Making Merry on A Snowy Day at Camp

Tuesday, February 16th
Second Day of Log Cabin Camp

Today was Tepee Day. We started inside by the wood stove as a low pressure rolled steadily in, bringing a great snowstorm and a fresh new snow cover around the farm and our steep dirt roads. The small girls were keen or sewing and embroidering new projects. Nicoya brought a collection of beads to share. Sofia sewed a dolphin dashing through blue waves on her treasure bag. Celia made a beautiful necklace. John cut out and stitched a green felted gnome and Grace needle felted a picture of a sunflower sprouting. Her picture was mounted on a cedar board by the end of the day.

As the big snowflakes began to fall slowly from cloudy skies we put on our outdoor gear and went out. We fed the sheep and did barn chores and then went up to the woods to build a big fire and work on the ice block project at camp.
For lunch we had our campfire baked potatoes with cheese, fruit, vegetarian burritos and tacos. Everyone had great appetites for the potatoes, beans, cheese and salsa.

The big project of the day was to cut down four 20 foot tall saplings and erect a tepee meeting house for living in near the fire. The tepee has two big canvas tarps which we wrapped around the poles once it was up. It was hard work for the young campers to cut those tall trees. There was also lots of brush and trail clearing, wood gathering, camp clearing and lumber jack work kept everyone busy as the snow fell.
We ended the quiet, snowy day with a four-blessing way talk inside the tepee to thank the good spirits of the east, and the beginnings of the day. the north to thank for the challenges and hard things that had happened, the south for the joyful things, the west for the learnings that brought us all peace for a good ending of the day.

Up at camp the Jesseman kids climbed trees and tried to melt into the forest scene to avoid going back home. They were joyously surprised to hear the news that they were coming back for an extra day of camp tomorrow!
It was hard for the parents to get back for pick-up with heavy snow on unplowed slick roads. Two families chose to walk in to the cabin from cars left down the hill.

I think the sheep were glad to have a day off from pounding but we will have to make up for it on Wednesday with renewed force!