Teeswater News – Online!

Hello Muddah! Hello Faddah!

By: Lynne Frank (August 8, 2010)

Early-mid June our daughter decided she wanted to go to a 'sleep-away' camp.  Many of the characters in her favourite books attend summer camp, some for the entire summer!  At 8 1/2 years old, our gal is not usually one to rush head strong into something unless she's really checked it out and thought it over.

So, besides reading about other kids' adventures we looked at some websites.  We attended a family service at the nearest (United Church) Kids' summer camp late June.  We walked the property together, guessing what some of the buildings, cabins and green spaces were used for, counted the canoes…  That was the clincher!  "I wanna go here this summer!"  The panic was on as I realized some people planned this sort of activity back in March or April!  I had also worried she'd want a friend to sign up with her or she'd back out of the deal.  I was however greatly relieved that we didn't have to drive 8 hours north with a 2 hour fly-in by bush plane to drop her off!

Just a few days ahead of the scheduled drop-off time she got a bit quiet and agitated.  Second thoughts!  Ah haa!  These were comforted with assurances that the councilors would trig onto homesick kids, were trained to be very approachable, were good at getting kids to mix and talk and make friends in quick-time,…  It would be normal if she felt lonesome for us and our routines!   Frankly, she'd not be missing out on anything better going on around here!  Secretly we hoped she'd miss us just a little bit!  I won't go into how much we missed her-  but even the dog moped!

She wrote one letter 'home' to Grandma later on that same first day.  After that, she claims she was just too busy!  On the evening we picked her up, (after I recovered from her flying tackle), she absolutely glowed while she chattered about her adventures and new friends!  We've heard even more stories and details since!  If she could've turned around a day or two later and stayed another week she'd have been thrilled!…and we are not tired of hearing her say that.  She also claims that the cooks were awesome,  (though she was glad she didn't have to miss our  usual Sunday pancakes for breakfast)!  We are just so happy she had a great time.  I can tell her now that my first week away at camp was when I was 12!  Daddy never went when he was a kid but made up for some of that by being a Scout leader for many years!

There's lots to do in and around our area, it's only early August!  Half-day church camp starts Monday.  Beaches. Swimming pools.  Museums.   Picnics.  Sleep-overs. 

Already, however, she is planning her birthday party for October,…  Theme?  Camp Half-Blood just like from the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series!!  Oh, goody, blue food.  They didn't sword fight at the United Church Kids' Camp?…. Did they?

Here are a couple favorite treats for the back yard campfires! 

BANANA BOATS

Peel one banana per person, cut a slit length-wise from stem to stern.   Into the crack add a smattering of chocolate chips, then mini marshmallows.  Wrap individually in foil and set on a grill or into the coals.  Bake about 2 minutes only!  Carefully unwrap and eat!

ORANGE CAKES

You'll need 3 or 4 large oranges for a single-layer pouch cake mix. 

Cut the cap off each orange, about 3/4 the way up.  Keep the 'lid'  eat the innards of the orange, (or at least most of the orange…. we keep some chunks for the cake) 

Make up the cake mix as directed, but cut back the liquid by about 1/4 cup.   Carefully pour batter into the hollowed orange, filling to about 1/2 full.  Put the lid on, wrap well with foil and 'bake' for about 15 minutes each orange!   You should be able to  'peel' the orange to eat the yummy cake!!

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Take a wee sprite of an Alberta girl, a few years on the open road in an 18 wheeler, a small Ontario town, a rambunctious Chocolate Lab, stir briskly and well… Frankly… you get Lynne Frank's take on life in the Teeswater area. Between operating the skein winder at breakneck speed and learning how to knit (not to mention searching high and low for the perfect Band-Aid) Lynne shares her favourite recipes, tips on playing a 'killer' game of Euchre and thoughts on just about anything that piques her interest.

Filed Under: Frankly..., Recipes
Tags: BANANA, first, ORANGE, United Church Kids