Showing posts with label water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water. Show all posts
August 15, 2012
July 31, 2012
Road trip 2012, part 4: Backpacking (the campsite)
Once we got to the end of the trail, it was time to find a spot to camp. The conditions were: 200+ feet from water (the requirements for having a campfire), a flat spot for the tent, and away from people. Despite the fact that we only encountered three people on the hike up, there were two other camps set up by the lake when we got there. Really, not so bad, but we wanted to have a little privacy.
And we found a lovely spot! It came complete with an established fire pit, flat area for the tent, and that view! I mean, really, what is better than that?!
Once we got set up, we realized how chilly it was, so we got ready to start a fire. I'd been collecting this stuff on our hike up:
Mark said Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild suggested it for a fire starter, so I filled my pockets with it as we hiked. I was so proud of how much I gathered, but collecting wood proved much more challenging. Turns out, we could have fires because there had been so much rain recently, so dry wood was tough to find. Once we'd collected enough (which took a lot of effort because we would get so winded from the altitude) it started raining. Seriously. Rain and hail. Not a lot, but enough to soak any wood we didn't cover with our bodies or put under the trees.
Despite that, Mark started a fire. I was so proud of him. I nearly cried after it rained because I've never seen a fire start after that sort of weather, but he did it and it saved the evening. It was cold and that was what we needed.
The sun barely set by the time we were bundled up in our sleeping bags, ready to rest our cold, exhausted bodies. We wanted to look at the stars, but our eyes barely allowed it, minus a mid-eve wake-up to (sorry for this) pee on a tree.
And this was our morning site. The sun coming over the mountains, reflecting oh-so-perfectly on the still lake.
We ate some breakfast, and then were on our way! Pictures of the hike down to come soon.
And we found a lovely spot! It came complete with an established fire pit, flat area for the tent, and that view! I mean, really, what is better than that?!
Once we got set up, we realized how chilly it was, so we got ready to start a fire. I'd been collecting this stuff on our hike up:
Mark said Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild suggested it for a fire starter, so I filled my pockets with it as we hiked. I was so proud of how much I gathered, but collecting wood proved much more challenging. Turns out, we could have fires because there had been so much rain recently, so dry wood was tough to find. Once we'd collected enough (which took a lot of effort because we would get so winded from the altitude) it started raining. Seriously. Rain and hail. Not a lot, but enough to soak any wood we didn't cover with our bodies or put under the trees.
Despite that, Mark started a fire. I was so proud of him. I nearly cried after it rained because I've never seen a fire start after that sort of weather, but he did it and it saved the evening. It was cold and that was what we needed.
The sun barely set by the time we were bundled up in our sleeping bags, ready to rest our cold, exhausted bodies. We wanted to look at the stars, but our eyes barely allowed it, minus a mid-eve wake-up to (sorry for this) pee on a tree.
And this was our morning site. The sun coming over the mountains, reflecting oh-so-perfectly on the still lake.
We ate some breakfast, and then were on our way! Pictures of the hike down to come soon.
July 30, 2012
Glass hangers for house plant propagation
As if we didn't have enough houseplants already, I've been taking cuttings from a few and putting them in vases around the house. Yes, I want the house to be a jungle. Someday, maybe. Anyways, there was an accident with one of the vases that resulted in two of Mark's carboys for brewing beer breaking, and the dollar vase from Goodwill being totally fine. My solution: hang the cuttings.
Two of the bottles I used were from American Science & Surplus in Milwaukee. I picked them up on our road trip for something like, 50 cents a piece. I wish I could find them on the site, but they don't seem to be available online.
The other, the longest one, was from an oil lantern that I lost the main piece to.
I wrapped them with wire and beads in various ways and voila! Hanging propagation bottles for my cuttings.
I'll likely make more if I find more bottles. You could probably do something similar with other bottles or vases, but what I like about these is that they don't have flat bottoms and don't sit upright, so they need to be hung. Each is different, and they look pretty in the bay window in our dining room. I love looking at the roots as they grow.
Two of the bottles I used were from American Science & Surplus in Milwaukee. I picked them up on our road trip for something like, 50 cents a piece. I wish I could find them on the site, but they don't seem to be available online.
The other, the longest one, was from an oil lantern that I lost the main piece to.
I wrapped them with wire and beads in various ways and voila! Hanging propagation bottles for my cuttings.
I'll likely make more if I find more bottles. You could probably do something similar with other bottles or vases, but what I like about these is that they don't have flat bottoms and don't sit upright, so they need to be hung. Each is different, and they look pretty in the bay window in our dining room. I love looking at the roots as they grow.
February 21, 2012
A sunny weekend!
So, there's snow on the ground today, but the whole most of the weekend was incredibly beautiful out. We got in a few walks and some playground fun.
Pretend grass.
Hidden Falls. Always a favorite.
Check that reflection!
Us.
Pretend grass.
Hidden Falls. Always a favorite.
Check that reflection!
Us.
August 01, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)