This all began last November. Harvest was over a little earlier than usual and we decided to go camping. “We” also included the Rathe’s and their trailer house. It was a perfect weekend and having the trailer house and it’s amenities (refrigerator, electricity, furnace, Mark’s cooking, etc.) made it even better.

Last week, we decided if it was going to take place this year, the past weekend was the only time we had before Jim started back to work and it got any colder. Seems like schedules are so hard to work around! The weather looked like it was still going to be fairly nice and there was no talk of moisture. Everyone was for it and the plans were made. Everyone, except the Rathe’s. They weren’t going to be able to go which meant no trailer house and none of Mark’s cooking.

We decided Waubonsie State Park near Hamburg, IA would be our destination. Jenna and I took off with the tents and a load of wood before everyone else late Friday afternoon. She and I got the tents set up just before Jamie, Taylor and Callie showed up. The sun was going down FAST! Everyone found a job to do and the campsite was finished being set up with the help of the van’s headlights. While the girls were putting the beds, etc. together, I got a fire started. Our new home had been created and the next step was a hotdog. Jim, Curt and Abe (the granddog) showed up shortly after 9:00. It was a good thing they trailed behind as I had forgotten a couple of necessary items – like my dutch oven.

We woke up on Saturday, got the fire started again and breakfast (bacon, eggs and pancakes) prepared. I had an enamel stock pot that remained on the fire grill constantly for hot chocolate. The day was beautiful for the middle of November – lower 60’s. Friday night’s low was probably 40 degrees or so. No one complained of being too cold but the fire sure felt good. The Nebraska/Penn State football game was tuned in on Curt’s pickup at 11:00. Jim and Curt didn’t move from their chairs…much. The girls and I took a little drive to nearby Sidney, IA. Later, Jamie and I went into the town of Hamburg to see if there were any antique stores. There was a store but it was getting re-stocked after being evacuated in May due to the Mighty Mo flooding. The owner very emotionally recalled the past five months of dealing with the flood waters and how it changed the course of the river and the people.

The rest of the day was spent around the campfire. A couple of times, Callie and Taylor entertained us with their lovely music via the guitar and ukulele. Their fingers would get too cold so it didn’t last very long (unfortunately). We tried to convince Curt to break out his harmonica but it didn’t happen. The day went into night fairly fast.

The second night was as nice as the first and no complaints of being cold. On Sunday morning, we fixed breakfast and decided it was time to go on a hike through the woods before packing up camp and heading for home.  We may be crazy for camping this time of the year but we’ve got to take advantage of these times when we can. We had a great time and I hated to see the weekend have to come to an end. We have decided, though, it will be an annual event and Curt volunteered to make the t-shirts. LOVE IT!

To see more pictures of the weekend, go to our Zeorian Harvesting & Trucking Facebook page.

Saturday morning in our tent.

Abe was constantly trying to rearrange our woodpile.

Warming up with hot chocolate and tea.

Most of the trees had no leaves so they made this one really stand out!

Jenna taking a catnap.

We didn’t see much of Taylor all weekend. She wasn’t feeling good and spent a lot of her time in the tent.

Saturday night – cooking by flashlight.

Sunday morning.

Sunday morning breakfast.

It was really cold standing on top of the bluff we hiked to.

The view from on top of the bluff. Most of this valley would have been under water this summer.

Jenna carrying through with her “jumping” posts. Nice hurdle, Jen!

Taking a break.

Tearing down camp. No more tent.