Last blog I told you about our first time camping at the property.  It was an adventure, but we sure enjoyed being at the farm.  We decided to go back in mid-October to camp again.  We wanted to be up there and enjoy the colors of the fall leaves.  This time we planned a little more for our trip than our last campout.  We had bought a new three room tent and this would be the first time to use it.  We loaded up the vehicle and headed to the farm.

Once up there we decided to camp across the creek in a large pasture field.   We took stuff across the creek in our four wheel drive truck and started setting up camp.  It was just beautiful up there and so peaceful.  One piece of equipment we had that we had never used was a Dutch oven.  We set up an area that we could use it and some other cast iron skillets on.

In searching the property for firewood our youngest son found an old car oil pan.  He brought it back to his mother and said, “Look mommy, here is something you can use for a toilet!”  It was such a thoughtful idea, but Peggy could not bring herself to use it.

Tanner and the oil pan

Being late October and in the hills, it got cold when the sun went down.  We all bundled up with everything we had.  Peggy had made chili that we heated up over the campfire.  It was not real late, but it sure was dark up there while we were eating.  We were about done with supper when we saw a car slow down and then stop by the mill.  

Peggy and the boys

At first I thought it might have been my brother from Ohio making a surprise trip.  Then I heard a second door open and a women’s voice.  I knew right then that it was not him as there would be no way that his wife would come with him to spend the night at our farm.  Then I heard a few more doors open.  Because it was Halloween weekend, I thought maybe it was some kids that might try to get into the mill and maybe set it on fire.

I told Peggy I was going to go see who it was.  I had my shotgun with me and so I picked it and a flashlight up.  I headed to a tree I had cut down that was dead that fell across the creek.  It was our footpath to get back and forth across the water.  I was trying to keep the light from the flashlight to a minimum so the “unknown guest” would not see me.  It was an adventure for me trying to walk across a log in the dark carrying a shotgun and keeping the light to a minimum.  About the time I got off of the log I heard a women’s voice say, “Henry, don’t shoot!  It is the B’s!” 

The B’s were the family we had met and visited that lived in that county that knew the realtor we worked through to get the farm.  We had told them we were coming up, but forgot about them coming as it had gotten so dark.  Living up there for about 20 years they knew people shot first and asked questions second.  Well, it is not that bad, but she knew she needed to be careful.  Boy, I was glad it was somebody I knew.

They crossed the log and we had a good time visiting around the campfire.  The boys enjoyed playing with their kids in the moonlight.  One thing I have learned is that people in the country do things at a different pace then the people in town.  It is a slower, more relaxed pace.  It is something that I need to still work on and look forward to when we get moved to the farm. The B’s left about 10:30 and we got ready for bed. 

We had bought a little heater that fit on the little propane tanks you can get from Coleman.  Also we borrowed a heater you put on a big propane tank you use on a grill.  We started out with the little heater.  I was worried some about using the big one in the tent during the night.  One thing I found out was that the little tanks last about 3 hours.  When I woke up, or was it Peggy poking me to wake up, it was out and boy was it cold.  I changed the tank and got it going again.

Well morning came and it was time to get up and get breakfast going.  First thing was to get some coffee going and water for hot chocolate.  Peggy had brought enough food to feed two families, but being a Southern girl, that is how they are.  “Better to have too much than not enough!”  We started cooking eggs, sausage and sausage gravy.  Those of you not from the south and do not know about biscuits and gravy, boy you are missing out on something.  You might wonder how we were going to have biscuits.  Well that is where the Dutch oven comes in. 

 Tyler and Tanner cooking gravy and eggs

I have been reading on Dutch oven cooking and had learned about cooking biscuits in them.  I brought a pan to put inside and went and found three small rocks to put in the bottom of the oven.  The rocks kept the pan off the bottom of the oven to keep the biscuits from burning and also allow hot air to flow under them to help in cooking.  About 25 minutes after I put them on I opened the top to check on them.  To my surprise (and the rest of the family) they were beautiful!  I could not believe that they turned out so well.  Well we had a great breakfast of eggs, sausage, coffee, biscuits and gravy!

 Peggy and the biscuits

We had a great day at the farm just enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and the blessing He had given us in the farm.  Next I will tell you about my two birthday wishes.

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