Another month of camp hosting is nearly over. That means it is time to reflect on all the great gifts I received at Deception Pass State Park. But first, I will admit that I did not like it here when I first arrived. This is a huge park with hundreds of campgrounds. I was assigned…
Do we inherit specific skills from our parents? If we do, then I inherited the desire to write from both of mine. Or, maybe it is something I just learned from them. Maybe both. My dad was a journalist. Mom was an English teacher. She was also sometimes a poet. Both were English majors in…
While camp hosting this summer, I have learned to appreciate campground sounds. Previously, the sounds hovered on the outskirts of my subconscious mind. However, I have taught myself to consciously listen. The daily sound cycle starts with a noticeable silence. After people pull out around noon and before the new folks arrive after 2:30 PM,…
I am spending my summer picking up trash at Washington State Parks. I have a fancy title –Volunteer Camp Host – but what I really do is pick-up trash. Lot’s of trash. Sure, I also answer questions and smile at everyone as they try to entertain their crabby kids or when they are all sitting around…
The following recipe uses almost all canned ingredients and it has helped me consume my daily veggies on many occasions. In addition to being adaptable to your favorite seasonings, it can be morphed into something different each day. Eat as is the first day. The second day, add mashed potatoes to some of the leftovers…
Monday and Tuesdays are my days off. On my first Monday, I headed straight into the small city of Oak Harbor. It is only about 10 miles, which is really sweet. I like having better access to a grocery and other amenities. First stop: laundromat. Second stop: library. I had already registered for my Sno-Isle…
On August 1, I hitched up the RV and pulled out of Penrose Point State Park. My one-month assignment there went fast! One of the Rangers came by the evening before and asked if I would come back next summer. I committed to a month at Joemma Beach State Park, just down the road, and…