Camping (Sort of)

The camper

Last Friday afternoon Steve and I drove out to Shippensburg to spend some time with Jay and Kristen and family. Jay owns a chicken farm there and was getting the chicken house ready for a new batch of birds that was coming on Saturday. They had taken their camper out on Wednesday and set it up on a grassy area near a small woods. When they extended an invite to us to join them for one night we gladly accepted. I had never seen the farm and was happy for the opportunity to finally get a chance to see it firsthand. The family that lives there and collects the eggs was on vacation so we had the place to ourselves.

When we arrived, Jay was working in the chicken house trying to get some stubborn feeders to work so Steve went to help him and give him moral support. This pretty much consumed their evening, but in the end they were successful so that was a blessing. It would not be good to have chickens arriving and feeders not operating.

After supper, the children happily showed me around the farm. Alexis and Lydia and I walked, and Mark rode his tricycle the whole way around the chicken house. I enjoyed the tour inside the house as well. Being in a chicken house always brings back good memories. When I told the children that I grew up on a chicken farm and collected many eggs in my day, they were surprised. It reminded me that I should talk more about my childhood to my grandchildren. Unless I tell them what my life was like, how will they ever know?

Kristen was helping some in the chicken house so she wondered if I and the children wanted to get a campfire going and roast marshmallows. I think she was amused by my panicked look. When it comes to fires, I have always left Steve make them and really have little if any experience at making one. Unlike my father, I do not enjoy fires. In fact, they make me very nervous. Kristen assured me that Alexis knew how to make one and she would help me. I was doubtful that a six year old would be very helpful but she surprised me. She set about laying the wood in a pile and then she instructed me to pick up small sticks and told me where to put them in the pile. We added paper and lit it. The most difficult thing was lighting the lighter. I am very challenged when it comes to using lighters but fortunately Kristen showed up to help me with that. The result was not too bad. We had a fire and were able to roast a few marshmallows although most of them were eaten without ever seeing a fire. Hannah kept stuffing them in her mouth and I tried to keep the bag away from her but she always managed to find it and add another one to her stomach.

Waiting to roast marshmallows

Hannah and the bag of marshmallows :)

We slept pretty well, considering it was in a camper. I will take a camper like they have any day over sleeping in a tent. There was plenty of space for all of us and with the air conditioning running it was very comfortable. 

The morning was busy as the trucks arrived with the chickens. We watched the activity for awhile but soon left the experienced crew to themselves to do their work. After breakfast, the children entertained Steve and I with their antics on the trampoline that was in the front yard. Steve even joined them.

Big, scary Lydia :)

Mark obligingly poses for the camera

Later in the morning, Kristen and I took the kids to a park. Playgrounds are always so much fun for kids and this one also had a sand pile with sand diggers which was big hit for all of them but especially for Mark. On the way back to the farm we picked up pizza and the men joined us for lunch.

Soon after lunch Steve and I headed home. It was a very short "camping" trip but one that we enjoyed very much. It is always great to spend time with family!