The Campfire - Page 18

Believe51 · 03-26-2009, 07:34 AM

I do, I do!!

Also, although Ed does not play his instruments because of his numb digits but he will be willing to teach Bill the guitar. Up to it, Bill??>>Believe51

SoCalGal · 03-27-2009, 12:42 AM

Oh- I am born in NJ

. Newark, NJ. A long time ago. Since we are around a campfire, I think I should tell my fire story from the other night...

I was trying to make gluten free matzoh for Passover. Testing ahead of time, a simple recipe (oats and water - even I can bake that). Well, the matzoh not only looked ugly but tasted like cardboard. I thought it needed to be toasted. But I felt that it would not turn a nice brown color unless it had some butter. And since I don't eat dairy I sprayed it with a dash of organic canola oil. And put it in the toaster oven. Within 30 seconds, my entire kitchen was filled with billowing black smoke. The toaster was in flames. I opened the kitchen door and then did what I always do in an emergency - FREEZE for 10 seconds while I swear the same word over and over about 20 times.

Beau was trying to herd me out. He was running in and out of the house.

As soon as I finished swearing, I thought to unplug the oven. So that helped. And then I made the mistake of opening the oven door, and the flames jumped out again! Next I got the fire extinguisher out (first time out of it's holster in 12 years) but I didn't really know how to use it (there's a pin and a trigger, but I didn't have my reading glasses on) and I didn't feel like having to clean a big mess of extinguisher stuff from my counter. Meanwhile the smoke was billowing.

Finally I thought to soak some dishtowels in water and throw them over the toaster oven. They did the trick and smothered the fire without a mess. I was shaking from fear and then I started to laugh really hard because all I could think was that the bummer is that now I can't toast marshmallows anymore. So I'll have to toast them here, around our fire.

Believe51 · 03-27-2009, 08:41 AM

Flori, you are my 'Today's Joy', just thinking of you in a fit of laughter over the whole marshmallow thing. All after you almost burned the house down! In fact, you had me laughing out loud again. Stay away those appliances today if you can. Good we can all laugh at this now girl>>Believe51

ElaineM · 03-27-2009, 10:45 AM

Please toast a couple matzoh over the campfire for me.
I love them plain or with jelly or cheese or yoghurt after Passover. My friend's Catholic church gives me all their leftovers after Passover dinner. I love it.

Believe51 · 03-27-2009, 11:20 AM

I'll do it Elaine, looks like Flori is having difficulties today.>>Believe51

ElaineM · 03-28-2009, 04:11 PM

Thanks Believe 51 !!
Flori's experience reminded me about when my bathtub (ofuro) went on fire when I lived in Northern Japan. Maybe Kathy S. can relate to this.
Flames were coming out from beneath my ofuro one night when I started to get into the tub. The gas man came, but since that was in the beginning of my life in Japan I could only understand one word-------abunai, which means dangeous. He put out the fire, but I had to wait 3-4 weeks for repairs, so I had to cook water on the stove to bathe in the middle of winter until the repairs were finished. I sort of felt like a pioneer woman cooking water for bathing. There was no central heating in my apartment. I only had a small oil stove for warmth. Not lots of fun !!!!

ElaineM · 03-29-2009, 09:14 PM

Just dropping by after a busy day to throw a log onto the fire and sit for awhile with a cup of mint tea. I left a thermos of it for anyone who drops by later.

StephN · 03-29-2009, 09:46 PM

Whew! Am I pooped! Spent all afternoon with hubby doing major gardening. Digging up grass to enlarge a garden area to plant a pear tree, weeding, planting primroses, spreading moss killer (we need this in our climate!), etc.
Just need to "set a while."

Got an old grape vine to toss into the fire. Not needing food as just had a big dinner. Just some herb tea and maybe some good "trail mix."

Not up to working on a quilt tonight!

hutchibk · 03-29-2009, 10:58 PM

Flames from your bathtub, Elaine? LOL that visual is cracking me up! Glad it all worked out ok. The only flames around here are from our toasty little campfire...

hutchibk · 03-29-2009, 11:01 PM

And OMG Flori - I am just on the floor, laughing so hard I'm crying. And I think I know what word you were cussing...

ElaineM · 03-30-2009, 04:02 PM

Yes hutchibk. Now I laugh about my Japanese bathtub experience, but I wasn't exactly laughing back the.Can you envision a short gas stove with a tub mounted on top? That is what a Japanese bath tub looks like. The earliest version of that was a fire with a tub mounted on top. So, if we were inclined to build a sturdy frame with a ladder over our campfire we could all bathe and get warm at the same time. I guess one could call it the original "hot tub". I am not suggesting it though.
Smile everyone !!
My boss bought me a portable stove like thing that hands over the kitchen sink to heat water for Christmas that year. My pioneer days were finally over. The cold water goes up from the faucet into the stove and then hot comes out the other side for "instant" cooked water for washing dishes and other things.

Believe51 · 03-31-2009, 11:50 AM

Girls, I brought some bubble bath for you sillies. I am still chuckling today about this conversation. There is some Tumeric Tea waiting for you after you are through with you baths. I also made some Almondine Chicken Skewers to munch on and nice Roasted Organic Vegetables.

Don't worry though, I told Flori and the rest to take a load off and relax. I think I'll do the cooking for a while.>>Believe51

Bill · 03-31-2009, 09:28 PM

Just stopping by to throw a stick or two into the fire tonight. (Marie, that would be awesome to get some lessons from The Mighty Oak) I hope everyone is doing well. It's nice to sit here awhile, under the stars, listening to the crickets chirping and frogs croaking, and feeling the warmth from the fire seep into my sore bones. I'm glad to be in the company of good friends like y'all right now. Right now, everything is going super-great in my life, but today happens to be the birthday of one of my all-time best friends, Scott (Nicola's brother) whom we lost in a drowning accident years ago. I'm sorry to bring a downer mood to the fire, but Scott and I shared many fires, and I guess I just wanted to celebrate his birthday around another one. Thanks for listening.

ElaineM · 03-31-2009, 09:45 PM

Hi Belive,
Thanks so much.
We are always glad to have you here Bill. Feel free to share anytime.

Believe51 · 04-01-2009, 08:19 AM

Sorry I woke you all up but I was so excited and needed to share the news.......My Mother-in-Law is out of her coma. She is still on the vent but her eye's are open!! Let's celebrate!!>>Believe51

tricia keegan · 04-01-2009, 03:07 PM

Marie thats fantastic! I've just opened a chilled bottle of very dry white wine...ready to celebrate if anyone cares for a glass??

Bill, Anniverserys always bring some sadness no matter how many years have passed. The important thing to recall are the happy memories and absent friends.
Cheers!

ElaineM · 04-01-2009, 09:03 PM

I am here with thankfulness about your mother in law.
I am praying for eveyone who wants one.
Now sit down and relax. You look awfully tired Believe !!
Let us provide some of the food. You have been cooking up a storm.

sassy · 04-04-2009, 07:55 PM

Just wanted to stop by for a little solitude and peacefulness. It seems so many people are having difficulty with their lives/health/employment. Want to gather my thoughts and say a prayer---a good long one---for everyone who needs strenght, comfort and courage.

vickie h · 04-06-2009, 05:40 PM

Thank you, Sassy. Sitting here with you and praying for all those disrupted lives, especially those in Italy tonight.....

tricia keegan · 04-08-2009, 04:57 PM

hear hear Sassy, God help those affected by this tragedy.