The Bear Who Came to Dinner...

~at Kelly and Karen's Tent~

Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch--July 2012



Happily anticipating a shower and fresh clothes, Kelly "Rambo" dropped off her backpack in the girl's tent and headed to the shower to wash off four days worth of dust and sweat. In her eagerness, Kelly neglected to remove from her backpack the granola bars she hadn't eaten during the four-day wilderness backpacking trek. Leaving food in your tent is not a good idea in bear country...

Idly wondering why Kelly would leave one of her hiking boots carelessly tossed out the back "door," I replaced it beside its mate back in the tent and then I notice my sleeping bag hanging almost totally off the cot and my pillow on the floor.  "Hmm, somebody's been sleeping in my bed," I chuckled to myself. The scouts aren't really supposed to go into the adults' tents but perhaps it was my son Daniel looking for the money I was keeping for him or seeking a towel to borrow.

I shrugged it off and went out to sit under the pine trees with the other adults, when an impromptu leader's meeting ensued and Kelly, having returned from her shower, stepped over to our tent to get some paperwork.

"My backpack is gone!" We gave her all sorts of helpful advice: "Look under your cot." "Maybe Chandler has it." "Are you sure you put it in there?"

I checked the perimeter of our tent; others searched throughout the entire campsite. Scott was walking up the hill behind our tent city when he saw what appeared to be a pile of trash. It wasn't. It was Kelly's back pack with stuff emptied out and scattered about. Her ground pad was more than slightly shredded and her sleeping bag was gone. As were the granola bars.


The next day we returned from our activities to discover that the bear had returned to our tent and, finding no food, he had ripped into a couple bags of clothing. The bear also checked out a neighboring tent. While there, it appeared that he had had a first-hand experience with mentholatum (that picture in my head still makes me laugh.)

We decided to form a search party for Kelly's sleeping bag. The Boy Scouts spread out, searching the hilly woods behind our campsite. They spotted handfuls of down feathers here and there, which led them finally to the sleeping bag which was ripped beyond repair.

After these two episodes, we set up a bear patrol, leaving a leader or a couple of the older scouts in the campsite at all times. Sure enough, the bear did return but all it took to scare him off were some manly shouts and a big rock tossed in his direction. I was actually a bit disappointed that I never got to see a bear but Kelly and I will forever hold the dubious distinction of hosting the "bear who came to dinner..."

Proud to Be An American...

Eagle Scout

It wasn't the first Eagle ceremony that I had ever attended but it was the first one after my Cubs and I had crossed over into Boy Scouts. And the first one after my middle son had begun work on his own Eagle project.

Perhaps it was the beauty of the solidarity of this family's involvement--Dad:  the scoutmaster, Mom: the soloist, sisters in attendance: one with camera in hand, the other home from college for this event. Maybe it was because I knew Justin personally and had observed his character and enjoyed his company at summer camp and several weekend camping events.

Whatever the reason, I found myself teary-eyed several times during the ceremony. Which made some of my pictures come out al little blurry. Because blinking back tears isn't the optimal thing to do when taking photographs.

                                                        ...the flag still stands for freedom,
                                                        and they can't take that away.

                                                        And I'm proud to be an American,
                                                        where at least I know I'm free.
                                                        And I won't forget the men who died,
                                                        who gave that right to me.

                                                        And I gladly stand up,

                                                        next to you and defend her still today.
                                                        ‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
                                                        God bless the USA!

                                                                                   Congratulations, Justin!!

Camping at Fawn Creek

A Weekend Spent Camping at Fawn Creek Campground
                               during which I see neither a fawn or a creek

The boys scrambled into my van and noisily seated themselves, I started the engine. then I laid down some ground rules for the trip. Pseudo-sternly I stated, " I am banning a certain particular bodily function AND any discussion of that certain particular bodily function."

My own offspring was the first to transgress; however, not the last. And here is where we will let that subject lie, hopefully forever, but probably not.

We were some miles down the road when the subject of camping supplies came.up.

 A. asked me knowingly, " So, did you bring an extra blanket?"
"No, I brought two."
"A flashlight?"
"Two."
"A poncho?"
"Two--and two umbrellas."

Yep. I am the personification of the boy Scout motto: Be Prepared.

I spent the weekend wearing 3 shirts, 3 jackets, 2 pairs of pants and 2 pairs of socks. Which probably explains why I looked rather pudgy. Either that or the Caramel Apple Cobbler.

Ahhh, Caramel Apple Cobbler. That's what I called it anyway. P. said the recipe, a closely guarded secret, has been handed down from generation to generation in his family.  Well, perhaps that isn't quite what he said.

(I am certainly not going to admit that almost anybody could find that recipe on the internet if they would just google "Dutch Oven Apple Cobbler.")


Fawn Creek Campsite--Tent city!                                    

             

wildlife in campground--a teeny little scorpion

wildlife outside campground--a "herd" of bison

new scouts work on earning "fireman's chit"

making Caramel Apple Cobbler

                                                 

the finished product

It may not be pretty but it was delicious!

Good Eating around the campsite

The Cobra Patrol had meatball sandwiches and the Adult Patrol had Beef Stew. I wouldn't want to brag but since I wasn't the only one who was cooking, I can brag a little. It was the best stew I have ever eaten in my whole entire life,which might have something to do with the beef STEAK we used! Thanks, Grubmaster!

Flowers in camp. Just smile and nod. It's what I do...take photos of flowers...and boy scouts.

Our Trip to the Museum at Fort Sill

Cleaning up and packing the trailer.
How many scouts does it take to put the trash in the bin?
Apparently three.

Chandler's bass shows up again

Our scoutmaster, sharing a Sunday morning devotional.

our troop