Monthly Archives: October 2016

Daily thoughts

Columbus day weekend

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As a workcamper, you know holiday weekends can be busy or not so much. Generally, Columbus Day is a busy weekend.  Families wanting to get that one last camping time in or couples just wanting to sneak away for a quiet weekend. Perhaps grandparents wanting to take the grandkids out for a weekend of camping enjoying the benefits a smore or hot dogs on the open fire.  I worked Friday day shift and it was busy. My boss was mowing the trails watching the parade of trailers, motor homes coming into the campground. Sometimes groups of 3, other times 2. I was getting slammed with people. Some were regular campers which we are always happy to see. Some idle talk and then on to the next one to get that person registered for camping. Wood sales were going crazy. People buying wood for the long weekend at a record pace, one bundle, two, three ,four and a few six bundle sales. I was so busy I didn’t even get a lunch. 

Shift change is at 3 pm but I stayed on until 5 pm. This time of the year we all have to watch our hours because the county only lets us work 600 hrs in a season. Come October most of us are getting close to maxing out on hours so the boss has us watch how close we are. Hence the reason I only worked till 5pm.

Columbus day weekend holds some special memories for me. We have a family vacation cabin in northern Wisconsin and  we would close the cabin up for the winter. This would entail pulling the pier out of the lake and putting everything away in the garage including the boat. I won’t bore you with the little details we would do all weekend. We would have a great cookout dinner on Saturday night with some steaks to finish out another season in the Northwoods.  It was a great family time but now it’s just another weekend since mom and dad are gone. 

To finish up here at Big Rock we ended up breaking some records for the number of campers for the weekend. We had 73 units in the park for Columbus day weekend! WOW, people are finding out about this little gem in Big Rock, IL. So there you have it another Columbus day weekend in the books and another day closer to my travels south for the winter.

 

Be safe out there! 

 

 

 

recipe

Crock Pot Stuffing

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Crock Pot Stuffing
Great easy stuffing that you use a crock pot and keep more space open in the oven!
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Prep Time
1 hr 30 min
Cook Time
8 hr
Total Time
9 hr 30 min
Prep Time
1 hr 30 min
Cook Time
8 hr
Total Time
9 hr 30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 c. butter
  2. 1 1/2 tsp. sage
  3. 2 c. chopped onion
  4. 2 c. chopped celery
  5. 1 tsp. thyme
  6. 1/2 tsp. pepper
  7. 1/4 c parsley sprigs
  8. 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  9. 1 (28-oz.) can mushrooms
  10. 3 1/2 c. chicken or turkey broth
  11. 12 c. day-old bread, cubed (I use different types)
  12. 2 eggs, well beaten
  13. 1 tsp poultry seasoning
  14. 2 lbs bulk or link Italian Sausage. (if links remove the casing after cooking and cutting in to small bite size pieces)
Instructions
  1. Cook the sausage until done (this can be done the night before)
  2. Melt butter and saute onion, celery, parsley and mushrooms.
  3. Pour mixture over bread cubes in large mixing bowl.
  4. Add poultry seasoning, sage,thyme, pepper and garlic powder.
  5. Toss well.
  6. Pour enough broth to moisten. Add eggs and mix well.
  7. Pack lightly into slow cooker and cover.
  8. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours.
Notes
  1. Keep an eye on the stuffing to make sure it doesn't dry out and you may have to add more broth.
Lost Rambler https://lostrambler.com/hodor/
travel plans

Fall is upon us as another season comes to a close.

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The days of summer seem to be gone now. The temperatures have changed once again. The leaves are starting to change colors. Farmers are picking corn and beans hoping for a good plentiful harvest. Last fall when arriving in Texas, seeing green corn was weird in December. Not that it should be but it just was to me being from Illinois where the corn has long been harvested by then.  It truly amazes me how fast the summer sped by again. We gain knowledge over the years but time just keeps gaining speed so it seems.

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As I reflect of this camping season, so many things have changed. I did enjoy seeing the campers which I enjoyed visiting with last year. I did miss the ones who never came to camp this year. I do wonder what happened to them? Did they move or did something change in their life that camping was no longer a priority or perhaps ……

Now we come into the Columbus day weekend, the last hurrah for most. They come to camp and then winterize their units. I feel sorry in a way for them because they only have snow along with the coldness of mother winter to look forward to now. With the brief glimpse of spring way on the horizon. When they can get out again to enjoy the wonderfulness of camping again.  While they are planning their weekend and returning the camper into a sleeping mode. I am trip planning and scoping out new campgrounds to explore. The thought of warm weather and another enjoyable winter without the threat of snow and the coldness that Illinois bring upon us during the season called winter. I am thankful for the lifestyle I have chosen.

As the time winds down to I leave IL the project list is still long. I guess it’s time to re-prioritize the list. I know what has to be done and I know what I want to be done.  I realize that some projects will get pushed to the bottom of the list. I am okay with that.  I am looking forward to my yearly visit with friends. Friends and family are important even tho sometimes we just take that for granted.

It is a cloudy gloomy day which has been filled with rain. I am expecting a delivery from UPS with some of the things needed for projects. Chloe is asleep on her usual place the couch.

Reflection is good sometimes, it helps us remember what is important in life.

So there we have it! Another day closer to wrapping up another season in the campground.

Take care and have a great day!

 

Richard