Life's a Stitch

Many years ago we were a camp family. C was the Executive Director of a non-profit summer camp, I was the relief cook, E at age 4 took her first out trip and came back happy for the experience of putting her bare foot in her boot already occupied by a giant banana slug. M took her first steps in the dining hall, and well, B got his beginnings at camp, so to speak. 

The camp life has stuck with us, and our place by the lake in WA is known as Camp Heatherbrook, with Uncle Chuck as director and me as the cook. Both E and B worked many years at the camp they attended as kids, both in cabins as volunteer leaders, then she as the camp nurse, and B, the skateboard instructor. When we have large camplike get togethers the daughters do a great job leading a craft project for the kids. Remember the egg on canvas painting two Easter's ago? More on the project in the next post.

We had an opportunity for family camp while attending C's 50th high school reunion. Yes you read that correctly, 50th high school reunion! I remember friends' parents going to their 40 and 50th and thinking they must be so old. But here we are at that stage and it doesn't seem all that bad. People had a difficult time remembering C, as way back when, he had hair on his head and none on his chin. Some people recognized him as looking like his father in his younger years.

Auntie E did a fine job of organizing the sleeping arrangements, well stocked kitchen and adult area, "the room of illumination," a bar set up in the library.

The kitchen was so well stocked we renamed the experience Fat Camp, not for the traditional purpose of weight reduction, but quite the opposite. Advance trips to Costco yielded giant bags of Boom Chicka Pop, as tall as some of the grandkids, 2 for $5. There were endless kettle chips, soft Aussie style licorice, cookies and frozen yogurt. And lots of red wine, scotch for those who partake and rum. Surprisingly I lost almost a pound probably due to the walks around their rural "blocks" in farm country, which came out to an even five miles.

Uncle G was an excellent walking partner, muffin baker, groundskeeper (keeping the grass mowed, a huge proposition on their property), the yard fogged for bugs, and running a shuttle service for those who absolutely needed things from town. We Canadians appreciated Fleet Farm, their version of Canadian Tire with a farming twist plus a clothing department.

 There was even an out-trip to a friend's lake spot.

More fun in the water.  Those kids are growing so quickly – Grandsons Rye, 6 and Parker, almost 3, with some of the cousins:

Rye even got to spend some time with his Dad and cousins fishing on the Mississippi.

The little ones appreciated the acres of freedom combined with butterfly nets that caught frogs, lightening bugs, minnows and  moths.

Free range kids:

 

One evening Rye and I were sitting together, a rare event given his level of activity. He looked out over the fields and exclaimed "Oh my goodness!" "What," I asked. He replied wholeheartedly "It is SO beautiful." Here's his Rye's eye view:

Nest post: Mari's cool camp art project.