Wilderness - Sweater Update #1

One of my goals for Wilderness camp this year was to finish Karen's vest...

...the stockinette stitch back is now done - easy peasy too...

........I didn't bring the other vest so I can't really check the size and all - but the front was fine - so I'm assuming the back is also...now on to the neck...

Wilderness - Day 3

...Most of the boys took an extra Merit Badge Class Monday night - Basketry - it was offered during their free time - so I was surprised that so many of them signed up...
...they got up this morning and got busy on their baskets - even before breakfast...

...They went to their sessions until noon - and then did their 'service project' - this year it was cleaning the latrines - Ha! - Can you tell by the look on Scout's face how much he's enjoying it...

...Then Scout met with the Chaplain - he's a Chaplain's Aide (of course) - He'll say the prayer on Thursday night...

...then a little bit of swimming fun...

...there were lots of interesting things to see in the lake - snails for one...

...the water was cool and refreshing and crystal clear...

...headed back to camp...

...a little more weaving - I'm surprised at how well the boys are doing with these baskets - they certainly are spending a lot of their free time working on them...

...then a roaring campfire before bed...

Wilderness - Day 2

...we had a little bit of rain overnight - the best time to have rain if you're camping - Ha!...

...so tents were a little bit damp in the morning...

...but everyone cheerfully headed up for breakfast at 7:00...

...and cleaned up afterwards...there were two shifts - and we were shift A - so all we had to do was wipe down the tables - shift B also had to sweep the floors...

...back at camp we had a Troop Flag Ceremony...
........then everyone headed off for their day of 'sessions' - Scout had the 3 hour Trailblazers class with the other Tenderfoots - or do you say Tenderfeet? - hehe...
.............We had a couple of Leader meetings - and we were asked to sign up to help with several things...

...the first thing we did was to man the Fire Tower - it's just one of the attractions that the boys can visit during their free time...

...Our Scout Master doesn't like heights - so he did not climb all the way up - he did come up about 4 flights - as the cel phone reception is pretty good up here...

...a nifty little map and compass...

...it was early evening - the views were still pretty spectacular...

...lots of treetops...

...looking down on the Mess Hall - the Log Pavillion and the Bell Tower...

...Bad Axe Lake...

...102 stairs - apparently at one time - you could buy a stair - as a fundraiser when they moved the Fire Tower here...

...as I said - 102 stairs - its a long way up ... or down...

...back at camp - the boys had fun building a campfire...

Wilderness - Day 1

...Well...We packed up...

...and headed to Wilderness - with 13 Boy Scouts...

...made one stop for lunch...

...then we arrived...

...met with our Counselor...

...played some games while the Leaders registered...

...set up camp...

...read the maps and got used to our surroundings...

...went to Opening Flag Ceremony...

...made a walking stick...

...and went to Opening Campfire...

Sweater progress...

I've finished the front - and I'm checking for size - it seems just right!

...Karen requested the new sweater be about 1 inch longer than the old one...and it is...
........I love how the new yarn shows off the little seed stitch border...
.............and it's silky soft...

..................We're off for a week of Boy Scout Camp at Wilderness - so I should, fer sure, be able to get the stockinette stitch back done - just hoping it won't be too smoky smelling...Ha!

Church Building Update

They have been making progress on the building in spite of a few hours off for weddings and funerals - probably a perc if you're a construction worker at a church site...

...no walls out here yet - but I don't think it will be very much longer...

they've sawed into the main building and the HVAC guys have done the vent work - next up is some concrete for the floor and then the walls...

...inside the old fellowship hall - some new Sunday School classrooms start to take shape...

...they are actually ahead of schedule...

From strawberries to blueberries...

...just like that - the fruit of the season changes...
.......and we go from eating a lot of strawberries to a lot of blueberries...
..........both are awesome options in my opinion...

...so we were up bright and early for some blueberry pancakes - the recipe is here - just add a bunch (and I do mean a BUNCH!) of blueberries...

...cook until golden brown in your Mama's old black cast iron pan...

...then pile them on a plate...

...and enjoy - I love how the blueberries become their own jam-y goodness and you don't even need syrup or anything else...Mmmmmm....

Level 6

Scout passed his Level 6 swimming lessons - YAY! Even though he passed he will still take Level 6 again for 2 more years as he won't be able to take the Lifeguard course until he turns 15...

...He's thrilled that he passed as we had been saying things like - 'it really doesn't matter if you pass or not - as you have to take it again anyway - just do your best' - and he did his best and passed!

Twice Baked Potatoes

...another one of my Mom's blast from the past recipes...

...Mom used to make twice baked potatoes a lot when we were little - these are so good and so very easy...

Bake some potatoes - one for each person.
Slice off the tops - not too much - you don't want your boat to fall apart - but enough so you can get a spoon in.
Scoop out the potato into a bowl - leaving enough so the sides don't collapse.
Mash the potato and mix in what you like - we used Vegan Sour Cream, Daiya Cheddar, a little Earth Balance, Chives, and Salt, Pepper and a little Mrs. Dash.
Then stuff that back into the shell and bake for another 30 minutes or so until the top is sort of golden...

...also on the plate is the ETL Spinach Tofu pot - I just prefer my tofu separate - so I don't put it in the pot - but while this was cooking Scout came into the kitchen and asked what smelled so good...

Another Day at the Lake

...We spent another relaxing afternoon at our favorite point on the lake...

...just enjoying the sites and sounds of nature - these blue dragonflies were everywhere...

...the flowers were blooming and everything was so fresh and pretty...

...this little fellow gets to come home with us and pupate...

...the beach was entirely covered by water...

...but the water was cool and refreshing and the air was warm and breezy...

...don't sit there...

...Scout spent the afternoon looking for arrowheads - unsuccessfully - the looking will be better once the water goes down some - they often wash ashore then...

...and when we got home - Scout wasted no time making a little home for his caterpillar...