Mousetail Landing State Park

Sooo... Etta skipped her very first day of school.

Yeah, I know... 

I had already told the admissions lady that we might go out of town for Labor Day weekend (when I thought we might go to Alabama for my Mom's birthday weekend).  So, it wasn't a big deal when I let them know we wouldn't be there for another week.

Keith took the day off and we went camping instead. 

We only went for one night.  Friday night.

We got to the park around 1:00, found a good (private) campsite and set up camp!  As usual, Keith set up the tent while I entertained Etta in the car.  I tried hanging out with her outside of the car, but all she wanted to do was climb around that thing like a jungle gym!

After we were all set up, we sat down for a few pb&j's before heading out for what we thought would be a short hike to the Park Office and playground.  It really wasn't so short.  Etta did well for a while, but after a while the uneven surfaces started getting to her and she refused to walk.  I was really wishing I had brought some sort of carrier so I could wear her.  Keith and I took turns carrying her until we FINALLY made it to the playground.  Keith walked Ferris over to the creek for a drink and I took E to the playground.  Etta loves slides!  I saw Keith have a seat at a picnic table with Ferris and after a while, I walked over to swap places with him so I could rest with Ferris while he chased Etta around the playground.

I wasn't sitting at the picnic table very long before I felt a bug on my right hand.  I looked down and saw SEVERAL small blonde colored teeny tiny ticks on my right hand, then I noticed them on my left hand, and on my right arm, and on my left thigh.  At first, I was VERY hopeful that they may not be ticks.  So, Ferris and I walked over to the playground and I asked Keith what he thought and he said that they looked like ticks to him too.  EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!  I scurried down to that creek and washed those little parasites off as best as I could and we started back for the campsite.  Except, by now Etta was FALLING APART and it was either a long hike back through the woods or a less long hike up the VERY steep paved road.  We chose the road.  Etta refused to let Keith carry her, and I couldn't carry her (for fear of passing on ticks), and she refused to walk.  So, Etta, Ferris, and I just sat on the side of the road while Keith ran up that hill all boot-camp-style so he could bring the car back for us.  Our hero! 

When we got back to the tent, Keith and Etta and Ferris rested while I hit the shower.  I tied all of those clothes up in a garbage bag and I scrubbed, and inspected, and plucked, and scrubbed.  I got most of them, but they were SO small.  I mean, like smaller than most of my freckles and the same color (or lighter).  As small as a pencil point! IMPOSSIBLE to find all of them.  GAG!  Even after my shower, I found a couple more of those little suckers.

That night, Etta went to bed and Keith grilled some steaks for us.  It was a tasty supper! Then, we sat around the fire before heading to bed.  I slept much better this trip.  Around 3am I woke up when Ferris was giving a low growl and one little bark.  I listened closely and heard footsteps crunching in the leaves.  I don't know what it was out there, I guessed a deer, but I really didn't know and I had to pee now.  I was too scared to go out after the mysterious footsteps, so my hero husband (who was sleeping lightly) woke up and walked out with me.  I felt SO much better and settled back into sleep.  As I was drifting off, I heard a howl in the distance and some yipping a little closer.  I think they were coyotes.  Ah, Nature.

Etta had us up at about 5:40 on Saturday morning.  YAWN!  The temperature had really dropped overnight and it was nice and cool and Fall-like.  We all got to wear our first hoodies of the season.  I love hoodies!  Keith took Etta out of the tent to eat and I layed in the tent and read and enjoyed the foggy morning view.  Then we got up and packed up and headed home.

After we got home, I showered again and found two more ticks and I dosed both of the dogs with Frontline since I can't tell if Ferris got ticks or not. 

That afternoon, our neighbor came over to tell us that there was going to be a little gathering at our other neighbor's house that evening and we were invited to come.  So, I made some brownies and we walked next door around 4:30.  It was a fun little evening with neighbors.  We didn't get to stay very long though because Etta was ready for night night and starting to get fussy.