Camp Hosts – Week 5 & 6
Sunday, January 29, 2017
As most non-holiday weekends go, there was a mass exodus of campers heading out. We decided a leisurely breakfast was appropriate, staying out of the way while most people got packed up. I went home for a while to check on the cats & to shower. Perry stayed in camp & cleaned the VERY full firepits as campers pulled out.
When I got back to camp, Perry went home. I scrubbed the bath house which, although there were MANY people in camp, were not bad at all. One shower stall had LOTS of color on the floor (came right up) which made me wonder if a unicorn had been bathed in there. You just never know.
A very nice couple from Chattanooga stopped by & spoke to me about being Camp Hosts. The wife doesn’t retire for a couple years so they are planning ahead. They love to camp, as do we, so their situation is very similar. It really is a great volunteer opportunity for people who are social & enjoy the outdoors. And Ft Yargo is a great park to host in.
We had a crockpot meal & fresh veggies for dinner & then drank a glass a wine out by the fire. Peaceful.
Monday, January 30, 2017
A leisurely morning & slow start to the day was bliss. After breakfast & a quick peek in the bath house (no one must have used them AT ALL since the afternoon before), I headed home to make soap. Perry followed soon after & set about replacing batteries in all of our fire alarms (I guess the wild alarms we have been experiencing in camp prompted his prudence). Each time he replaced a battery, he had to “test” the alarm. The tiniest little squeak set Spice in a tailspin & she was trying to climb my leg all morning long. Unfortunately, when you are elbow deep in soap stuff, you can’t hold a pup even if you were inclined. Poor little traumatized Spice. Then there’s Sugar, who napped right through it.
Perry finally located the iron tripod that holds the dutch oven over the fire. We will get that set up later & MAYBE give another attempt at a roast a go. The first try was a hilarious mess.
I didn’t finish my soapmaking until 7 so we went over to Cheddar’s for dinner instead of running back to camp & going about making dinner at that hour. We love Cheddar’s so it was a treat. And we needed to finish a load of drying to take back to camp anyway.
As soon as we got to Wilbur, we were ready to zonk out. And a good sleep was had by all.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Our morning routine is like clockwork. Good Morning America watched while sipping coffee in bed, put the bed up into the wall, Perry makes the pups their special breakfast & I make ours. He does the dishes while I do internet chores & then we do our campground chores. All is done by 10:30 – 11:00.
I had ordered a foam bed to replace the air mattress we put on the second bed a couple days before (a comfortable Perry is a non-snoring Perry). It came in a tightly bound, shrink-wrap type container. We pulled it out & it began to “grow” as in thicken up – which is a good thing because it looked like a pancake. Hopefully it will fit on the Murphy bed mattress & we will still be able to lift it into the wall with no problem as we have done with the air mattress.
I went home to shower & get some work done. I then drove over to Buford for a little shopping & to pick up a Uline order. Meanwhile, Perry & the pups came home to hang out & wait for me. We did a quick spin on the golf cart but not too far as the battery is a little dim because of the lack of use & regular charging.
We were back at camp by 6 & Perry grilled pork chops I had marinated – delish! Then it was another evening in front of the fire. It’s quiet in camp at the moment with only a couple campers here & no traffic. The fire didn’t want to catch because the wood was damp (freshly stocked by the management) so I didn’t stay out long. My ears were cold & my butt was getting numb from not being able to move about with a sleeping pup cuddled down in my jacket. After I gave in & returned to the warm Wilbur, Perry sat out by the fire & fell asleep. I had to wake him to go to bed. Retirement is pretty laid back indeed. By the way … the foam mattress was perfect!
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
We are back on duty at camp so, after breakfast, I went home to work on Sweet Tea’s Soaps & Stuff while Perry cleaned the bath house & looked after campground “stuff”. He has continued to improve the host site & got one of the maintenance guys to remove all the extra PVC pipes that made the sewer situation rather complicated. It looks soooo much better from my window!
I returned to camp after delivering to a few stores & we grilled chicken. It was a simple, beautiful day.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
There doesn’t seem to be anyone using the bath house so there isn’t much to do there during the week days. We had our leisurely breakfast & cleaned up the camper & then I was off to work, leaving Perry & the pups behind to enjoy the day however they choose.
I returned to camp just at dusk. I make a habit of driving through Campground #1 loop to see what campers have arrived. Then I make a loop through the lakesites for the same reason. That has me driving by the entrance to the bath house 3 times. This particular evening, I noticed 2 dark SUVs with a man standing between them my first pass. There were 2 men there the second time. And when I came by again, one car took off like a crazy person … which made me really notice them. I told Perry there was something suspicious about the cars & men so he stepped around to the front of the bath house (which is not visible from our campsite) & spoke with the man. When Perry returned, he, too, felt there was something going on so he called the on Duty Ranger. Ted got to our site within 5 minutes & walked around to the bath house to see what was going on. The man was not out there but he could hear voices inside one of the handicap rooms so he called the police. I won’t go into the events that happened after that as it may compromise a future court case. I will say there were a couple of arrests & a car towed off.
Meanwhile, I was checking campers in right & left & selling firewood. At about 10, Perry & I decided we should do a VERY deep cleaning to the bathroom the “incident” occupied, just to be sure there was nothing left behind that could possibly harm a camper. And wouldn’t you know, we found more “stuff”. So the ranger returned as did the police to collect the stuff. We finally finished the cleaning – it has to be the CLEANEST room in Georgia – at about midnight. The staff at Ft Yargo is such a great team. The coordination between staff & police was perfection. We are so lucky to be Camp Hosts at this park! Our take away lesson – listen to your gut instincts!
Friday, February 3, 2017
We slept late because of all the excitement the evening before. We took our time with coffee & breakfast & neatening up our campsite. I made a batch of brownies, taking the hot pan out of the oven & jumping in the car. Then we went to a Camp Host Meeting where we discussed a few changes & clarified other things each host should be doing to make the park work better. I appreciate that the Park Manager, Julia, takes the time to coordinate these monthly meetings & keeps the communication clear.
Perry went grocery shopping while I did some computer work at camp & then I prepared a couple dishes & steaks for dinner. Our friends Debbie & Dave Weber came out to join us – a great time as we haven’t seen each other in a couple months. We even made smoores over the campfire & giggled the whole time.
We also checked in campers & sold firewood all evening. The campground isn’t half full but campers were excited about the weekend & the brisk air was not a deterrent to the fun.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
While Perry did some running around in town, I cleaned up the bath house & hung out with the pups in camp. I prepared a BIG roast with potatoes, carrots & onion in a throw away pan & put it on the grill at a very low temperature. I also prepared a salad. Robby, Lisa & Lily came out for dinner which turned out perfect. I love spending time with the family!
Campers came by & got firewood & maps for hiking & just to chat about the park all afternoon & evening. Robby & Lisa left at about 6 & Lily stayed to spend the night. She & Perry watched a movie while I did more computer work.
We girls crawled into the big bed for cuddles & talks at about 9 – Lily’s favorite time when she spends the night. This time she wanted to know about how Oliver TLC (Three Legged Cat) came to live with us. I told her all about his inviting himself into our house while I was unloading my car at the front door. I had never seen this big, LOUD cat before & he was a bit intimidating. But when he stood up to walk & I saw he was missing a leg, I couldn’t just toss him out. It took nearly a week before we found he belonged to our brand new neighbor. By then Oliver (that’s his real name – Lauren, his REAL owner told us) had discovered how to go in & out of our dog door so there was no keeping him from coming in whenever he wanted. Every time we took him home, he would come right back to our house & visit us INSIDE. At the time, we still had Gus, our very old, blind ShihTzu. Oliver was SOOOO sweet with him, spooning the little fella & keeping him company most of the day. When Gus died, it was several weeks before we adopted Sugar & Spice, 10 week old ShihTzus girls. Oliver adored them from the start, even when they would attack him with kisses & crawling all over him. He never got mad. In fact he would spend hours cleaning then & cuddling them. He is their best friend & still cleans them now, 3 years later. One of the BEST things about Oliver’s arrival in our lives was getting to meet Lauren, her sweet little boy Owen & Lauren’s parents, Chris & Suzy Humble. These people are some of our best friends in Statham now & we love visiting them at their restaurant – Casey’s – in Winder. Lauren moved away but was kind enough to leave Oliver TLC with us – or really with the pups. He is a big part of our fur family.
Sleep was sweet & Lily cuddled the pups as if they were stuffed animals she usually sleeps with.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Lily wanted boiled eggs for breakfast & what Lily wants is usually what she gets. I also had cinnamon bread for her & sausage patties. Chris & Suzy had given her some “Frozen” themed hot chocolate pods for the Keurig machine so she enjoyed a cup of that, too.
Perry & Lily watched another movie while I ran around & did the camp audit. Instead of taking copies of the audit to each host, I texted it to them which saves time & paper for the park. This is something we talked about at the meeting a few days before. Thinking outside the box.
Lily’s parents returned to pick her up at noon. Hugs & kisses from our sweet granddaughter was icing on the cake.
Several campers were moving out & we found our area without a single camper for the first time. We decided to hibernate a little before doing chores & I guess Campground #2 Host took it upon himself to clean our firepits. Not necessary but he felt the need. Later, I cleaned the bath house while Perry blew off ALL the campsites. Rain is expected later this week so it’s best to get that chore done before everything is wet.
We had a couple new campers arrive & both set up at lake sites which is another Host’s area. One camper was a single guy so we invited him & the Tent Camp Host over for burgers. It was nice getting to know Darnell (the host) better & meeting Perry (the new camper) who is in the area for a job.
After clean up, we watched the Super Bowl – Go FALCONS! Too bad the game turned upside down at the end.
Monday, February 7, 2017
It’s our day off in the park so we got up & out early. There was more than enough to do at home. Laundry, making soap, filling orders, etc. Busy stuff.
We returned to the park & had a short meeting with the Park Manager. We wanted to be sure we are doing everything we are supposed to be doing & as she would like it done. Seems all is good. We asked her about a sign we saw in the maintenance area concerning doggy litter. Campground #2 has one & we would like the one we saw put up in Campground #1. It’s a cute poem about picking up after your pets. Julia said she’d get it done. The staff is awesome!
Later we met our friends Rhyse & Charles Potts at Carabba’s in Athens for dinner. It’s been awhile since we saw them so it was great to catch up! Rhyse has just begun selling cars up in Cornelia (Charles sells them in Commerce) & we loved hearing about the trials & successes she has experienced.
Back at camp, we watched a little TV before bed. It’s a laid back life for us & we like it that way.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
After breakfast, I went home to work in The Soap Studio while Perry stayed in camp a while longer with the pups. He brought them home just before noon & he & I went to Blazer’s for lunch. It was nice to walk around town & catch up with friends.
I did some product packaging & filled a few mail orders while Perry went grocery shopping. He went back to camp & I returned at about 5. That is, after I got drenched in the downpour as I left the house with the pups. It was a SLOW ride through Winder as the water on the roads was ridiculous. Thunder & lightening made Spice anxious in the back seat so there was some whining as we drove. She was up Perry’s leg as soon as she got into Wilbur. Poor thing.
I’d made several meals that produced leftovers the last few days so that’s what we had for dinner. Easy & delish.
It was a great day off. Tomorrow we will resume our “duties” as Camp Hosts & will be glad to do so.
Wednesday, February 9, 2017
A welcome visitor arrived first thing in the morning … Lily Bug. She was running a fever since early morning Monday. On Tuesday, she went to the doctor & was prescribed meds for the flu. Lisa brought her to camp at about 7:30 & Lily hopped up in the bed for morning cuddles & to play with her tablet or whatever the devise is called.
At 8:30 I ran around the camp & did the audit. When I got back, we put away the beds & made breakfast. Lily didn’t want breakfast food but she DID want rice, butter & sprinkle cheese. So, that’s what the Princess got. Maybe not the most nutritious meal but it doesn’t hurt every once in awhile.
While Perry & Lily watched movies, I cleaned up the “kitchen” & then did some computer work. Later, Lily joined me at the table to play on her devise. The pups were in heaven having her in camp. She is, by far, their favorite person.
I made chocolate oatmeal cookies & Lily ate a couple. Most I packaged up & took to the office when I did the second audit. Lily took some home when her mom came to pick her up, too. All the other packages were given out to campers as they arrived through the evening. How fun is that?
We watched a movie & hit the hay early expecting the predicted rain would wake us during the night. Although I do remember hearing heavy rain at some point in my fog, it was more comforting than a disturbance. What a peaceful place we are privileged to be in!
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Since this week we are Duty Hosts (all four hosts take a week in rotation) we started the day with an audit AFTER coffee & the news in bed. Breakfast was made & enjoyed & then I took off for home.
Perry stayed in camp to clean the bath house & blow off a few campsites by the lake, preparing for campers coming in over the weekend. He drove home later & took a shower, too.
I got home early for my shower so I could meet my friends Nikki & Shannon for lunch at Chen’s Chinese in Statham. It was not supposed to be a long lunch but the conversation was the best – many topics & much shared. I then returned home to make a few gift baskets & get orders ready for delivery to stores the next day. My intention was to get to a store in Loganville but I remembered just before heading that way that they are closed on Thursday’s. I returned to camp early & will make them my first stop tomorrow.
I did additional cleaning at the bath house & then Perry & I did the afternoon audit. In thinking of ways to be efficient & save time & money (the park’s), we have been snapping pictures of the various reports & texting them to the other hosts. This keeps about 100 sheets of paper out of the recycle bin weekly. WIN!
I made BBQ Chicken in the crockpot which was not my fav but still tasty. We ate early because we wanted to be prepared for arriving campers & not in the middle of our meal as we were the day before. We don’t mind the interruptions but everything we do is a learning experience & moving the time of dinner is a simple solution.
When I say campers arrive late to check in, this applies to both pre-registered campers & those who just happen in. We have to make out temporary tags & have the individuals fill out a registration form when not pre-registered. They can then take care of the payment at the front office the following morning when we turn in the forms. And it gives us the opportunity to greet each of these families & answer any questions they may have. It’s a great system, really.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Our sweet granddaughter joined us in camp for the second time this week. She has now missed 5 days of school because of the flu. I have been saturating my chest with my Breathe Easy oil & it has kept the flu at bay. But Lily has not fared as well. She has manufactured more snot than she weighs this week!
The day was delightful with the munchkin in camp. We did worksheets from school, read a book, played on her tablet, watched a movie, made cookies & snuggled a LOT. Bliss. Then Lisa arrived at about 5 to take her home. <sigh> Missed her the second she left.
Meanwhile, campers arrived in abundance all day long. From tents, to pop-ups, to little light weight pull behinds like ours, to Mercades C-Class to full size motor homes. We’ve seen them all. There was even one that was very strange. It was basically an elaborately painted wooden box on wheels that had 2 sleeping bags in it for the older couple who arrived with it. They “live” outside but at night they slide in & close it up. It WAS pretty but it reminded me of a coffin & I don’t ever want to sleep in a coffin!
Perry sold more firewood than ever & campers seemed to be enjoying the park with happy noises all around. It was a great day!
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Someone knocking on your camper door at 8am will get you up & going! We were awake, watching TV while having our coffee in bed but Perry hopped up & got firewood for the fella anyway. A tent camper with no heat wants a fire! Our whole morning was about selling firewood it seems. And we had visitors, too. Linda & Tom came out to see us. Both are experienced campers & Linda has been a host at this park in the past. We had a great time comparing notes.
After they left, the park ranger & Community Service workers descended on our area & cleaned up brush, leaves, & more, making everything look fresh & clean.
Perry did bath house duty while I made cookies – no bake chocolate oatmeal drop cookies. With the exception of one – Spice took a notion to help herself to it – I packaged them up & we delivered them to campers as we went about our afternoon audit. I love to make them but not eat them. WAY too much sugar for me!
I then went home to shower while Perry stayed behind to sell more firewood – the campers kept coming in a steady stream. When I got back, Perry went home. I made Fay’s casserole but cooked it out in the grill. Low, with the lid closed, registers 200 degrees, so it cooks low & slow. Turned out perfect served over mashed potatoes!
It was a late dinner but well worth the wait. Sweet dreams were had by all after that delish meal.
