Vacation - Part 2

We're on vacation in a cabin at Big Bear Lake. The weather is beautiful and the village is walking distance away, so I'm getting some exercise. Also, the cabin is three stories, so I'm getting a new kind of workout going up and down all those stairs.

In addition to this blog and my other freelance writing, I also have a blog at Prevention.com. Check out the following entry, then check back here in a few days for a progress report.

http://buzz.prevention.com/community/stressfreemom/bring-back-souvenirs-from-vacation-not-extra-pounds

Don't Forget the Camera!

We went camping this week. We arrived on Sunday afternoon to find that the spot we had reserved was tiny and sloped at about a 30 degree angle. I was just sure that we would slide down the hill and into the ravine below. Luckily, the camp was not crowded, and we were able to find a lovely, shady and spacious spot in a loop all by ourselves. I love camping during the week!

Our final morning, my husband and I hiked up to the nature center, a beautiful and somewhat challenging hike that ended at a big, flat-rocked vista point, which would have been a perfect spot for a picnic. On a Tuesday morning, we had the place all to ourselves. The only problem - we forgot to bring the camera!

Vacation Time

It's August, so the baseball camps are all done, and it's officially vacation time. We leave tomorrow for a camping adventure in Idyllwild. I've only been there once before. My friend Pam took us to her mom's house for the weekend when we were still in college, so it's been....a really long time!

It's always fun to check out a new camping spot. This one has "partial shade," so we're bringing a shade structure with just in case. We borrowed a dutch oven from friends, so we're going to try to bake cinnamom rolls at the campsite. Should be an adventure!

No time to camp this summer? Just set up that tent in the backyard, blow up those air mattresses, set out the sleeping bags and go for it. You don't have to go far from home to have a great time outdoors.

Never Too Old

You're never too old to learn something new. If you read yesterday's post, you know that we went camping this weekend. When we checked into the campground, we were warned about mountain lions and told that the bees were plentiful as well. However, we were also given a tarantula warning. That was a new one for me, and the very first night I happened upon a group of excited children who had spotted a tarantula. Unfortunately for the tarantula, it had also been spotted by a tarantula hawk, a type of large wasp that stings its prey and ....well, the rest is too graphic for this website. But, if you have a child who is interested in insects or spiders, you may want to find out more about tarantula hawks. Just remember - nature isn't always pretty!

The Joys of Camping

This weekend we went camping with a group of friends. I had forgotten how much fun camping can be, having opted the last couple of years for a cabin in the mountains instead of a tent. While staying in a cabin offers certain advantages - like hot water, comfy beds, a full kitchen, hot tub and pool table - it still doesn't compare to camping.

There's just something about being outdoors all day long that can't be beat. Mind you, we do it the old fashioned way, with just a tent and campstove. For us, the point of camping is to get away from the technology that dominates our lives. We want to rediscover the thrill of communing with nature, listening to the wind blowing through the trees, gazing up at the stars from a hammock. No TV, no radio, no newspapers. The X-Box is replaced with a friendly game of horseshoes, the gameboy with a game of cards.

When we arrive home, we are refreshed, relaxed and ready to plan the next trip.