Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for June 26, 2016

Now why did Phil get married into this family? To be tricked by his stepdaughters?

Some enjoy camping, and are not trying to save money. I know I’d rather be in the mountains (and I live there) than on a beach. Waay too much water as far as I’m concerned…

Could be worse, young lady.You could be sleeping in a tent.

Uh oh! Notice Holly’s expression — she knows exactly what she did.

Holly hasn’t forgotten how to play one parent off against the other.

Holly!!

Holly knows how to work Phil. For a hotel mattress is too hard and with public coming in too noisy. Yet I do not care about sleeping outside. So hotel will have to work with nice warm shower.

So Val copied Roger Fox’ idea about going to Skeeter Falls (remember how THAT turned out — lots of mosquito-bites, and bear destroying Foxes’ cooler and food-supplies).

I feel sorry for those of you opting for the hotel & beds. You’ve probably:• Never really seen the milky way in all its glory• Never experienced a moonless night with starlight so bright you could read a newspaper.• Never breathed truly fresh air with maybe jut the smell of new pine needles• Never seen wildlife in a natural setting• never gone to sleep with only the sound of a mountain creekAnd so many other things that can only be experienced far away from human infrastructure