Going Camping? Don't forget...Pt. 2

So here are a few more things you may want if you are planning on taking a camping trip this summer.

1. BBQ, very important if you wanna cook a hotdog or hamburger
2. Propane for the bbq!
3. A camp stove is useful
4. pots & frying pans
5. Utensils
6. We finally broke down 2 years ago and bought a coffee maker to use on our camp stove.
7. I find making a meal plan is useful (so you don't over spend)
8. Grocery list with a budget.
9. Flash lights, lanterns, glow sticks or whatever lights up. It can be pretty dark on your way to the bathroom.
   
10. A quality cooler
11. Camp chairs
12. Something for starting your camp fire
13. Cheap, disposable, table cloth for the picnic table
    

Research! Always ask your friends, who camp, what campgrounds are good. It's always nice to hear what others think of certain areas and campgrounds. Use the internet too, there are so many places out there to camp. Some good, some not so good.

Now, camping isn't for everyone. So if you are a first timer, please don't go out and spend a poop load of money on a tent. You'd be better off looking for a second hand tent (in good shape) and camping equipment. That way if you decide after one summer of camping that you don't like it, then you haven't invested a poop load of money into it.

So, this concludes my camping advice for now. Have a great summer and happy camping.

-ElizaSpring

Just some FYI if you're going to Europe anytime soon

Travelling to Europe?

Passengers travelling to European Union (EU) countries are asked to take note of stringent regulations that apply to the importation of restricted products such as meat and milk products for personal consumption.

Certain meat and milk products are allowed to enter the EU, such as the following:

• Powdered infant formula, infant food and special foods required for medical reasons, provided:
  • The product does not require refrigeration before consumption;
  • it is a packaged registered trademark or proprietary brand product;
  • the packaging is intact.

Passengers wishing to bring other types of meat or milk products into the EU must:

• Obtain, prior to travel, all necessary documentation from official veterinary services of the country from which they are travelling (the documents must state that the goods conform to all requirements for entry into the EU);
• declare all such goods and present related documentation upon arrival at an authorized EU border inspection post for veterinary control.

All meat and milk products that do not conform to applicable regulations will be confiscated and disposed of at the EU border inspection post. Failure to declare meat and milk products may result in a fine or criminal prosecution.

Policies on restricted items vary from one country to another. Passengers should learn about restrictions as they apply to their destination by consulting websites like the following:

• For the U.S.: visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
• For the U.K.: visit the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website.

How I feel about Geoff going to Rome for 2wks

Well here it is, the eve of Geoff going away for 2 weeks. I'm really sad that he's going cause I'm going to miss him terribly. The last time he was gone for that long was back in 2001 when he went to Kansas on business (with a different company). Back then though we didn't have any kids and lived in an apartment in Saint John.

Anyway, I am sad but I'm happy for him at the same time. An opportunity like this doesn't come along everyday. He's been working hard and proving to his company that he's the right person to go (so I guess all the overtime paid off).

The kids aren't really showing any emotions about him going, which I find kinda strange. John does tend to hold things in and then explode later on (gee, wonder who he gets that from?), Anna on the other hand, is so happy-go-lucky that not too much bothers her. Well, we'll see how they are doing tomorrow when we have to leave him at the airport.

Well, I'll let you know how I'm doing on Sunday (5/23/10)

Ciao!

-Elisa

Going Camping? Don't forget...Pt. 1

Okay, so me and my little family have been camping for a very long time. My husband and I started off with a tent in 1999 after we got married. So I guess you could say we were "virgin" campers. So, over the years we've collected lots of things for tent camping to try and make it more comfortable. I thought that I would compile a list for those of you who may be just starting out.

Don't forget...

1. The tent
2. Tent pegs
3. Rubber mallet for pounding the pegs into the ground
4. Tarps! Very essential part of camping. While tenting for 10 years, I think it rained every weekend that we went. Rather than give up on tenting we chose to embrace the rain and avoid wet sleeping bags.
5. Rope for the tarps. Yet another essential if you want to tie the tarp to a tree.
6. Sleeping bags and air mattress.

So, this concludes part 1 of "Going Camping? Don't forget..." I will add more in a few days.

God Bless & Happy Camping

-ElizaSpring