Cowboy Coffee and Campfire Cuisine

This is the official report on the success of our camping vittles. First of all, I am happy to write that Dustin turned out to be an excellent campfire chef. The first night we placed foil packs full of chicken, squash, zucchini, and potatoes in the fire. Aside from some stubborn potatoes, it was delicious!

The next night we grilled beef and vegetable kabobs over the fire. Dustin also used coals from the fire to bake biscuits and apple cobbler (if you can beleive it)! On the left you can see them baking on both sides of the fire pit in cast iron pots with coals placed under and on top. It was wonderful.

I made my grand enterance to campfire cooking when I grilled some toast over the fire on our last morning. Dana, Daphne, and Dustin also did some good cookin' on our coleman stove.

Finally, I successfully brewed some cowboy coffee. I bought a percolator that we tried the first night. It took FOREVER and in the end just boiled away. So the next morning I took the percolator part out and tried the cowboy coffee recipe I posted. And it wasn't just good, it was about as good as any coffee I've had. Maybe better. Or maybe the superior taste was enhanced by the fresh morning air and quiet moments by the fire before everyone got up.

Cowboy Coffee

This weekend we are going camping with some good friends of ours, Dustin and Daphne. Dustin claims to be a master campfire chef. We always just used the Coleman gas stove growing up, so I will look forward to this smokey cuisine. My initial concern was how I would secure my morning cup of coffee. The answer: "Cowboy Coffee." I know there are other ways, but I am eager to try this more ancient method. I found this post with instructions on how to make it. Here is the overview:

1. Bring one quart of water to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Add 3/4 cup of ground coffee.
3. Return to boil.
4. Immediately remove from heat and cover.
5. Wait till the grounds sink (approximately 5 minutes).
6. Serve.

I will give a report on Dustin's campfire cooking and my cowboy coffee.

What Is Being a Dad?

This morning I was sitting on the porch having some time with God, when my ten year old daughter Bethany came out with her Bible. She asked me if I would help her understand the passage she was reading. It was a great joy to discuss life changing truths with her.

A few minutes after talking with her, I visited my very first website. One of my first posts was written on August 28, 2004. It was a copy of a poem I wrote for Bethany not long after she was born. As you read it you will see why it was so meaningful just after my discussion with her on the front porch. I can see Bethany growing into "a young lady, beautiful and strong, graceful and shining," beginning to look up to the Father for herself.

For You, Bethany

What is being a dad? It is pouring all of God that is in me into you. I want dad to be the first place that you experience Love Himself; The Holy One, Mercy, Righteousness, and Grace in person.

I want more of God in me for you to see. I seek God for you that you may find Him in me.

I think now of you, a young lady beautiful and strong graceful and shining, and the joy that will be mine when you turn your eyes off of this dad. When you turn your eyes up and see for yourself, taste for yourself, love for yourself. The inexplicable joy that will be mine when you seek the face of our Father with your own heart.

But for now, because I am your dad, I will seek Him for you. I pray you will find Him in me.

Dad 8/30/99

Garden Update

As I tweeted on Saturday, the whole family (except for those unable to work) spent all day working in the garden  together. And I really mean all day. We dealt with some complaining at first, of course. But something amazing transpired as the day passed. The kids really caught the vision for our garden and taking pride in their work. By the end of the day, attitudes of helpfulness and contentment abounded.

It helped that we were able to harvest some produce as well. It wasn't much, though, since not only do we have a later planting time up here, but we also had three weeks of rain when we could plant. You can see the beginnings of some cantaloupe on the left. We harvested some sugar snaps, green beans, and zucchini.

"The Money Trap" by Wayne McDill

We enjoyed a visit last week with Sean and Anna (my sister) Gossett and Dad and Mom. They camped in the area and we were able to visit with them from time to time. Dad and Mom stayed over the weekend and Dad preached at our church on Sunday. He taught on "The Money Trap" from Luke 16:1-16. You can listen to it here, which is a recording of when he gave this message at his own church earlier this summer. Here is a link to the Powerpoint presentation that goes with it, if you would like to see the notes while you're listening.