Monday, June 28, 2010

Grueling reward


When I woke up Saturday morning I knew I had slept well.  My eyes were crusty and squishy.  My mouth was dry and cottony.  My ankle bones creaked and popped upon my first steps.


And it took me at least half the day to loosen up and feel like myself again.


I had spent the previous five days as a volunteer at the amazing art camp that my girls were lucky enough to attend.




Each of those five days was spent outside.  From 8:30 until 4:00.  In 90+ degree heat.




And it was spent helping 48 kids age 7 to 12 plan, glue, grout and clean their mosaic.




It was tiring.  Exhausting actually.  To be with kids like that all day takes a metric ton of energy just to survive.




And it was hot.  Hot doesn't even begin to accurately describe it.  It was hot and humid and the air was incredibly, incredibly still.  The spray bottle I brought and kept in my icy cooler to attack spray unsuspecting kids gave momentary relief.  Fleeting really.  (But it was fun to set it on spray and hit kids from 15 feet away.)





At least twice a day I would wander away from my assigned duties to find my girls and see what they were creating.  And to wander into the fiber arts/weaving building.  That just happened to be air conditioned.





And though it was blazing hot, demanding, exacting and taxing . . .




I'd do it again in a heartbeat.





Cause it is all the girls can talk about.  They love the week spent.  They love their creations.  They love that I had a ready supply of cold drinks.  They love that they got to be in the big festival barn all week.  They love the new friends.  They love dreaming of what they will make next year.

And they have each said, at separate times, that they loved me being there.

::sigh::

-dana

30 comments:

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

Looks like another lovely class at John c Campbell!!

Laurie said...

where is this how i would love for my girls to be involved....and myself!

Sara said...

Art camp how cool is that!!!

Hannah said...

Wow ... where is this place? I too have girls that would go nuts over something like this!

Jeannette said...

Thanks a million times over! That squirt bottle misty spray was genius!! Hello to S & S... hope they found a sunny spot for their mosaic suncatcher mobiles!

Elissa said...

awesome. on all counts.

MandMStudio said...

Awesome projects:)

Rafael's Mum said...

What a great thing to do! and kudos to you for volunteering. so nice for the girls but hard work! Really glad you all had such a nice time!

sarah, rsm said...

just smiling big at your big smile! :)

Trudi said...

Sounds like Heave! Can we come play too? LOL

dolores said...

You posting stuff like this is making it harder for me to let Maria go...but let go I must....so hang on tight little lady and bask in the afterglow!!:) xo

Amy said...

It looks like such a fun week (minus the heat)! I wish I could have attended!

Sandra said...

You will never regret the time you invest in your children. What a wonderful memory they will have to look back on.

brown robin said...

Hey there... have I ever told you that our house (the one that the renters inhabit now)was built by May Ritchie Deschamps and her husband? They lived there until they died, and she made all her corn husk dolls in our kitchen. She's a famous folk artist, and her work is at the Smithsonian. Look her and Leon Deschamp up... it's fascintating. Whenever you make it this way, I'll show you their carvings in the house... you would love the folk art.

wesleyjeanne said...

Can't wait until my kids are old enough to go...so I can volunteer and go with them!

Glad everyone had fun.

And once again, so glad you got to meet my dear and talented friend.

Stink Bone Jones said...

Enjoyed reading this post, especially your description of a good sleep. I so can relate. Love the pictures and I really think that's neat you were able to spend all of that time with your girls doing something so creative. Props to you all.

warmly,
Jaime

Corinnea said...

What a perfect week. Summer is flying by....

Kim Brackett said...

That looks like so much fun! And how wonderful that you were able to be there with them.

randi said...

awesome! my daughter would love something like this! it's great that you took the time to do it with the kids!

Libby said...

Great post!! and I LOVE your new blog look!

Dena said...

You are such a good mom and what a fun way to spend the week.

Stephanie D said...

Well, it seems like miserable weather, but how nice to have all the crafts around and be with your kids, too! When DD and I went to Girl Scout camp many years ago, the crafts part was the most fun!

Kim said...

Happy Mom = Happy kids :0) plain and simple.

My kids have great memories of their years of art camp...a very worthwhile use of our time.....
You rock Dana!

Happy sewing

Kim said...

Happy Mom = Happy kids :0) plain and simple.

My kids have great memories of their years of art camp...a very worthwhile use of our time.....
You rock Dana!

Happy sewing

Meg said...

That's awesome, Dana! Glad you finally got some rest in, too, though. Reminds me of the summer I spent as an arts and crafts counselor for an overnight camp in MA. It was hot. And humid. And the kids had the most awesome time, making pet rocks (for the little ones) and sea shell wind chimes (for the older set). I swear, I came home at the end of that summer and slept for a week. Good for you and your girlies!!

sallgood said...

I'd LOVE to have been there having all that art time fun...well, except for the heat! It's going to be about 65 degrees here today-not warm enough! (Somewhere between yours and mine would make for a nice summer day!) :D

WhiteStone said...

How fun!!!!!

***Sharon*** said...

Oh my goodness....I so want to send my girls there! Art AND culture.....love it! The pictures really capture the activities you guys did.....AMAZING!

lej619 said...

WOW that brings sure does bring back childhood memories!!! The church I went to had what they called church camp. you got to go for a week. It was truly fun. My children even when to the same camp.!
thanks for the pictures

amylouwhosews said...

that is so cool! and rewarding, I'm sure. Cute girls!