Woodsman Week 2

Woodsman style "Cinnamon Dulce Latte" made by me, the ex-Starbucks barista.  I haven`t lost my skills.

      There are few things that measure up to the hype.  Y`know that I mean, like those things you get all excited about, but them you actually do them, and you are like, "Hmmm... well, that was a waste of time/money/brainspace."  Going into these two weeks out at Woodsman, that was my fear:  that I would be disappointed. 

     I wanted to feel like part of the team, to have fun, to cook edible food, and to spend some time with the Lord out in nature.  I wanted to have the best two weeks of my summer.  

     Wish granted.  

My cooking partner, Julie, using the grill like a boss

     Julie, who is also married to a staff member at Camp Homewood, and I had decided months ago to cook together at Woodsman.  She and I are the kind of friends who like to do something when we`re together, so we figured this was the perfect bonding experience for us... and it was!  Between us, we have four little boys, and Julie`s husband wisely arranged for us to have two babysitters (camp CITs) to help watch the kids while we cooked.  It worked great, and allowed us to have some great talks during our food-prep times.  We both are very organized, tidy, and efficient, so our kitchen ran smoothly all week.  It felt so great to be part of a team again! 

We had two babysitters out to take care of Julie and I`s kids (Z, and two out of three of her kids pictured here)

Z and I`s tent

    Z and I spent one night in a mouse-infested tent... where I basically stayed awake and read a book all night while mice poked their heads up right by my bed.  Morning could not come quickly enough!  Thankfully, when the sun rose, we were able to switch tents and spent the rest of the week sleeping soundly. 
     The only other times I encountered mice were one evening when a mouse walked right by my feet... so I killed it.  I`ve never killed anything before... and all I could think about after was how it probably had a family... so there is a good chance I will not be a hunter ever in my lifetime.  The next encounter with a mouse was in the cooktent, when a mouse fell into a bucket and was stuck.  We considered having me kill it, but decided to let it be free... so I was sent into the brush to release the poor creature.

Z standing on the dock, the swimming dock can be seen behind him in the water.

Z playing toys by the water`s edge.

    Free time at Woodsman was spent swimming, boating, jumping off rocks/docks, and more swimming.  Z took a nap every afternoon, so most days I would sit by the tent and read and journal during that time.  Once in a while the babysitters would have pity on me and let me go swimming during naptime, but the afternoons were so hot that they were usually already in the water by the time I got Z down for his sleep.  He and I would go swimming for a short while after his nap every day, then head back to the cook tent to prepare some delicious supper. 

Happy Campers eating supper on our "woodsman formal night"... which mostly involved everyone using ferns as hats/skirts/etc. 

My boy and me in the cook tent.

A view of woodsman from the water.  The tents are all hidden in the trees.

Tim, woodsman`s resident jack-of-all-trades, helps Z drive the party boat

    Today is the first Sunday in two weeks that I`m not heading back to Woodsman.  I`ve gotta say that I`m pretty sad about that.  I think it was probably the best two weeks of the entire time I`ve lived on Quadra! 

    Now I`m on to finishing the organizing for YWAM... we`re leaving in less than 5 weeks! 

Woodsman Week One!

Moma and Z cutting strawberries for shortcake

   So, after all my big talk about not enjoying camping... I signed up months ago to cook for two weeks out at Woodsman Camp (which is a part of Homewood where my husband is the chef).  It is a "primitive" camp on a gorgeous lake, where all the tents and kitchen, and biffys and fire pit are already set up for us.  Setting up the camp takes a a large team of people a few days to do, and is a ton of work, but once its set up it all works perfectly.  As cooks we had a grill, elements, and even an oven!  Plus running water and hot-water on demand for dishes... this is GLAMPING at it`s best!  (Translation:  Glamour camping.) 

Shannon trying to find something in the "fridge".

    My sister Shannon, and my Mom arrived on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday we were on our way!  The woodsman maintenance guy, Tim, drove us out in the big white truck, then helped us load all the food into the boat and get it organized in the kitchen. 
   (Re-cap:  For my Mom and Sis to get to Woodsman, they took 2 busses, one skytrain, two ferries, a mini-bus, car-ride, truck ride, and a speed-boat.  Shannon would want everyone to know how much travel was involved in this trip.  haha)   

Tent 1 doing the dishes

      Once we got the food organized we did a tour of the camp to find a tent for Shannon and Mom.  I had brought Z and I`s stuff in a day early and chosen a good tent.  Unfortunately, the tent they chose had a mouse which was greatly disconcerting to Mom... Shannon slept through it... she also slept through most breakfast preps... but that`s another story... haha... 

Breakfast time in the cook tent (it was chilly until around 10am, so everyone wore sweatshirts)

Making pancakes on the first morning. 

Z and Auntie Shannon hanging out in the kitchen

Z was the cleanest kid at camp!  I did his laundry every day and bathed him too! 

Bracelet class

    I had brought a bunch of bracelet-making stuff, thinking that it would keep me entertained (which it did), but one morning the boys I was sitting with were commenting on my bracelets and wanted to buy some from me.  I told them we could just have a class and they could all learn... so we cancelled an activity block and about 15 of the boys came and made bracelets or learned how to braid.  It was so cute watching them sit so still for so long!    
    The only other time they sat still was for whittling time around the fire.  Swords was about all they made!  Typical boys! 

Z and his bestie, Dan.  

     Dan and Z`s conversation at every meal:
 
     "Z, everyday."  -Dan
     "Everyday."  -Z
      "All day."  -Dan
      "All day."  -Z
      "Dubstep."  -Dan
      "Dub. Step."  -Z

Well, it`s better than Jacob teaching Z to say, "Mommy, I want a tattoo."  

Whittling time around the fire, and on the far side you can see Z and Dan playing "dumdumditty" on their knees.

Z and I`s tent site, with the hammock that I napped in most afternoons

Mom knitting to her heart`s content.  She sat by the tent during naptime so Shannon and I could go swimming while Z was sleeping.  We went swimming every day at least once!  :) 

The last meal... Taco Salad. 

Waiting for the bus to go back to camp.  It`s all over! 

    I have the laundry done from the week, and it`s re-packed into a box.  This week I`ll be going back out and cooking for a girl`s camp, with the help of another camp wife.  I can`t wait to get back out there!  I already miss my Mom and Sister though, it sure was a good bonding week for the Climie gals! 

    As Mom kept saying, "Only good memories." 
   (Que the music for "Time of My Life")