your wife looks like misery

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This is where I spent my weekend, camping on a farm.  It was cold, but it was beautiful. 

 

It was a great Scouting weekend.  Lots of food, lots of fun, lots of laughter.  A water balloon catapult (in near freezing temperatures!), a course in fire starting, and another in orienteering, all held around a much-needed campfire in the company of friendly Scouts and Scouters.  But, oh my gosh, it was cold.

Scoutmaster K prepared a delicious pot of Texas Ranger Stew for dinner.  He threw in hamburger, tomatoes, corn, rice, onions, and some other stuff.  Heated it all up and served it with bread.  This stuff really hit the spot as the sun was going down.  We sat around the fire, ate, talked, and joked with one another.  But, soon it was time to go to bed.

Here's a quick word of advice:  Always look up before you pitch your tent.  Having neglected to examine the trees surrounding my chosen spot, I place our tent underneath a nearly-dead pine tree.  When the wind picked up after the sun went down, and Mr. Hull and I were tucked into our sleeping bags trying to snooze, the tree began to creak.  I spent most of the night praying that the tree would not fall on us or those in the surrounding tents.  According to my husband, pine branches fall like spears and are often called "widow-makers."  Lesson learned.  Always look up.

I can also tell you, with much accuracy, that coyotes have definitely claimed the area in which we live.  Sometime after Mr. Hull woke with a startled shout around 1 AM (he was so cold he thought he had died and gone to hell), I heard the yips, yaps, and yells begin.  The trio of farm dogs charged across the cow pasture towards the sound of the incoming intruders.  After a bit, things settled down and I was
finally able to sleep.

The next morning dawned after many hours of restless tossing and turning.  Upon seeing my morning face, an old friend told my husband that I looked like "pure misery."  Wow, thanks!  Truth be told, I had an enjoyable weekend.  And, I know that the boys that we were with absolutely did.  This was the first camping trip for some.  To know that I have had a hand in giving some young Scouts a memorable experience that will help them continue along the Scouting Trail and further enable these boys to grow into men of character makes the cold, the fear, and the coyotes all worth it.

Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  Next November?  Nah... I think I'll advocate for June!

a little too comfortable

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As our fall weather quickly turns winter-ish here in the mountains of Virginia, I sit and listen to the tinkling of heat coming through our floor vents.  I am at once both grateful for the year-round comfort that a heat pump provides, and nostalgic for the seasonal temperature changes within the house as well as out.

not my house

When I was a young girl, I would spend the days with my granny while my mother and father worked.  My granny lived in an aging apartment complex with cast-iron radiators for heat in the winter.  There was no air-conditioning at all.  During the summer, she would crank the windows open and place a large electric window fan at the other end of the room, to get a "cross-draft."  She would sit in front of that window for most of the day, enjoying the cool breezes while I played outside in the heat.  Unlike my son, I wouldn't say that it was too "hot" to play outside, only coming in for an occasional glass of cool lemonade.

When the weather turned cool and the leaves began to change, the window would be closed for the season and the heavy drapes drawn across.  There were no floor-length drapes in her home, though, because a radiator sat beneath each window.    As the superintendent turned the heat on each year, there would be much popping and crackling while the radiator stretched its seasonal legs.  A funny smell would appear as dust burned away from the large, heavy coils.  And, the heat would be on again.

not my granny's radiator

The radiators were topped with huge slabs of marble.  I don't know if it was something that my granny had acquired over the years, or if they were provided by the apartment owners.  However, the huge pieces of rock turned the radiators into hot-topped tables during the winter.  While I would place my cheek against the cool surface in the warmer months, I knew better than to touch those burning slabs of marble if the heat was on.  At home, my mother would reheat her coffee in the microwave.  Well, I can't remember if my granny had a microwave or not, but she didn't really need one as long as she had her radiators going. I can recall that she would set her coffee cup on the table-top each morning and the liquid would stay warm throughout the day. 

As I sit here this morning, sipping my own coffee, in my own home, I fondly remember those days when there was a true hot seat in the house.  A place that was warmer than any other.  The other corners of the room may have been drafty, but there was always that coveted seat next to the radiator.  I remember the mornings of waking to rush down and cold hallway to use the restroom.  The days of entering a cold room in which my dad had turned off the electric baseboards and wishing the heat would just hurry up and rush out at my cold feet.  The evenings when the seasons could surely be felt in your bones and you cuddled together under warm afghan blankets with hot cups of cocoa.  And, I sit here in my t-shirt, listening to my heat drift up through the floor vents, watching my daughter run around bottomless (we're potty-training), and I'm completely comfortable.  A blanket is on the couch beside me, for comfort, but I do not need it.  I know that, though the sun shines bright, the air outside is quite cold for an early November day.  I realize that, when we go out, we'll have to put on coats.  Yet, for now, it is 72 degrees in every corner of my home.  The perfect temperature.

For that, I am grateful.  I know that there are many people in this country, my own parents included, who are not blessed with the supreme heat pump that we have.  They don't have super-tight, energy-efficient homes.  They don't necessarily have heat pumps.  They may still have baseboards, radiators, or just plain fireplaces and wood stoves.  I know that we are blessed.  And yet, maybe we'll turn that thermostat down a little bit and throw an extra blanket on the bed.  Not just to save money, but to teach the kids just how blessed we are.

not me, not my bed

Oh, and when I'm camping in 28 degree temperatures this weekend, I will definitely miss my heat-pump.  Bundle up, ya'll!

mabry mill

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This weekend, we took a short drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to visit Mabry Mill, the site of an old grist mill in Southwest Virginia.  

It is really a beautiful place to visit in the fall, and people flock there from all over the place.  On the weekends, they feature live music and historic programs at the property's outbuildings.  There are also a few small fields for picnicking.  

Katie enjoyed playing in the grass and running through the leaves.  Luckily, crowds thinned out in this area and we were still able to keep up with her pretty well.  

Alex acted as if he was bored the entire time we were there, but later admitted that he had a good time.  Some days, I just don't know what to do with this nine-year-old boy.

We were able to walk through the inside of the mill, where they still grind up and sell buckwheat and grits.  We also got to look out the window for an up close view of the water wheel.

 

Here, Alex and Katie play with corn cob checkers outside of the Appalachia Cabin.  Imagine the time it would have taken the parents to make this game for their children.  Each checker is a dried out piece of a corn husk, half of which are dyed red to distinguish between the players.

Will we return some day?  Probably, but not until she's able to walk the whole way.  The path isn't long, but there are some steps that make using the stroller a little difficult.  Besides, Katie doesn't like riding in the stroller anyway.  Try carrying a squirming toddler through a fall-leaves crowd! 

If you're in Virginia and are planning to take a drive on the parkway to see the colors, this is a great destination.  Pack a picnic lunch, or plan to arrive early to eat in the Mabry Mill restaurant.  Or, go early in the day, swing through Floyd on the way home, and have a bite at the Pine Tavern, as we did.  Fried chicken, oh yum!

cheesy potato soup

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The weather is turning nippy, leaves are changing colors, boy scouts are selling popcorn (ahem), Halloween costumes are being made, and the wind is blowing strong.  It's time to whip up some soup!

For this recipe, you'll need:

• A bunch of potatoes.  I think I used about 8 medium russets
• Two cans of stock, whatever type you have.  Use homemade if you want.
• A couple of cups of water
• Cheese.  I prefer cheddar.   I used a LOT for this, use as much as you're willing.  At least two cups, I'd say.
• Milk or cream.  About a cup, maybe two depending on how creamy you like your soup and which dairy option you choose.
• Corn starch, two to four tablespoons.  Again, this depends on how thick you like your soup.
• A dash or three of Worcestershire sauce for tanginess.
• Green onions to make it pretty

Lookie here.  I thought this was the most ingenious move of the year.  I used my apple peeler/corer/slicer to peel and slice my potatoes!  Who would've thunk of that?  I just stuck that bad boy in there, gave it a twirl, and had handy-dandy potato curls.  Viola! 

See how easy it can be?

And, then, you get these cute little potato rings.  They boil up really quickly, too.  This is how I've started doing my mashed potatoes, as well as the taters for this soup.

Then, pour your water and broth in a pot and boil 'em up just like so.  You don't need that stick of butter in the background.  That was for something else. When your potatoes are all nice and soft, take a trusty potato masher and smoosh them all up.  Whatever you do, don't drain them! 

Then, add your cheese.  If you buy it in a block, like I do, grate it up and toss it in.  I did about a cup at a time.  Stir it up so that the cheese gets all nice and melty.  If you use extra sharp cheddar, you'll probably wind up using less than two cups.  Or, you could do a combination of a few of your favorite cheeses.  Once you've got all your cheese melted, add your milk.  Just drizzle it in while stirring.  Mix it all up and then add your corn starch.  Make sure to follow the directions on the back of the corn starch container, or else it will be all lumpy.  Add salt and pepper as desired.  Simmer the soup for awhile, however long you happen to have.  Then, either use an immersion blender to smooth everything out or put a few cups of soup in your blender at a time.  Just, cover the hole in the top of the blender, so that you don't splatter everywhere!  Pour the soup back into the pot and repeat.  When you're done, it should be nice and thick and smooth.

Then, add your Worcestershire sauce.  If you add it at the end, it gives the soup the kick it needs.  Serve in bowls, garnished with green olives.  We ate ours with yummy grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, topped with caramelized onions and spicy mustard.  (Thanks to Arisce for that recipe.)

Snapshot

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Fall. Pretty, isn't it?

Poptober

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source

Welcome to Pop-tober!  If you haven't noticed, Boy Scouts everywhere have been selling popcorn to raise money to support Scouting.  Well, wouldn't you know that my son is no different?  Alex is selling his heart out, but he needs your help.  You see, if he sells $600 worth of popcorn during the first two weeks of the sale, then he'll win a trip to Virginia Tech to participate in a program full of interactive scientific experiments, designed specifically for our Council's Top Popcorn Sellers.  Alex wants to be an engineer, so this would be HUGE for him.

How can you help?  I'm glad you asked!  Just go to Trail's End, enter my son's Scout ID number,

8204455

and place an order.  Your popcorn will be mailed directly to you.  

What's so great about Scout popcorn?  Well, it tastes super yummy, doesn't have any of those nasty trans fats, and comes in new eco-friendly resealable packaging.  Less packaging means less waste and more money goes directly to support Scouting!

Thanks for considering supporting my son in his endeavor, and supporting Scouting in general.  Regularly scheduled posts will resume tomorrow, but this was important enough to tell ya'll about.  Besides, who can say no to a Cub Scout?  He begged me, I tell ya!

'

Rain, rain, go away

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It has been a rainy couple of days around here. Our temps have gotten cooler and more fall-like, which is great, but we can't get out and enjoy it because it is so wet. Also, Mr. Hull started building a storage shed on Saturday, but is unable to resume work until Tuesday because of the forecast. On a better note, our freshly planted grass will have lots of water to aid in it's growth.

With all these home improvements taking place, it is a wonder we've had time to do anything else. However, we have been even more active in Scouting, as I am my son's newest Den Leader. Katie has gone back to Melody Makers and storytime at the library, and I am in the midst of reading a delightful novel called The Gin Room. So, all is well in Hull-land. We're off to start another wet, yet exciting day. Ta-ta!

sneak peek

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Psst... here's a peek at some of the fabric I'm working with for my Fall '10 collections. 

Cream, gray, and deep purple

I'm really loving that central print.

This will become sets of mini pumpkins, like the ones that were so popular last year.