Overnight at the Lodge!!

Okay, I figured it's time for one more PEP TALK about the upcoming weekend at the Baker Near Wilderness Settlement! http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/outdoor_ed/baker_near wilderness.cfm We have the lodge reserved for our exclusive use from noon on Saturday, March 29th until noon on Sunday, March 30th!  The minimum rental fee has been covered by people that have already sent me their $$, so anyone who decides to join us and sends me their $25 from this point forward will be helping fund our meals!  I'm hoping we'll have a few more of you join in!  The staff at the Settlement are thinking that maple syruping will still be happening, so we can have that for an activity, or maybe a night hike, or ???  Let me know if you have any suggestions or requests!!! At this point, it sounds like we will have 3 Direct Sales reps setting up their stuff in the lodge for us to browse - Lia Sophia, BeautiControl (?), and Jockey.  If any others have a business and would like to share your stuff, this is an equal opportunity thing!  I'm not picking and choosing, you're all welcome! I would suggest having lunch before you arrive on Saturday, or bring it along - we'll eat dinner Saturday night and breakfast Sunday morning as a family!  Lori P. agreed to make her breakfast dish for us all (it's yummy, trust me!), so we'll figure out what to have for dinner next week.  And I'm assuming people will be bringing some of their WLS-friendly favorites for snacking, as well (if it's something fun you make, bring along copies of the recipe to share!).  If we don't get enough people to join us to pay for groceries, we'll do dinner potluck - we already have enough $ to pay for breakfast!  I know I'm forgetting something, so I'll be adding to/editing this post as we go, but PLEASE post your questions here, send me a PM if you want to come and need my address for sending your $$!  EVERYONE is welcome - even if you can't commit until a day or two before, you are welcome to come - it would just be helpful to have some idea and $$ before hand for grocery shopping...   And just to clarify, the early consensus (back in November when I set this up) was to have just us OH folks, not families.  If you wish to state your opinion on that here and now, feel free - there would be room for families if there was interest - and there will be room enough that families could have their own cabins, if that's an issue.  (There are a few of you who have expressed your intentions to come, but haven't sent me your $25 yet - please do so ASAP, I'd rather not front money for people if I don't have to!) I'll send out a PM next week to everyone who's paid, with a suggested packing list and all.  And if anyone wants to bring any wine or other such beverages, we DO have approval to have alcohol on-site.  As long as we don't turn the place into a mosh-pit... THIS IS GONNA BE FUN!!!!!

I have wanted to learn how to tap a tree for syrup for many, many years so I'm going to vote for that. I don't plan on bringing any family but I'm not apposed to anyone else bringing their family. Even if your dish isn't fun I still want copies of recipes...   I have a Bariatric cook book I can bring so people can look through and copy any recipes they find appealing.

This is going to be a blast.  Thanks for organizing the whole thing Darla!

AWWWW man~ This sounds like such a fun time!  I so wish I could join you!   Maybe next time?? Take care and make sure you take LOTS of pictures!  And have fun! ((HUG)) **SUE**

I think it would be fun to meet some of the family or spouses that have been so supportive to our OH family.  I have not sent in my $25 and do plan on going.  I will also have the beauticontrol items there.  Let me kmow if spouses are allowed to join.  It would be a great opportunity for them to get more involved and not feel so left out of our journey.  I know my husband would enjoy meeting all the people I talk about ALL the time.  Darla, PM me with the address to send in the funds.  If spouses are allowed to come I will also send in that portion.,

Darla, How about surgery friends that are not usually on OH? Can they come? Laura

I know I sort of set this thing up, but I'm not entirely comfortable "setting the rules".  I'm fine with anybody and everybody coming!  But some who have already signed up and paid indicated they preferred that families not be a part of this.  So a surgery friend who isn't usually on OH?  FINE!  Families?  I guess I'll need to send a PM out to ask everyone one more time... 

Thanks Darla, sorry to put you in that position.

No worries, Laura!  I don't mind at all.  I suspect there are several here who won't come unless they can bring their families!

Do you know about how many people are for sure going? Then I can figure out how many eggs, etc. I will need for breakfast. And you did say that the kitchen is stocked with pots and pans? I do think we should bring paper plates, cups, and forks (less dishes that way). I don't want to offend anyone, but I do still want this to be a wls persons only event. So, ANYONE who has had wls is fine with me. I hope that's still ok.  See you then! LOri

The kitchen is fully stocked, Lori - but I may veto the paper plates, cups and forks.  This is an environmentally conscious facility, so unnecessary waste is discouraged.  There is a fancy-schmancy dish sanitizer, so very little washing is actually needed.  Anyway, YOU won't need to wash dishes, girl - YOU'RE COOKING!!! I won't have a final head count until the middle of next week, but I'm perfectly fine doing the grocery shopping since I'll have the $$ - I'll give you a call and figure out what you need.  OR, you could meet me at the grocery store right in Maple Plain that Saturday morning and we could shop together?