Once more with Hoodlums.

Looking up at the Milky Way, freezing due to the combination of poor inventory control and being soaked from dew, I could only think to myself, "This rocks!!"

I was laying on the back of my trailer at the time (about 3am), wrapped in a cotton sleeping bag liner and one poncho liner. The cotton bag liner was soaked do to the afore-mentioned dew. I thought I had packed five poncho liners but it turned out I only packed one... Meanwhile, Misseswether and the girls were snug and asleep in the back section of her Honda Pilot. Sucked to be them, they were missing the universe!

On the road to the Hoodlum's Spring Thing!

Yes, the trailer is legally licensed.

We didn't leave home until 6:10pm Thursday evening and so arrived at Oxford Ranch at nearly 11pm. Knowing in advance that this would happen we packed things so that we wouldn't have to set up our full camp that night.

The Wethergirls' first morning of Spring Thing 2011.


Our camp.


Come the morning it was time to set up our camp, which consists of a gigantic tent, private privy, screened-in dining room/living room, expedition-quality kitchen, and assorted other items of comfort (coolers, chairs, multiple tables). Each guideline for the tent, privy, and gazebo-thing were marked with a solar landscaping light. It's an elaborate setup...and a long setup. Totally worth it, though.

Ah, the tales I could tell of Hoodlums gatherings... Primitive skills classes, awesome food, magnificent camaraderie, decent fishing...it is the stuff of lifelong memories. You just get the pictures.

Fishing!


Tire swing!


Chilling!


Trading!


Eating!

Pizza made in a Dutch oven.


Hoodlum's youngest instructor Miniwether teaching a bug-eating class.


One of her students, having just eaten a roasted June bug.

More eating!


More eating!




More eating!




Fire-making class!


Misseswether versus a fire piston.


Edible wild plant class!


Dung beetle!

No one ate the dung beetle.

Table dance!


Another plant class!


Kite!


Kite rescued from tree!


Scorpion!

Yes, I ate it. It tasted like fried smelt.

Lizard!

No one ate the lizard.

Hummingbird trapped in our tent!

No one ate the hummingbird.

Mambowether!


Miniwether!


Art!


Campfire!


HOODLUMS!!!


Adventure! Excitement! Memories!

So far behind.

Lots to post, no time to post.
Here's a teaser: Miniwether teaching a class on eating bugs:


Adventure! Excitement! Bugs!

It's a Catholic thing...

Mommawether and Poppawether left Minnesota during a blizzard. Four days later, 1,00 miles, and an 80F increase in temperature they arrived at our doorstep. They've never been to Texas this late in the year, so to them it was like they jumped right from April (aka "midwinter" in MN) to late July (aka "to damn HOT" in MN). What could possible have them face such weather extremes?


Miniwether's 1st Communion!


Miniwether receiving the body and blood of Christ.

First communion is a scared rite for us Catholic, being the first really big step into full faith. We Catholics get a lot of heck over some of the stuff we do. So be it. It's my faith and I'm not afraid to show it. At the same time I don't begrudge anyone their own faith nor try to convert them. The nice thing about Catholics (at least the ones who got the message) is that we don't believe our way is the only way. Shocking, huh?!


The extender Wetherfamily afterwards.


Mambowether receiving a cupcake afterwards. Well cupcake frosting anyway. She loves frosting, is so-so about the cake portion.


Yes Misseswether made the dress (both, actually) and yes, Miniwether (7yr. old) is just a few inches shorter than Misseswether (age unknown). Misseswether had Miniwether stand in a low spot for this picture. Standing flat-footed back to back Miniwether is up to Misseswether's ears!


Best picture ever of Mambowether...not involving large bones.


I don't think I want to know what she's thinking here.

Adventure! Excitement! Faith!

North and South

My parents are adventurous people (no surprise, eh?). When faced with new people/foods/experiences they dive right in. Twenty minutes later they are old friends with everyone around them and have mastered whatever activity is occurring. For instance, in Poppawether's mind, he was just served a large pile of bait...


Such very very good bait!


So very very much bait!


Miniwether's favorite. It was delicious!

Adventure! Excitement! Bait!