Recipe for Romance - Getting Out and Away

Good morning! Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. I write a bi-monthly spot (first and third Saturdays of the month) called Recipe for Romance to give you ideas of how to make your own love life a little more romantic. Just in time for Saturday night, yes?

The end of summer has arrived as evidenced by Back-to-School sales and the children being missing for large chunks of the day. The trees are starting to turn colors in my neck of the woods and coats are needed for the morning walk to school. This is my favorite time of year, fall, and the scents are heavenly, especially when the sun comes out. But that doesn't mean the warm weather is done yet, and you still have one more weekend of enjoying the great outdoors before snow, sleet, or rain sets in for the duration. Camping, whether in a camper (caravan for those outside the US) or in a tent, can be very romantic if you're outdoorsy (It can also be a disaster and make a funny story later - ask me if you want to know mine).

Source: OnMilwaukee.com

RECIPE FOR ROMANCE
Tent
Sleeping bags and sleeping pads
One (or more) loved-one
Any local campground
Camp stove and cooking gear
Warm clothes for cool nights
Comfort foods for meals (optional)
Firewood (optional)
Wine and chocolate (optional)

Assemble the ingredients, set up your camp, and relax. There's something therapeutic about cuddling with a lover while the birds call and the deer prowl the edges of your camp. The only sounds are your lover's breath and the wind in the trees. If you're lucky enough to camp near a river or creek, you'll have the water chuckling at you as it chortles along its bed. This is a good time to turn off your phone and reconnect with the one who turns your fire on with hot looks and gentle touches. And building a real fire to sit beside is romantic. Plus everyone knows the relaxation generated by the fire trance while snuggling with a lover. As always, clothing is optional, but be mindful of the outside temperature.

Alterations to Recipe:
For those who don't easily sleep on the ground, or have a deep aversion to crawly things that live outside, you can substitute with a Bed&Breakfast or rental cottage resort. This will also facilitate bringing the kids who will get the opportunity to be outside and still stay relatively clean and dry (hey, I'm looking out for you parents). You can still have a fire and go for walks in nature, and gaze at the stars when the sun goes down. Take the time to reconnect with your loved ones and find a nexus with some of the cool things you don't see in town, like coyotes howling at the moon and eagles soaring against the late summer skies.

Mix and serve immediately. Feeds the souls of two or more. :)

What are your favorite places to camp and your funniest story? Aspiring cooks want to know! :)

**What's a Recipe for Romance? I've heard a lot of women (in particular) read romance to find a little excitement and romance in their lives when maybe their current relationships aren't nearly as romantic. Wouldn't you love to have someone set out some romantic moments for you to celebrate your love? Don't wait for someone else to do it. You can try it yourself, for yourself, or for your loved one, and you can use things you have around the house or are easy to get at the local stores. Remember, it doesn't have to be expensive or extravagant to be romantic.