Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “pad.” Use it as a noun, use it as a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
Right air mattresses, not my body!
But for the pad beneath my well padded body I could have slept so much better.
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A couple of years ago I bought my family enough air mattresses, tents, and sleeping bags that we could have gone camping a few times. But I seemed to be the only one trying. So I was glad my friend was brave and invited me on her camping adventures.
When my brother and I were kids, our parents took us on 3 weeks of camping every year. We didn’t realize then what a sacrifice it was for them. Dad never took a day off work saving up the time. Mom scraped every penny, and then her sacrificed her health as she packed and stored camp foods then directed the Tetris of car packing. All of that had her nervous tummy upset and dying between gas station restrooms.
Speaking of penny pinching… Mom never let us have much sugar. As much as she could be in the 50s and 60s she was health minded. So a way to control both money spent on junk food, she’d allow us to gather empty coke bottles to turn in at the general store near camp and with that money we could buy candy bars or chips
Anyway, we had air mattresses at first. Just those kinds you can paddle around the lake to float on. They held up to the fun, but invariably all the air was gone by morning cold and I’d be sleeping on rocks. My padding was not thick enough then, either.
So this was my second camping trip with my friend. The air mattresses and blowing up process didn’t coordinate properly for me, so I couldn’t close off the escape of air on time. So I little enjoyed the rocky sea of a half inflated mattress, falling off, or finding it impossible to get up to standing. Finally, I emptied it. I assumed flat on the ground would be better.
But with a Target 10 minutes away, we looked for other necessities. I found a mattress topper that could later be used by my husband on his home hospital bed to keep him from slipping when sitting up in the bed.
This proved the perfect pad. I slept well–except the new campers kept us awake until 3. Our previous camping neighbors were a family group far larger and were fun and minded the 10 pm quiet time rules.
I wrote this on Tuesday morning. I didn’t sleep well. And this campsite being close enough to town that there’s a lot of traffic on the road below and the camp is full of early risers.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “sum.” Use the letters “sum” in a word in your post or use the word “sum.” Enjoy!
Summer used to be my favorite season. To sum it up: swimming. I would be in the water 24/7 if I could. From the time of my first lesson, I think I was 11 or 12, I knew my inner spirit was a mermaid.
I challenged myself to swim from one end of the pool to the other in one breath.
Though I took the diving challenges, low board or high, I hated the time it took me out of the water. Although overcoming my fear of heights was tough, once mastered, I gave it up to be in the pool.
In seventh grade I was able to take lifesaving and be a part of a swim team. I didn’t get to finish the course. Nor did I get to continue the competitions. I suffered a severe case of swimmer’s ear that put me to bed the rest of the summer. It wasn’t the earache that caused the most pain. I cried daily for what I was missing. I’ve since learned how to keep my ears dry between swims.
Summer also meant camp and camping. Every year my folks took the family on 3-week vacations. To save money it was always camping. Our favorite system was to go to Sequoia, Yosemite, and Bass Lake. Swimming in the lakes made me happy.
As a teen, Sunshine Superman played as we had many trips to the beach.
I found I loved the beach as much as the pool. Salt water. Sand. Bodysurfing. It became my favorite spot. But laps are too long in the ocean! And swimming under water wasn’t as much fun.
Living in the small community with no pools has been hard. Beaches are too far away. It is Lake County but we’ve yet to see the lakes. And they seem more for fishing than swimming. The one I plan to investigate this summer is actually a reservoir. But we’re told there are leeches. Ugh!
Another sad issue with summer now is the fires. Breathing becomes an issue.
But this summer is starting with the possibility of a really fun road trip. And maybe a swim? Our fears are fires and or snow. I know! But tonight we have to drip. A freeze. June!!!
But I plan on challenging summer this year. Please bring water and fresh air!
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “record.” Use it as a noun, use it as a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
I haven’t been camping since my children were small. Here I am at 73 trying to do the rugged adventure. And just diagnosed with diverticulitis. But the antibiotics were gone as were the fever and need for a bland diet. I was/am still tired and had/have to pace myself. That’s how I packed. Part of me nearly melting in tears like a toddler. I can’t do this! What am I thinking?
For the record, this week has been just that.
Somehow I was ready. I had a huge list and did nearly my young self type of packing. But now beyond drawing and coloring and letter writing materials, I brought my knitting, a pair of socks nearly finished and a hat. There was also a Sudoku booklet and a word search book. I had two books downloaded to my phone. I figured I didn’t need my Fires for bedtime shutdown. But my phone lost all the battery the first day.
So my exhausted first night was a word search. Boring! No brain for Sudoku no comfortable seating for knitting.
After we set up the tent and camp we finally sat in our chairs. That’s when our new friends showed up. Although there were dozens of chipmunks scurrying around one little guy came and let me talk to it. He got closer and closer. I shared a bit of crackers with him.
Not my chipmunk. A free source pic.
Then Mr. Robin Redbreast flew near. He liked chatting with us.
Free source pic.
We were so lucky the restroom was just feet away. They were clean and well lit. There were even showers. That made those inevitable night trips a little less scary.
My first night was miserable. I hadn’t blown up the mattress quite as taut as I should. It was very uncomfortable. And OH SO COLD around 4AM. Lessons learned.
Day two I spent the time with the pump and mattress. And we drove a few miles to town and got the things we needed. I got another sleeping bag to cover while lying on the first one.
Backing up. Speaking of the distance. There were detours due to road maintenance. What should have been a short trip to camp that first day seemed nearly an hour. So we were fortunate to learn an alternate way back to town
We got a lot of steps in while shopping so we sat in our chairs a bit when we got back. We ate the wraps we picked up at Trader Joe’s. My chipmunk friend showed up. I shared bits of my wrap. He actually stood up and looked us in the eyes. It seemed to be a thanks for the food.
Mr. Robin brought either his wife or a large offspring. She opened her beak to him. Feed me! She said in bird.
I told my friend how when we were kids on our annual three-week campout my dad would lay back in his lounger and chatter with Blue Jays. Just that moment one flew nearby. But I guess I don’t know their language as he flew away.
Now we had what was needed to start a fire. My friend had more experience so I stayed out of the way. But the logs we bought didn’t want to start. I finally got up and walked to the restroom. When I got back she showed me a picture of how the fire had taken. But sadly it had diminished to smoke and hot spots. Oh, well.
We had talked about staying one more night but the reality of the rental car made us realize this was our last night.
This night I slept like a baby. Even if my bedtime ritual was another couple word searches.
The cold morning wasn’t bone deep. And faded to warm as we woke.
Again we tried to start a fire. But once again I made instant coffee with the hot water from the faucet. Lucky that was there.
Intermittent fasting is still my thing, so I didn’t need a breakfast.
We knew we were leaving this day so we broke down a lot of camp.
To cool off we went in search of the river. With a bit of a hike, we found and waded in it.
Back at camp we did a bit more decamping.
Friends from a nearby town came to visit with us. That was fun.
When they left it was time to finish breaking camp. Folding up the tent and tarps. It was so hot by now that we had to do things in short spurts. We are both prone to heat stroke so we needed to be careful.
The tent was easy. The hard part was getting everything in the car so that our stuff was easy to separate as I was only two hours away. My friend had another six hours to her home.
I was so glad to get home and unpack. I felt sorry my friend had so much driving yet to go. But she made it home safely
This was such a fun trip that we both are looking forward to another camping trip soon. Am I rugged? I’m getting there?
I’m tired so I’ll only share a couple pics. Maybe tomorrow I’ll write more.
This rock called me to come climb but other campers were set up close so I chose to respect their space. Doesn’t this rock look like it’s talking to his rock friend?
This rock looked smiley, peaceful.
This looks like puppet rocks.
This one was full of personality.
A garden of rocks.
This tent has a skylight. It was great watching the stars at night.
Our tent. Lots of windows. Easy to put up and take down. But we two senior ladies had to carry it. And it took a lot of room in the car. It’s a Gazelle.
Nearly finished witch hat for daughter’s wedding reception costume in October. Much more to add to costume.
Nearly finished shortie socks for friend.
I may or may not have the chance to blog for the next couple days. I’m trying to be rugged and go camping. Close to home and family ready to come get us if it goes weird, or I’m too tired. My inner kid is excited.
The flowers of Indian paintbrush are edible, and were consumed in moderation by various Native American tribes as a condiment with other fresh greens. These plants have a tendency to absorb and concentrate selenium in their tissues from the soils in which they grow, and can be potentially very toxic if the roots or green parts of the plant are consumed. Highly alkaline soils increase the selenium levels in the plants. Indian paintbrush has similar health benefits to consuming garlic, though only if the flowers are eaten in small amounts and in moderation.[10] Found on Google. I think Wikipedia
When I saw the prompt, the first thing that came to mind were camping trips.
Every year my parents to us kids on a three week vacation. Usually camping. It was what they could afford. And for me they were great memories.
Some of the sites we went to had campfire chats or day hikes where they taught us flora and fauna of the area.
I remembered them talking about this plant. Somehow the part I remember was that it was also called Indian laxative. Looking at what I shared from Wikipedia, it might not be the plant that did the job. Maybe they were introduce at the same take and it all mixed in my head. But you can imagine what went through my head as I recalled the plant pictured above.😂
I think that the plant I’m actually thinking about has a shiny, waxy leaf. Well, don’t rely on me to help forage 60 years later.
Working on my series: Haven.
Doodler (zendoodle.com)
Music major: voice and piano
Mom of four great adults
Reiki II practitioner
I have been on disability/retired for 10 years now from depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.
Where ancient wisdom meets modern technology. Stories that illuminate the wonders of science, culture, and life — crafted with human creativity and a touch of AI magic.
Darswords 
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