The south end of the beach at Hua Hin, Thailand.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Hua Hin, Thailand.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Maldives on March 23rd.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Couchsurfers coming for a visit!

We're excited that we've got couchsurfers coming this weekend! A younger married couple and their dog visiting Canada from the Netherlands.

Finally, we get to give back to the system. We had hosted a couple of times when we owned our home back in 2007, but since we sold we have only hosted once, when we hosted our friend June from South Korea.

We had opened our profile to host when we were at the campground last year, but didn't receive any requests. Likely because we were too far out of the way. But this year, we're only 45 minutes off the trans Canada highway and so we were hoping that some couchsurfers would head our way.

So we're looking forward to that.

I played electrician here at the campground. We have one small section of sites where they only have 15 amp (household) electricity and even though we tell people they can't run air conditioners there, people will try anyhow. Problem is, here's what happens when people try...


Eventually, the breaker trips, but things at the outlets apparently get pretty warm before that happens!

What else? We don't have a pickup truck here at the campground. I know, that's a bit strange. It sure would be handy to have one! Our recycleables are starting to pile up, and the pile will be really high by the end of the August 1st long weekend. Ruth fills the car with them when she goes into town to do her weekly grocery shop, but that hardly makes a dent in the pile. Still, we managed to pack $100 worth of empties into the little blue car. Smelled like a brewery in there though!

This is what was left after we filled the little blue car up!

Ruth made some cookies last night, and she thought you would want the recipe because they're totally yummy!


Chewy Double Chocolate Cookies (Gluten free or regular)

1 ¼ cup butter
1 ¼ cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups unsifted, all-purpose *gluten free flour blend + ¼ tsp of xantham gum (or 2 cups of regular all-purpose flour for normal cookies)
¾ cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or white chocolate)

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy and light.  Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.  Combine flour, cocoa, soda, and salt; blend into creamed mixture.  Stir in chips.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degree F. for 8 to 9 minutes.  Cool slightly; remove from sheet.

*Gluten Free Flour Blend

2 cups rice flour (white or brown or a mixture of the two)
2/3 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca flour/starch (same thing)
1 teaspoon xantham gum

Stir well before using and store in a container with tight-fitting lid.

Subsitute equal amount of flour blend for equal amount of flour in a recipe.

I find it easier to triple the mix and store

6 cups rice flour
2 cups potato starch
1 cup topioca flour/starch
3 teaspoons xantham gum

Our Amazon.com deal of the day?

Have you ever had a rainwater shower head? These showers are fantastic. We've stayed in a couple of hotels that have had these type of shower heads and if we owned a home we would have one installed. 

This one is different though...


It has a built in wireless speaker so that you can listen to music from you smartphone while you're showering! And, it's on sale at a 75% discount. And, it has great reviews!


And, the speaker detaches so you can use it elsewhere in the house.

Pretty cool, the stuff they come up with nowadays!

(Edit 1:53 pm... I just came across this unbelievable deal on a Seiko Men's Dress Watch. Usually you can't buy the wristband for a Seiko watch for this price! Says there are only three left in stock, so don't hesitate!)


14 comments:

  1. That's great that you get to be a host for a change. Nice to give back to such a great system. I hesitate to use things when I can reciprocate like the boondockers welcome site. Guess you could get that fabulous old truck you fixed up and fill it with all the recyclables and take it for a spin or is it not roadworthy. Here in the states it would qualify for antique plates and no inspections for the little you use it.

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    1. Unfortunately I wouldn't trust the tires on the old truck for use on the highway. Fine for around the park, but it needs tires and it's not worth the $1,000 or more expense.

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  2. Thanks for the recipe will pass it on.
    You are making a killing with the empties. keep up the good work.

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    Replies
    1. No, we're not. That was last year. This year, the revenue from the empties goes to the park. We're quite happy with that though!

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  3. they should at least split the recyclables 50 50 with you after all you do all the work

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    Replies
    1. No, we also have two summer students helping. We're quite happy with it the way it is and we knew in advance that was the deal.

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  4. Thanks for the tip on that killer deal on the solar kit. I'm giving it some serious thought, been wanting to go solar for a while now. That price may be the tipping point for me to go for it! :c)

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    Replies
    1. Especially cheap if you can do the installation yourself. And trust me, it's not rocket science.

      Delete
  5. Thanks for Ruth's cookie recipe - will try - looks delish!

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  6. You could use 1/2 applesauce for the butter in the cookies. No wonder they are so good!!

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    Replies
    1. But...why would you want to make them less good...?

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  7. Yay, my Amazon order arrived in just two days! Enjoying the USB battery extender you recommended. I kid you not, my tablet ran out of power just five seconds after I placed the order. Hopefully with this new gizmo, never again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy to hear that your order arrived so quickly. Give us your review of it once you have had some time to use it a bit.Thanks for ordering it!

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