CATCHING UP WITH OUR FAMILY...

WE ARE ALL DOING WELL...

 Denny has continued to progress and thrive with his new schedule. He is happy and eager to board the van every morning to get to the center. This photo is a little suprise for my cousin Kathy (Godfrey), who sent Denny a T-shirt from the Philadelphis Irish festival. This has become his very favorite shirt and he puts it on every day when he gets home. We try to wash it a couple times a week but we have to be quick. I asked Denny to show us his favorite shirt and this is the pose we got. Other than that I continue to prepare bananna's to his exacting standards every day. More later as things change.

THE BIG CAMP-O-REE WAS GREAT FUN...

We participated in lots of fun activities that challenged the new scouts and their boy leaders, like this blindfolded communiucation event.

 And of course the ever popular "foam noodle jousting" was a real crowd pleaser. The guys also enjoyed rifle shooting, archery, map and compass course rally, some geo-caching and a lot more.

  The cooks did a pretty good job, but we did agree that some additional planning will be needed for future menus. First come, first served will be adjusted to allow some of the adults to get better fed next time. But the guys did OK with what we had, it was well prepared, especially the burritos!!!

AND THEN WE HAD THE WEATHER...

  Friday was bright and sunny enough that we stopped to buy new sunglasses. Saturday was cool, windy and threatening rain, which eventually rolled through in the afternoon. Saturday night brought serious wind, rain and potential tornadoes, but the troop weathered things fine under our "super tarp". We were pretty dry during the couple of serious downpours thanks to this cover. Rumor is that our tarp was visible from space and has it's own zip code, all I know is we were smart to have it.

OLD TRADITIONS WERE REVISITED...

The Order of the Arrow (the brotherhood of scout campers) presented a great campfire and tapout cerimony. The weather broke for just long enough to allow them to induct a number of new members with traditional Indian themed costumes and stories. A very moving evening that took me back to my own tapout almost thirty years ago.

BACK AT HOME WE ARE STILL GOING STRONG...

  Eve and Grampa' did the Home Depot workshop again. Eve is actually so well known there now, that store employees come looking for her by name every month. Her project was excellent, as always. This month was a spring-time planter for hanging flowers.

  After a nice breakfast we went on to help out with an Eagle scout project for one of our guys. Later, Aaron and I went to Denny's school to prepare a plot of land for a small vegetable garden. Denny's class will be growing the vegetables in preparation for a tasty meal at summer's end.

  Aside from this garden plot the school also has some raised planting beds that allow wheelchair students to garden. Those raised beds were an Eagle project a few years ago, and sparked the interest in more planting space for those who are able to get about without wheelchairs or walkers. As you can see, we did a pretty good job on a fair-sized plot. Good work Aaron.

ONE LAST VIDEO FOR FUN...

One of our events at the big camp-o-ree was the catapult competition. Here is a quick view of our troop tossing their water balloon. Watch for the landing, way down range.

           

 That's about it for now. I wish I could have added a lot more photos and video's but time does not allow. I will try to post a few on Facebook soon, especially the green sky I captured during one of our scariest weather moments.

So, until next time; I'll be seein' ya'...