In camp

So, a little about the camp.

First, I'll say that there is wireless here - when the internet and phone line are working, and when the sun is out to charge the solar panels. That is the only source of electricity. Right now it's the rainy season in Scotland so the sun is out very little and we have no power. Don't expect any blogs from camp. We'll post when we make trips to Ullapool which is just a three mile walk through the hills.

My first two days, while all the people were here, I was assigned kitchen duty with Heather, a girl from Wales. Yes. Me. Kitchen duty. It's OK - you can laugh. I did too. We did OK. First we made tomato soup (fire roasting the tomates to peel them, herbs and onions from the garden, and one BIG pot). Made double batch of Welsh cakes and a ginger cake thing called a Parkin. Then we were asked to make pasta with cheese sauce for dinner... for 18 people! We got the REALLY BIG pot out for the pasta and made sauce by hand and by feel as we had no recipe. Luckily we guessed right and had enough sauce for the pasta and enough pasta for everyone. They loved it. I secretly hoped they wouldn't so I could get off kitchen duty :-). All this is done with an outdoor, open-air kitchen - cooking over the fire. No appliances. No fridge. There is a tiny gas stove that works a little but it doesn't heat up much so it's not very usable.

Did a little cooking today but got a few other tasks. The Zimmerman took down a few trees for a new building structure and I helped strip the bark. Working with my hands suited me much better and I got a little exercise doing it. Getting to know everyone a little more and thoroughly enjoying that!

Here's what I can say about Sydney's time in camp...
Yesterday. Breakfast. Sydney and Stormy headed out with the horses to go get apples about 10:00 AM. They arrive at 3:00 with no apples and no ponies. Head back out in the afternoon and come back covered in mud, but smiling. After dinner they play on rope swings until it's too dark to see them. More mud.
Today. Head out with the horses again to see if they can find those apples. Come back with the horses, but no apples. Lunch. Heads out with Stormy to fix the chicken fence as we have hens in the outdoor kitchen. They come back quickly to get hot chocolate and then go fishing. (Chickens continue to escape.) Head back out to grab the horses and gallop over the highlands before dinner. (Insert small amount of jealousy from me at this point.). Happy for her! Wanting to go with her! Arrives very happy, just in time for dinner.

So, it's just two days in. Sydney will take over the next blog.

Julia