Our relationship with Sawyer helped fill in all of those gaps for us.
I don't know if you've heard, but mosquitoes in Central Texas are NO JOKE. At certain times of the year you can't even walk from your house to the car without getting mosquito bites and that is truly not an exaggeration. A huge frustration for us is that we like to take our boys for walks in the evenings and often times in the summer that's the only time the temperature allows, but that's also the time the mosquitoes are the most active.
Our miracle product came in the form of Sawyer Permethrin Fabric Spray.
We sprayed it all over the stroller and let it dry. Once we put the kids in and went for a walk we were protected! As new parents we were always worried about exposing the boys to something unsafe but that isn't a concern with this gear spray! It is:
The spray worked so well on our stroller we started using it for our child carrier, our packs while hiking, and also spraying on our shoes and socks. And our favorite feature is that it is SAFE TO USE DIRECTLY ON DOGS. Bill Murray the Basset Hound is happy about that one, too.
This gear has been such a favorite in the Dawes household that it even accompanied Jahmicah on his trip to Alaska for the filming of the Blackwaters Expedition. If the Texas mosquitoes are no joke the Alaska mosquitoes are an abomination and the spray was, according to Jahmicah, "a game changer".
Another household favorite is the Picaridin repellent. For the kids I prefer the lotion, which is effective for 14 hours. The first time we took Silas to Arkansas for a "glamping" experience (very, very heavy on the glamping) we found a tick on him. We were so nervous and anxious! Since using the Picaridin lotion we have not found any! The best part is that the Picaridin lotion is safe for 6 months old and even while pregnant!
Two more products we love are the Stay Put Sunscreen and The Extractor.
The Stay Put Sunscreen has accompanied us on camping trips, fly fishing adventures, day hikes, state parks, the backyard watching the kids play in the sprinkler and to the beach. It's comfortable on the skin and not greasy.
The Extractor is an absolute must for us! Our oldest is allergic to mosquitoes and his bites get huge knots and are painful. Having The Extractor helps us reduce his reaction right at the time of the bite!
The great thing about these products is that of course they are useful on a large scale, out in the back country, but also on a smaller scale when you're just getting your family into the outdoors. You can use them while camping in your backyard and just a few miles from the house. Sawyer is truly "More Than An Outdoor Company" and their products are helpful for every sort of adventure.
To sign up for information or to join us on our Backyard Campout click HERE! Signing up enters you for a chance to win a prize pack from Sawyer as well as other goodies.
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The floor was scattered with sippy cups of various brands filled with juice, water, and milk. Each table in the living room had either a snack made for little mouths, left half-eaten, a nursing cover, or a bottle of formula. The area rug strewn with puffs and dry cereal mashed; a vacuum would run later when little eyes were open.
A trip down the hall indicated sleeping littles, sound machines running in each room as DNA copies of those talking in the front room slept. Tiny ones in pack n’ plays. Bigger tiny ones on mattresses.
Dads spoke quietly; an occasional burst of laughter or excited talking drew a “Too loud” whisper from a mom. She and the others made empty threats that she would not be the one to put a crying baby back to sleep.
Toy Story was taken out of the DVD player and exchanged for a more grown-up movie. Some sat riveted, some read books, and some talked quietly. No mom made it to the ending credits, picked off one by one by heavy eyelids. Each day ended in exhaustion but no one minded. The days are long, but the years are truly short. Everyone realized they would look back on these days and long for them. This trip taken each year when summer turns to fall, babies turn to toddlers, and toddlers turn to preschoolers. In an ode to Andy Bernard, everyone made the realization that weekend that those were the good old days.
The day had consisted of crying kids, thrown off of nap schedules, trips to the fishing hole, walks, pushing strollers, and fish caught with new rods and reels. Honest conversations were had about faith, struggles, postpartum depression, and future children. The bigs had the littles outnumbered this year 6-4. Would it change the following?
Tomorrow would be a dip in the river, more fishing, rock skipping, or if you were under 5, rock throwing & if you were under a year, rock eating.
Tonight had been steak and peppers, the following would be burgers, the next, tacos. There was talk of quiche to come and maybe pancakes.
Kids were disciplined, snuggled, played with, and fed. All by joint effort. They say we're made for community and I believe it now more than ever.
]]>It feels weird to say that, and definitely to write it to strangers and the multitudes of people that will read it, most of whom I'll never know. The truth is, I don't like to share when I'm struggling.
I've been doing the things that normally help me. You don't go to counseling for as long as I have and not have a pretty hefty tool bag, stocked with all the tools you need for getting out of a funk. But, here's the thing, this time, the tool bag isn't big enough and it isn't working quick enough. I've been in this space for 3 months and have made little to no progress.
I've done the things. Drinking tons of water. Getting outside. Running. Being active. Trying to enjoy my hobbies. Reading. Eating clean. Indulging. Getting good sleep. Sleeping in. Getting up early. Breathing exercises. Meeting with a friend. Watching a comfort movie or show. Getting away. Staying put.
I've done it.
And I'm stuck.
Our community, the outdoor community, likes to talk about mental health. In fact, I would venture to say we speak more openly about mental health in our community than most. But we share about it after the fact. We love to say, "Wow, last month was tough, but I'm feeling more myself now." Or, "I have really been through it, but this is how I made it out."
We like to talk about how the outdoors healed us. How the fresh air and the green grass helped us ground ourselves. We love to tell of our toes in the sand, the waves crashing and the sun in our face. And those experiences are important.
But, we don't like to talk about our struggling mental health in the present. We don't want to share when nature doesn't heal us and we spend time outside only to come back in and lay on the couch, sweaty, exhausted and no better than we were when we stepped foot out the door. We feel like we've got to have it together before we share the struggle, but here's the thing, that's part of the stigmatization of mental health. We wait until we're "cured" or "better" but part of destigmatization of mental health is sharing in the here and now. As cliche as it sounds letting people know, "I'm not okay. And that's okay."
When people get out of their struggles we call them brave and talk about their grit.
But I say, going to therapy. Getting the medicine. Sharing with a loved one.
That's bravery. That's grit.
To look someone else in the face and be vulnerable enough to share the inner pain. That's pretty freakin' remarkable if you ask me.
Share when it's painful. Go back to therapy. Get the meds. Do what you have to do to bring yourself back and don't you dare feel like your pain has to be secret. Your people need you here and they want to know when you're not okay. Share your struggle.
You're too important not to.
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Fatherhood. Fly Fishing. Juneteenth. All important things around these parts. When we found out that National Fishing Day, Father's Day, and Juneteenth fell on the same weekend, it was pretty much a no brainer. We called Ben from Fatties on the Fly and he was in, so we hit the ground running. We wanted to celebrate some of the things important to us and we had some pretty cool folks come along with us!
We kicked off the weekend Friday evening with a Meat & Greet and Film Screening of Everybody Outside: A Devil's River Journey. It was a steamy 102 but folks still came out to fellowship. Special appearances were made by our pal Will from Taxa Outdoors with a brand new Cricket, craft sodas from Dublin Bottling Works, coffee from TJ with Whiskey Morning Coffee, Katy from LCRA Parks, and delicious canned vodka sodas from our event partners, All Hands Cocktails in Houston. We dined like (Texas) royalty enjoying brisket, smoked sausage, beans, homemade barbecue sauce, and the star of the show, a creation of chef Trey Schur, Cowboy Potato Salad. A true delicacy. But he's our chef, so don't even ask if you can have him. Also he's family. So even if you can double what we're paying him, and I'm sure you can, we still have the upper hand.
The film, was well received and we even had 4 members of the documented trip in attendance. We viewed the film on a TV donated for the event by Gifford's TV Electronics.
The next morning commenced with beignets from Black-owned bakery Strawn Cakes and Bakes, coffee from Whiskey Morning, and the guide services from Ben and Fatties on the Fly. Y'all may not have heard, it's boiling hot down here in Texas, which caused a little shuffling and moving around but Ben led us in the right direction and fish were caught and released and kept wet!
We ended the day with a late lunch at Village Bistro in Pecan Plantation.
It is with huge thanks to our sponsors and partners that this weekend was possible. Taxa Outdoors, Stewards of the Wild, Patagonia Fly Fish, ROVR Products, Lower Colorado River Authority Parks, Sawyer Products, Temple Fork Outfitters, and Osprey. Products for meals and door prizes were provided by Rumpl, Whiskey Morning Coffee, All Hands Cocktails, Patagonia & Dublin Bottling Works.
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Black History Month.
Pan African Pride.
Jamaican Heritage.
]]>Black History Month.
Pan African Pride.
Jamaican Heritage.
The colors listed above signify all of this and more here at SPO.
Jahmicah is the son of a Jamaican Immigrant. His father came to the US in his adolescence and moved to Connecticut where his parents had settled.
A story of true grit, courage, and integrity Jahmicah’s paternal grandparents became business owners, first in Connecticut and then later owned a farm in Florida. While other members of the family were business owners as well, Jahmicah has always held a special connection with that Florida farm and his summers spent there with his siblings. His tough as nails grandmother (Grandmudda if you come from the island) defending the kids with a machete when they encountered a snake while also making porridge that still brings back a craving. His grandfather, with strong convictions and work ethic, also begging his youngest to “please shut up, child. I’m watching the news,” a common joke amongst the Dawes siblings.
(From left to right: Jahmicah's maternal Grandma Franciel Tooks, Jahmicah's Mom Cheryl, Jahmicah's dad "POPS", Jahmicah's paternal grandparents Grandma Murtle and Ivan "DaDa" Dawes)
Those Florida summers laid the foundation for what Slim Pickins Outfitters has become.
(Jahmicah "Slim Pickins" Dawes, Jahmicah's oldest son Silas Dawes, Jahmicah's dad Locksley "POPS" Dawes, and Jahmicah's older brother Jahdai Dawes")
If those summers are the foundation, there are many instances that created the frame, the walls and the roof.
Jahmicah grew up the son of business owners. His mother practiced Physical Therapy and was often one of the only, if not only, Black Therapists. His maternal grandmother also owned her own business. Selling at shows and events.
(Grandma Franciel)
Jahmicah’s maternal grandfather and uncle marched on Washington and were activists for social change. His older brother (the oldest of four) led the way at their mostly white Texas school. Teaching him to be bold while always practicing humility.
(Jahmicah's Maternal Gandpa Curly King, and his brother Aurthur " Uncle Flop" King)
The example of his mother and grandmother, the frame. The social fight of his grandfather and brother, the walls.
In his college years Slim Pickins Vintage was born. The first foray into business and where Jahmicah truly unlocked a passion. Slim Pickins Vintage was the final touch, the roof if you will. A bonafide brick and mortar store.
Slim Pickins Outfitters.
The first of its kind.
Black-Owned Outfitter.
The son of a Jamaican Immigrant, making Black History.
There’s a lot of story behind the red, yellow, and green.
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My favorite feature found on this backpack is Mountain Hardware’s OutDry™ waterproofing technology. They guarantee that water will not get into the main compartment from even the hardest of rainfall you may experience, and after using this bag I would stand behind that claim. I am a missionary in Slovakia, a country in central Europe. Living in Slovakia we experience all four seasons. Fall and Spring bring quite a bit of rain and during winter we have our fair share of snowfall as well. My primary mode of transportation here is a bicycle, as a result this bag has become my best friend. Whether I am going to get groceries through out the week, going to the gym, or taking a weekend trip, I can always count on my Srambler™ to keep everything dry inside. This March I spent a week in the mountains skiing, and I used this bag as a daypack on the slope. I carried my digital camera, a change of clothes, and my lunch everyday, and never worried about whether my stuff was getting wet.
That leads me to the next feature, its size. Some people might see that it is a 30L backpack and think that is too cumbersome of a bag to be an effective daypack. Mountain Hardware has left you with a lot of room for adjustment though. If you do not have much to carry you can really tighten the Srambler™ down with all of the straps they have placed on the bag, giving the feel that it is much smaller and out of your way. At the same time, if you want to pack it full and take it out into the wilderness for a couple days, it comes equipped with back suspension, padded shoulder straps, and a sternum and waist strap for added support and stability.
Living in Europe where pickpocketing is prevalent in many of the larger cities, one of my favorite features on this backpack is the limited number of pockets. Other than the main 30L compartment there is only one zippered pocket found on top of the bag, and two side pockets for water bottles, tentpoles, etc. For some that may seem like a bad feature, but for someone that spends much of their time on public transportation or walking in a large city it provides some peace of mind knowing that you do not have to be as worried about someone getting into your bag.
In short, this is a versatile backpack that can adapt to a number of needs. I would encourage you to come to Slimpickins Outfitters and check this product out along with all of their other gear as you prepare for your upcoming trips and adventures. See you at the campground, and always remember to #AdventureOut!
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Slim Pickins Outfitters (SPO) is excited to #adventureout into the realm of blogging. We know that there is more than one definition of adventure, so whether you’re an avid camper, explorer, hiker, kayaker, runner, reader, fisherman, entrepreneur, mother, father, believer, nonbeliever, we want to hear from you. We want to know about your adventures, your tips and tricks, favorite products, mishaps, and more.
What to expect from us
We want you to feel like family, because that’s what you are to us. If you ask Jahmicah or Jonathan, Slim Pickins is founded on love and fellowship, so our primary goal is to live out that mission. In this blog, we hope to share with you not only the perks of our products, but our own life adventures as well. The two main writers you’ll “hear” from include Jahmicah’s bride and better half, Heather, and Rhyland, content writer and friend and supporter of SPO. But we want to hear from you, too.
Topics we plan to address
Guidelines for interaction
Again, we are a faith-based community, but anyone is welcome to comment and submit blog posts for review. Please feel free to disagree, but always be respectful and abstain from profanity. Keep comments relevant to the conversation.
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