June 26th 2007
Our group, Ancient Celtic Clans just completed our Summer Solstice gathering. It was a garbed, overnight affair so we were easily able to do some additional hudfat testing.
This time temperatures were milder (approx 48-52F) and we laid down a simple ground cloth. Just having the one extra layer between us and the ground really curtailed moisture transfer into the hudfats and us. Otherwise the hudfats were sufficient at those temps.
One other pleasant discovery is just how effective our ghillies function; the warmest part of my body overnight were my feet. Just the simple addition raw wool as a liner has made a tremendous difference in their comfort and function. Additionally, we awoke to a heavy dew. Within 15 minutes my trews (pants) had wicked up a lot of water (up to my knees after an hour), but my ghillies were still warm and dry inside even after staying in that environment for hours until the sun dried everything up. The only issue the ghillies are having is with the stitching on the heal. Apparently something caught the leather folds and has loosened the stitching. It’s easy enough to fix (even on the Trek), but it’s something to beware of.
So, if we luck out on the Trek and we’re blessed with mild night temps the hudfat is fine. Otherwise I’ll definitely need to augment it in some way. The ghillies on the other hand I am quite confident with!
June 4th 2007
Happy Birthday Keira!
Today Keira turned 1 year old. Full of energy and life, most of the time you would never know that she has Cystic Fibrosis. In fact, only on her bad days, when she coughs or is wheezing do people have any idea something is not quite right. And of course most of the time they simply figure she has a “bad cold”.
Keira, not quite sure what to do with her first piece of cake
In the 1930’s a CF baby’s life expectancy was 6 months, and even in the 1950’s many of them never got to first grade. Today, most “CF’ers” will hit the average age of 36, but that is still only half as old as their non-CF peers.
It didn’t take too long to figure it out, but she did insist on using a fork.
Treatments have gotten better, but the best way for Keira to keep her lungs clear is to stay active. Right now that means crawling at top speed chasing down any of our 4 cats, or playing “chase me” with her mother, grandparents and aunt. She get additional “percussive therapy” (PT) as needed, but so far we’ve been very lucky that she is doing this well.
It should be interesting to see what she’ll be up to once the Trek is here. She’s already working hard to take her first steps, and she has mastered “kitty” and “kitty-cat” as her first words. With any luck she’ll be walking some of the Trek with us (even if it’s several feet at a time) and enjoying the Adirondack mountains with the rest of us.
