Thanksgiving 2009 SELF-SERVICE Rally

[dkutz]

We are home safe.  We had a GREAT time.  It was very nice to have an extended stay, and be close to home so we got home really early.
 
Only a SCCampers campout can have red flag conditions for two days, then have rain for two days, then be windy again before you leave.  CRAZY.  It never rained for very long or very hard, so we all survived.
 
Thanks to Lori, Dave and Dee for all the fun and Food!

[griffsmom]

This was our first time camping over the Thanksgiving holiday and it was AWESOME! Of course, like Dieter said, the weather held true to SCCampers' tradition, with warm temps, high winds, and extreme fire danger Wednesday and Thursday (no campfires allowed), to cool and cloudy on Friday with light rain sprinkles as we sat around the campfire, on-and-off rain showers on Saturday, and back to high winds and heat on Sunday! :eyecrazy: But like the SCCampers we are, it didn't ruin our fun.
 
Cooking a full Thanksgiving dinner in dutch ovens was surpisingly stress-free and delicious. I cooked an 11-pound turkey in Dave's Maca DO, and I stacked the cornbread-sage dressing and green bean casserole on top of that. (I'll try to post some pictures a little later.) We did mashed potatoes the old-fashioned way, and my mom made cranberry sauce and brought pumpkin and pecan pies. Everything turned out pretty well, although I've already made some mental notes for next year so that the bottom of the stuffing doesn't get burnt. Yes, we're already planning on doing this again next year, and Dave has already offered to deep-fry a turkey. YUM!
 
Thanks Brian annd Marcie for stopping by on your bike ride. It was, as always, wonderful to see you. Sorry you couldn't make it back for gumbo, but I totally understand wanting to get those Xmas lights up. Hope you didn't get too wet on the ride home!
 
Thanks also to Dee and Dieter and Dawnne for sharing their dinner and dessert last night. It was fun hanging out by the fire with the kids watching movies outside. Griffin woke up this morning and said he wished we had just one more day. Me too.
 
I'm glad everyone had a great time and wants to do it again next year. Maybe more SCCampers will join us?!! I don't how early Canyon RV will accept reservations, but calling sooner rather than later is probably a good idea. Dave liked the site we were in so we would try for that one again.

[griffsmom]

Here are a few shots from my camera. I didn't take too many--too busy cooking! I'll post more from Dave's camera later...
 
http://family.webshots.com/album/575716823vabsUQ

[Azusateach]

Lori, looks like you really cooked up an incredible meal!  I'm glad you didn't get dumped on with rain.  We didn't have much here, so I was hoping that you'd be okay, too.  But the wind was another story.  Glad you survived that.

I just might join you next year!  My trailer and Explorer are at the shop getting all set up with a better hitch so the trailer will ride level.  I'll have it back in time to take it out this weekend with another group for its maiden voyage.  But when you make reservations for next year let me know ... I'll join you!

Thanks for sharing your pictures!

Laura -- and Jed

[cjpoppin]

Yummy looking food Lori and I know it was good can tell by the empty plates and happy faces....Also looks like you had the CG to yourselves great time to go camping.....Glad you didn't get the rain we had up here it rained so hard which isn't the norm for us at all.....Plus so cold.....Pretty to look at all the snow on the mountains.....Can't wait till the 3rd and we get to go camping...:-():-():-():-():-():-():-():-()

[dkutz]

Here are a few shots from my camera. I didn't take too many--too busy cooking! I'll post more from Dave's camera later...
 
http://family.webshots.com/album/575716823vabsUQ

Lori I need the name of that champagne!  Really no joke.  Dawnne loved it.  Wish I had a video camera for her trip to the bathroom.  She couldn't walk!! ha ha

[Hoagie]

Glad you all made it home okay. It was a nice break on our bike ride to stop by and visit. Sorry we missed Dieter, Dawnne and the boys. But when the weather started to turn it was time to hit the bike trail. We rode in and out of rain showers the whole way home.
Lori the pics tell the story. It looks like a great feast.

See you all at Flying Flags.

[oreo57]

Sound's like everyone had a great time.............Lori the food looked great!!!, Hope to see everyone soon. We thought of going up to Hanna flats but the news said it was Coooold and snowing , like Carol said. Dave have you ever had a deep fried Turkey I havent , but I hear it's great.

[griffsmom]

Dieter--the champagne wasn't anything special or too expensive--just Korbel extra dry. I love champagne on holidays and am glad Dawnne liked it too. But in Dawnne's defense, I'm sure it wasn't the champagne that made the walk to the bathroom difficult--I'm sure it was the weight of that darned boot...and maybe Dee's Blue Bombers.
 
Mike--Dave has deep fried turkeys at home a couple of times. The first time, he injected the bird with something and I wasn't a fan. The second time, he kept it simple and the turkey was outstanding. I know it'll be great next year and am a little embarrassed to admit that I'm already looking forward to it.  

[griffsdad]

Sound's like everyone had a great time.............Lori the food looked great!!!, Hope to see everyone soon. We thought of going up to Hanna flats but the news said it was Coooold and snowing , like Carol said. Dave have you ever had a deep fried Turkey I havent , but I hear it's great.

Mike, I've have deep fried a turkey about 8 to 10 times and it is the best tasting turkey. It's also very fast - 3 minutes per pound and dangerous. Doing a turkey in a smoker is also very good but takes about 12 hours to do. My third favorite is now doing a turkey in a DO.

[griffsmom]

Mike, I've have deep fried a turkey about 8 to 10 times and it is the best tasting turkey. It's also very fast - 3 minutes per pound and dangerous. Doing a turkey in a smoker is also very good but takes about 12 hours to do. My third favorite is now doing a turkey in a DO.

Oops! I stand corrected--Dave has fried a turkey at home 8 to 10 times. All of them were wonderful except the first time when he did that injection thing. I like turkey in the DO second-best. Turkey in the smoker? For me, not so much....

[dkutz]

Dieter--the champagne wasn't anything special or too expensive--just Korbel extra dry. I love champagne on holidays and am glad Dawnne liked it too. But in Dawnne's defense, I'm sure it wasn't the champagne that made the walk to the bathroom difficult--I'm sure it was the weight of that darned boot...and maybe Dee's Blue Bombers.
.

I think it was the fact that she had a hard mikes the champagne and the bomber in like an hour.  I have never seen her like that.  It was pretty funny, and a little irritating all at the same time...

[griffsmom]

I think it was the fact that she had a hard mikes the champagne and the bomber in like an hour. I have never seen her like that. It was pretty funny, and a little irritating all at the same time...

 
I don't get why irritating...the poor woman has to deal with four boys and has had at least two surgeries and either a wheelchair stuck to her butt or a boot permanently attached to her leg for the entire time since you started camping with SCCampers, and yet she still gets up at 5 am and walks a couple of miles before making breakfast and lunches, getting you all off to work and school, doing homework with three kids, making dinner, doing laundry, cleaning the house, and all the other things I'm sure she manages to squeeze in in-between all those things. Heck, I can't believe she doesn't drink more often! :yikes::eyecrazy::sombraro:
 
And you always seemed like such an understanding husband (just stirring the pot) :p

[Dee4j]

Lori I need the name of that champagne!  Really no joke.  Dawnne loved it.  Wish I had a video camera for her trip to the bathroom.  She couldn't walk!! ha ha

could it have been the blue bomber she had AFTER the champagne too??

[griffsmom]

could it have been the blue bomber she had AFTER the champagne too??

Nope, I'm pretty sure the damage had already been done by then