Back Yard Camping

There is nothing more gratifying for the mind, body and soul than interacting with Mother Nature and what better way than to take the family camping. It is the best medicine there is, whether preventative or therapeutic. Getting away into the wilderness is preferred because when you get away you leave all your work and worries behind.
If you can't get away, did you ever consider back yard camping? Building a fire pit is a great way to start. Before you do, check with your local bylaws to make sure that open fires are permitted. For an inexpensive fire pit, find an old washing machine that has been discarded and remove the inside tub. Secure the tub to a concrete or gravel base and there you have your fire pit. The holes around the outside of the tub bring oxygen in to feed the fire and it looks beautiful, especially at night, to see the flames flickering through the holes. To add some character to your fire pit, go out and gather random sizes and colors of stones and stack them part way up around the tub. Get the children involved in this. It is a great way to turn a little bit of work into a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.
To cook on top of the fire pit you can purchase an inexpensive wire grill cover that sits on top of the tub. The most delicious meals are the ones cooked and eaten outdoors. Usually, you would let the fire burn down to hot coals for the best controlled cooking temperature, unless you are able to maintain a constant low flame. Cast iron cookware is perfect for this type of cooking. Charcoal briquettes can also be used for cooking instead of wood, however, you would have to set the level of the briquettes close enough to the grill to be effective. A removable metal insert could be fashioned inside the tub to accomplish this.
In some parts of the country where our summers feel so short, this is a great way to stretch the beautiful summer days into longer days. The fire pit is a great entertainment feature for wiener roasts, marshmallow roasts and good old fashioned sing songs.
The next step for backyard camping is to set up a tent and sleep in it. There are many varieties of tents on the market, but begin with a basic style that is easy to set up. Air mattresses and sleeping bags would be great to have but comforters and blankets can work as well. It may seem comical to set a tent up in your own back yard and sleep in it when your bedroom is only steps away, but this is a great way to introduce the family to camping. Children will find this experience very exciting and at the same time the washroom or extra bedding, if needed, are only steps away.
If your family decides this is something they would really enjoy in the wilderness, it would be easy to figure out what you need for supplies after your back yard adventure.
You might be surprised at the conversations that will be sparked while sitting around the fire, staring up at the starlit sky or inside the tent when all the "night sounds" that we normally never hear from the confines of our home get the imagination running wild.

Beyond The First Impression

Have you ever formed a split second impression of someone - labeled, stereotyped or characterized them - based on their outward appearance, their mannerisms or their tone of voice? Was your first impression accurate?
Here is my story.
She walked into my salon one afternoon. It was obvious to me that her wiry salt and pepper colored hair needed shaping. She looked tired and worn. The deep lines in her leathery, sun darkened face spoke volumes about the amount of time she spent outdoors in our hot summers and bitterly cold winters. She looked physically hardened by life and time. Her frame was small, slight and uniform, unlike the typical aboriginal middle-aged woman from our area whose upper body is grossly over weight and set on legs that looked too thin to carry her.
I expected a sharp, firm voice to demand my time. As if by magic, her wrinkled face softened, her eyes smiled with a slight squint and her gentle, almost inaudible voice asked me " do you take walk-ins?" Her eyes immediately shifted to the floor as if in expectation for me to say "I'm sorry, I'm busy today". In a matter of a few seconds I came to the conclusion that this woman probably lived on a reservation, was uneducated, was dependent on social assistance, lacked self esteem and was very, very shy. I was just finishing up with a client and I sure could have used the thirty minute break I was expecting to put my feet up, but something inside me nudged me to say " Yes I do, if you don't mind waiting I'll be with you in a few minutes". She didn't smile but she breathed a big expressionless sigh as she sat down to wait.
As I began to shape her hair I felt uncomfortable with her silence so I tried some small talk half expecting simple "yes " or "no" answers that normally lead to a dead end conversation. My radio was playing softly in the background which helped to break the quiet . A news report was being read at the top of the hour. Then out of the silence my client volunteered "we are not ready for that yet". I realized I had not been paying attention to the radio but I jumped at the opening she gave me and asked " I'm sorry, what were they talking about?" "Self government" she said, " my people need more education before they take on something so big. It is not enough for our chief and our band leaders to be educated. We all need to be educated."
From that point our conversation flowed effortlessly. Time seemed to stand still. I was wishing it could. I did not want our visit to end yet.
This woman was so caring, so compassionate about her people. She was well spoken, reasonable, spiritual and patient. She had a dream - a vision for her people. She was like a mother looking out for the best interests of her children. She was a leader with quiet strength.
As I completed her hairstyle she expressed her gratitude but was totally oblivious to the fact that the style change made her look at least five years younger.
She paid for my services and left. I smiled inwardly at the gift I received by meeting her. I was grateful but sad knowing I would likely not see her again unless she had reason to pass through our town another time. In the thirty minutes I spent with her I learned several life lessons that made my service to her seem trivial. I should have paid her. I shuddered at the thought of how my first impression of her was so terribly inaccurate, so unfair. Until our conversation I branded her as insignificant based solely on her appearance. Little did I know how much this woman would impact me.
I wonder what her first impression of me was?