Gate finished - priming next

MacAdoo this morning (ungroomed)

A Great Day at the Camp

Our campground is like a family. One fellow asked about my wrist. Said he was in California when he heard about it!

Today's big event was the annual "boat race" in the pool. Teams of two are given a pile of cardboard and duct tape in the morning, with instructions to build their boat using no other materials. Six brave souls built ingenious designs. One team of two heavy men sank as soon as they boarded! One team of lightweight women won with a very nice ship and lots of frantic paddling. Crowds cheered for their favorites. It was a fun time. Then there were air mattress races, one for men, and one for women.

After the pool games we had a big bonfire and cooked hotdogs to go with the pot luck supper. A DJ finished the evening.

I got 1/3 of the deck primed. Tomorrow I plan to finish the first coat of prime, then use wood filler where needed, caulk, sand, and prime again. Then it will be ready for two finish coats, and installation of my counters and drop-down table. Don't know if I will get it all done this week, but surely before snow flies.

Receiving award at G.A. for starting the Red Ribbon

Taken by Danny Bolin for the PCUSA General Assembly meeting.

From left, the Rev. Charles Hale, Elder Rafael Rodriguez, and Bob Schminkey, PAN Co-Moderator, upon the presentation of PAN’s first ever Faith in Action Award to the Red Ribbon Fellowship  of First Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, NJ which Charles Hale founded, and Rafael has made flourish.  219^th General Assembly (2010), Minneapolis, MN. 

The Breaks of Summer

Breaking News! Tom slipped while walking Mac in June and broke his ankle. He's in the last stages of healing with an "air cast" (inner air bladder for comfort).

Last Sunday morning I was walking across my campground neighbor's site and didn't see or hear him start to back up. (It was early in the morning and I guess both of us were careless, assuming everyone else was asleep). Anyway, he backed into me, knocking me down. I'm very glad he heard me yell and stopped, or you would find my news in the obituaries. My carelessness earned me some very large bruises, a twisted back and a broken wrist. The wrist is healing well. I guess backs take longer.

But we're having fun in spite of it. The camp is a constant source of joy. I'm nearing the end of my deck building project - this summer's main goal. It's going to be a combination outdoor kitchen and dining space and a place to relax under the awning. I used the (previously-mentioned) wood to build two compost bins for future flower beds, and for the deck. We found a long Formica (faux granite) counter marked down at Home Depot. That has been cut up for counter space and a drop-down eating table. A neighbor has offered an under-counter fridge. I'll post pics when it's done.

Tomatoes haven't done well at the camp until this summer. I decided to try an "earth box" and locate it on the south side of the trailer, so it gets "double sun" reflected off the trailer. Our hot summer, good growing soil and neighbors who have kept them watered - is now yielding a bumper crop. There is no substitute for home grown tomatoes, and it has been years since we were indulged with this delicacy.

A smaller break came with an old front tooth that quit. Son Ken has made a bridge for me, and we'll travel to Dansville tomorrow to have that fitted. (www.dansvilledental.com). Then back to the trailer to, hopefully, finish and paint our new outdoor deck/kitchen.