Wednesday, April 30, 2008

I think Mother Nature is still confused. We woke up this morning to low thirty-degree weather here in the mountains, despite the fact that the dogwood are in full bloom, the grass is green, and spring is here in full force. Could you imagine being here in your cabin when it gets that cold? Brrr!

I just returned from the barn for a quick shower to get the hay off me after helping the guys unload a full 52 foot tractor trailer truck from Michigan that was full of hay! I think there were over 700 bales of alfalfa and timothy mix so that our horses can eat as well as we are at camp. Yummy! As soon as we got the big rig out of here, David Cantrell brought his mini-excavator over and is down by the canoe lake, cutting a foot path around it so that we can walk around the lake a little easier for fishing and walking. There's another reason though...a little teaser: It has something to do with some changes to the last couple of days of camp. I'm not telling though. You'll just have to wait!

It is absolutely gorgeous in the Heavenly. The guys are busy blowing off cabin roofs, cutting grass, bush-hogging the pastures, and getting camp all spiffy. Kris and Carol are hunkered down in the office scheduling activities for all of those who have sent their online sign-ups in. That can only mean one thing! Camp is right around the corner! We can't wait. It's going to be the BEST SUMMER EVER!

Spring Break and Camp Comes Alive!

Spring Break and Camp Comes Alive!

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

I love Spring! Mother Nature is trying to make her decision here in the Heavenly World. We are alternating between beautiful warm days, and cloudy, cold ones. The trees have tiny buds on them, and the grass in the pastures is greening. It's a sure sign that camp is coming when James dusts off the John Deere mower and starts to ride in those baseball-field perfect parallel lines up and down camp.

We also know spring has sprung as camp becomes a flurry of interviews and tours for prospective staff members. There are two today, and several yesterday. We have a great group of counselors (and campers) to make 2008 the BEST Summer EVER! We also were treated to a visit by 1959 thru 80s-era riflery instructor Dolly Thomas and alumnae friends Tippy Carmody and Lynn Simmons.Dolly and Skip Thomas were fixtures at Illahee for a number of decades.

Our family is back in the routine after an amazing (maybe the BEST ever) vacation to Costa Rica. Laurie is the gypsy in the family, and spends daydream time on travel websites. We got some help this time from a travel agent, and were able to see and do so much in our 12 days in central America. I think the best thing about vacation is that our family actually is able to enjoy each other free from the distractions of carpools, studying, sports schedules, and weekends with friends. Sound familiar? No cell phones, computers and T.V.s (except for the Davidson/Kansas game) added to the togetherness. Unplugged and loving life!

Now that we are back, our attention is focused fully on the Summer of 2008, less than six weeks away! We can't wait! Activity sign-ups are coming in, and we can tell by the phone calls and emails that campers are excited too! Yippee!