Simply, Lesa

I've been discussing Dream Camp Kitchens lately... I've also been in a personal funk. As part of my process of working through the funk, I made a list of things I've loved, not liked, in the history that I can remember of my life. That was a good exercise. Its an excersize that I have taught in my Personal Project Planning workshops. Its an excersize that helps you to recall the reality of your best self. It helps you/me to recall the best physical things as well as the best activities and work, even workstyle that you have experienced.  Heres an example of somethings I listed in my I love it list. I loved the hand blown wine glasses I had made for me years ago. I love handmade! I loved my silver spoon ring (remember those) I loved how satisfied my work and daytime life felt when I worked on the Daffodil farm in VA. I picked daffodils 8 hrs a day! I loved helping Travis & A refurbish that farmhouse in Costa Rica I love, like love helping others. I nearly set u...

Omgosh.... I  just found this! Its a Snow Peak firepit, grill, field oven - yup pizza too! Okay its pricey, but its lighter weight than the other and a pizza oven! Oh my who knew there were so many thing out there for overlanding style camp kitchens Oh and they make a sit down stainless table thing to go with this!

Hi ya'll  - okay I admit I spent a lot of years in and around Virginia...hence the southern drawl flavor. Dream Kitchens!   WARNING - Picture heavy post! Shall we get right into it? Woodstove - the main biggie  - I'm in love. Just found this from a newish company! It packs flat, so I could manage it. I chatted with one of the owners the other day. What I'd love is to have one donated for my review! I also am planning to ask for a modification to one side panel. I would be able to cook in my own campsite, not the large firepit where people are visiting and I can be overwhelmed.  The pots are at a height thats easier on my back and I will have some control over the fire as well. Yup need welders gloves too  And the little back up multipurpose that can be used with anything from sterno cans & charcoal to alcohol or wood. And also folds flat for packing. Dutch Oven - I have a great 14 inch Lodge already  see it on the ground there. Nope not ...

Jamie of Egmatic Nomadics is holding the 2nd Annual Van Build in Lake Havasue City, November 1 - 14, 2017. I will be there. Last year, I watched the build crew go through their very busy days and collapse around dinner time mostly with a cold drink in their hand! This year I am doing something about that. Lots of work needs nourisment - so im doing something i do well. I volunteered to cook for the work crew! Yup its a major undertaking. Sooooo I am beginning my planning as well as my winter event kitchen set up. When I travel alone i have very simple needs. Mostly, if i have hot water im pretty good. This is different and I want my bigger pots and things. I dont know if I'm only cooking for 4 or 5 people or for 15 - 20. I might not know till I arrive!  I need to be flexible AND I have health issues that can seem unusal to many others. I cannot use propane! So I  have decided to let you readers in on my planning process. I get asked about this all the time anyway so ha...

And i cant imagine what to write. I went camping in Flagstaff. As promised last October, I was there for some newbie RVers first nights on the road and their first boondocking. I also met some RTR and Facebook friends. I had a great time! Though for some unknown reason I was scared to go. I remembered how much i love and miss the simplicity of travel. I also rememberd a part of myself that I may have put on the back burner this year.... then on the very last nite, I came across pictures online of my entire life's history... wow I havent quite been the same since. I can't decide if i am feeling depressed, was I triggered, or if I am simply re-evaluating everything from my life, past, current, future.... I cant write anything that seems interesting. Im filling my journal with lists and ideas and stuff i liked and didnt like. And how i felt or what caused a decision.... I want to get rid of stuff, like physical stuff that doesnt yell 'keep me you and I need each othe...

Yup. Whoot! I  am taking a break from creating my travel trailer docking station of sorts on my property. Maybe I needed this? Simply meeting some newbie RVing buddies in a couple days near Flagstaff. I took Kathleens advice and stopped at one of her favorite free campsites. Its lovely and peaceful  and I m gonna sleep good. Ozzie seems to be fine, hes fitting right back into travel routine quickly.  Hes listening pretty well to, i think he knows better whats expected of him. Okay hes still Ozzie and his bark can be annoying and though mostly his excitement and wanting to play through his doggie lingo is messed up...I am looking into vibrator style bark collars for large events, we always have anxiety pills if we need them. Simply on the budget side, this trip will cost me an extra tank of gas and a few groceries more than my usual budgeted living expenses because I stocked up the cupboards at home before I got the news that these friends were ready to rock and rol...

I did a liitle rearranging. I finally ditched the old crumbly foam mattress. I havent gotten to painting yet. Ozzie seems to like it.

I often suppliment my tight budget with foods from a food pantry. I qualify for food pantry assistance because I have a low income of under $1000 per month. Our local food pantry in the town of St John's AZ does not have  an income qualification. Thanks to Pastor Mike and the New Covenant Church, once a month we line up our cars on a Tuesday early in the month and collect our food boxes in a drive thru fashion. Its a very organized and personable process. I was able to drive out of my property as the puddles have dried up, although the cattle made a bumpy mess of the closest puddle to me, by standing and wallowing around in it. Darn bumpy mess...haha. Back to the food pantry story. So I  rode into the food pantry with my neighbor Kathleen.  Im grateful that she was willing to drive. As you can imagine, after being home alone with Ozzie so much this month, the trip and interaction with others was nearly overwhelming. Our food boxes nearly always include frozen meats an...