Trail Mix of the New millennium

Much of this week for me has been spent in preparation for a long weekend camping trip with the kids. We will be hitting the trails in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Hopefully, at this time of year we will not be encountering any snow. But you never know the adventures that await you when you take your family on a camping trip!

As a child we did lots of camping. One of my first memories of camping was as a 6 year old. We left home after my dad was done with work and arrived at the campsite in the dark and the pouring rain. If you ask my mom what she remembers it goes something like this: It rained and rained and rained. And I was in a tent with a 6 year old (that's me!) and a 3 year old and a newborn (that is some guts right there!).

This is what I remember: Arriving in the dark. Settling in the tent. Falling asleep to the sound of rain. And waking up to the sun shining all over the place, glistening raindrops hanging off of trees and sitting on the blades of grass, our tent sitting in perfect view of a lake that the night before I couldn't see. It is a magical moment that is vivid in my mind as if it were yesterday.

Let me tell you of another memory of that camping trip (and subsequently all the other camping trips as well.) My mom always made what she called GORP. Now a days we call it trail mix. But it is essentially the same thing. She would mix salted peanuts and raisins and plain M&M's all together and put it in that old Tupperware canister...you know the one: light tannish brown with a cutesy flower imprinted on the side and the famous corrugated type lid. Now a days we call that "vintage". Anyway, the salt from the peanuts would make those M&M's and, yes, even the raisins, taste so yummy.

So the tradition continues. Only this time I have added to the pot. Mostly because I have to make a separate Non-peanut mix due to my allergy ridden son. And because Goldfish Crackers and Cheerios are staples in this household.

So there will be a posting pause as we enjoy our last family trip of Summer 2006.

La Vida Dulce!