August 2011 - Paradise Revisited

In August 2011, the family descended once again upon Stone Camp.  This year we were joined by two additional guests - Jessica Mickey and Katie Mitchell.  Jessica, Peter's friend, joins us from Arlington while KT who is from Denver joins Jonnie Marriner for his revisit. Unfortunately, neither Zack or MaryEllen Marriner could return.

There are distinct themes that run through our annual camp visits. This year it was sunsets, blueberry picking, sailing, our dogs, family feasts, wildflowers and each other. 

Homo sapiens crave novelty.  Because the walls at Stone Camp are so thin, sex is out for all but the most voyeuristic.  But toys are OK so this year we brought up a Hobbie Holder.  This 14 foot sailboat is equipped with a mainsail and jib.  Contrary to all laws of physics, it can sail at 12 knots in only 7 knots of wind.  Where is Newton when you need him?  Tristan, Peter and Marshall installed a mooring in front of the camp.  One hundred pounds of cinderblocks, 30 feet of chain, several shackles and thimbles, some hand-warped line and it was ready.  After its imprisonment in a garage in Doylestown, PA, Diversion is finally home.  Diversion is a gift to the camp from Rob
Vrancken.

If you are a sensitive kind of guy, you can pick up the small things.  Like the pain of being left behind.  Life is joy and pain.  Here Huck awaits the return of his master Peter.

Steep Hill Farm is our blueberry farm of choice. There are others but none are operated by George and Brenda Joseph.

George gives us a group berry picking lesson each year, points out any new varieties and then steers us to an unpicked area of the orchard where we can pick alone. This year's new varieties were Northerlanders and Patriots. The former are smaller and sweeter -- most appropriate for pancakes and muffins. Eight pints of berries promised many tarts and pies to come. 

Katie is a multi-tasker. Here she is caught confusing her berry haul with a boombox while Marshall Wright searches for more berries in the uppermost branches of some trees. When he awoke, everyone was headed for the cars

Dangerously Relaxed

Stone camp has a veranda that looks westward towards the setting sun. Each evening we are blessed with a sunset that varies from the uncommon to the sublime. The sunset highpoint was a thunderhead that passed through seeding multiple tornadoes.