Gratitude Monday --Lake, Lamb, and Friends Edition

On this Monday I am grateful to say we spent a weekend camping with our friends Bob and Sylvia at Pigeon Lake.
The lake is north of us and south of them and takes each party an almost equal time to get to it. That's another thing for which to say thanks.
We do this camping weekend quite regularly though have missed the last two years. This past weekend meant getting back on track and we did.
We spent some time paddling on the lake looking at birds and such and then went for a walk in the bush where we found strawberries, raspberries, and running red raspberries. The latter grow near the ground and shoot out runners. They are very tasty.
Our evening meal included, but was not restricted to, leg of lamb done in a dutch oven. It was the best lamb ever.
Later at the campfire I had the idea to stick a Two-Bite Brownie (R) on a stick and plunge it into the flames. Fire-roasted brownies are amazing.
Best of all we got to spend time with our friends, and for it I am grateful.

The suns sets on a grand day with friends.

Photo-Finish Friday -- Camping Cuisine

We didn't get out camping this past summer.
Now with November upon us we won't have a chance again until next May.

I missed out on campfire cookery this season.
This photo is my way of remembering.

Photo-Finish Friday -Out of the Clouds

Preacher's Point, good for canoeing and hiking.

Preaching is not recommended.

We need a bit of summer.
This was taken at Preacher's Point in the West Country about a half- hour east of the Banff Park Boundary along the David Thompson Highway (Hwy 11).
It is a wonderful place to camp even though it is free and therefore very popular. The mountain peaks you see are known as ex coelis, Latin for "out of the clouds."
You can read the reason by following the link.

For best results click to my Flickr page, click again, and then select full screen.

Gratitude Monday --Friends, Fun, and Fish

I am grateful for many things this week, and every week for that matter. We have a friends we camp with and this past weekend was our annual camping weekend.
I am grateful for the time we spend with them, for the grand company, grand food, and grand times we have.
We camped at Goldeye Lake west of Nordegg and tried our hand at fishing.
Bob, below, caught one and made trout with sorrel sauce as an appetizer.
It was good.

There's a hiking trail around the lake. Bob fished while Mike, Sylvia, and I did the trail.

Here's Mike in his natural habitat examining what he determined was a bistort.

The lake is on the edge of the mountains and far enough away from light pollution that we could see the Milky Way. I am grateful for that, too.

When a Tin Foil Hat isn't Enough

Conspiracy theories are everywhere and most of the time they're amusing.
I am fond of many including, but not restricted to, lizard people , there's no other time than the present, and how the government can read our thoughts. That's why we need to wear tin foil hats.
But what do you do when you know the hat is not enough?
This:


It's cleverly disguised as a blanket for reflecting heat back to the body. We use them camping. They spread out over the sleeping bags for that extra bit of warmth on cold nights.
They sell for cheap at better dollar stores everywhere.

And as for this, well, I can take care of myself. The government will be so distracted trying to plant a thought in my head they won't notice that I have a fork.

So, is anyone else as bereft of blog ideas today as me?

Gratitude Monday – Camping

For several years now we’ve gone on an annual camping trip with some friends. It’s wonderful.
We’ve hiked and eaten some amazing campfire meals. One year we spent two nights on a small island in a lake in northeastern Alberta. The moon was full and we had the place to ourselves the first night. It is so cool to feel like you have your very own island.
I’m grateful to have these adventures with friends. It’s something we look forward to every year.
It’s good to get out feel your energy expand and encompass the
world and to re-stock your soul.
I’m grateful to do that.