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")