Back from camp

So I spent two weeks with Menachem up at camp. Busy days trying to get the physical aspect of things into place.
Just opening all of the shutters on the dining hall/kitchen, rec hall, staff buildings and cabins takes at least half a day.
Major projects?
We painted the kitchen -- not an easy feat because the previous paint had chipped terribly. Menachem did the scraping which alone took almost a full day. In many places, he scraped down to the original plywood. After the first coat of primer, we decided to do a second because the walls were so uneven. Even after the final coat you can still see the scraped patches but at least it looks clean and fresh. The way we do paint work is that I do all the "below waist " cut-ins (so Menachem doesn't have to get down on his bad knees) while Menachem does the ceiling cut-ins (so I don't have to climb up on a ladder). Then while Menachem paints the ceiling and walls, I am the "paint police" pointing out the areas that he may have missed with the roller.
We also painted the boy's washroom in the upper camp area. Also a two day job with a lot of uncomfortable "below waist" work -- behind the toilets, under the sink countertop, within the stalls. We were planning to do the girls' washroom as well but realized we wouldn't have enough paint, didn't want to buy any more, and realized that we were too pooped to continue painting. Maybe next year.
Then we put up the third tent in the tent area. It isn't really a difficult task but you need patience to follow the instructions step by step and it is time consuming.
We set up the office and checked the equipment and internet (dial-up) was working, opened the rec hall and evicted the raccoon family, set up Avichai's room with a queen bed (box spring from the local waste site re-use area) and mattress from Yaron's former room. Those babies were heavy!!
What with organizing the Shomria Hut (maintenance supply hut), powerwashing the kitchen metro shelving, degreasing the stove hood and ceiling fans, a little of this and a little of that, the days went by.
We spent Sunday washing down the walk-in fridge and half of the pantry in anticipation of the first food order and rehanging the shelves and stuff we had taken down to paint the kitchen.
Although I used to go up by train every weekend on Friday afternoon and return Sunday nights, not arriving home until midnight. This year I am hoping to return Monday mornings, catching the 6:30 a.m. train from Smiths Falls, arriving in Toronto between 10 and 10:30 and then subway it up to work by 11:00ish.
Yesterday was my first train ride and it went well. We're up early anyways and I read and snoozed on the train. I had baggage -- a carryon with clothes and my quilting "portfolio". Although I had taken stuff up to camp to work on, the only fabric related work I did was to cut my scraps into 2" squares for a future project. Next train ride, I hope to carry only my purse since I left clothes and toiletries at camp. OK, I may carry a bag with quilt supplies in case the muse strikes (I also left a sewing machine at camp...)
After work today, I have to mow the lawn, finish my Pomegranate challenge (well not finish but at least have it ready to show what I've done up til now) and figure out if I'm taking anything for Show and Share.
And that's all she wrote.

Off to Camp

Although I usually have every intention of posting frequently, sometimes it just doesn't work out. And since I'm off to camp Sunday for two weeks, I doubt if I'll get much posting done. But you never know.
I haven't really gotten a lot done fabric wise recently. Well that's not entirely true. I have been cutting up my scraps from previous projects into 2 inch and 1.5 inch squares. I hope to make a quilt with them. And I am working on the Pomegranate Guild "Women of the Bible" challenge for June 18th. I am making a tree, using the Hebrew words for mother, daughter, sister and wife. The tree top is fabric "paper" cutting (the Judaic art of paper cutting but done in fabric instead of paper) and the tree trunk which was supposed to be microcalligraphy on fabric is now writing on fabric. I'm not sure the letter size would qualify for micro and the lettering is in my regular handrwriting Hebrew script. I have fused the tree to a linen-like off-white background and now have to figure out what to do next. I may try to do some free motion scribbling tomorrow morning before we head out.
Which brings me to my next dilemma -- what work to take with me to camp. I am taking up a sewing machine but not my new machine so I can't do any fancy stitching. I have taken the remaining scraps with me to continue cutting into squares. If the muse strikes, I may start machine piecing.
I have also taken several books, including the Art Quilt Workbook. I have signed up on line for a group working through the book and June is chapter 1. I have to chose a theme and I think I will make it about the camp's natural surroundings -- the trees, plants, the lake, the landscape. I know, not terribly original but that's what there is.
Lest anyone think that I am going up to camp to loll about, I am joining Menachem for two weeks to help him open the buildings, paint the kitchen ceiling and walls, clean and organize. I may not have the strength or inclination to do much of anything let alone create after a hard day's work.
I hope to take at least one workshop while in Perth but won't say anything further until I've actually made the arrangements.