Camp Crafts 2014

Well, here is a round-up of some of our camp crafts from this summer.

We have a good time in the ol' craft room.

I made my first camp craft up in the old log cabin on a ping pong table,

 long before I was even old enough to be a camper.

It was a rock paperweight.

I've been partial to this particular craft ever since.

Another example of rock art.

 A new one this year was a lovely wreath made of egg cartons and cardboard.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Ha!

 This dandelion one was fun, but a bit quick for my taste.

Pencil erasers in white paint for the fluff balls and plastic forks in yellow paint for the flowers.

 The old toilet paper tube turned into a keepsake.

 And for those so crafty that they picked the 'Art Track' we had basket weaving!

This was an example left behind by a camper years ago.

It was perfect because every single camper's turned out way better!

(I will admit that on a two-day craft like this, I have a habit of going back and giving the crafts a bit of a tweak to help them out before the campers come back to start in on day two.)

 See.
Better, right?

Birdhouses were painted.

(Check out that original chalk art, in the style of Aunt Terry.  Left over from my school-teaching days.)

 Ooh, now this is my favorite camp craft of all time.

In the style of pointillism, you use a pencil eraser dipped in paint to make beautiful artwork.

 And another example from a counselor.

 And a fun one with watercolors.

Original artwork by Heather R.H.C.

And another watercolor.

Draw an animal.

Divide into grid.

Commence to painting.

We did a little Sand Art with a southwestern flair.

And, well, I'm sure there were more, but I'm feeling rather underwhelmed at the quality of these crafts, but we really do have a great time in there, I tell ya!

These guys are making the game Mancala, a favorite this summer.

 And, of course, my favorite craft room activity was hanging out with my own sweet kids.

Crab Shack

And now I shall tell you about our favorite restaurant on Tybee Island.

The Crab Shack.

Where the Elite Eat in Their Bare Feet.

 Only I guess we're not very elite, because we do not eat in our bare feet.

 They have a fun little concrete alligator habitat to watch while you wait for a table.

 And some exotic birds and artsy wood carvings.

 And it's right on the water in the great outdoors.

 Among huge, beautiful trees.

 But the best part (for the seafood-loving ones amongst us) is of course, the seafood!

 Served up by the trash-can-lid-full.

 The little boys love it!

Bon appetit!

Kingsport

In June, Eleonora visited Kingsport for the second time in her young life.

 Grandaddy wasn't quite sure what to think of us all.

I'm sure he was loving it!

 I decided that it was high time to learn to make the most delicious biscuits in the world, 

and Grandmother kindly obliged to teach me.

 Grandmother's Biscuits

Spread newspaper on work surface.

In small metal bowl mix White Lily self-rising flour, Lay's lard, and buttermilk together with hand.

Be quick and thorough with your mixing.

(It is much colder than you'd think on the old hand.)

Drop dough on (surprisingly) large pile of flour.

Pat and turn and fold.

Pat, pat, pat.

Cut biscuits.

Place on lard-smeared pan.

Make snakes with leftover dough.

Bake at 500 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Just watch it.

 Here's the amount of lard you're looking for.

 And buttermilk.

 Ta-daa!

 I got to do the mixing myself for the first time ever and I was a bit of a mess.

Look at my Grandmother's foot.

 And even funnier, she was vacuuming flour out of her oven door by the time I was through.

 Josiah chose this moment to lose his second tooth!

In the excitement, I missed part of my gravy training.

 All I wrote down was Step 1.

'Fry meat so you'll have some grease.'

And there you have it.

The best biscuits & gravy in the world.

It is my tradition to eat 7 biscuits each morning they are served.

 Now let's see who else was there for the visit.

There was old Buzz (Aunt Heather).

And Lydia and Jennifer.

Or PickleHead and Lou, your pick.

 And of course Eleonora in her white pants matching with her sweet Great Grandmother.

 My parents were there too.

My mom brought my boys a fun Lego set to work on.

Here, Jennifer is demonstrating an improper technique for taking apart stuck Legos.

 Sweet Aunt Faye and Great Grandaddy checking out the good baby.

 Mops with a traditional puzzle.

 And there you have it.

A magnificent time was had by all.

 I think it's about time for Eleonora's third visit!

Pantry

Welcome to our new and improved pantry!

 Here is what we were looking at before:

 Mess!! 

As Lydia would say.

 Caleb helped me paint the shelves and walls bright white.

 And entertained me with puppet shows while I worked.

 Ta-daa!

 Much better!

Now we just have to keep it this way!

 And in other news, Caleb is now the proud owner of his very own breathing machine.

We've all been a little sick, but especially him.

He's feeling much better now!

 Happy Tuesday, everyone!