DS and I spent the weekend with my mom at her trailer a couple of weekends ago. I took it as an opportunity talk to her about her plans in case of another power failure. We stocked up a few essentials and she's in better shape now than she was. She also has a weekly to do list to keep improving.

It also presented a chance to let DS practice his fire skills and try again for a flame with his fire steel, and show her how she can cook over a campfire.

First we worked on her fire pit. We added an iron rim and cover a month or so ago, and this time we brought an old oven rack that fits over it and a small BBQ basket for cooking.

We collected firewood from the forest behind her lot, processed with ax and knife and then sorted it:


After fiddling with and repositioning the wood pile, we made tinder. He's much less anal about his pile(s) than his mom


Once he got his flame with his firesteel , I showed the boy how to give it CPR.(His first successful fire steel fire! YEAH!):


Then a lesson in patience - feeding the fire slowly:


Then campfire cooking with yummy fresh trout and a can of beans:


Finally, we were ready for marshmallows and hot chocolate: