Candace went to Chicago and picked up this 3 tier rice box as a gift for me. I’ve been wanting one for ages! Michael pointed out that I already pack lunches that are way too big, but this will be perfect for camping, cookouts and picnics.

Thank you, Candace, for being such a good friend.

W started the day with toast, eggs and corned beef hash. We spent the remainder of our day staring into the white-hot ashes that still smoldered in our fire ring.

After goofing around in the playground and gathering more wild onion…

…We went back to our real lives.

We hit the links for a round of mini-golf.

I made a hole in one. Is Professional Ladies Mini-Golfer a viable career option?

For lunch: brats and dogs made on our nifty campstove.

Michael found a quarter while we were walking and I found another in our campsite. Score!

A customer with an evil bent gave me the idea to roast Peeps instead of marshmallows.

Mu-ha-ha-ha!

Camping is all about making do with what you have. I needed to cook two things in one small skillet. So I made a tiny pan insert with foil. Viola! Green beans simultaneously, but separately cooking with mushrooms and wild onion.

Michael grilled the steak and I made the (instant) garlic mashed potatoes.

As we sat in front of the fire eating our sumptuous meal, I remarked, “I bet no one else here is eating this well tonight.”

Michael wanted to camp for his birthday. I used to be a KOA Kamper Kabin girl, but a few years ago I tried tent camping and found… it wasn’t too bad.

Here’s Michael saying “Are you really taking a picture of me putting up the tent?” Check out our hoopty Betsy in the background.

Since it was supposed to get down to 34*, we made a bed with about 1,000 blankets on it (thanks to Candace and Lavon).

It still seemed damn cold, so I stuffed the tent cover with newspaper. We had to run the space heater all night. So much for being green…

To keep warm we walked around the nearly deserted Kampground. This is a view from the hiking trail.

Michael contemplating his upcoming birthday. No, probably thinking about dinner…

A view  of the empty Kampground. There were 4 or 5 RVers and no other Kampers. We had the bathrooms and showers all to ourselves.

Campsite with electricity for 2 nights: $52

Three days in Crocs: priceless

Watching my husband trying to make a basket: more than priceless

After dinner and toasting our toes in front of the campfire, we retired to the tent to watch Equals 3 on YouTube. Oh, c’mon, it’s not like we were hiking the Smokies! We were in Granger for Pete’s sake!

This was only the second time I’ve gone camping in “cold” weather. Camping is always an adventure and who better to go on one with than my hubby and best friend, Michael.

A young man, young enough to be my… ahem, brother asked me a question this morning about Big Box Mart’s return policy. I called the Return Desk to double check policy. The man laughed at the woman on the other end as she was so loud I didn’t even have to repeat what she said.

As he went to walk away, he said “You know who you look like?”

A few names went through my head, mostly unflattering comparisons to celebrities I don’t feel I resemble at all.

“That girl from Titanic.”

Kate Winslet? Really? Thanks! I don’t think I’ve smiled that gratefully and genuinely in a while.

He told me to have a good day as he left. You betcha I will!

She snuck back to the party and nabbed these:

Not pictured: The candle I have burning in the living room right now. Thanks Candace!

(Approximate value: $17.00)

“But I don’t want to ride Santa, Mommy!”

(My pic taken in a local pancake house.)

enough

to make each hour holy.

I am lowly in this world, and yet not lowly

enough

for me just to be a thing to you,

dark and shrewd.

I want my will and I want to go with my will

as it moves towards action.

And I want, in those silent,

somehow faltering times,

to be with someone who knows,

or else alone.

I want to reflect everything about you,

and I never want to be too blind or too ancient

to keep your profound wavering image with me.

I want to unfold.

I don’t want to be folded anywhere,

because there,

where I’m folded,

I am a lie.

—Rainer Maria Rilke

Recently, I was shopping at a newly opened Save-A-Lot. It was much better than the dinky, ghetto strip mall one by my house. It was well-lit, with wide aisles and more than one cashier!

I had a coupon to save $5 when I spent $20 (click here to print), so I was trolling for groceries cheaper than Walmart’s prices.

Lo and behold the humble turnip. My Walmart doesn’t even sell them. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten them, so I picked up a couple to give ‘em a spin.

Tonight, I peeled and boiled them, then tossed them with butter, salt and pepper. They were like potatoes but waxier. They had a more rooty, earthy flavor, too. Yum.

No, don’t hurt the puppy!

I knew I hated Circuit City for a good reason!