I’ve had a busy few days. It started with an evening fundraiser event for the Camp Fire Minnesota organization which creates wonderful camping experiences for kids. The event took place at the local camp, which was traditionally called Camp Tanadoona. My kids all attended the camp when they were young, and my son was a camp counselor there for a few summers.
The evening actually started just a bit early because I was mistaken about the start time. My friend and I realized we were going to be an hour early, so we stopped at an outdoor café for a glass of wine on the way.
Then, we had to mind ourselves because we got to the event and there was an open bar! Well, of course we accepted a complementary glass of wine, because who turns that down? (I knew it would be a few hours before I had to drive!)
Fortunately, there was all kinds of free food as well. Our first course was shish kebabs of meatballs with veggies, and another with pickled veggies and cheese curds — a Minnesota favorite.
If you have never had cheese curds, you have missed out. They are slightly chewy chunks of a savory cheese that is just wonderfully fun to eat. In Minnesota, you'll find bags of them in the delicatessens and cheese shops, and they are offered at various sports bars, breaded and deep fried (which is so much more delicious than it sounds), for those who are not overly concerned about their heart health.
The event was catered, and there were young servers in smart uniforms wandering around with baskets and platters of paper-wrapped bacon and various other appetizers. Of course we accepted the bacon. I had never had bacon served in such an unusual way before!
Our next course was Tater Tot casserole, which was served in tiny cups with tiny spoons. I was very glad of this, because I've been watching my weight and let's just say it was a good thing that they did not offer this delicious little hot dish in an unlimited supply.
Tater Tot casserole is another Minnesota favorite that comes in many different varieties. For example, when my kids are home for a special occasion like Easter or Christmas, I will often make their favorite, which is Tater Tots baked with eggs, ham and cheese.
This particular version was basically a delicious and savory creamy wild rice soup with some baked Tater Tots set into it. This worked really well because the tots were crispy.
Our final course was an interesting concoction called a "chicken waffle." It was a slice of a sweet maple waffle with a tiny slab of breaded, deep-fried chicken impaled upon it with a little skewer. I believe there was a drizzle of maple syrup on top of that, as it was a little bit sweet and sticky.
And I have to say, it was interesting, delicious and strange. While I do like the combination of salty and sweet, and it was a very nice treat, I definitely wouldn't want to make a steady diet of that fare!
We ran into several friends at the event. Here you can see what the grounds looked like, with festive lights. In the background, you can see people milling about and looking at a number of different special items that were being auctioned as part of the fundraiser.
After an hour with wine and food, they called us all in to a central room, which was beautifully outfitted in a rustic style befitting the camp. The organizers gave several presentations, which of course included video clips of kids expressing how much they love the camp, and how much they learned and experienced. It was all very well done.
And then they held the live auction, designed of course to get us to open our wallets, and we did. It was all done so beautifully, and if you believe in great services and opportunities for kids, like I do, you can see why it's so important to support their experiences in the arts and the outdoors.
It was a very fun and festive occasion, for a treasured local chapter of a global organization that offers such wonderful programs. I was really happy to be a part of it.
Thanks for visiting!
Photo credits: All of the photos in this post were taken by me and belong to me, unless otherwise noted.
My bio: I am a fiction writer and photographer based in Minnesota. I have had a lifelong love of fiction writing. I earned my MFA in writing from the University of New Hampshire. My short stories have appeared in a range of literary journals and anthologies, and my first short story collection, Somewhere in Minnesota is available on Amazon US as well as international Amazon sites., Barnes & Noble or from the publisher.
Want to know what I'm publishing and where? Visit my website, www.jaynalocke.com, or follow me on X, aka Twitter, at www.twitter.com/@jaynatweets or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/authorjaynalocke.
Join Hive at Hive.io
Hive is a social blockchain where you can join communities, blog about your favorite topics, curate content and earn cryptocurrency.
Get Started on Hive
Sign up an account by clicking this referral link: HiveOnboard.
Join Our Writing Community
Are you a creative writer? Visit us in The Ink Well!
Congratulations, your post has been added to the TravelFeed Map! 🎉🥳🌴
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
- Go to TravelFeed Map
- Click the create pin button
- Drag the marker to where your post should be. Zoom in if needed or use the search bar (top right).
- Copy and paste the generated code in your post (any Hive frontend)
- Or login with Hive Keychain or Hivesigner and click "create post" to post to Hive directly from TravelFeed
- Congrats, your post is now on the map!
PS: You can import your previous Pinmapple posts to the TravelFeed map.Opt Out
Thank you!!
Congratulations, your post has been added to WorldMapPin! 🎉
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
Awesome! Thank you!
Hey @jayna you are welcome.
Thanks for using @worldmappin 😘
Thanks so much!
Hey @jayna you are welcome.
Thanks for using @worldmappin 😘
Gosh it looks like a great evening @jayna! Good company, a good cause, a lovely venue and beautifully presented food! I love how they've turned bacon into fingerfood.
Have a great week🤗
Right?! I know! Gotta love bacon as a finger food. Thanks for checking out my post, @lizelle!
What a great evening! Reminds me what I am missing lol and I need to leave the house some more apart from picking my kid from school lol
Yes, it's good to get out and about and mingle in society, @brosonleo. Parenting can be all-consuming!
Oh I know 😂 my son is a handful
Well it doesn't last forever, but it sure seems like it at the time. I won't say any of those trite and stupid things people say like "Enjoy every moment" or "They grow up too fast!" But I now get why people used to say those things to me when my kids were little. 😂
Oh I enjoy every moment of it. I've earned the word DOC in this time. lol. I'm called Dad of the Century. I love my kid and we are very close. He's only 13 and I'd like to think I'm doing an awesome job. 😂
Yeah maybe not. I know he'd grow up someday but I'm not wasting time dwelling on that. I'll love and continue to care for him in the present.
Sounds like a wonderful fundraiser!😊
Every kid need to grow up having outdoor experiences!
Cheese curds……… they are delicious!
We have made vacation trips to Tillamook cheese factory in Oregon and they had these delicious treats!😊
Oh yes, the Tillamook cheese factory is amazing, @silvertop. In fact, that's where I first had cheese curds as a child.
That’s awesome, glad you had the opportunity to make a trip up to Oregon!😊
Beautiful country !🤗
That is where I grew up, @silvertop. I lived there when Mt. St Helen's blew, and I feel like I can still taste ash. Ha ha. I moved away after college, but still get out there from time to time, as I have three siblings in the northwest.
We almost moved to that area before moving to the Pacific Northwest!😊
We were both born and raised and living in Cincinnati. When Mount Saint Helens blew, I had a thick layer of ash on my car!
Amazing how the winds carried this ash across the country!🙄
Congratulations @jayna! You received the biggest smile and some love from TravelFeed! Keep up the amazing blog. 😍 Your post was also chosen as top pick of the day and is now featured on the TravelFeed front page.
Thanks for using TravelFeed!
@for91days (TravelFeed team)
PS: Did you know that we have our own Hive frontend at TravelFeed.com? For your next travel post, log in to TravelFeed with Hive Keychain or Hivesigner and take advantage of our exclusive features for travel bloggers.
Thanks very much!
We appreciate you taking the time, to either use #ThoughtfulDailyPost, or otherwise help this Community grow. So...
Thank you!!
Thank you @wesphilbin!
!LADY
!LUV
@jayna, @thoughtfulposts(1/5) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community | HiveWiki | <>< daily
View or trade
LOHtokens.@wesphilbin, you successfully shared 0.1000 LOH with @jayna and you earned 0.1000 LOH as tips. (1/6 calls)
Use !LADY command to share LOH! More details available in this post.
Ha ha. I am guilty of same @wesphilbin!
Ha ha. I had to look up that acronym. Love it!
Kind regards @jayna
A superb and exquisite evening, pampered in the details, all for a noble cause, the welfare of children in their socialization and connection with nature. I accepted your invitation and with the link I entered the camp page and it is wonderful the multiplicity of educational and recreational options they offer, in a fun learning, with facilities that invite the delight of exploring the natural ecosystem, without forgetting that it is an Institution, almost centenary which adds value to the work.
Thank you for seducing us with the freshness and delight of this publication. Health and well-being to you and yours !LADY
marilour
View or trade
LOHtokens.@marilour, you successfully shared 0.1000 LOH with @jayna and you earned 0.1000 LOH as tips. (2/4 calls)
Use !LADY command to share LOH! More details available in this post.
Wow, that's neat that you visited the site itself, @marilour. Yes, you can get a very good sense of what makes the camp special. Thanks for visiting my post!
Congratulations @jayna! Your post has been a top performer on the Hive blockchain and you have been rewarded with this rare badge
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
Woo hoo! So cool. Thank you.
Awesome work @jayna! Your Hive achievements are truly inspiring. Keep it up!
Aw!! Thank you for those kind words, @hivebuzz!
Hi. I think that provide this kind of oportunities is very valuable for the children too. It would be such a great chance for many of them in the world if the childhood were stimulated with art activities, not only for those who are gifted but everyone.
Congratulations @jayna! Your post has been a top performer on the Hive blockchain and you have been rewarded with this rare badge
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts: