We're sliding easily into these summer days. Entertaining ourselves variously with learning fancy knots, painting birds along with an online course, working out the costings for a lunar theme park, listening to Yngwie Malmsteen's arpeggios from hell (guitar practice inspiration), reading "The Sausage Dog of Doom" and wondering if we could survive a couple of nights in a tent. We could, couldn't we? Although I fear I'm not ready for "No showers; well ventilated compost toilet". Actually the trick will be finding somewhere that has vacancies. I'm mulling it over.
I had another bash at making blackcurrant cordial today. You may vaguely recall the great blackcurrant disaster of 2014 but I'm older and wiser now and I have a new method of straining things. It didn't go entirely smoothly, but it wasn't nearly as catastrophic as last time. There was spillage, but only on the stove top. By 2018 I shall have it completely perfected.
How is the summer treating you? Any plans for adventure, or are you happily ensconced at home? Will you be having a nice break somewhere, and will you at any stage find yourself in a well ventilated compost toilet? Let's hear the details.
we went camping at a large provincial park a few years ago...and after having not camped since i was in high school, i came to the firm realization that although i dearly love being In Nature, i simply CANNOT manage without a flush toilet. i suppose if it was your very own well-ventilated compost loo, i might soldier through...but honestly, i can't get excited by what is, essentially, a communal midden. *shudder*
ReplyDeletewe're quite happily ensconced at home....aspiring hermits that we all seem to be....but venturing forth for small adventures when the mood suits us.
progress is everything, i say...re: the blackberry cordial. i'm cautiously optimistic that my new bushes might be able to muster a handful of blackberries this year....but i've Great Plans for next year. ;) xoxo
this blog world is wonderful... while we are all frolicking in the snow you are all in full bloom of summer.. :) i get a little bit of it all right here.
ReplyDeleteWell.. we used the composting toilet at our family camp for years.. but now we have our own caravan/trailer and it has it's own loo and I'm much happier. As you know we're happily learning how to use our new boat and have a big cruising day planned on Friday. Then we go to our family campout in a few weeks.. eek.. we better start getting ready to go! I do hope you give the camping a try... the boys will absolutely love it. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm leaving most of the adventuring to the teenage boy, he seems to be filling his summer with scouting activities, and they never seem to involve any form of sanitation as far as I can tell.....
ReplyDeletewe're having a week in a cottage on the Yorkshire coast, and I can't wait x
A nice post and lovely pictures. My tenting days are long gone thankfully. Glad to see your blackcurrant cordial making is improving. I'm happy to stay at home at this time of year and enjoy some plotting. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteOne thing that is very certain, CJ is that a tent will not feature anywhere in our summer plans :-)
ReplyDeleteThis all sounds very civilised CJ. I am impressed. Our annual Camp Nct get together is about as much camping as I like to do if I'm honest but you may like it a whole lot more than me! Xx
ReplyDeleteOr a well ventilated compost toilet!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the sound your summer! You could use the Cool Camping website to find a suitable place for a first camping experience. Facilities are usually described, and if you are allowed to have a campfire, too. This is essential btw, everybody likes to poke a stick in the fire. My favourite campsite is in Dumfries and Galloway, very civilised facilities and all, in case you fancy a long drive.... (details on my blog). Even well ventilated composting loos have a fusty smell!
ReplyDeleteWe have no blackberries yet up North. Soon. There are more than the entire nation will be able to consume and I am planning to make cordial and jam even though my last berry cordial turned to jelly in the bottle.... Have a lovely week! xx
Not sure about the ventilation or the compost, but there will be portable biffies in our near future when we ride Bike MS Washington. The great thing is NOT to wear cycling shorts with suspenders. Much easier to use the loo when only one layer needs to be removed. (Ask me how I know.)
ReplyDeleteThe allotment is looking lovely. Good luck with those summer plans! Depending on the level of dirt, a quick swipe with a cloth or paper towel dipped in weakly acidulated water/vinegar mixture can help make up for the lack of a shower. :) "Lunar theme park sounds" interesting....
We have just come back from camping and canoeing. There's nothing wrong with a compost toilet....beats digging a hole and covering it up, but enough of that. Went away leaving tiny tiny courgettes and came back to a dozen marrow sized things :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like your summer is off to an excellent start. Your photos are lovely. I always love to seeing your allotment and whatever may be growing at any time. Our summer break is almost over, just two weeks until school begins, so we're in the winding-down phase at this point. Just sticking close to home except for errands to get ready (haircuts, shoes, school supplies) and enjoying these last slow, unscheduled days together.
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteI'm with you all the way re:toilets, showers and camping. I have been known to have a tantrum because I wasn't able to wash my hair on a camping trip once. Having said that, we are off to Camp Bestival in the morning. I insisted on booking the posh field that provides showers (you still have to queue for an age). If you are thinking of camping in Cornwall, could I recommend South Penquite Farm on Bodmin Moor? They have a website. I think it would be right up your alley. Plus they have the best facilities I have encountered; not a composting loo in sight.
Leanne xx
wrapped up in woollens and scarves and gloves against the winter cold, chilly winds coming off mount wellington's snow caps... very pretty but very cold. so it's lovely to see your sunny pictures. I am especially taken with that icy pink poppy.
ReplyDeleteYour allotment looks great - I've had a bad year this year with blight taking my tomatoes and potatoes, perhaps it's been enjoying the unusual weather this year. Hope you find a good campsite, I bet your boys love it - I don't cope well with no showers and compost toilets, however well ventilated, but it doesn't seem to worry my girls too much. Glad you've got the upper hand with the blackcurrant cordial - sounds lovely. Have a good weekend xx
ReplyDeleteGlastonbury toilets on day three in boiling hot weather twenty five years ago did for me :-). You're very welcome to camp in our garden. Very quiet, rural Hampshire. Nice spot under the apple tree, new forest just down the lane. Sounds of owls at night. I can offer hot showers, flushing loos and a breakfast thrown in, but you'll have to endure ted and poppy 'helping' with the camping.... Xx
ReplyDeleteThose are wonderful images of summer and is the top right seeds from Caro? My plants just seem to be twirling around and around! Did camping once in a tent and we only stayed one night the rain drove us home,it is an adventure and something different to do! I have been thinking of your son the harbour has been full of fish and everyone has been catching some! Hope you are having a wonderful summer. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteYes, they are Caro's achochas, well spotted. I'm looking forward to trying them. My son still hasn't caught a fish yet, he'd love your harbour! CJ xx
DeleteSounds like you're doing a grand job keeping everyone happy (not easy, I know, when you're not pizza). Can't really comment on the camping ponderings. I only tried it once, many years ago, with a borrowed tent and a long haired mister. Just remember feeling horribly claustrophobic (slept with my head stuck outside, zipped up to my chin) and being embarrassingly OCD about the communal facilities. But it could work out wonderfully for you and yours (that offer in the previous comment sounds very attractive, I must say).
ReplyDeleteI love camping and I do like a shower. We have a local farm that we do a school trip to each and they have composting toilets also well ventilated. They are absolutely lovely to use, far better than the festival portaloos I had to deal with recently. It'll be fine.
ReplyDeleteI have happy memories of camping as a child. Also as a student in France, sleeping on the beach, couldn't find the tent in the dark! Beer may have had something to do with that..
ReplyDeleteLike you, I've been on a cordial-making bender, first elderflower, then rhubarb and strawberry after hearing Sarah Raven talking about them at the literary festival. I added some strawberries and reduced the sugar substantially. The colour is so pretty. xx