Last Feast/Camp Fire/Clean-Up

This year was great. Really great. I want to give my Week 5 post some thought and time to compose, so in the meantime, I'll leave you with a brief post about our last meal (with plenty of pics), the epic last campfire, and a little bit on our camp breakdown.

Last Feast:

So very good. And so much WORK! Cadie and I were inspired by the native foods workshop we attended in May (you can read about it here: http://tinyurl.com/4yz2vhc).

Most all of the dishes were native to our area (at least in part) and there were a few foods traditional to our feast that we wanted to include. I hope I don't forget anything, but I believe we prepared/ate the following foods: Roasted turkey with gravy, glazed ham, fry bread, nopales, salsa, guacamole, quinoa salad, stinging nettle stew with sunflower seeds, native greens salad with pinyon (pine) nuts, wiiwish (acorn mush- a traditional Cahuilla and Serrano staple food), sourdough biscuits, beans, deviled eggs, chia seed lemonade, prickly pear lemonade, sycamore tea, pineapple upside down cakes, and a blueberry & black cherry cobbler. Whew... It was the bomb. Here are some pics (click to enlarge)!

We had around twenty visitors- friends, family, former students, etc... There were about 50 people there, and it really made the last dinner together feel like a celebration.

After dinner, everbody helped to clean up, and we walked down to the far campfire (there were two for some reason this year) to share our best and worst moments and coolest artifacts of the field season. I won't share any responses here, but I will tell you they were salty, hilarious, and wonderful. The good and the bad...

We all slept in an extra hour (I didn't have to get up until 5 a.m., greeeat), and Cadie and I made sourdough pancakes, bacon, and fruit salad.

After breakfast we packed up five weeks and what seemed like 17 tons of STUFF. Tables, lanterns, papers, a BBQ, kitchen everything, tents, chairs, propane tanks, refrigerators and a freezer (for reals), ice chests, trash bins, compost buckets, pots, pans, plates, cups, food, projectors, artifacts, mortars, and so so so much more. It was a ton of work, but there were a many hands helping, and I was out before noon. Sigh... I think I'll save my closing remarks for another post... I'm just not quite ready for it to all be over. Not yet...

Week 4: In Pictures (mostly)

I am tempted to not write anything at all. Not because week four was less busy/crazy, but because I finally received my new (awesomatic) camera and took over 500 pictures, and also because it's Saturday night, which means I'm tired and due to return for week five tomorrow morning (a.k.a. laziness). Here are some pretty things:

Okay. Here I go... Monday. Cadie and I went into Palm Desert to do our "big shop." Costco, Vons, Trader Joe's, and Best Buy. Some Mondays we have 15 stops- places like Target for tablecloths, Sport's Chalet for lanterns, Clark's for teas, Verizon, Stater Bros, farmer's markets, gas stations, it goes on and on. But Monday we worked quickly because it was over 100 degrees. Crazy hot. I like hot, but about ten minutes into schlepping/packing away our two carts of Costco goods into the car, I was toast. Toasted. Burned. We were back up the hill by noon. Good job.

On Wednesday, Cadie, E.J., and I went into Anza to fill our propane tanks (we cook on propane stovetops and in BBQs), get some more fruit from the Produce Guy, and a few things at True Value. After all that fun (woohoo), we made a stop at the Hamilton Museum. It was THE BEST. Margaret Wellman Jaenke showed us around the local museum, which is located in the historical Contreras House. Pictures speak louder than words (that's the expression, right?):

I really recommend learning more about the early Anza homesteaders and Cauhuilla people who ran (and) run cattle all through the valley. Here's a link to a great book written by Margaret: http://tinyurl.com/3ke8ftx

On Friday we had guests from San Manuel come with some young students to sing bird songs and check out the area our students are surveying/excavating:

The kids are great and camp is exciting. Here are a few randoms:

Those crazy kids from top (and left to right) are Kevin, Liz and Elia, and Erin, John, Christine, Danny, Kevin (again) and Ashley

Also this happened:

Aaaand lastly, here are a few excavators. Dirty, exhausted, happy:

(top to bottom, left to right: Christine's excavator's tan, Elia, Chirstine, Anne, Ashley, Barbara, Dan, Bill, and Ryan, and Ashley with ventilation)

Week 2: What I can remember...

Here's another picture stolen from my friend Mark Woodson... He spent this last week (week 3) with Cadie while I was sleeping in and eating food cooked by other people in San Diego (more on that later)... I leave tomorrow morning for week four, and I promise to take some notes because after a week of sun, swimming, fish tacos, and a few drinks- I have forgotten 97.4% of the goings-on of week 2. But, I will try to piece it all back together...

Week 2: Storms and Sister. Our week starts on Sunday. And because Independence Day fell on a Monday, Cadie and I decided to cook up a big BBQ Sunday to give us plenty of prep time, and to allow visitors/friends/family to join us. Burgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, potato salad, deviled eggs, and pineapple upside down cake (and probably more, but no camera/bad memory). It was all really good. I think that in the field- the classics taste so good!
Monday was interesting. Usually Cadie and I do all of our major shopping, but because of the holiday, many of our store were closed, so we somehow put together another dinner of shrimp curry, basmati rice, green beans, and naan. And later that evening, a little after 10 p.m., my SISTER and her friend, the magnificent Molly, arrived!!! The girls had come all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina, and I was ecstatic that they made our camp one of their stops (for more on their roadtrip, you can visit Molly's blog here: http://thesouthredux.blogspot.com/2011/07/3000-miles-in-12-observations.html
It was Sarah's first time camping, and she did great. After a couple glasses of wine, she slept in a tent! It reminded me of my first times camping. Our family aren't exactly "outdoors" types. Not at all, actually.
Tuesday was great too. Cadie gave me the morning and afternoon off to spend time with my sis, and Mike was still in camp too (he took an extra day off!). Mike took the girls to the excavation site and a rock art site while Cadie and I planned our weekly menu and shopping trip. When they got back, we drove into Idyllwild for lunch at my hippie place. The girls left from there, which was totally sad, but I've never ever seen Sarah look so tired, and I really understood her need for civilization. Mike and I returned to camp and the second rainstorm to help prepare pesto pasta with grilled chicken, steamed artichokes, and ratatouille. Mike grilled the chicken in the pouring rain, and it was the bomb.
I can hardly remember what happened on Wednesday other than I had a nap after lunch (a rarity), but was rudely awoken by the LOUDEST thunder I've ever heard. I mean LOUD. It made me sit straight up in bed, like in the dang movies! Dinner? No idea.
Thursday? Oh! Yes, I remember we made a trip out to Anza (only about 15 miles away) to make a trip to our farmer's market, hardware store (to replace some broken screens), and to refill 5 propane tanks... And I got a burrito ;) Dinner? No idea.
Friday was a blur of cornmeal pancakes, bacon, leftovers for lunch, and a happy ride down the hill thanks to Dr. Sapp. Very happy because I was only a couple days away from San Diego (and moments away from a hot bath!)...

Week 2: Rain and Sistah Sarah

I promise to be good and write a proper post tomorrow, but for now, I'm in a San Diego hotel room (in my pajamas) cruising the interwebs to catch up on all the good gossip, jokes, my Facebook, and other really important things...

I'll remember week 2 for the outrageous rain/thunder storms and my sister (!) coming to visit with her energetic/excellent friend Molly for a day (too short!). Here's a pic (the only pic of the week, I'm afraid) of us having lunch at my favorite hippy cafe, Nature's Wisdom (I know, right?) in Idyllwild:

Another field season is here...

Which means another five weeks of cooking and camping! There are a few changes this year, all good. First, we're not in Big Bear anymore... We're in Garner Valley somewhere between Idyllwild and Pinyon in the mountains above Palm Desert, camping on private land surrounded by pine, oak, sage, and Wellman cattle. This location is very special because there are a few buildings on the property, like a guest house we call the "cook shack" and a large garage we use as a pantry and school house. This is the first year we have a BED and... Wait for it... Electricity! We have refrigerators and a freezer. We cook with the help of electric juicers, food processors, and stand mixers. Technology is good. Here's a picture of our outdoor kitchen and garage called "Purgatorie Hill." Interesting.

The things that remain the same are good too, though. The staff remains nearly the same with the addition of Thalia, former student and amiga, and E.J., Cadie's son. And Mike came up to set up and help bbq the first weekend. Here's E.J. and Mike showing his more serious side:

The reason I come back every summer, Cadie with Daniel

And return students Tim Murphy and Mat Lowe, I don't even remember this/have any idea what's up with the knives ;/

We have cool camp dogs, Roxy, Tiger, and here's Nilla:

And the food is still really good. In a week, we served 280 breakfasts (like blueberry lemon pancakes with bacon), 280 lunches (I can't tell you how much lunch meat we've burned through), 280 dinners, cakes, cookies, muffins, and snacks (innumerable). Here's a picture of bbq pork and asada tacos with kimchi made lovingly by Mark Woodson. Woodson also took all of these pictures (Mike and I are waiting for our new camera to arrive). Thanks Mark!

Everything is going great. Week one is over, the menus for the next four weeks have already been planned, and I look forward to getting to know the students better this week. So far, they are hard working, nice, and like the food. That is great. Now, it's nap time... See you next week!

Week five, "This is The End"

This is what I'll miss the most:



(Back row, L to R: Jessica, Perry, Kim, Annalise, Kara, Henry, Ty, Tim, Joe, Aaron T., Carey, Middle Row: Michelle, Sydney, Carrie, Vanessa, Claudia, Julia, Daniel, Steven, Ali, Allison, Aaron M., Susan, Front row: Gina, Cadie, ME, and Bill)

What a group. I will miss every single person in this photo! I am so thankful for Facebook, I don't want to lose any of these fabulous new friends...

Okay. Week five FLEW by! Monday and Tuesday were shopping days, so like usual they were busy and fast. Come Wednesday, it was practically time to close down camp, Cadie and I were already preparing for the end of the year FEAST (dinner is such and understatement). Thursday was all cleaning and cooking (and Mike came), and then Friday, we packed it in and went home. It really felt that fast.

It must have been because it was the final week, but Cadie and I had a little fun on our last down the hill shopping trip Monday. After shopping at Costco to get our last block of cheese, case of baby wipes, and feast items (oh, and to repair another flat tire, 14th of the field season) we met with Mark Woodson who showed us around the grove and picked us fresh zucchini and basil. The Grove is awesome! In addition to a huge farm full of good stuff, they have goats and chickens, and the historical Barton schoolhouse is on the grounds.





Tuesday was our last visit to the awesomatic Big Bear farmer's market. I was so sad to say goodbye to our favorite vendors, especially Adelina's fruit stand (her partner is the guy who made the comment about not knowing how many chickens they have because of "bobcats and stuff"). We bought bags and bags of fresh peaches (more on this later).



We also took the group picture because Bill left that day for Peru (lucky!). Here are some pics from Tuesday morning:



Walking through the meadow, Gina with the Golden Metate



(Team A)



(Team B)



(Team C, Chupacabras)



(Cadie and Natalie: Team Wipe Your Plate Clean)

I didn't even take a single picture on Wednesday. I did do something unprecedented in Field school history. I took TWO naps. I knew how crazy Thursday and Friday would be, so I tried my best to get lots of rest! It was great.

Thursday morning we made sourdough pancakes and bacon for breakfast. Mmm...



SO MUCH FOOD! We have some traditions for our last FEAST together every field season. Daniel McCarthy BBQs a turkey and Cadie and I like to make some traditional dishes along with holiday-esque favorites. Marilyn made real lemonade, I made nopales and the students made wiwish (acorn mush) from scratch along with blood orange glazed ham, beans, green beans, sourdough biscuits, deviled eggs, polish beets, roasted red and sweet potatoes, roasted red pepper and goat cheese dip with blackened vegetables, guacamole, and salsa. It makes me full just remembering all the good eats. And it was great cooking with everyone. Sydney was in that kitchen with Cadie and I since day one, and she helped so much with the last meal. yes, this is a shout out: Thanks Syd!!!





(Daniel and his turkey, Sydney darling)

Remember those bags and bags of fresh organic peaches from Adelina, our favorite farmer's market vendor? Well, with the help of Carrie and Julia, I made three pans of peach cobbler for dessert. I liberally showered the peaches and sourdough topping with handfulls of brown sugar, and I even topped the pans with more brown sugar for good measure... Unfortunately, the brown sugar turned out to be unleached acorn flour used to make the wiwish. I turned what should have been a beautiful peach cobbler into an inedible bitter cake. The horror!!!



(Will label bags in the future)

After dinner, everyone gathered around the fire for awards and to just hang out. We exchanged our favorite (and least favorite) field school memories. Tim and Allison tied for the Golden Marshalltown Award, which is given to the person (or people in this case) you'd most like to work with in the future. Carey a.k.a. "The Guy" won the Indiana award for student most likely to roll with the punches and a rattlesnake skin. I wanted to stay up late with everyone, but I knew how crazy Friday would be, so Mike and I went to bed early. The students slept in the meadow together (locos!)...



On Friday morning we broke down camp:



:(

I had an incredible time getting to know everyone. I will post more pictures and stories in a week or two. For now, I'm off to Tucson with Cadie for a week! Please feel free to send me your stories and/or photos you'd like me to post @ natalieikahn@yahoo.com

I love you guys!!!