OMG y’all! We’re way too excited to hear we got some parks open for camping and other activities. We all could use a little nature therapy so Click here to see a list of which parks are open. Also a friendly reminder that June is Great Outdoors Month! Be ready for deals from our online shop and physical shop grand opening.
It was a (necessary) gut punch for all of us when our state Governor closed down parks for outdoor fun. That’s kind of our thing, if ya couldn’t tell.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t do ANYTHING outdoorsy and fun. Got a smartphone? Well our friend Peter Hodum from Oikonos has a really cool and free way to enjoy your neighborhood and maybe even just your back yard especially if you’ve got bored kids sitting around itching for some outdoor fun. Keep reading to find out.
During this unprecedented time when many of us are spending considerably more time at home than we ever have, we are reconnecting with our yards, immediate neighborhoods and local open spaces. That connection to place can be grounding and settling, especially when there is so much uncertainty in our lives. And the more that we know about the species that share our spaces with us, the more that we feel a sense of place. When we take the time to slow down, look carefully and observe with patience, we realize that even urban areas are rich with biological diversity.
One group of animals that is present all around us are birds. They move through our yards, nest in our shrubs and trees, visit our bird feeders, and migrate through our open spaces, adding color, wonder and inspiration to our lives. Although the prospect of learning to identify the birds around us might feel intimidating, we can all deepen our appreciation of our winged neighbors. We can simply take time to sit, observe and enjoy their movement and their grace in flight. We can also begin to learn how to recognize general types of birds. And if we are really keen, we can learn to identify individual species. There really is something for everyone!
For those interested in beginning to explore the birds in our local area, there are a number of wonderful resources available, one of which is the Merlin app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology(https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/). It is a free application that uses a series of simple, non-technical questions to guide the observer towards likely species. It also allows the observer to upload a photo of the bird and then provides an identification. It is a remarkable tool that allows children through seniors to begin to learn what species of birds share our local areas with us.
Screenshot of Merlin app!
Although we cannot gather together at Campfire Coffee to share stories about birds at present, we can begin to create our own special experiences and stories and deepen our appreciation of these magical winged beings. And soon enough, we will be able to join together to share a coffee or tea and stories of our deepening appreciation of the natural world just outside our windows.
Want more ideas like this? Drop us a line!
National Beer Day in 2020 is gonna cause all of us to get a little creative. Well, maybe more than a little. For us at campfire coffee we’re thinking about how best to pitch a tent in the yard or in the living room and enjoy some great beers but picking the beers doesn’t have to be the hard part. If you’re in the Tacoma area anyway. Here’s our picks for National Beer Day - quarantine style.
Oh and disclaimer: Our grading scale is pretty straightforward: Does it taste good? Would we take it on an outdoor excursion to share with our friends? And maybe most importantly, if this were the last beer available in the quarantine apocalypse would we drink it? And, this is in no particular order. Sound good? Good.
Photo credit: Wingman Brewers
Wingman Brewers (Tacoma) - Peanut Butter Cup Porter and Parachute Pilsner.
Why? Because they’re solid, tasty beers and for a good number of people, campfires = s’mores, loved ones and beer. The Peanut Butter cup tastes just how it sounds and goes really well with a peanut butter cup s’more. Oh you’ve never had one of those? Well next time, swap your Hershey bar for a Reese’s peanut butter cup and add some of this Wingman Peanut Butter goodness to wash it down and you’ll be just as full and happy as ya wanna be. The Pilsner on the other hand is light and if “sturdy” was a flavor this beer has it. And every beer drinker I know has a good sturdy beer in their fridge. Parachute is lighter, crisp and flavorful and will definitely satisfy you. This the one you reach for after a long day in the sun. This is the beer ya wanna have around during the quarantine apocalypse.
where to get it: Wingman is located at 509 1/2 Puyallup Avenue Tacoma Wa by the dome in Tacoma and currently offers curbside pickup and home delivery as well!
Floating Bridge Brewing (Seattle) - Don’t Fear the Reaper and Chai Pale Ale.
This is a brewery where getting the flight of beers will leave you satisfied and disappointed all at once. Satisfied because every beer is amazing and disappointed because now you want to pick one to have a pint of and ya just can’t pick one! Look at the description of Don’t Fear the Reaper and tell me this doesn’t sound good: Brewed with Espresso, cocoa nibs, nutmeg, vanilla beans and just a few, tiny, totally harmless Carolina Reaper peppers. It is literally a campfire in a cup people. It’s warm and cozy and drinks surprisingly easy and light like a juice or a lemonade would. The Chai Pale Ale is equally as warming and tasty and feels like a campfire in a cup. When you’re locked down to your living room craving the nurturing feelings of a camping trip, either one of these bad boys (or bad girls, however you address your beers) will have you feeling right at home.
where to get it: Floating Bridge is in the U-District of Seattle housed in a former legendary nightspot. At 722 NE 45th Street Seattle Wa. You can get growlers filled to go and curbside pickup.
Witchdog Brewing (Tacoma) - In the Morning Coffee Stout and Hail Eris
Ok so we’re a little biased. Witchdog brewed a batch of In the morning with our Espresso blend Mountain Top and it was great. But honestly, we had the In the morning before it was brewed with Mountain Top and it was fantastic. At the Witchdog launch party we were saying that In The Morning is one of if not the best coffee based beers out there and again this was before brewing using our beans was even an idea! It’s made with milk sugar, coffee and pecans and drinks smooth like a cold brew coffee. So a campfire with In The Morning is almost too perfect of a scenario but trust and believe, a blazing fire with an ice cold serving of this is magical. Hail Eris is definitely the beer you want to have stocked in the quarantine apocalypse. It’s the beer that kind of sums up the Witchdog experience. You’re gonna get really well-made, fun, interesting beers that check the boxes for the beer snob but even the non-beer drinkers can really enjoy. Hail Eris is and Imperial Berliner Weisse sour made with blueberries and marshmallows. I mean, what else could you possibly want? Blueberries and marshmallows sound like the s’more dreams are made of all by itself.
where to get it: Tacoma brewing curbside pickup Friday’s and Saturday’s 3-6PM! 1116 Court E Tacoma Wa.
Photo credit: Witchdog Brewing
if you enjoyed this, head over to our shop and use code: CAMPBEER for 10% off your order!