Something a little different from Sprucelands horsey stuff.

I promise to be good, Mom.

Yesterday was my first day to see local sights. It was grey and gloomy, typical Seattle weather. As the day progressed however, the sun peeked through the clouds and a beautiful, blue sky day unfolded. I think I brought good weather with me. Could it be?

My sister and I started the day with a walk around the John Wayne Marina in Sequim. Betty had her little dog Bonnie in tow. I was amazed at how nippy the weather was. I wore fleece and my underarmor to be comfortable in the breezes that were blowing off the ocean. The water and sky were grey.

This place was like something out of a movie.

Apparently, years ago John Wayne donated land along the ocean here for a marina. More land has been added to his original donation so that now the Sequim marina is huge.

I have to tell you that the yachts and sailboats in the marina are so beautiful, I totally overlooked the colorless sky. With my trusty camera, I clicked and snapped, grateful that it wasn't raining and happy that all I had to do was be a traveling photographer.

Oh how I wish I didn't get seasick on the ocean.

What I saw before me took my breath away. We don't see yachts in the Buffalo area that come close to the ocean-going vessels at the John Wayne Marina. Buffalo is geared more to boats that can handle the Great Lakes. That's a whole different ball game.

I remember years ago having an adventure in a fishing yacht. The waves rolled us around a bit. That was near Puerto Rico. I recall being very happy that our trip was relatively short because my stomach was pretty queasy. I do better on horses!

This walk was so relaxing.

After the marina, we explored the seashore. I thoroughly enjoyed walking along the beaches. These beaches were not sandy. Lots of rock and cliffs that stand tall against the ocean. Because it was low tide, you can possibly imagine the fishy smells as well, and the sounds of the seagulls darting here and there in the distance.

The cliffs are graphic geological history. Evident in the layers of sediment and stone were years and years of beatings from ocean storms. Betty said on down the shoreline, bones from prehistoric creatures were recently uncovered. I'll bet archaeologists in the area love those finds.

People are dwarfed next to the rock cliffs at low tide.

There are also deep holes in these cliffs where birds have carved out nesting sites. Some of those holes are big enough for a person to get into. They've obviously been carved by birds however because they are embedded high up in the walls of the cliffs. Betty says the birds actively use that shelter in the spring. It's apparently quite a sight to watch them raise their young.

Betty and I eventually ended up exploring side roads that wound down hillsides to the ocean. Together we discovered little parks that she did not know existed. That was really fun. In the low tide all kinds of shells and water beaten rocks were visible. We think we saw a few seals or otter playing in the bay.

Notice how blue the sky became as our day progressed.

In the distance we could see mountains in one direction, a breakwater that extends miles out to the Sequim Lighthouse. Betty called the breakwater something wierd. When I remember, I'll edit this post to let you know.  And the birds were truly wonderful to watch. Their presence is so peaceful.

I am truly fortunate to have this time to explore a whole different part of our country. It's a beautiful area. I can understand why Betty and her husband love it here. I'm impressed with the panoramic views as well as the vegetation and wildlife. This is a photographer's paradise. For me, it's like a dream come true.

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Having nothing to do is a hammock feeliing.

Perfect for reading, sleeping, even writing poetry.

After the busy summer season, I capture a little rest, relaxation, and diversion. Usually after camp I eek out a bit of that R&R somewhere. In the past, I have gone to the Adirondacks. Last year I spent time with my folks in Indiana. This vacation I'm in Sequim, Washington visiting my middle sister, Betty and her husband.

Betty and Skip built a beautiful log home out of the huge pine that grow in the Northwest. While they were building that home, they lived in a little cabin. No plumbing. A wood stove. Bed is in a loft.

Now that little cabin is open to family, and folks willing to rent a getaway in the woods. I'm loving it, reading, sleeping, knitting, writing, doing some computer work, generally escaping the real world.

The trees are so tall. A photo doesn't do them justice.

Unwinding from a long year feels really good. I'm blessed with the opportunity to enjoy uninterrupted time and reflect on what was a wonderful summer. To you it's probably strange to think that I've traveled across the country to go camping. Go figure. It's in my blood.

Isn't the cabin cute? You would love it. I just know. It's so cozy inside. I'm sitting at a little round table. The fireplace is crackling because it's 50-60 outside: a bit nippy, actually colder than it is at home.

This morning I read as I rocked in the outdoor hammock. The sun streamed through the trees, warming me. I tried to take a photo of the trees for you to see how tall the pine is here. I can't capture them. I can show you how they dwarf the cabin though. My wish is that they stay standing while I am here.

I've left camp to lots of hands and hearts. Tom and Stacey are managing along with Lorie, Yvonne, Alicia, Katie, Julie, Courtney and Phil. Do you think there are enough folks there keeping the home fires burning? They are my heroes right now. And of course there is Lily and Pudge. They're wondering where I am hiding, I'm sure. I keep sending them mental messages. Hope they read me loud and clear.

Like this is totally the life!

This morning I started the day vegging. Wonderful experience that vegging is! I'm struggling to get used to the time change. Have been awake since 2:30 a.m. Pacific time. That's 5:30 a.m. Eastern Standard time, the normal time I pop out of bed.

I'm keeping myself awake tonight so I sleep later tomorrow. Wierd feeling to know that's all I have to worry about! Meanwhile, I'm starting to brainstorm about projects I want to tackle this winter. Possibly tomorrow I'll get the 2011 information uploaded onto the website...maybe after a little morning hammock time.

I'm betting you would like to know what the new theme is for next summer. Hmmm. Shall I tell you now? Nope. Don't think so. I have to keep you guessing just a little longer. On that note, I'll sign off for tonight and go stoke the fire. Sleep well.

Your comments will warm my heart. I love hearing from you.

Do you love to sit in the quiet at Sprucelands the way I do?

Dark clouds over the trees signaled the end of this day.

So it was a slower day today. I'm beginning to 'get it'. Camp is really, truly over. The busy-ness of the first part of the week has slowed down. We finished all the eight stalls and are proud of the job we did. But this morning Phil said, "You know, it's really quiet around here when the kids are gone, isn't it. I think it's beginning to hit me."

I took care of odds and ends of paperwork and computer work. Packed away the clean infirmary bedding and curtains. Moved the medical forms in the crate upstairs in my house. The other big containers are too heavy for me to lift. Will have to recruit some extra hands to hold the other end of the bin.

I think the cats are missing their camper buddies.

Talked on the phone to one of my dear friends and began to realize that I needed to go do something different than work. Hmmm. I took my camera and went to the barn. You know me.

Thought I would sit on the hill by the tree at the front of the barn and take pictures of whatever I could see from that vantage point. I've always told parents that the blog is their window into camp. Now it's yours too.

First thing I noted was the sky. Dark clouds were rolling in. Not sure whether that means rain. It was cooler today so I hope the clouds pass over us and take their raindrops with them because the horses are out in the pasture. I don't want them to get chilly.

Quick! Quick! Show them Laredo and Fella. That's a good picture.

Then a cat came to sit by me. I don't know the name he earned this summer. I only know that he follows me wherever I go. Like he's the social director or he wants to keep me safe. He has an inner trust and ability to love that is very special. I was needing that tonight.

Fact is before I knew it there were six cats sitting with me. They looked here and there pointing to photo ops that I needed to capture. I could hear their whiskers whisper little messages to me. If you could have seen us all, I think you might have gotten an interesting picture of me with the cats on the hill by the tree. LOL

Nothing going on over there. Not even a cat running around.

Anyway, we looked over toward the green stalls barn. The cats and I cleaned up all the hay there yesterday that had lingered from camp. Got a new hay delivery of rectangular bales and those are all tucked in for the night. This afternoon for a while there were cat escapades over and around those hay bales as the cats played a full round of tag.

Then we heard Laredo blow raspberries and the cats said, "Quick! There's a good shot. Look how the sun is setting." And so you have a photo of Fella and Laredo who are happily munching in Ring #2. They seem to be good friends this week. Laredo will be leaving tomorrow though so Fella will lose his nighttime companion.

You'll be happy to know that Fella is doing fine. He had that strange incident this summer. Not sure what that was. Even the vet is baffled. The good news is that Fella has recovered and will be doing another lesson for one of my little people tomorrow. He's all excited.

What was that?

Suddenly a tree branch fell over behind the wash pad. Three of the cats scattered when it came down. I'm not thinking it was a big branch, just enough to startle us for a minute.

By the way, yesterday as I drove down from the barn, there were two deer in the road staring at me. I think they were the two fawn that I saw in the woods across the summer.

Sometimes they would appear out of nowhere when I was marking the trail pace trails on a Saturday morning. Well, yesterday they let me know that they are moving into the villages now that you guys are gone.

Look there! Do you see what I see?

Well, so my time at the barn was coming to an end because the sun was getting lower in the sky. I needed to bid my cat friends goodnight and call it a day as far as snapping photos was concerned. Just about then my best buddy jumped up in the big tree. I snapped pictures of campers in that tree all summer long.

This picture was special because something caught his eye from above. So I clicked and then turned the picture into a bit of a fantasy. Why not? It was a magical, quiet hour with the animals at the barn, and I have to believe your happy spirits were sitting right there with us.

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Sprucelands Barn Report

From the front aisle of the barn to you.

This has been a most interesting three days. Everyone checked out of camp on Sunday afternoon. I still felt as though I was caught in the whirlwind-closing-camp-mode. In fact, it was difficult falling asleep Sunday evening because I was wound pretty tight. I didn't want to admit that camp was over.

Monday morning I started at the barn. It took me a good long time to get myself back into the routine, especially with horses I didn't know too well. They were so patient with me though. Together we figured it all out and then I went to work on the stalls.

Stalls of course hadn't been done since Saturday so it took me a good long while. However, they were in fair shape this year. Our campers, CITs and staff did an excellent job. I didn't need to cart wheelbarrow upon wheelbarrow of horsey gifts from each individual stall. That was a huge relief.

One trip at a time. Life lesson here?

When Phil our maintenance man showed up around noon, he said he wanted to get going on the stalls. It didn't matter if it was raining. Well, 'get going on the stalls' meant taking down the stall walls from Boomer to Laredo and Lightning to Romeo, tearing down the front of Kokomo's stall and then using the bobcat to lug in load after load of gravel from our gravel pit up above boys hill. Long haul. Long hours.

I think Phil is my new favorite hero. He plugged along until 5 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Load after load after load. Together we pushed and shoved gravel, removed rocks, stomped the gravel down, and then called it a day. Did the same thing on Tuesday afternoon. After Phil went home, I bedded the eight stalls, knowing that Wednesday was the day to rebuild everything.

I'm not sure if you ever tried to lift one of the boards in a stall wall. I know I can't budge them, let alone lift them up in the air and carry them to a pile in the aisle. That's just what Phil did. He lifted nearly ten boards from 6-7 walls, somehow coming up with a system that helped him remember what pile was for which stall.

Did you ever think you would see the bobcat trying to be a horse?

Today I crawled out of bed. My back screamed that this was far more physical labor than I had done in quite some time. You would think I had carried those boards!

Well, without much effort Phil replaced all of those stall walls single handed. I am amazed. Totally amazed. Our barn has had a makeover on one end. Phil has balanced the walls so none of them are sagging or slanted. I truly think he is a miracle worker.

Later in the day I was motivated to go to the hardware store for new eye hooks and clips. Believe it or not, there are no buckets kicking around inside stalls. Every single one is hanging with a brand new clip. I also purchased a few new buckets to replace the broken ones.

And I discovered that Spray Nine is the miracle cleaner for cruddy buckets. Try it on yours. It worked its miracle on every single bucket. They all look brand new. Lily and I scrubbed them in the small water trough on the hill in front of the barn. Lily supervised. Now I'm ready for another night of sleeping like a rock.

You should see the stalls now. They're wonderful.

Tomorrow morning Phil will finish putting additional gravel in Kokomo's stall. Then he will replace Kokomo's door and the deed is done. All I will need to do is bedding for that stall.

Meanwhile, the horse population at camp is dwindling. Kayne, Daisy and Brandy returned to their ranch over in Holland, NY. Ozzy went home to Bria this morning. Isabelle is gone with Taylor. Navarre returned to his family as did Dusty.

On Friday, Harry, Peyton and Laredo go to be with Julie and Tarrah in Rochester. Jordan is taking Scribbles soon and it looks like there's a chance that three more horses may leave to be used on a college equestrian team. So life at the barn is changing and that's okay. We may even take in a few boarders. Interested?

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Sprucelands Grand Finale for 2010

Stay together. Keep focused. We can do it.

It is always, always difficult to see our summer of living together come to an end. We spend all spring gearing up for a terrific season. There's all kinds of talk about the new summer theme. Then we jump into camp with enthusiasm and welcome new friends into our Sprucelands spirit.

Before we know it, we're half way through the eight weeks and then suddenly it's closing ceremony. Where does the time go? I've asked that all summer. Staff members chatted about the reality of speeding time after our campers went home on Saturday. The more fun we have, the faster the days clip by.

Did we just thread a needle or was that the comb?

In retrospect it feels as though all four sessions passed with the blink of an eye. In other ways, we remember afternoons when we were exhausted, needing a little nap or a long nap to bring us back into a place where we could be safe with the horses and pleasant with each other. Yup. Sometimes we're about walking in our sleep, wishing we had a bit more reserve.

Closing cermony on Thursday night summarized the positive messages we tackled this summer. (1) Play! (2) Be present in the moment. (3) Choose your attitude. (4) Make their day. (5) Be grateful. (6) Find meaning for you. Balancing all of these messages can be a challenge and yet we know it is a challenge that engages each one of us in staying positive.

I am so proud.

At the last horse show, we were honored by another drill team. Those of you who were at the show will flat out agree with me that it was impressive. This time around the team paid tribute to the 2010 summer: 75 years for Sprucelands Camp.

They designed their own shirts, put together their own drill patterns and music. I was flabergasted because there were moves in the drill that were very difficult to coordinate.

I'm not sure the kids - whether staff or campers - realize how such moments make my day. I watch the riders focus on their presentation. I reflect on the playful and frustrating practices they had prior to their final performance. I'm aware of times when they had to choose their attitude, reminding themselves that they were a team selecting the right horses and the best music.

And the last shall be first.

Then the day comes when the ride is in front of us. As riding performers, they are in their moment. I certainly am in mine as I snap photos. Thankfully, I am behind the camera because emotion catches me off guard and few notice. "Sprucelands Drill Team!" Within minutes the ride is done. I'm amazed at the beauty of what I've witnessed. These are my staff and CITs.

As the director of Sprucelands Camp, my pride in these young people makes me into a proud parent. Quietly I realize that I have touched these lives. Many of the riders I taught how to ride.

I can remember lessons when their trotting scared me. They weren't grounded in the saddle enough to manage safe rides. Yet together we took risks. Steering improved. They trusted their horses and in no time their eyes started looking in front of them so they could canter.

We're almost there! Sprucelands Drill Team. Yes! Yes! Yes!

Now they are grounded in confidence. They make their own choices. Some are off to college where they ride on their equestrian team. Others are handling high school with a dedication to learning that is outstanding. My prayer is always that they will be leaders for good, accepting others for who they are and in the end, spreading our positive camp spirit.

Sprucelands has finished her 75th season. 75 years. Hard to believe. I don't know how many summer camps have lived this long.

I know this summer program is on solid ground because we are much more than a riding camp. We strengthen character here and with your loving support, Sprucelands will continue to be a magical place. Together we are building tomorrow. Just look at the drill team.

Your comments are always welcome. Become a follower of our blog too. I love to know you are loving us.

Positive fun at Sprucelands is totally the best.

Friends reign supreme.

Fun at Sprucelands takes on many faces. During this session, we've found amazing friendships through our good times. Those friendships and memorable fun is what sticks with us when we look back on our awesome camp experience.

There was the barn dance last Saturday night. It came on the heels of our trail pace and long afternoon nap. Camp energy was high and so everyone danced their heart out in the indoor arena. Old favorites were played from the heart of Julie's Jeep. Everyone responded to the beat with enthusiasm and song. It was a great release.

There's nothing like a good barn dance.

Tarrah, Julie and Matt pulled people into the Chicken Dance and the Hokey Pokey. There were traditional line dances and new line dances. Campers and staff reached their hands out to each other, swung with a fine do-si-do, and then skipped down the middle with a whoop and a holler. Laughter filled our hearts. The evening was a success all the way around.

Monday an old friend came to visit. Her name is Nora Westcott. She was a camper and CIT in years past. Seeing her, it didn't seem so long ago that she was here because she is another Sprucelands friend that jumps into camp, picks up the conversations where we left off and has a great time.

That's Nora in the green playing Blob Tag with the kids.

The kids loved Nora. She is Captain of her Rugby team in college. I can believe it. Entering her senior year, it's pretty obvious she continues to spread all the old camp energy and enthusiasm to her college crowd. She sure infected us with that energy here during her Monday-Wednesday visit. She jumped right into our game night and caught the kids up in the old "c'mon you guys" spirit of pure Nora fun.

Talent Show happened on Wednesday night. That was another kind of entertainment. Individuals sang and danced while cabins put skits together for all to enjoy. There was a Twilight Skit, spontaneous improvs with horse personalities reproduced, and a silly marriage proposal.

These are the Josie's Journey singing wonders.

The highlight of our Talent Show was the King Tut skit that the boys put together in cooperation with Julie, one of our riding instructors. The boys dressed Julie up as King Tut. Their makeup for her was outstanding. You can see how she created quite a character.

Initially, King Tut selects three people from the audience. Those people leave the room and are called back one at a time. King Tut has a broom and gives the individual opposite her a broom.

Do as I do and laugh with me. Tee-hee-hee.

King Tut goes through all kinds of motions and grunts, sitting down and standing up as well as dancing and broom banging on the floor. No words are exchanged. The participant is required to repeat everything King Tut says and does. You can well imagine it's all very funny.

The payoff for the audience comes when King Tut finally sits down in her chair. The camper following her every motion also sits down and is surprised when she or he sits on a very wet sponge. Of course, the kids in the audience erupt with cheers and laughter. It's a great joke.

Want to be my next victim?

Three times King Tut did her routine with three different individuals. The reactions to the wet sponge were varied and silly. When the last camper sat on her sponge, the boys pulled a fast one on Julie. They also put a wet sponge on her chair! That totally surprised and flabergasted her. She was a great sport though and handled it with genuine belly laughter because she had been caught at her own game.

Last night was our closing ceremony. I'll write more about that later. For now, focus on our fun. We do everyday as we stay positive, accepting of each other and willing to learn. That's the beauty of Sprucelands.

Comments? You betcha. Love hearing from you!

Can we take the positive Sprucelands attitude with us?

That look of satisfaction is worth my entire summer.

I have spent quite a bit of my time this summer keeping you up to date with what is happening at camp. Along the way, we have taken on a few challenges and encountered a few surprises. I guess that's what keeps our lives here from getting too hum-drum. There's always something waiting to spice up our days.

One such challenge is working with horses that command more training. I like riders to understand that every time they ride their horse they are a trainer. They work with the horses on their trots and canters, transitions and jumping. Often there is a horse that doesn't like to stand still at the mounting block. Perhaps another horse is fidgety on the cross-ties.

Sure do love this horse. Whoo-eeee!

No matter what. Every time a horse is ridden, they are being schooled in their skills. And the best part is the kids have the satisfaction of knowing they have been part of the training process. When a horse finally responds to a cue, that's cause for a celebration. When the same horse responds to the same cue over and over again, then our rider knows that their hard work made a difference.

There are some wonderful upbeat messages that evolve as the kids practice a positive attitude. One of them is: Never give up. Finish what you start. Whether it's training a dog, a cat, a chicken or a horse, repetition is the name of the game. Never give up. My hope - and probably yours too - is that the kids transfer their dedication to the studies which await them.

It's wonderful watching guys and girls alike love a horse.

Relationships between riders grow as they work together with their horses. They may ride a horse in different lessons. No matter. Together they connect with their horse and in the process get to know each other as part of our summer camp family. Sometimes grazing a horse gives the kids time to talk. Right now there are lots of shared conversations - some excited, some heavy - about returning to school.

I am amazed at the worried looks I see on faces around camp this week. Campers who are normally bubbly and enthusiastic are taking on a whole different persona. Lost in their thoughts about the pressures of school, they are making plans and goals while figuring out how to balance academics with sports. Others are flat out dreading the start of school. Period.

I wish I had a magic wand to make it all easy. Fact is, if we give the kids a week or two in the coming school routines, they will relax and giggle with their school friends. Camp will be behind them and life will be good.

Is this really the last week?

There is a quiet settling across camp. Riders rest on their horses as they take mental snapshots of the hustle and bustle of the barn routines. They don't want to forget. Those who have worked with project horses give high 5's to their training successes. Others drink in the soft beauty of the wildflowers, birdsong, and woods, knowing soon they will be back in the city.

The concern voiced most often is how to be accepted in their school community for who they are. Here at Sprucelands everyone is accepted as their own person. It's awesome. While each camper and staff member comes at the start of the summer with their own story, we welcome them with open arms. Camp is their salvation after finishing a stressful school year.

I have to laugh. One of our Hill Moms puts it well. She says, "When I drive in the camp driveway, it's like a magical curtain lifts or a huge door opens into another world. I leave the stress behind and sigh a big sigh that I'm finally home again."

There's nothing quite like the connection we feel here.

So as reality settles in, we are subtly transitioning back into life 'out there'. We have a talent show tonight and closing ceremony on Thursday. Then our DVD night awaits us on Friday and the horse show is Saturday morning. You've got to admit we pack as much into a week as we possibly can!

Winding down gives us an opportunity to highlight talents and memories. It's a golden opportunity to point out what the kids have to offer the world. There are still life lessons unfolding here as we inspire the kids to savor their summer and spread their positive attitude to friends at home. Together we are finishing what we started with a flourish. Ta-dah!

Comments?

Ever wish the summer could go on forever?

This was a good trail. It worked well.

This will be a fast post because I only have a half hour before taking out my morning's trail ride. It's a beautiful blue sky day by the way with a slight breeze. What more could I want on a trail ride day?

Last Saturday was our trail pace. For those of you new to the trail pace concept, two riders leave the barn to follow a pre-marked trail. Teams of riders are staggered so they truly function as a team finding their way through our trail system. I mark the trail for the day around 6 a.m. and then pray the path I have planned will work for a safe ride.

Our trail pace is generally a walking ride. It is not about riding fast.  This isn't a competition for speed. What we do is keep track of everyone's time. Then the riding staff takes an average of all riders. The winning pair of riders is the team that rides closest to the average of all riders combined. By setting things up this way, our rides are safe and fun.

Time to fly spray before we go out.

We also take a guesstimate from each pair of riders. They can pick a number between 25 and 40 minutes. If they are a team that rides closest to their guesstimate, then they are also a winner. We actually choose three winning teams closest to the average AND three winning teams closest to their guesstimates.

It's satisfying for me to meander around the barn area, snapping photos and checking on how the kids are interacting with each other and their horses. They work together, primping their horses for the ride with fly spray. Tack is checked so we are certain girths are tight, reins are connected correctly and bridles aren't on upside down. Hey! You never know.

When you're working with kids, anything is possible. I guess that's one reason why we have the motto: "Anything is possible at Sprucelands!". While we believe the kids will step up to responsibility, initiative, cooperation, and leadership, there are often interesting surprises along the way with the tacking up process  that make me smile and are terrific funny stories at staff meetings.

What an awesome ride! Thanks, Dusty.

I remember the time a horse came into my lesson with his bridle on upside down. To this day I have no knowledge how he tolerated that camper's creativity, but he did. It was awesome.

And then there was the horse whose bit was in his mouth backwards. Initially, I couldn't figure out why he started his lesson with his mouth wide open in a huge grimace. When things were straightened out, that horse blew huge relaxing raspberries and nearly gave me a hug with his two front feet. Interesting picture that would have been! Just imagine.

In the end, we love our horses. We trust them and they take good care of us. There are occasional mis-steps and yet with all the lessons, horse care and trail rides we do here everyday, life is good. Off to my trail ride now. Have a great day!

Comments are welcome if you have a minute.

Fourth session Sprucelands Pony Express.

Watch out, Lily! Here comes the Pony Express.

When Liz Jones was on our staff years ago, the riding instructors initiated the first version of the Pony Express. It had character and spunk. The horses loved the adventure as much as the staff.

This summer, for the first time in a long time, our riding staff has reinvented the Pony Express as a novel way to deliver camper mail. They got started with this fun in earlier sessions this summer. In fact, third session I think the Pony Express happened twice and the kids loved it. I can just hear them telling their friends about Sprucelands mail delivery.

Pretty amazing outfits for these Freaky Friday Pony Express riders.

On Friday - dressed up in their Freaky Fishy Fashion outfits - the Pony Express surprised everyone. I have to wonder what the original Pony Express riders of the Wild, Wild West might be thinking as they take a gander from afar at these strange outfits.

I'll bet they are standing up in their grave, slapping their knees and having a good laugh. Either that or they're reflecting on how those outfits just might have saved their lives by scaring off the Indians. "Hmmm, why didn't I think of that?" they could be saying to each other. At the least, our Pony Express entertains with lots of TLC attached to the horse delivered mail. Where else is that going to happen?

Hey you guys! Guess what we have for you?

Because this is last session, our staff is downsizing. Matt has gone off to football camp. Alie and Kristen Reindel have departed. College is looming on the horizon just as public and private school is starting up. In fact, campers in the mid west may have already returned to the sacred halls of learning.

That is why this session's Pony Express is only Tarrah and Julie. Didn't matter though. They had a ball galloping up the hill on Sunrise and Mikey to make sure all the mail and email got through to their rightful owners. Little did you know that your carefully written words would be delivered with such energy and old-fashioned adrenalin.

Your comments are always welcome. Make my day.

Fancy us. Sprucelands is together, silly and proud.

It's Freaky Fishy Fashion Friday and look at us!

It's really fun and funny when the kids get into their Freaky Fishy Fashion Friday. They dip into their bag of clothes and layer themselves to create a whole new look, a look they certainly wouldn't recreate for school.

Last year our theme was All things Dr. Seuss and so we initiated Whacky Wednesdays. This year with Finding Nemo as our theme, Freaky Fishy Fashion Friday has evolved. What fun.

I like days like these because the kids get to express themselves differently than when they are dressing in a socially acceptable way. Some show us their artistic side while others like color, the opportunity to wear plaids and prints together or the chance to simply be silly.

This is a new look for the barn.

Friday morning I also had a chance to observe Tarrah's jumping class. The kids were having a great time working the jumps with their project horses. Gradually they gave their horses enough courage to jump a line and even tackle the course in front of them.

This was a big successful lesson for Brandy an appaloosa mare who came to camp for the summer and more training. She is basically a lesson horse that hasn't worked much in a riding arena. We were told that if we got after her she would do well.

Brandy has been a project for a number of riders this summer. With each session Brandy learned more. Now Gabby is riding her, pushing her, encouraging her, and look at the results she is getting.

Go Brandy Go!

Brandy can now jump a line without refusing. You should have heard the cheers on Friday when over and over again Brandy did the line. She was even successful with me aiming a camera at her from under the fence. Ta-dah!

Thursday I snapped a few photos as I happened upon the kids tacking up for riding lessons. We have something called Barn Block in the a.m. and again in the p.m. At barn block riders get their horses tacked up for morning or afternoon lessons.

Often they help each other or ask for help if something isn't going quite right or if a horse isn't cooperating. Here Rose and Anna are chatting about their bridle while Tarrah figures out where Toby is going for the moment. It's like a committee at work.

We need to figure out this bridle.

Something wonderful about Sprucelands is how we give kids responsibility. In fact, the kids run the whole deal at the barn. I laugh because anyone younger than me is a kid.

However, we really do teach our young people how to safely manage the horses around the barn and then help each other with more sophisticated skills like mounting and checking tack. As they do their checking, they socialize and that makes the work feel so much easier.

I have had parents comment about this aspect of Sprucelands at horse shows. They are very aware that the entire Sprucelands operation encourages and applauds independence.

Your bridle is looking good today, Terra. Nice fit.

You will possibly notice rider responsibility and leadership when you attend our closing horse show next week. The kids make me very proud. I'm sure you will enjoy a similar feeling.

As part of their horsemanship skills, they learn to cool out their horses. I see this as a time for riders to spend quiet moments of thank you after a lesson. For those who have dreams of owning their own horse, this is an opportunity to pretend that this horse is their very own. It is a chance to just be with a horse, and that is the best connection of all.

Quiet moments in the summer sun.

So this gives you a peek at more of our camp fun. Freaky Fishy Fashion Friday was funny and fun. Jumping classes are connecting riders to success after a summer of hard work. Aren't you proud of Brandy, Jane? And day-to-day work at the barn brings us all together as a team who cares about horses and each other.

Comments? Love them.

Capture the flag and capture Sprucelands team spirit.

Nice looking bunch of friends.

On Wednesday evening the camp population was told to gather at the barn. Everyone thought we were in for another fun evening of Sardines. Instead we were invited to a different kind of fun. We hoofed it out to the dressage arena for an active game of Capture the Flag.

Now Capture the Flag has always been popular at Sprucelands. We have literally tried out every version of Capture the Flag possible. Until I ran summer camp, I never realized you could be so creative and use your imagination as much as we do with Capture the Flag.

Nice night for a good game of Capture the Flag.

One time we even did a campwide Capture the Flag. That was quite an experience. We never did it again because the kids became a little too involved with the competitive piece, and Sprucelands really isn't about competition.

Anyway, this session's Capture the Flag was perfect for the dressage arena. Boundaries were quickly established around the outside of the ring, teams organized themselves and as twilight settled in, they had the time of their lives. You just can't imagine how the kids will let loose together. It must have something to do with the freedom of being away from school stress.

Run, Amelia, Run!

Teams huddled together to plot and plan diversions. I could feel the schemes and see them taking shape. Team cheers rang out across the fields surrounding the dressage arena. I was lucky to get a few shots before it grew too dark for clear photos. Wish I could record the sounds for you and play those back.

Run? I never saw such running. The kids were daring. They were brave. They took risks for their team. The flag - believe it or not - was a bright, shiny number #10 can. Original? Sure. The cans showed up easily and it was simple to grasp on a flat out run.

Help us! We need you. Touch my fingers. Quick!

Of course then there's me. I stepped on one of them and about flattened the flag so to speak. Couldn't help it. I was angling for a good photo and darn, I have such big feet!! In no time the can was reshaped and the game continued. Go figure. Even our #10 cans are a resilent bunch.

When teammates were captured and confined to their jail, equally daring attempts to free them were made. Sometimes those rescues were foiled; other times they were successful, and the kids screeched their excited screeches because they reigned supreme. Yahoo!

Hey you guys! That was great!

High fives were very much a part of the evening. "Way to go!" was heard over and over as was "Go for it!" Good messages in those exclamations actually. This was an evening program to remember.

I had to laugh because Matt - our barn manager - is playing football for his college this fall. Between all the running in Capture the Flag and then participating in an ambitious trail ride, he is going to start training camp either terribly sore or in pretty good shape. Matt left yesterday for college. We miss him already.

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