"BLESSED HONORED PIONEERS!" - Cousin Camp 2011

     Because I spent the week prior to the arrival of all the little people working on the Forsgren blogs my heart and mind were very in tune to what our early forbears went through...so it was meaningful and fun to have Pioneer Day be the theme of our 2nd annual Cousin Camp.

      I brought my Pioneer Day decorations from home so we could teach about handcarts and covered wagons

Mom's had made sunbonnets and skirts for their little girls.

Aunt Jill gathered everyone around to tell the pioneer story and teach, "For some must push and some must pull. . . until we reach the valley-o"

  We borrowed a wagon (that was the scaled down version of my handcart or covered wagon dream), loaded it up with heavy things (Ethan being part of the heaviness), bottles of water, "journeycakes" and beef jerkey and then gathered so that "Brother Brigham" could address us and tell us to not be faint of heart as we set off on our trek across the plains.

We made sure one had to carry a baby the whole way (a nice big teddy bear);  and took turns pulling and pushing the wagon over a few minor rises in the dirt road from our cabin toward the main road that bisects Mammoth Creek.

Way up ahead Grandpa and Tara are scouting out the territory for us.  That's grandpa wearing his authentic lime green pioneer T-shirt   :-)

It was just hot enough at mid-day to be a little uncomfortable.  We were glad to reach the cool stream.  We talked about how the pioneers didn't have a little bridge to cross like we did and so they would have to wade through the waters in their clothes and sometimes take the wagons apart to float them across.

We finally arrived at "Ft. Harris" (the shady steps of Victor's old boss's cabin) where we rested, ate our journey cakes and jerkey, drank some water and then started on again (this time back to the cabin)

We pointed out the beautiful Sego Lilys and told how the pioneers dug up the bulbs and ate them for sustenance when they didn't have other food. 

Our little trek was not far (about a mile and a half total), but it was hot enough and long enough to tire out little 3, 4 & 5 year old legs (and Grandma's 67 year old ones).  We waved at a neighbor on the way back.  Charles, who brought up the rear with 18 month old Ethan, told us that he stopped to chat with him and Paul actually said he thought we might be polygamists!   The nerve!

Other cousin camp activities included our favorite: homemade ice cream in a bag.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm!

Uncle Peter showed us that this.....

....could eventually become this!!

 

The guys did their guy thing...and set the annual cousin camp tree planting movement in motion

Thank goodness adults have a longer attention span so the job gets finished.

We recapped our pioneer adventures round the campfire.  I don't suppose pioneers ate S'mores or roasted hot dogs, but they felt the same weary bones and the same "now the day is over" relief. 

Maybe, just maybe, some of those people smiled down on us from up in heaven and were proud of yet another generation of faithful, cherished descendants!  As proud of our accomplishments in overcoming the challenges of our day as we are of them for overcoming the challenges of theirs.

Oh, and P.S.  This is the view the trekkers didn't get to see.  This is what happens when there is enough moisture to make the dessert blossom like a rose.  (It is the summit of the next mountain range south that we drove through taking Victor to Scout Camp at Del Webb).  The wildflowers are especially wonderful and abundant this year. 

Now THIS is the way to do 4th of July!!!

     Think back on all those years of 108 degree heat, trying to enjoy a barbecue or swimming and watching the fireworks on the Strip from INSIDE our house just so you could cool off!   We have discovered the new and true way!
      Our neighbor mentioned that he had heard that Brianhead had a good fireworks display!  Since the resort is only about 13 miles from the cabin at the last minute we decided to go.   I packed us a "dinner", put some lawn chairs in the back of the truck and headed out (thinking we were being really foresighted).   Not so!!  These people that come from wherever to watch this firesworks display have come prepared!!!   No football tailgating party has anything on these folks!!   Cars, campers, ATV's lined the streets and chairs were set up with real hibachis and barbecue grills.  And everyone brought their own fireworks...so even though we were lined up with them two hours before dark (10 p.m.!!) there was plenty to watch and plenty of fireworks to see, even before the official beginning.   The best part???  IT WAS 56 DEGREES!!!   For the first time ever we got to actually blanket up and almost be cold in order to watch what turned out to be a very respectable show!   The resort built a huge bonfire and if you wanted you could go over and have free S'mores while listening to the band concerts.   Earlier in the day there was a Craft Fair, too, but we didn't go for that.   

Our view of the lodges, the green, and the bonfire (mid right).  We had no trouble hearing the concert from inside the truck and from that far away.  It is also a big deal to decorate your ATV's and drive back and forth up and down the main highway that runs thru Brianhead!

Second best part was that I finally learned how to use the fireworks button on my digital camera and I got some COOL pix!  Here are a few of the interesting shots

Of course I took way too many just like I did of the hot air balloon rally.  It is a fine line to know just when to click the shutter on fireworks!  But no matter when you do you get some interesting shots.

Another pre-4th happening or two:

We always put up the hummingbird feeders when we come.  One day I heard a loud ping on the kitchen window and knew that one of the birds had probably hit it (not unusual).  A little while later I went out to the porch for something and there sat, as seemingly calmly as could be, a hummingbird.  I gave a startled, "oh no!", but the bird didn't budge.  I assumed it must be the one that had made impact.  I felt sad because it was one of the ruby throated ones and I figured it would die soon.....but what a great photo op, prior to then!



Same bird - one with flash on and with flash off



  I was very happy to look out again about an hour later, expecting to see it keeled over onto its side and dead.   Happy day!   No bird!!   So it must have recovered and flown away!

The other fun "event" was to discover that once again this year we have Sego Lilies growing in the eco-system that is our front yard.  That brings back such a childhood memory cuz Momma used to talk about them all the time and how the pioneers would eat the bulbs for sustenance.   I had been reading not long ago that they are fairly uncommon now, so we have counted and watched them and left them in peace, wishing my own grandkids were here to see them since we will be focusing on Pioneers at our Cousin Camp  in a few weeks!   Funny what little things can make your heart sing!