This same feeling has happened a time or two since then when I've been to a new place. Especially little tiny towns, like Gunnison for instance. I really get wrapped up in capturing newness in my mind's eye.
So I've been feeling like getting away. A lot lately.
I was thinking of the time our parents took us to Palisades, ID for an adventure.
Dad was able to rent a little house for cheap as he was a government employee. It was an old home stocked with dishes and linens. Mom would cook in the kitchen and we'd play on the mountain, go fishing, and let the neighbor kids put on a bike show. It is one of the vacations I remember best and loved the most. It was just us spending time together in a new environment and enjoying the beauty around us. I really liked that.
I googled rustic cabins in Utah. I wanted a real cabin. Not a house in the mountains with a big screen and hot tub. (Though I do believe they have their place) I wanted a wood burning stove and no electricity. I pictured us all huddled around playing games by the light of a lantern, laughing and having a good time.
By golly I found just what I was looking for. The Trout Creek Guard Station in Ashley National Forest at $35/night was perfect. It was a bit of a drive (4 hours), but it was new territory so it would be exciting.
The furtherest I'd been that way was Daniel's Summit with Scotty. So we got to see beautiful Strawberry Reservoir and after that things suddenly changed. It was crazy. It became desert. Rocks, sage brush, old broken down cars. But after passing through Vernal and heading up into the forest we were pleasantly surprised with the beauty. It became what I hoped it was, a thick pinetree forest. We stopped a couple of time for deer on the road.
Thursday night at 5:30 we arrived at our cabin in the forest.
The kids gathered firewood for an outdoor fire too cook with while Asher and Scott got to work heating the interior with the wood stove.
It was a simple dinner as we knew we didn't have much daylight left. Living by the light of the sun was quite an interesting experience. We made sure dinner and getting ready for bed were complete before the sun faded away.
Little did I know my night had just begun.
All were sleeping soundly, but my mind was on that fire keeping us all toasty warm in our sleeping bags.
I was up hourly stoking the fire.
The morning light welcomed this lovely sight snuggled in the sleeping bag beside me.
After warming our bodies by the fire we dressed and headed on an animal hunt with Aidan leading the way carrying his animal book from Uncle Shawn.
Asher stayed back at camp with Scott to learn Woodchopping 101.
Our hike only produced this lovely photo.
The boys believed it would make them look like giants to be standing next to this tiny pine tree. Hmmm?
Some of us had a lazy afternoon back at camp. Chloe discovered using charcoal from the campfire and flat rocks to create unique artwork. I was impressed with her imagination.
Scott's puny hand axe had broken and I was able to locate a large axe in the storage shed behind our cabin. So Scott went to work teaching Asher how to use this behemoth. I closed my eyes and prayed.
We did need firewood, and quite a bit of it to keep that cabin warm through the night and to produce some coals to cook our dinner on.
We had Smores in the afternoon. I figured the clean up would be easier in the light of day, and Asher needed a woodchopping break.
I hired Chloe to make this beauty.
Oh my.
On to the Family Talent Show
Chloe and Asher kicked it off with a ukulele duet of I'm Yours, complete with singing.
Really fantastic! They'll be perfecting this for future performances (family reunion!)
Cole performed a harmonica solo. Oh, and he danced while he played.
Dad, do you still play the harmonica? That'd be a great family reunion talent for you!
Aidan showed us how he can perform under pressure.
With his Animal Facts (the gift that keeps on giving) book in Chloe's hands and the spotlight on him
he was asked various questions about animals, shown their pictures and asked
to name the exact species, etc.
He did not miss one question!
We were all impressed. Really impressed.
The show was wrapped up with Grace spitting into Cole's harmonica.
A lot.
Oh but we clapped. We sure did.
The woodcutter and impromptu harmonica player needed nap and they got one.
I took Aidan, Chloe, and Cole on an animal hunt.
This was Aidan's first find. It was some kind of chimpmunk creature.
He could tell us for sure. He found it's home and was attempting to get it to come out.
I convinced him to leave it be and we hiked on.
There was a lot of animal scat to identify.
He let us know what kind of animal to expect.
After a lot of time producing some hot coals we prepared our tinfoil dinners.
Why are tinfoil dinners so delicious when you're camping?
At home- no thanks, but when camping they are fantastic.
It was Aidan's turn to get the indoor fire going that would keep us warm through the night.
He was so excited.
It was another night of being up every hour to keep us warmed except this time I had to step over Scotty who was sleeping on the floor so he could get up and stoke the fire through the night without making any noise. :) Thanks hon.
In the morning we packed up, swept the cabin out and headed for civilization.
What a memorable family trip.
I really enjoyed being together and just taking care of our most basic needs while enjoying the beauty of the earth. It was just what I had hoped it would be.
