Channeling Martha Stewart

This blog post is brought to you by my new pink laptop:c)

Sorry, moving on.

My grandma gets several monthly magazine subscriptions that she reads and passes down to me. Well, I forgot the best part. When she's reading them she tears out any page that is an ad front and back. So when I get them it is just article, article. It's a whole new world. A world I can't believe I didn't live in for many many years.

You all should try it.

Visit my wonderful world.

Anyway...

I found something in Martha Stewart Living that I knew I needed. I even knew I could make it. I don't often feel that way since most of the projects in there are too expensive and the recipe ingredients are things I can't even pronounce.

But this, I can do.

I started by going through the storage area right outside the kitchen. Pulling pots and hoping to find enough dirt that I wouldn't have to buy some. Looks promising. Luckily I had plastic pots to use as the stands so I didn't have to waste any of the terra cotta ones that I use around the pool.

Not bad. Can I also say that I worked up quite a sweat and burned some serious calories moving all of those.After a quick run to Home Depot..and somewhere else...I had everything I needed. And here it is! I bought Flat Leaf Parsley, Basil, Oregano, Cilantro, Rosemary, Chives, and Thyme. I use the parsley the most so it went on the top. More growing room. I put it right outside the kitchen window so we can enjoy it from inside as well as out. And can I just say, it smells terrific outside my back door! My old herb garden was right behind the diving board and it took a lot of abuse. It also was a long walk when I had something already cooking on the stove! And, if you don't mind me saying, I'm pretty proud of it.

So, now I need some more recipes for dishes with fresh herbs. I have some favorites would like some new ones. Anyone want to pass along some tried and true ones?

Camp Day 3

The end was near.

We went to bed later and had to get up earlier on the final day. Why is that?? I'll have to have that question answered before I go back with Reagan in three years.

Of the three hikes we had the hardest one on the last day. It's not necessarily a hard hike based on length and intensity...it's the cliff we have to go up on all fours that makes it the hardest.

Before we moved out of our cabin we had to take a few pictures.

You can tell from my sweet cousin Ethan, all this fun can wear you out.After a bus ride we were on our way.

I found so many things along the way I had to take pictures of.Before long we were at the waterfall. Since I'd been cheated out of a waterfall the day before, I was glad to see this. When I'd gone three years ago with McKinley this area had been completely dry. The kids played on the rocks instead of playing in the water.The water is the most interesting color. It's because of the limestone rock that the water flows over. The leaves turn gray after falling in. It's a little eerie actually. Very Halloweeny.We took a cute picture while we were there.But on the other side of the waterfall was this.

Warren Mountain.We had about 40 people to get up it. Don't they look excited?Because of the danger there had to be parents every few feet to reach out a hand if needed. After the adults were all in place the kids got started. One of the things I love about being the yearbook editor and photographer is that I don't have to actually have a duty. I can say, "Oh, I have to take pictures," and go just about anywhere. I had no responsibility to save a life!One by one the kids walked across the creek, climbed over a rock, and followed along the water line until it was time to go up.From here most got on all fours to finish the climb. Dad to dad they slowly made their way up.The P.E. coach shouted encouragement from his perch at the top. He's been taking kids up this mountain for 13 years and in his words, "Hasn't lost one yet." So reassuring.Look at the view from the top!And there are those cute girls again:c)I don't think I've ever been in so many pictures!....looking so sweaty and sharing my bad hair day with the whole blogging world.The rest of the hike was up and down but not as up as the sheer cliff thing!

After a picnic lunch we started loading the buses to head home. I almost fell over when I saw my friend Susan walking toward me. Ha!! Tinkle. Anyway...

I was sleep deprived and sore in places I didn't know I had. I needed humor at that point in my life.

Everyone was still all smiles as the buses started rolling down the hills.But soon enough most of the girls on our bus looked like this.Isn't she cute? She's a worn out little camper.So we made it home. The thing that Kennedy had looked forward to for a whole year had lived up to her every expectation. I asked her today what she had to look forward to in 5th grade now.

Her reply?

"Nothing."

It's going to be a long year.

Camp Day 2

Our second day at camp started out beautifully. Everyone made it to breakfast on time and the morning was crisp and beautiful. 5 minutes into our hike though we had to pull out the rain gear.10 minutes later we were at the top of Vesper Mountain and it was just a bit cloudy. Oklahoma weather. Good grief.What a view! And the landscape it gorgeous, too:c) This is my favorite hike because of this view right here. You can see towns, rock quarries, water towers, and miles and miles of open space.Remember that rock I talked about yesterday? Well, here's a prime example. My behind decided to get up close and personal with these exact rocks while I was replying to a text from a worried parent. Her daughter, by the way, was fine. My tushie, by the way, was not. I did survive though and am not carrying a donut pillow so all is well.This is our principals trail and since it was my third time on it I knew to have food ready at this stop. If you sprinkle some food in the water tons of fish come up and entertain the kids. I assume that with the other two groups he also finds someone who has food with them. I handed him a granola bar and watched him sprinkle a few pieces. Everyone oohed and ahhed and loved watching the fish. I didn't see them though. I was watching him eat the rest of my granola bar! That was my trail snack! I'll discuss that with him when Reagan is out of elementary and I can't get anyone in trouble.See why I'm afraid? He's a loose canon. He took us right past this sign.But in his defense, he was taking us here.After climbing down the ladder, and holding hands with the principal to get over the slippery rock, we headed up into the creek bed to see if the waterfall was there.Nope, no waterfall this year. I'm going to need my money back. Oh wait, parents don't have to pay. Shoot.The kids hung out on the rocks for a bit longer and then we all climbed back up the ladder and headed back to the allowed part of the trail.Our next stop was the fossil beds. Fossils, in Oklahoma?? How cool is that! There are three different types and they are so easy to find! I didn't take any pictures of them because I was having so much fun looking for them!Luckily this was in the Dining Hall to make it easy to show you. I found several of each of these.
As we headed once again uphill to get out I saw some more of those tree roots I love so much. They are the perfect steps.After a very 'kiddy' lunch, thank goodness for a salad bar and my packed salad dressing, we headed to archery. Another teacher, this time with a bow and arrow. How fun is that?Kennedy had struggled this summer when we did archery on vacation but she had no problems this time. Look at the form.
Look at two of her four shots! Wow!!My cousin Dick came down to visit his granddaughter Jaden and jumped right in to help the kids. I just love him.And hello yellow part of the target. That would be my arrow right there. The one in the yellow. Did I mention it's in the yellow part of the target? I'd draw an arrow pointing to it...but I think you get the point. Makes the honking bruise on my arm worth it.And after archery?? Canoeing of course! Since this is the only full day we're at camp we squeeze as much in as possible. These two cuties helped me relax and enjoy the view.How cute is this picture? I just need to take out the directors shoes and slap some Pioneer Woman's actions on it and see what I can make of it.Shawn even got to take a few spins out on the water.
And of course as soon as we were done canoeing we headed straight to the fishing dock. I must admit I was a bit worried because as the fourth and final group those fish were probably sitting back in their recliners watching some DVR'ed shows with some full bellies.

You see, Kennedy has never in her life caught a fish. I know this because she said those exact words to me many times before we got there. I was hoping that just one fish would be looking around for something to do.

And looky there, she did it! It took a while, and another girl in our cabin had already caught four, but Kennedy finally got one!
Camp tradition.

Catch it.

Kiss it.This is my favorite picture of the whole three days!!!! He is all about that kiss! And apparently, so is the fish. They both really got into it!And just because most of the fish were watching their shows, someone even caught a turtle.No one knew what to do until my cousin Dick jumped right in there and took care of business. Did I mention I love him?After a rest time of about seven and a half minutes, we headed to dinner and then got ready for skits, a bonfire, and an astronomy lesson. The principal and P.E. teacher showed up looking like this. I told them to make scary faces for me and got this. Do they think they look frightening? I'll have to think about that. And don't you love the t-shirt? 'Ha! Now you can't see me!'The bonfire was ready and waiting for us when we made the hike down a huge hill. Why is everything on a hill in this place?I found this cute guy there and had to have my picture taken with him.First order of business...stupid human tricks. One per cabin. First we had the human pretzel. There was a lot of moaning when he got into the position. Most of it was from the dads.Then my friend Jackson was announced. His mom had this expression as the principal said that Jackson was going to pick his nose...with his tongue.Makes a mother proud.I also found this adorable little guy fireside. He's my cousin Ethan and I love him, too!After about 150 people made smores it was skit time. Skit time by flash light. That was fun. Our skit was of course the best, and the counselors were released to go hit the showers.
I was a little worried about leaving the girls at the bottom of a very dark hill but I found the teachers and knew they'd be in good hands.

How did I find them in the dark you might ask?? Well, here's one.And here are the others. Aren't they a fun bunch??