the third day of camp

Well, we got through the night alright! The freaked out cats (they are not keen on house guests), the three kids keeping each other up, a very calm and unruffled Ed, and me.

I didn't have a portable clock to give them so I brought over the big wall kitchen clock, leaned it against their wall and told them that no one is to come into my bedroom before 7:15 the next day.

What I neglected to say was that it was equally not okay to get up and play vivaciously downstairs at 5:40 a.m.. The three of them are writing a play and when they weren't squealing with laughter over one line or another, they managed to guffaw their way through scenes enacted and taped for posterity on someone's tablet. By 6:15 I gave up hope of sleep. May as well work in the garden. 

(So early that the majestic "trumpet" lilies aren't fully opened yet)

(catching the first rays of sun)

(do I see a child there?)

(and two more?)

 

Breakfast on the porch.

 

 

 

The older two begged to skip Shakespeare today so that they could continue their play. Fine with me, so long as they spend some time looking over their lines. (Parents agreed.) They play, they read, we do crafts. Clay, potholders, bracelets.

 

They laugh over the video clips they had put together.

 

 

 

And Snowdrop writes out a campers' pledge. I'm not sure where she got the idea -- she's never been to sleep away camp. Of loyalty, kindness, respect. They all swear to it. 

 

 

 

And then we set out. 

Our adventure for today is a trip to the New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm. This one is to the northwest of Madison and it's a bit of a haul -- some 50 minutes away. But, well, this is lavender season!  

We stop for a lunch at Culver's.

From there we make the trip to the farm. 

I suppose it is somewhat reassuring that they, too, had a tough winter with their plants -- not enough snow, too warm. Still, their lavender fields are lovely. We take a ride to the further ones and walk through the maze and take in the scent of... lavender!

(I hope you noted that we are in our lavender attire! And that Snowdrop is just about three inches shorter than my 5 ft 5 in!)

A complicated trip back: one girl has to go to a Girl Scout meeting. I need to pick up clothes for the big two. Their mommy joins Primrose, Sparrow and me for a Mexican meal nearby. 

 

 

 

I then pick up the Girl Scout, drop off the mommy, and take the three kids back to the farmhouse. For dessert and a movie. 

 

 

 

But only until 9! I have to be firm with this. We all could use a good night's sleep after an unusually beautiful but packed day! 

with so much love...