As promised, here is the recap ya'll have been waiting for! (Well....maybe not. But I like to tell myself that.)
This week was an odd one, because we had fewer families and several of them left earlier than Saturday for one reason or another. I didn't get much of a chance to talk to any them, much to my chagrin, because I was constantly cleaning...but the basic gist is that this group is involved in Desire Street Ministries, which has an inner-city focus. Most of the people in our group have small children and don't feel safe without locking their doors and taking such necessary precautions because getting robbed and shot at is an expected thing where they live. One pastor in particular has had their house robbed 3 Christmases in a row because people know that they will be gone that night. But they're persistent and, from the little that I got to see, remarkable people.
Thursday morning (I think) I got up early and went out to help the wranglers with the horses, because the horse withdrawal is starting to take its toll. But before we even started catching/brushing/saddling up, the head wrangler Nick came down and they all had a little devotional time for about 20 minutes. I just sat in because I was there, but it was really, really nice to have a few minutes to listen and observe and inhale that horse scent in the barn. (And then Darron volunteered me to close everyone in prayer and I didn't have the guts to tell anyone that I'm really self-conscious about praying in public. O.e) My goal is to learn all the horses' names by the middle of the summer (or the end of the month would be good too).
But anyway! On to pictures!
This week was an odd one, because we had fewer families and several of them left earlier than Saturday for one reason or another. I didn't get much of a chance to talk to any them, much to my chagrin, because I was constantly cleaning...but the basic gist is that this group is involved in Desire Street Ministries, which has an inner-city focus. Most of the people in our group have small children and don't feel safe without locking their doors and taking such necessary precautions because getting robbed and shot at is an expected thing where they live. One pastor in particular has had their house robbed 3 Christmases in a row because people know that they will be gone that night. But they're persistent and, from the little that I got to see, remarkable people.
Thursday morning (I think) I got up early and went out to help the wranglers with the horses, because the horse withdrawal is starting to take its toll. But before we even started catching/brushing/saddling up, the head wrangler Nick came down and they all had a little devotional time for about 20 minutes. I just sat in because I was there, but it was really, really nice to have a few minutes to listen and observe and inhale that horse scent in the barn. (And then Darron volunteered me to close everyone in prayer and I didn't have the guts to tell anyone that I'm really self-conscious about praying in public. O.e) My goal is to learn all the horses' names by the middle of the summer (or the end of the month would be good too).
But anyway! On to pictures!
Moriah and I went out to see the horses on Sunday--from what I can gather she's one of those horse-crazy people that never got to fulfill that horse-craziness. I think she may start coming down with me to the barn some mornings.
Oh, we all got new staff shirts too! They're a little....ah.....pink. Or blue, if one is a guy. I think they really like to drive the 'pink and blue' thing home 'round here.
I think this horse thought my camera lens was something to eat, because he was VERY interested in it.
Luke, the other head wrangler! They were peeling a log for a hitching post all morning. As of the next day it was up and looked pretty finished, but no one has really said that it's finished. O.e
I think at this point he was growling a lot because the bark was NOT coming off. XD
I call this the 'meh' picture. "HEY CODY! Smile for the camera!" "MEH."
(He denies saying 'meh', but I distinctly heard it. Plus Cody is just fun to poke fun at, because he rolls with it so well. Even if he doesn't like the camera.)
Yeah, I don't think I'll ever get tired of that view.
Wrangler ladies in all their pinkness! This has been especially hard for Emily B, because she absolutely loathes wearing that color. But we all have our trials.... :P
Gratuitous mountain shot!
I think we were waiting for dinner here...reflection shots can be interesting or just bleh. Take your pick.
More gratuitous mountain shots!
AHAHAHAHA! Okay, I forgot about this picture...Darron was being a goober, per the usual, and I caught him taking a drink (after getting my camera to quit with the super-long shutter speed indoors). I've tried telling him that the backwards hat thing just doesn't work (all right, I might have said 'makes you look like a ninny'), but he doesn't believe me. Although...he hasn't worn a backwards hat since Sunday night, so may he did and just didn't want to admit it. O.e
It may sound like I insult him a lot, but he dishes it right back immediately so we're always even, just so y'all know.
Awesome fire pit stone.
The first night of fireside...
Egg-tossing champions!
This was part of an audience participation thing during the hootenanny--Amber and Anne were 'Haulof and Shmackem from Eastern Europe' and did their little thing in between skits. They only had had about 5 minutes (literally) to figure out what they were going to do for their skits, so I think they did a fantastic job. Even if their wigs kept threatening to fall off. :P
The hootenanny, by the way, was HYSTERICAL. The schedule was a bit off because families were leaving the next day, and we all had only a little time (i.e. minutes--Jordyn and I had the longest time with a couple of hours) to practice, but it all worked out.
Don and one of the guests busting some moves...
And Jake, doing the toast song on a toaster!
Oh yes, the moment we've all been waiting for...Alijah was introduced as some huge, serious talent that wanted to play for the audience, and as he did his thing Jordyn and I came out to do some beach ball ballet. Youtube it sometime--it was pretty great.
This move was actually really hard, and a little awkward, but we managed it. :P
Misty mountains...
Oh! Elk-stalking! I've seen this guy around 4 or 5 times lately, and each time I've gotten pretty dang close.
Getting closer...
BOOM, baby. He is pretty unafraid.
Oh yes, Emily P got ahold of my camera and figured out how to shoot in black and white. My mind was blown and I spent the rest of the day basically doing portraits.
Unloading the Niner (the official housekeeping vehicle)
Kay, getting ready to go for a run! (So many people run around here. I think they're crazy, because I can't even run from the office to staff housing (about 150 feet) without some severe asphyxiation going on)
Miss Bev!
Amber!
EMILY! PIRANHA!
The mountains aren't as majestic in black and white, but I had to give it a shot. Get it? A shot? *slaps thigh* Okay, I'm done now.
Mmmm, steak.
The elusive Nick G in his natural habitat! Funny story behind this guy: his name has been on the dishwashing schedule, bolded and in red, since last Sunday. But he didn't arrive until Thursday. So we were all going "Who is this Nick G and why is he on the schedule??" Now that he's arrived the confusion has cleared...but at the time it was pretty stinkin' funny.
I think this was after D was accusing someone of putting words in his mouth, and I mentioned that his mouth is so big that it can handle other people's words too. XD Our interactions could probably seem abusive at times what with all the insulting and whacking that goes on...but it's an even dishing of abuse, so we're even.
I think this is a profile picture now. O.e
Anna! She wasn't feeling so great the other day--a lot of people are having this 24-hour-cold thing that knocks them out all day. I'm struggling not to get it, but keep waking up with a sore throat. *sucks down Emergen-C*
Charissa! Awesome gal. For a while there we thought she was leaving after a couple of weeks, but as far as I know she's sticking it out for the summer, which makes me happy. :D
Moriah!
Me!? O.e I call this my 'elk in headlights' look.
And David, being....David. I really don't know what's going on here--he's a fellow homeschooled kid, though, so I feel like I should understand it better. XD
Back to color! Friday morning was wrangler breakfast, so we all took foodstuffs down to the lower area parallel to the horse pasture. The lighting was absolutely gorgeous for pictures--I still haven't been able to get over it.
An old wood-cookstove being used as a warming range--I've actually never seen one of these in action.
Don and his 'mancake'...
Yes, he will flip it later. I got pictures and everything. :P
Mmmm, breakfast.
Several people rode up (down?) to the breakfast, so I had to go over and get some horse pictures.
Magi! Love how this horse looks. Gah.
Lena and Claire, checkin' out the horses...
Aha! You ready for this? Ready?
One....
Two...
Three! Only a few pieces fell out. It was pretty epic.
Lena with Charissa's hat...there's so many adorable kids around here. This one in particular likes to run up and hug me, for some reason. O.o
Ike! This is Cowboy Nick's son, and talk about a spitting image. He's just too polite and adorable for his own good.
Emily B and Cason! The latter reminds me of my nephews and how much I miss them. Sigh.
Oh yes, Emily B stepped up and recited some of her own poetry for all and sundry...it may or may not have made me cry. In a good way. <.< >.>
Cason again! I said 'Smile!' and he goes 'Cheese!' Too cute.
That evening was a pizza party for the kids while their parents had a little 'date night', and afterwards some of them played the most intense game of Duck Duck Goose I've ever had the privilege to witness.
Also, I have a newfound respect for the Kid's Club leaders. I like a few kids at a time, but 15 screaming, hyper kids under the age of 10 strike fear and stress into my heart. O.o
See what I mean? Intense.
Claire and Zane, Cowboy Nick's newest baby...he's pretty dang cute. And quiet. Must be a youngest child thing. :P
I have this one-sided game with Cody called 'get a picture of Cody without his putting a pillow/hat/hand in front of his face'. So far he's pretty good at outwitting my attempts. O.e
Aha! Got him distracted. That's the only way to do it.
Again, love this firepit rock. The flames just add to it. :P
My elk again! I saw him 3 times yesterday, and of course had to get pictures each time.
I may or may not be getting braver with each attempt.
New pinecones...
Five of us decided to climb part of the mountain to Gorilla Rock yesterday, so this was the view of Longs from High Meadow. Basically, it was just an excuse to get a mountain picture.
"US boundary?? What does that mean?" "We must be in Canada now!"
(Seriously, we were so giggly and punchy on this hike. I'm surprised we didn't asphyxiate from laughter.)
Fake Gorilla Rock! "I'll bet we were the first people to set foot on that rock!" "Yeah, maybe the first people today..."
The obligatory 'cute' picture...
David was the one guy on our trip, and he spent a lot of time complaining (good-naturedly, I presume) about how women are terrible leaders and he was never going on a female-led hike again. XD
Another fake Gorilla Rock! We decided at this point that two fake Gorilla Rocks were equal to one real one, and headed back. The altitude might have been getting to us at this point too.
BEARS?? O.O
Oh! The elk again! Everyone had to get pictures with him this time...
Seriously, he's pretty chill for a wild animal.
And last night while we were sitting in the Cocoa I took my sketchbook to draw people, but most of the time people just kept stealing my sketchbook to gawk over older pictures. Sigh. I may or may not be getting to do a commission for Luke at some point though. If that's a go, then I'm all for it--it'll be nice to have some supplementary income. :P
Church is in 25 minutes, and I'm not even dressed yet, so I shall sign off...see ya'll next week with another recap!
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