Quarantine in Nature

Happy Sunday, Family and Friends. Here is the update for the past few weeks. It seems like a lot has happened and nothing has happened at the same time. So, I'll just touch on what I can remember.

Hiking

We found a new place to go hiking last week. Neale Woods. It is owned by the same people who own Fontenelle Forest, where we usually hike. So, our membership works at Neale as well. I love Fontenelle, but I really loved Neale a lot more. It felt a lot more like true hiking to me. Probably because I grew up hiking in actual mountains and Neale Woods had a lot steeper up and down trails that just brought back those memories. I have very happy memories of hiking with Dad, usually when he was attending a scout camp or overnight. Everyone else always wanted to run up ahead. I liked to take things at a pace and walk with dad. We had many quiet moments walking together, or sitting on the side of a mountain trail and admiring the view. Dad, thank you for those times. I often felt very uncomfortable or out of place in scouts and especially among the other young men. I didn't ever fit the stereotypical masculine mold. Having you there as a support so often was very important to me. Jacob, too, helped to be a friend in those times when I felt alone. 

Anyway, we loved Neale Woods. It was beautiful, although hot and humid. We got our workout for the day. I took this beautiful picture above in a large clearing.

BBQ

We also did another round of BBQing recently. (I think the same day as Neale Woods? I can't remember. It all blends together). Anyway, I got the fire going. I tried to do a smoked woodchips fire this time. I'd looked up instructions online, but had difficulty to get it lit. I don't remember it being that hard in scouts. Back then it felt like I just lit it up really easily. Anyway, I ended up using normal coals as well because they were easier to get lit and then they would get the wood chips cooking. 

Amber helped a lot of course. She suggested trying to get the fire lit with twigs from the yard and not just the wood chips. That really made it work better. Then, she helped to cook the actual burgers themselves. 

I had to wear my "outside gear" that I usually put on for yard work. With my allergies and such I wear a mask when I'm outside. I wore one hiking as well. Than there is my giant hat to keep the sun off. Better to look dopey than end up feeling ill, I say.

Work

Work has been so busy since vacation. I've had two very big game releases that have taken a lot of attention and advertising. First, I recently put out a Dinosaur themed game that has been doing fairly well. You play as a caveman (or woman) trying to survive in an island of dinosaurs. I'll probably end up doing a "sequel" where modern-day paleontologists find this same island. Sort of a Lost World situation. Here is the ad running for it right now.

Even bigger than that, however, is the realise of the physical edition of my Fantasy Board Game. I had a print and play version out that people have loved. Now, I finally put out a physical edition. I assume not as many people will buy it, but there are people who really want it. My customers in the UK, however, are very disappointed because shipping and customs are very expensive. I know of other smaller and indie companies based here in the U.S. who have similar problems. Still, people are excited about it and I'll be happy to see people take pictures playing it and post it on the fan page for my company. In any case, it is extremely satisfying to see a printed version of one of my games in person. I intend to do others if this one sales well enough. I have a pirate-themed game (you all know about my thing for pirates) that I released electronically over a year ago that has people asking for a print one, so that is the next prototype I'm going to be working on. Here are some pictures I took of the game.

Wargaming

This weekend Amber has been busy with volunteer work and hanging out with a friend. So, that means time for me to play a wargame. I decided on my classic Age of Sail one I have. It is the first Wargame I bought and still the one I think I return to the most. I just love it that much. I set it up Saturday night while Amber was gone and finished it today. 

Elektra likes to help sort the pieces for me. 

Meanwhile, Amber found a little spot of mold in the old root cellar of the house, so she got all dressed up in work clothes and bleached it and scrubbed it. I'll be fixing the drain pipe at that corner of the house by extending it further out into the yard, maybe to water the squash I have growing there. We already have some getting big! I also am growing pumpkins again this year.

A Pleasent Surprise

To end things off, I got a surprise package in the mail from Taylor this week. He and Kelsey sent me a new board game to try, which was a big surprise for me and not expected at all. I guess they must really like me or something. Love you guys! Thanks for the gift!

That is all for this week! Love you all so much!

-Noah