TTA- Favorite Summer Food/Treat

Summer= Camping

The Epperson Family's favorite camping food is cooked in the Dutch Oven!

Cobbler is a favorite Dutch Oven food,

but that recipe is a family secret, as is our

Dutch Oven Salmon.

So this recipe hasn't been labeled a secret recipe yet, so I'll share with you.

Dutch Oven German Pancakes with Blueberries

*1/2 cube butter *6 Eggs

*1 C. Milk *1 C. flour

*1/2 C. sugar *1 tsp. Vanilla

*1/2 tsp. Salt *2 handfuls blueberries

Pre-heat Dutch Oven & start the coals (we use the camp chef for both) & add butter stir until melted. In a bowl mix together milk, flour, sugar, vanilla, and salt whisk together. Add eggs one at a time whisking after each(HA~that never happens) whisk until everything is well blended.

Pour egg mixture over melted butter and put 2 handfuls of blueberries on top.

Cook with 8 coals on bottom, 18 coals on top, for 18-20 mins. You aren't supposed to check on them while they are cooking because they will shrink down, but Lyn always checks towards the end and they turn out fine. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

They are good in the oven too, but the are Excellent in the Dutch Oven.

Everything tastes better cooked in the Dutch Oven.

Friends & Family from RMNR '08

We met some new friends, got to see some long lost ones, and loved hangin' out with our friends we consider family. It was a good time at Nationals Rendezvous.

This is Bekah and her new friend Breanna.

They had a lot of fun hangin' out and playin' together.

This is the boys picture.

I say boys because Zack and Lyn have never grown up, and Ray and Jason are still little.

We met the Munds family at church the 1st Sunday, and became fast friends.

Here is Bekah, Breanna Mund, and Ray. Jason was still taking his nap.

This was Ray's favorite friend at Rendezvous this year. This dog just wandered into camp, and no one claimed him. The kids named him Bud, and he loved to have them play with him and take him on walks. The first thing Ray did every morning was go check on that dog. The kids kept him feed, always letting him clean their plates. They had a good time with him, until his owner, a local rancher was located.

Bud's real name was Zeke, but he will always be Bud to us.

This is Bekah's best friend from Rendezvous, Lee.

He was one of Grma Susy's Dog Soldiers, and camped right next to us. He was such a good guy to let Bekah hang all over him all week.

He's 25 and single, if you know any single girls out there that are lookin' for a strong Mtn. Man.
I don't think he'll be waitin' for Bekah to grow up.

This is Weston and his new best friend from Rendezvous, Trevor.

Weston & Trevor were inseparable, if you couldn't find either of them they were usually together. It was great for Weston to have a friend his age to play with.

Here is Ellie and her best rendezvous friend Katilyn. These two have been friends since they were knee high to a grasshopper. It was great that they got to be together so much this week.

On a Side note: Ellie's Rendezvous named was changed this rendezvous from her childhood name of "Makes a Friend" to her new name "Horse of Thunder". Katilyn's name is "Goofy Duck" and some of our friends were calling them "Duck and Thunder" cause they were always together.

Here is Ellie, Bridger and Weston they have been good friends for many years.

Chris and Tiesha, check out Tiesha's new ribbon dress.
Here is our new family picture. It turned out really great!

Thanks Klint for taking our pictures for us.

A River Runs Through It~RMNR '08

This are a lot of us in the River. It was pretty cold until, you got use to it. It took us a while, but we built this rock dam and made to pool to play in. (pictured clockwise)Short Shadow, Bekah, Ed,Weston, Spencer, Ellie, Ray, Malia, Bridger, and Lyn
The pool was deep enough it float in, and very relaxing on a hot day.
Here are Chris and Klint teaching Bekah to swim.
Here is Lee, Grma Susy, and Ted cooling off.
We usually got in the river every afternoon.
Ellie, Lyn, and Bekah going for a swim.
We also took the opportunity to bathe in the River. Here is Lyn washing Ray's hair. Oh. Nellie! It was Cold! Yet, we were really glad to have a river this year. Most of the time it's we don't.

RMNR~ Playtime

RMNR '08 Hawk Throw Competition

There are a lot of different competitions at Rendezvous, like muzzler loader shoots, pistol shoots, primitive bow & arrow shoots. Our Favorite is the Hawk & knife throw. Weston is pretty good at it, and so when Lyn went down to throw this time he took Weston with him.
The great thing about these competitions is that anyone can try, it doesn't matter if you are experienced or just learning everyone gets to compete, and then the won with the highest score in men, women and kids wins. The other great thing is you throw the course in a group of 8 participants and everyone encourages and helps everyone else.

This was Weston's 1st time to stick it in the log, and he scored 1 pt. for this throw. Everyone in the group had been giving him pointers the whole course and were genuinely happy for him when he finally stuck it, and he was so proud!
This was 1 of Lyn's many sticks through out the course. They both did a great job and we are proud of them both!

Dog Soldiers at RMNR '08

Dog Soldiers(Dog Men): Beginning in the late 1830's, an elite band of Cheyenne warriors within the tribe.They were greatly esteemed by the tribe members and known for their bravery, and as highly aggressive and effective combatants. Each Dog Solider wore a particular colored sash and carried a sacred arrow among their various weapons.

Dog Soldiers- Ted, Klint, Susy-Spiritwoman, and Lee.

Today at Rendezvous the Dog Soldiers are known as the peace/order keepers of the camp. It is an all volunteer organization, and like the Dog Soldiers of old they all wear the same colored arm band and commit to help where ever they are needed to keep the rendezvous running smoothly.

This year the honor and responsibility of Head Dog Soldier fell on my mother-in-law, Susy Epperson. She did an awesome job! She now holds the title of the 1st woman to lead the Dog Soldiers at a National Rendezvous, and has set a high standard for all those that will follow her.

YOU GO GIRL!

The Epperson Clan is PROUD of you!

This is Klint wearing the face paint(mud) of a true

Dog Soldier Warrior!

Pre-1840 Classes-OPTIONAL

At Nationals they offer free classes in different Pre-1840 subjects for adults and teenagers to take. Usually they have kids games for the children(3-12) during the time of the adult classes so more people can participate. I am usually involved in helping with the kids activities, they get to listen to Indian legends, bead necklaces, learn to play and make games like Turtles & Bears, and learn what kids did in the pre-1840's

This year I was asked to do kids trade blanket instead, so the only pictures of kids games I took were of the last event,

the Candy Cannon.

Candy cannon is a small cannon loaded with wrapped candy, a little black powder, and the plug. It's noisy and the kids love it, except for the pieces for candy that got blow apart by the black powder.

Lyn went to 2 classes this time. One was on shooting Primitive Bow & Arrows, which he is been thinking about getting into. He said the class was very interesting and informative. He also went to a Survival Class, and got a lot of good ideas of stuff to take not only to Rendezvous, but also when he is hunting.

This is Howdy teaching the class on bow & arrows

My favorite class took was the class for Quill Work. The demonstration was free, but the class cost $15. We received hands on instruction from Jean, and got to quill this medicine bag. I learned 2 different stitches, and also learned that I enjoy quill work. Our instructor Jean, said that my work was pretty good for a 1st timer, and that my stitches will get better with practice. Now all I have to do is find someone to shoot me a porcupine so I can salvage the quills, and get to work.

Favorite Touch- TTA

My favorite touch would 1st be the Hugs & Kisses from my family. I love to snuggle-snuggle with my kids and sing the Snuggle Puppy song! They also love my tickle kisses!

It's also great to snuggle with my husband, especially when I'm cold.

He is my own personal heater.

Another favorite touch is to have my feet comfortable.

Bare Feet is best,

but if I have to wear shoes they better be comfortable ones.

The following story will illustrate my point.

Before Rendezvous season started this year, my husband knew he needed to rebuild his moccasins, however he never got around it.(not that he was lazy or anything like that. He just didn't have time) Anyway, Sat. the 1st day of Nationals. We were just setting up camp, so he wore his boots all day. The next day was Sunday and so that he could go to church, I let him were my moc's and I wore my Pre-1840 lace up boots, that really aren't that comfortable. (black-pic above) I guess women in that time period just didn't know any better. So by the end of the day my feet were killing me. So I told Lyn I wasn't going to wear these boots much longer. So we went shopping up to Trader's Row(that's the place all the traders set up shop in a general area) So after walking around and shopping for a while I found a trader that had moccasins for an affordable price. ($125) So I told Lyn to come try them on, so he did and then told me how comfortable they were and said " Heather, you should really try on a pair too." He should have known, that comfortable shoes are my downfall, especially when my feet are killing me!

Needless to say he left the trader's shop(South Fork Trader's out of Livermore, CO) with two pairs of new moccasins instead of one.

Actually, the trader gave us a deal because we bought 2 pair. So it all turned out good in the end, and I have the most comfortable pair of moccasins I have ever owned.

Life in the Pre-1840's-Camp Life

Welcome to the Rocky Mtn. Nationals Rendezvous '08!

This is where our family has been on vacation for the last 10 days,

back in time to the Pre-1840's.

Life moves at a s-l-o-w-e-r pace here.

This is our Lodge(tipi). It was on a beautiful spot with the Henry's Fork River not 20 yards away. I forgot to take a picture of the inside, but we have bunk bed cots in there for our sleeping arrangements. It was a little to cramped for my taste, we might buy a wall tent this fall. I think that would be better for us until the kids can have their own tent, then Lyn and I can move back to the Tipi for just us.

These are some pictures of camp life, under the dining fly.

Bekah setting the table.

Ellie making breakfast.

The camp chef isn't Pre-1840, however if you cover it up with canvas when it's not in use, you can have it. It makes cooking for the large Epperson Clan lots easier.

Lyn roasting a chicken over the fire. It turned out really good.
The kids love to help wash the dishes at rendezvous, wish the were more excited at home.
Ellie washing, Weston goofin' off. He still tries to get out of washing the dishes no matter where we are.

The kids were a big help this time and really stepped up to help with the chores that had to be done each day before we could go play.

4th of July Fun!

Favorite Taste!

I have a lot of favorite foods, but my Favorite taste will always be Chocolate!
I love Chocolate dipped strawberry shakes from Dairy Keen.
I love Molten Chocolate cake from Chili's, actually I just found the recipe at http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/, I'm going to make it for my friends birthday in Aug.
I love Anything with Chocolate & peanut butter.
I love Chocolate raspberry candy bars(the ones in the gold wrapper that are made in Utah)
I love my Grandma Berg's Qatmeal Choc. chip Cookies
I love Chocolate Zuccuni bread
I love Chocolate covered raisins.
Anyway, I allegric to corn syrup, so I can't have most candy stuff.
So my endulgence is CHOCOLATE!

My Favorite Smells

I love the smell of pine trees anytime of the year.

I love the smell of rain! While it's raining and just after.

I love to wake up to the smell of roses from my rose bush that my husband picks for me sometimes.

I love the smell of baby magic lotion on babies.

I love the smell of fresh baked bread.

I love the smell of homemade apple pie.

I love the smell of my pumpkin spice candle during the holidays.

I love the smell of my husband just out of the shower, even better when he wears cologne.