Camping for the Dogs

Jaxon and Oscar went camping with us too.  Can't leave the Dogs home!  Jaxon loves going camping, once we get there.  He's not too keen on riding in the RV, unless he has a lap to sit on.  He gets to spend lots of time outside on the chain. The G-parents sneak lots of snacks (STEAK!) to him that Momma wouldn't normally allow.  AND best of all, there is a BIG, HUGE field for him to run through and play ball.

I took his favorite toy, the Chuck-it.  If you don't know what this is, its the BEST DOGGIE TOY ever!  At least for my dog who is a runner.

Lets Go Mom!  Put the camera down and throw the ball!

Oooo!  YAY!  I'm going to get it!

MINE!

Its hard to tell from this picture but Jaxon is about 5 feet off the ground to catch this ball.  He is an amazing fielder!  I keep asking Neicy if they need an outfielder on her ball team.

Then, he found a pile of dog poop that someone didn't bother to clean up.  Jaxon rolled in it.  Jaxon ate it. GROSS!  Jaxon got a shower when we got back to the site.

Jaxon got snuggles and love at the end of the bath.

Jakes in the Lake

For the 4th of July we went camping with the GParents in the RV.  We went back to the same campground we always have gone to for 4th of July.  Its a nice, family-animal friendly place with fireworks and special events throughout the weekend.  It was very relaxing once everything was set up.

The RV on our site.

We were the first camper you saw when you entered the campground.  I didn't like this spot as much as others we had.  There was a lot of traffic and not as much shade in the afternoon.  I prefer to be further back under the trees a bit.

On Saturday there were fireworks.  Since we had the first spot, we were in the best spot to watch them.  It was a little chilly so Dad stayed in the RV with the dogs to watch them.

Oscar dressed up for the 4th.

Jaxon kept an eye on things from the front seat while Oscar hid under the covers

And Jakes dressed up for the evening too.

Jakes in the Lake

Jakes went to the lake first thing.

It was HOT on Thursday so once we were all set up, Jakes hit the lake.  I think I joined him, I spent many afternoons in the lake so they all run together.  The lake was like bath water, very warm!  But we had fun anyway!

here's the family.  Dad and ESM coming back from the store.
Jakes heading up the hill on his bike.

One of the best things about the campground is sending the kid off on the bike, knowing he will be safe.  The place is small enough that every 10 minutes or so, Jakes was zooming by our site on his way around the loop.

Jakes and G-pop setting up the tripod for cooking dinner

Jakes was a big help around the camp site.  He helped G-pop hook up the camper to electric, sewer and water.  Helped to level the camper and helped ESM and I put up the awning.  Then it was time to teach him how to be a chef over the campfire.

Laying the wood just right.

Checking to see if they are ready to be flipped.

All in all, it was a lovely, long weekend and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

We're BACK!!!

After spending a week at the Campground with the family and the Dog, it was nice to come home.  AZ spent Tuesday and Wednesday scrubbing the camper from top to bottom and he did a wonderful job! 

AZ checking the Electrical connections before we pull out.

After a quick stop at Wal-mart for grill gas and ice, we were on our way!  Once at the Campground, we set up the camper and unloaded everything from the truck and car.  I felt like I'd packed everything but the kitchen sink.....

All set up and ready to camp!

Jakes set up his room in the camper......

Can't take the Laptop away

At the Campground, 4:30 is Bloody Mary Hour at the Gparents campsite.

Gparents Camper

I had to work on Friday so its good that we were local still.  Jakes worked at the Farm Friday afternoon and Saturday.  Fortunately, the Farm was just around the corner and across the highway from the campground.

Relaxing around the Campfire

I love sitting around the camp fire in the evenings.  While it was hot, the fire kept some of the bugs away.

Friday evening, AZ put the chicken on the rotisserie and boiled water for some corn on the cob.  It was the BEST chicken!  I had put it in marinade Thursday morning before we left and it just sat sucking up the flavors in the cooler.   

On Saturday, we had dinner with the Gparents.  Daddy got the MOST AWESOME steaks and cooked them over the campfire.  OMG when I say melt in your mouth, don't need teeth to chew it, good super yummy steak, it STILL doesn't describe how good the steaks were. Potato salad, tomatoes and cucumbers, mac n' cheese and wine rounded out the menu.  Can you say "STUFFED"?  YUM!

After dinner, we pulled the chairs over to the field to watch the 4th of July fireworks and we weren't disappointed.  I didn't take any pictures but trust me they were lovely and right over our heads!  We almost had to lay down to see them!  Nothing like front row seats......

We decided to stay an extra day so instead of packing up on Sunday, Jakes and I floated around the lake for the afternoon.  He didn't put sunscreen on and boy did he complain about it later!

Lazy Lake

Jaxon loved being at the campground, except that he had to be on a leash.  At home, he sticks close so we don't use a leash unless we're taking him out of the yard.  At the campground, he had to be on a leash.  Poor baby!  But we took him up to the empty field to toss the ball and make sure he got lots of attention.  Jaxon was a super good dog!  He didn't bark at everyone who walked by the camp site, he didn't run off, he was SO well behaved!

Jaxon's play ground and where the fireworks were set up.  LOTS of room!

Jaxon and AZ at the end of the day. Camping is such hard work

Sunday left us with one more chance for a campfire.  We didn't want to bring any wood back with us so we started early, like before dark!

Monday morning found me running Jakes to the Farm then coming home to help AZ pack up the camper.  By noon, we were home and unpacking again .

All done and ready to be towed.

I loved being at the campground but in a way, I was also ready to come home.  I wanted a shower that I didn't have to share with the potato beetles or other black crawly things. I wanted to get the sand out of my shoes and to be able to walk around without shoes.

We are in discussion for the next camping trip....  Hopefully somewhere with a pool!

Happy 4th!

Here's to hoping everyone has a wonderful and SAFE holida weekend as wel celebrate the birth of our wonderful country.

Because I am lazy busy with holiday preparations, I'm re-posting a story about the unsafe use of fireworks.  Enjoy!

It was a perfect day for a party! The weather was great, the pool was clear and warm, the beer was on ice. It was going to be a great party. Jess and her new boyfriend, Kyle were planning to celebrate the 4th of July on July 5th with a bunch of their friends. Jess still lived at home but her parents were out of town. This added to the perfection of the day.

Jess and Kyle worked together to get the food going, people started arriving and the music was turned up loud. In the pool were chicken fights, splash fights and diving competitions. Kyle, who could not swim even got in the water for a bit.

Darkness started to fall and there was less swimming. Kyle's friends, Tristan, Mike and Bobby pulled out fireworks. Jess didn't want them to shoot them off, afraid that they would get in trouble. Kyle told her not to worry about it, they knew what they were doing. So Jess, went back to trying to enjoy the party.

Tristan shot one off that didn't go UP in the air like it was supposed to, instead it veered off over the neighbors fence and to the ground. It didn't explode like the firework was supposed to. Tristan and the others didn't think anything about it at the time.

A while later, they still had some fire crackers and noise makers when next door, flames suddenly shot up the side of the garage. The neighbor that lived there ran out of his house and screamed to call the fire department. Jess ran inside for the phone. While on the phone she stood watching the flames rise along the side of the building. She also knew she and everyone at the party were going to be in trouble.

The guys who were shooting the fireworks hid their supply and tried to pretend it didn't come from their yard. They did their best to cover up the smell of gun powder and tried to pick up the scraps of exploded ordiance.

Then the fire trucks came. There were 3 departments who responded to the scene. Of course, they would respond because the garage that was on fire was part of a junkyard and who knew what chemicals and other automotive byproducts were there to catch fire. It could blow at anytime!

Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained to a diesel fuel pump and the corner of the garage. No major damage and no explosions other than from the fireworks. And from the police officer who came to the party.

He walked up the driveway with an unexploded firework in his hand and demanded to see Jess's father. "I know Jim wouldn't allow this kind of thing to happen so you get him here, NOW."

Jess's father was a former police officer for the township and still kept in contact with the current police officers. Except this one didn't like her father. Jess went into the house to call her parents home from Virginia Beach, she even picked up the phone to dial. Then changed her mind. We are all adults, most over 21. Why can't we handle this with US and not involve my parents?

Jess went out to the Officer and respectfully made her case. "Officer, can you please just handle it without my parents. They are over 5 hours away so if you want to wait for them to get here, that fine. But we are all over the age of 18 and prepared to be adults about this."

While the officer wasn't happy about it, he also didn't want to wait around for 5 hours for her parents to get there. He proceeded to take everyone's information from their drivers licenses as well as what they knew about the fire. Most didn't know anything about it other than seeing flames and then watching the fire departments work. That was their story and they were sticking to it! The officer completed everything he needed to and the party broke up. Jess and Kyle cleaned up, then Jess took Kyle home.

The next morning started with a visit to the police station. Jess ratted out Mike and Bobby, which resulted in charges for them. Jess also talked with the owner of the junkyard and offered to make restitution for the damages.

Of course, Jess had to tell her parents what happened when they came home. Jess cleaned the house and the pool area, there was no evidence of a party from the weekend. When Jess told her parents, she made sure that her fahter was on the other side of the table from her and that she had a quick exit out the door. Turns out that exit was not necessary, he father laughed when she told the story. Her father had been a borderline juvenile deliquent in his youth so he was a little bit proud that his daughter was like him. Jess stood there with her chin on the floor in shock while he laughed.

Jess and the others made good on their promise of restitution, Mike paid his fines and the incident was put behind them. Until Tristan dug up pictures all these years later!

Some of the names have been changed to protect the not so innocents!