here is a link for directions to our destination. you could also drive through town to marys lake road if you prefer.

anybody down for a costco run on the way to whole foods? if so, what day?

So I am thinking that Wednesday food should be byo, Thursday will be snacking all day and of course the main event (the main event is not a vomit competition this year, ok?), Friday will be leftovers, and Saturday we can have a community breakfast. Thoughts........

10 Days Until Gobbllerfest, Llamaheads!

Does anyone own a 10-12 cup cast iron skillet? My largest cast iron skillet is 6-8 cups. If you do have such a skillet, can I borrow it for Gobblles? I also need a box grater if anyone has one of those. I wouldn't be surprised if there was already a box grater up at the llama ranch.

Dustin and I can donate our white folding chairs and folding table to the cause. However, we will need someone else with a truck to transport them up there. Let us know if you can fit these items in your vehicle. We can also donate some very nice sleeping bags and mats. I don't know if there are actual beds for everybody or not. Mike, if you think we'll need extra sleeping bags, let me know.

We are bringing a battlemat, too. Probably not our big honking one.

The Menu!

Please feel free to add to the menu by commenting on this post



Jana- Pies: Apple and Pecan, Creamed Corn, peas, Skillet greens, Saturday Breakfast Pancakes, berries, nuts and yogurt

Dustin-Pumpkin pie

Ian-Mashed potatoes

Drew-Quiches for breakfast (accepting requests for fillings)

Alex-Mince meat pie

Jen-Wine

Adam-Turkey, gravy, stuffing (maybe cranberry sherbet)

Laura-Mac-n-cheese, cranberry sauce

Wilson Family- Salad

Carsten Clan- Green bean casserole, bread (the gluten kind), Gallon of milk, tea, cream & sugar, two dozen eggs and bacon

hot chocolate, and chocolate, clementines, dates

Lauren-Cranberry salad, pumpkin bread, gluten free pumpkin bread, gluten free cookies chocolate chip and peanut butter, lactose free milk, Tofutti.

Molly- zucchini bread, zucchini quiche, zucchini whiskey

Aaron: Triple-Bird Onslaught of Awesome (one turkey, one pheasant, one duck, each with their own stuffing and gravy), stuff for green chile stew, one cookie.

Bettina- various fruit, ice cream, whipped cream, sandwich fillings, tea, sparkling conversation
Klayton- covered by the Carstens

It's a ritual sacrifice... with pie.

So we gotta talk about our Thanksgiving menu, llama-heads.

So far these are the possibilities:

The Retka-Mega Loaf
A Turkey? (remember we have 4 ovens)
The Meatloaf Turkey stuffed with mashed potatoes

Green bean casserole
Succotash
mashed potatoes
sweet potatoes
Cranberry salad
zucchini casserole


Pumpkin pie (Glut. free)
Apple pie
Pecan pie
Mince meat pie?


Do we really need three main courses? Technically we will be there for three days, so maybe. Any thoughts on this? I'd like to see more veggie sides.

And we have a winner!!!

I think it's pretty clear that the majority would like Thanksgiving to be on Thursday. I think we should shoot for dinner around 5pm since some of us will not arrive until noon on Thursday.

Accommodations will be at the fabulous Keno's Llama Ranch.




Attendees:

We also need an official head count. I sent out a potential list a few days ago of possible participants. Here's the new list with some additional details:

Carstens (4)
Alex and Jen
Adam and Laura
Bettina and Aaron
Lauren
Drew
Ian (and Molly?)

Klayton

Jana and Dustin

Sonderickers (5) ?

Supplies:

Brandy and I were discussing how we all brought everything and the kitchen sink last time, only to discover a fully stocked kitchen. We can prolly tone down on the supplies this year. I would like to request that the Carstens bring their fabulous mixer so I can make whip cream again.

Food:

Jana: Pecan pie, apple pie, whipped cream, fruit, tea, succotash

Dustin: Pumpkin pie

Retka: Megaloaf, stuffing, sweet potatoes

Lauren: Cranberry sauce, gluten-free peanut butter ch0colate cookies and pumpkin bread.


Carstens: Green bean casserole, Gluten-free muffins and cookies, (turkey?)

Jen: Wine. (Please pitch in for wine and Jen will purchase it. I'm all for tasty good wine this year.), zucchini casserole.

Alex: mincemeat pie?

Ian: mashed potatoes, turkey loaf

Your assignment:

1) Let us know for sure if you are coming. It would be nice to know by September 30th so we can decide about accommodations.

2) Vote in the poll.

3) Let us know what you are intending on cooking or bringing to eat.

4) Let us know what supplies you are bringing.

Please send your responses by posting to this blog or sending an email.

As I receive information I will add it to this post. This will be your one stop information center as the day approaches.

Good Job!

We successfully increased the snowpack, so the creek should be running into June.

So how many people do we have going so far? This is roughly the list as I know it:

The Carstens
The Sonderickers
The Fleshers
Alex and Jen
Drew

Lauren?
Adam and Laura?
Aaron?
Wong and Erin?

We've had some funny ideas about Sand Dune projects. One of the funniest: building a catapult. I also want to do alot of sand sledding.

Everyone who knows for sure that they are coming, please respond to this post.

We need a Spring Snow dance....

For more information on all the cool things to do at the Sand Dunes, go here. And let's pray, wish for, meditate on, dance, or seed clouds for more snow and rain this spring, so we can do this:




and this:




The hiking around Mount Herard and Medano Lake looks rather spectacular.

OK. On to practical matters. I like this idea of having the carport/tarp set up with tables underneath. This will make communal eating easier. It will certainly come in handy if we get rain. That way we're not separated into individual tents and can still socialize normally despite soggy weather.

Any other thoughts? What about sand sledding? What do we need for that? I've heard goggles come in handy... And if there is still water in Medano Creek, I am all about making sand castles and sand sculpture. Has anyone ever tried this there?

Summertime Gobblerfest 2009. Sand Dunes!

I thought we should start getting organized for our adventure to Arrakis, er... I mean the Sand Dunes...

Any ideas? I will be the first to admit that I am not the most accomplished camper. I may need advice.... and help with my tent.

I also had a little birdy whispering in my ear last night that we should try to do another camping trip later in the summer that involves backpacking and hiking in to our campsite. I'm all for it, but someone may need to carry me. (Just kidding). Any ideas on where to do this? Phantom Canyon anyone?

Back to the Dunes... Let's pop out some ideas on the blog for food, equipment lists, games in the sand, etc. I thought it might be fun to have storytelling by the fire.

Saw this on Post Secret today, and wanted to share it with you!