Camping List

You may think I am crazy. But I am So ready for Spring!!!! I am so ready that I already have a camping PACKING list, reservations in Indiana, plans to camp in KY, TN, and maybe even AR this summer!!! I also have seeds to plant in my FIRST EVER GARDEN!!!
Don't get me wrong...I am still enjoying the cool fresh air, and even sometimes brisk and cold, but nevertheless refreshing wind on my face in in my lungs. But when I see the chance of buds on trees and birds exercising their vocals I get EXCITED! I am enjoying no bugs, no humidity, and less business right now....
but I'm still writing my packing lists!!
If you're excited, read on and ADD anything you think might help:

water shoes
rain ponchos
outdoor picnic-type blanket
sunscreen
bug spray
citronella candles
long lighter
lighter fluid (just in case)
newspaper to start fire (twigs are usually gathered around campsite)
firewood and ice can be bought at camp store
travel high chair
plastic baggies and a few clothes pins
fan
beach towels - 1 per person (use the same one 4 everything)
line - for towels/clothes
trash bags (2-3)
hammer
citronella candles
lantern, flashlights (with new batteries)
tarp (to go under tent)
pack-n-play, crib sheet, blankets
blow-up mattress
pool float for Brielle
sleeping bags, pillows, blankets
swimsuits, hats, a few swim toys, life jacket
1 basketball, 1 volleyball (large orange), 1 wiffle ball and bat
smallest hand pump ever
Frisbee, cards, dice
aluminum foil
cooking spray
can opener
skillet
sos pads
1 gallon of water
BBQ spatula and tongs
metal sticks for hotdogs/marshmallows
small pot for boiling water (4 coffee/cocoa, oatmeal)
1 roll of paper towels, 1 roll of toilet paper or box of tissues

I'm not getting OLD, just older in my thinking...

I think it is a sign of aging when you think really hard about something and just get MAD about it, or frustrated really, especially when it has to do with the thinking of some people. I'm not saying I'm getting old, I just feel frustrated when people don't see things they way I see them (considering I'm a fairly open-minded person). Okay, that sounded "old." But, it's not the young people, it's the older people. It is frustrating when people want to stand back, pull their hands back, and say "that's not my problem" or "we don't need to go there." There is a younger generation following our lead, whether they want to admit it or not! And if we don't have some "crazy" people (obviously like myself) coming out and say, "you know, there is a better way to do this," or "don't do it that way just because everyone else is," or even "I've been there. And I've learned this: ______"
If the older and middle-aged generations do not learn new things (and learn from what they've experienced) and actually teach it to the upcoming generation, then we will not progress. Not a a society, nor as people. And by progress, I mean taking it back to the natural. When human beings were in touch with this earth, it's Creator, it's animal inhabitants, and with each other.
Why is that so hard to get past? To move toward? Why do we put up boundaries that are anything but natural?
I was so frustrated that I actually hand washed my dishes on purpose, just to calm myself down!

Two things I never thought I'd say

Two sentences I thought I’d never type: “I think I may plant a garden in the Spring” (something I thought I’d never consider until Brielle was say…four?) But, inspired by the produce and the natural relationship between human and earth (thanks Phil and Tiff) I’m considering it. They have already been harvesting from the Harvest Network Garden, and have shared with us many potatoes, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a green pepper. There were also yummy blueberries there! It was so exciting to pull weeds and dig up potatoes (even when it was really HOT) and the prospect of feeding my family healthier produce for less cost is really very appealing! If you want to know more about the economical reasons to garden: ask Phil!

On to sentence #2: “I think I’m going to switch to cloth-diapers.” I know, I know, it seems like an insane statement. I’ve actually read about it here and there on the internet…then one day I was reading some nice lady’s breastfeeding BLOG (I can’t find it again for anything) and she did a whole breakdown on the cloth diaper business. And it made sense. At least at the moment when the $$ savings were calculated! Since then I’ve been reading, reading, reading about cloth diapering and here is how I’ve come to see it:
There are basically three economical ways to cloth diaper: the expensive way, the cheap way, and the in-between way. Some GENUIS CALCULATED it all for us! The cheap way is to buy a bunch of prefold cloth diapers (the kind mom used) and basic covers, maybe a few snappis, and call it a day. The in-between way is to learn how to make those really cute diapers yourself! Hey, and once you do that you can even keep right on making them and sell them on hyenacart.com as many moms do. Regardless, with any of these systems you have to have a pail to put them in, dry or wet, with a washable liner. You can have a sprayer (this is cool) that connects to the back of your toilet for solid-fed babies. You also have to wash them every few days, and from what I’ve read there is a PROCESS involved.
But here is what really got me: the environment. It takes 500 years for one diaper to decompose!!! I think of all of the thousands of diapers I threw into landfills when I ran daycare (a 13 gallon bag a day usually) or worked in the 2 yr old preschool classroom. I feel bad. But hey, I didn’t know, just like I never thought of recycling or the fact that breastfeeding uses so many LESS cans of formula (um, 0) and since Brielle likes table food over jarred baby food, we just keep on with the roll (okay the last two were unintentional). But maybe that helps, one step at a time, to preserve our beautiful earth. And maybe it will encourage others to consider it as well (here’s hoping!).
Then, after researching, reading, and reading more… I began to kind of chicken out. It just seemed like so much more WORK! However, when I told my mother-in-law about my idea, she was so supportive. She said, “I give you one month.” ???? What ???? She challenged me! grrrrrrrr….. J So, now I’m on mission.
My parents offered to start us out with the basics: 24 pre-folds, and 6 diaper covers. Cheapest place we could find: babybestbuy.com. Total cost: 32.18. While I think those are the only necessities we need (I’m using old cotton cloths for wet wipes) the other items mentioned would be SUPER great to have (i.e. the sprayer, the snappis, the pail liner, or even more diapers) if you are feeling donatious. I’ll keep it posted on this blog what we have/get and how it goes for REAL once we get the cloth diapers delivered!