Fellowship, but I just needed to gush about my excitement for traveling today)

For Your Information...

Its only a matter of days now before I visit my homeland!
I'm leaving here on the 15th, spending some quality time with good friend Karissa, shopping in Nanaimo, and then meeting Mom in Horseshoe Bay. Either we will spend the night in Langley with dear Aunty D & Uncle Matt, or we will head straight home. On the 17th I hope to meet up with some friends (aka YOU....so contact me!), on the 18th ANGE IS GETTING MARRIED! Crazy! And on the 19th I pack up and head on back down here. Its going to fly by!
But I'll be leaving Homewood's green pastures for good at the end of the month, so even if I don't catch up with you this week, I will in September. Unless of course you are leaving to go live in the States at a most inconvenient time, as Some are in the habit of doing. In that case I demand to see you on the 17th!!!
Ready or not, here I come!

Happy 25th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

I love you guys!
Can't wait to come up and visit you!

ps. the card is in the mail!

Milestones

Today is a day of Milestones for me!

First of all, this is PJ's 100th post! Though is has taken an extremely long time to reach the third digit, I like to think it is because I prefer quality over quantity :S
Secondly, today is the fourth and that means I've been here for precisely five months!!! I can't believe how fast the time flew. One more month to go!

Lastly...today I have received an email which may strongly direct and influence the next few months of my life, and bring me closer to my goal of many years: travelling to Ireland.

Its a long story...I'll abbreviate it as best as I can.
I was looking for a way to experience Ireland without being a tourist...I wanted to do something meaningful while I was there. I mentioned that in passing to a friend I met as a kid, who now lives in Afghanistan with her missionary parents.
Well her pastor there used to pastor a big church in Ireland, so she asked him if he knew of anything and then emailed me back and said, "Hey Look, I've got you a contact in Ireland!"
So through a friend, of a friend, of a friend, I was put in contact with someone in Fermoy (A little place in Southern Ireland...I looked it up. Its situated almost exactly there I wanted to be!) who I emailed a few days ago.

The whole process has just seemed to ridiculously random and coincidental that I felt it couldn't be just luck!!! (Even if we are talking Ireland)

I've been nervously awaiting a reply since then, and finally received it just a few minutes ago!

The email begins:

"Jill,
It has been a real blessing to hear from you. All of us in the Fermoy Fellowship have been praying for such a long time for someone like you to volunteer to work alongside us for a season so I guess we are all hoping that you are an answer to prayer."

And I am hoping they are an answer to mine!

Though as I read on, I became more and more nervous. What they are looking for is someone young like me to come and work with the kids and young teens in their little church. I won't be a youth pastor by any means, but as Harry (the guy I'm in touch with) says, all the leaders are 45-50 years old and they want a "young person" so come be an example to their kids!

SCARY? I THINK SO!

Firstly, I love kids, but I've never been a "kid person"...but I really felt a change in me after this last week of counselling at Woodsman. And I feel a sort of peace about the whole thing.

I'm not about to make any rash decisions guys, but I think I want to do it! (Which is really weird for me...)
So...I'm going to pray, pray, pray! And if you want to join me in that, go right ahead!

Dutiful Daughter

I don't really have anything to say, but news that my dear family at home checks my blog regularly for an update gives me a wee bit of a guilt trip.
So here is the Woodsman Counselling Adventure update.
It rained pretty steadily for the first three days, a teeny bit of sun on the fourth, hard rain on the fifth, and then good strong sun for the sixth and seventh days.
Because we are outside ALL THE TIME there, with no real "indoors", no heat in the tents, and no dryer of any kind, we were pretty muddy, damp, and cold all week. If it hadn't been for the few days of sun, I'm pretty sure there would have been a camper mutiny!
I was having the time of my life though! Being outside 24/7 was a first in a very long time! I loved not having a real strict schedule, and I tried to pass on some of my enthusiasm to my campers. I'm pretty sure I had the sweetest tent of girls ever in time, because they were real troopers and were basically the best group in the whole camp.
One girl got super homesick the second day and that was a challenge because she was very persistent on wanting to go home, which was "conveniently" right here on Quadra Island. It totally brought me back to when I was 12, going to camp for the first time, and desperately wanting familiarity! (Yeah...I was the crying camper)
Fortunately, I managed to get her to stick it out (mostly by keeping her busy alllll the time) and she ended up loving her week! That felt good :)
Zoe and I were in charge of one activity block, and it was her brilliant idea to create a new activity, which was dubbed, "Woodsmanship & Weaponology". Basically the most gong-show hour of the day! First of all we would "blend in with our surroundings" by putting mud on our faces, and making fern skirts, or something crazy like that. Some of the prissier campers had a hard time with it!!! I showed them my "cougar scar" (from that time when I wrestled with a cougar, and strangled it with my bare hands!....) on my arm, and awed them all....until they found out later it was acutally a burn I obtained while baking. Erk.
Then we hiked out to a really cool bunker Mike built a couple years ago, and invented weapons of self-defense and did skits showing how to use them! One of mine included two blades of grass to shove up your enemy's nose....very creative, I know.
My co-counsellor turned out to be pretty fun, and we got along pretty well all week! I discovered her crazy side, and she defnitely kept the kids entertained at night by telling them her "most embrarassing moment" stories!
Our "tent times", the time after chapel when we would discuss things about God and stuff, went really well, which was good because that is what I'm always most nervous about. Actually, two of our girls gave their lives to Jesus, which was really neat!
I had to give my "testimony" on the last night, which was a huge stretch for me, because I HATE speaking in front of people especially about something so personal! I was so nervous, but the feedback I got was positive, and hopefully I encouraged some of the campers.
Overall it was a really great week, maybe the best of my summer so far. I was sad to say goodbye to my girls, but very tired afterwards.
From Friday until tomorrow is Staff Retreat, so I'm trying to catch up on my rest before another crazy Family Camp.
Tomorrow is the "fancy brunch"...yay. (I'm still in grub mode)

Exciting New Adventures

So I have been working in the kitchen for just over four months now, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm getting pretty tired.
Luckily for me, Irwin, the director, understands that! This week I'm completely out of the kitchen and doing something completely different!
I'll be heading out to the Woodsman camp two days from now, co-counselling a group of 7-8 girls between the ages of 10-12.
This is so far out of my comfort zone! I feel so ill-equipped for counselling...which is partially why I volunteered for the kitchen in the first place!
I am also going to be counselling with another girl here that...lets be honest now...I don't particularly like. I mean its not like we're enemies, I think we both just know and accept the fact that we will probably never be buddy buddy. I was a wee bit upset last night, but I've come to terms! with it, and I think it will be ok.
Besides these minor setbacks, I'm actually very very excited! I absolutely love the rustic Woodsman camp....its located on a nice freshwater lake; we'll all sleep and eat under tents, no showers, or flushing toilets....ahhh...that , to me, is camping! :)
Plus its in the middle of nowhere, so you feel like you're totally in another world. I love it!
Anyway, I'm just feeling very crazy right now, with my apprehensions and anticipations colliding in a frightening way...
Pray for me this week that I will have a positive impact on my campers lives, and that me and my co-counsellor will get along :P

Disturbing Discoveries

Whilst allowing my tired feet to soak the other night, I stumbled across something very troubling.

Two small warts on my right foot.

On below my index toe, the other on my second-to-last toe (the one by the pinky toe). They are disgustingly white rimmed, with horrific fuzzies flowering inside. I wished to vomit.

I've never had warts before...

How do I get rid of them?

September Solutions

I feel like I'm already on the "Home" stretch!
Its only the beginning of July, but the last few months have gone by SO incredibly fast that I'm expecting these next two to melt away as fast as ice cream in this amazingly hot weather!
While this inspires a certain anticipation of seeing familiar places and friends again, I also get a little panicky thinking about September.
The terrifying Unknown!
Its obviously a little late for school, and I definitely don't want to work at some $8/hour place again. I feel like someone is suddenly handing me Ireland and I'm way too freaked out to take it!
The more I think about it, the more it seems like the perfect timing. I am completely responsibilty-free, I have saved up some funds, and its one of my dreams....right??
Yet I'm so scared of actually going!
What is wrong with me?!
Its like all I want is to slip right back into the normalacy of Kamloops life, where it is safe and comfortable and warm....
But everything changes.
For one, Beebs will not be there at home, Ange will be married (!), and a certain brother of mine might be moved out! Who knows what else will be different. Home might not be bathed in such a sunny glow once I'm living there again!!!
I think perhaps it is time for me to take a little adventure. I just need to work up the courage to actually jump on it.
GAHH! SO FREAKY!

Golden ReBeaver

Let me tell you a story about the Beaver.
It likes to have things just so.
It works hard to build its quaint little dam, each stick placed just right. It stops the rushing water and creates a very calm, safe pool for itself. It doesn't want to be on the shore with the wild creatures, and it builds its house just above the water so that the gross fish won't touch it, and makes a roof for itself so that the birds don't poop on it.
The Beaver is very content with its safe, gaurded, particular little life.
If something scary happens to come by... SLAP! The Beaver will hit its tail and then dissapear into the water. After a while its little eyes might come above the water surface and check for danger. If its safe, the Beaver will go back to work.

I'm pretty sure most of you have probably taken that personality test that sorts you into one of four different categories: Lion, Otter, Beaver, or Golden Retriever.
Lion is the dominant, (often insensitive) leader, with an eye for the "big picture".
Otter is the happy-go-lucky, scatterbrained entertainer with a gazillion friends.
Beaver is the meticulous, (often artistic) planner, who doesn't like any ripples in its pond.
Golden Retriever is the faithful peacekeeper, who will let people walk all over them in an effort to make everyone happy.

This is of course only a brief summary.

For Staff Training this week, a couple came in and gave a few talks on these personalities and how they effect us in a camp setting. They also spoke on conflict and how the personalities typically react to it (the story above was an illustration they used).
I've already read alot on the subject but it was awesome to hear what they had to say, and it helped me understand myself better, and explained a little of why I react to some people the way I do.
I am a pretty even mix of the Golden Retriever and the Beaver (or so I've been told). The Beaver story describes me pretty well I think. But there's more.
As a Beaver, I'm ready and willing to knaw down some trees.
Lions, however seem to think they know best, and they like to push people around. And who better to push around then some peace-loving Beaver? But this Beaver doesn't want to share her tree and she resents some mangy Lion with flesh-eating fangs telling her how to chew it down.
IF I happen to take a misguided bite and my tree isn't quite perfect for the dam, I will probably chew myself out, and the last thing I need is for that presumtious puss to tell me that its no good. My perfectionist Beaver-y heart is very sensitive to criticism, and I will probably hop in the water, slap my tail, and go hide for a bit.
Then when the Lion is gone I'll cautiosly nibble another tree, and be a bit more careful about how I do it.
But while that Lion is on the prowl, I seem to bare my buckteeth....

From a safe distance.

Adventures with Brownies

Brownies are one of the greatest chocolately creations. Gooey, and chewy, and dark, and good. Best of all, it can be coupled with other fantastic flavors.
I'm in the process of exploring the many brownies of this world.
There are Butterscoth Brownies, Double Brownies, Extra Chocolate Brownies, Mint Brownies, Cream Cheesey Brownies, Mocha Brownies, and Brownies rolled into a ball and dipped in melted chocolate (a favorite around here).
Recently I discovered a new kind of brownie. I believe I am possibly the only person ever to have made them. ever.
You think I'm arrogant to say so?
Well it happened by accident, if that will convince you.
It began innocently enough.
I was following the best basic brownie recipe I have yet stumbled upon. Very straight forward.
Vegetable oil, and cocoa, and flour, and sugar...
Only instead of using the sugar we keep up front, I was lazy and used the store of sugar we keep in a green bin in the back.
Well as I was mixing it, it looked lumpy and gross and I was feeling rather dubious about it.
However, I went over the recipe checking for missed ingredients and I had put everything in, so I popped it in the oven and assumed some time alone would do it some good.
15 minutes. It hadn't risen at all. I put it in for 5 more. Beeper goes. Still no good. I thought maybe the ovens had gone on the blink or something and the inconsistent heat had ruined it. Eventually, when it had been in there for a good 30/35 minutes I pulled it out and let it cool.
Then I went in for the kill. As long as it tastes good, who cares what it looks like, right?
I sliced a little off the corner and popped it in my mouth.


I cannot describe to you how revolting, nauseating, and utterly disgusting the experience was!
Unbeknownst to me (though you may have guessed), the green bin was full of salt, not sugar!
I gagged, and spat, and washed my mouth out and shook my fist at those terrible salty burnt pieces of putresence, and then threw them to the pigs.

And then like a good little baker I whipped up a second batch and steered clear of the deceitful green bin.

And they were fabulous chewy moist brownies.

The end.

Sailing, ahoy!

The heavy rain we had on Saturday had us worried.
An all-day staff sailing trip was planned for Sunday, and we didn't want to spend 12-14 hours shivering and soaking wet on the boat.
5 AM Sunday morning rolled around, chilly and overcast. We donned numerous layers of flannel and waterproof coats, and trudged down to the docks.
We were divided onto four boats, and I landed on the San Christi with a solid crew including my kitchen partner in crime, Barb.
By 6 AM we were motoring out of Gowlland Harbour, nibbling large muffins and slurping yogurt without spoons.
This was a big day for me, because I'd never actually been sailing before. I was pretty stoked.
The first few hours weren't too eventful. Basically we talked and a few crept below deck to catch a few more winks. Out of boredom we invented pirate names: Long Jill Silver, Barnacle Barb, and our worthy Captain Rusty Richard. Zoe went by her last name, Salty Schroeder, while her boyfriend became known as Mollusk Matt. Victoria the Vicious and the Ferocious (Jenna) Falk were also on board.
These titles were especially handy when the winds picked up and we entered the Surge Narrows which were laden with rapids! In dramatic Hollywood style, the skies burst open and the rain fell hard and fast as the boat was hurled into whirlpools.
"Hold fast Barnacle Barb!"
"Orders, Cap'n Rusty!"
"Steady on Salty Schroeder!"
I had a knack for toppling nearly overboard, so Jenna tied me to the mast during the stormiest part. (In fact I had several near-death experiences)
After the worst of it, the sun came out and it got really warm. My face was burnt red as a tomato at the end of the day, with two pale circles around my eyes where my glasses had protected me. It was very attractive.
We had pretty steady wind all day though, and it was a thoroughly successful sailing trip. We arrived back at camp at around 7 PM wind-blown, sore, and exhausted...but very happy.
There were lots of pictures taken, so one day when hi-speed becomes available to me once again, I'll upload them for you!