Over Half Full!

At painting class today, I mentioned that I had recently survived a tornado at a Girl Scout Camp in Sutton NH.  One of the painters said "Camp Wabasso?  I went there in fourth and fifth grade."  I handed her the website address and told her all about the Great Escape.

Amazingly, time is running out if you want to sign up for this year - we are about 60% full after only 10 days. Lots of workshops still have room, though - we were talking about rock painting in our watercolor class, and there's room in two different classes - including story stones, which is a wonderful thing to have in a GS, teaching or grandma's tool kit!

Fixer Upper fans might have noticed that Jojo used twig stars in a reno she did for a 'wounded warrior' in the last season of the show, and we have a workshop for that!

Wet on Wet Watercolors are something anyone can have fun with, and you can help us make a book

to be used at the event!

Scout skills are always fun to learn, even if you don't have a troop any more.  Geocaching is a new-ish sort of a scavenger hunt with the help of a hand-held GPS device, but if you are old school, you can brush up on your compass skills with Lesley! 

Something for everyone!  Register now!

2018 Merchandise Preview

This year we are selling metal campfire mugs - really retro!  They will look like this, only with the GE logo...

People have been asking for patches for a long time - and here is the proof - the actual patch will be 3.5 inches wide, embroidered in green on yellow fabric. 

The mugs are $10 each, the patches $3.  You can order one of each when you register.  More will be for sale at the event, but the quantities, especially of the mugs, will be limited so bring cash!

Registration is Open!

NOTE; WE ARE 25% FULL AFTER LESS THAN TWO DAYS!

There were two big storms this weekend!  One was at Camp Wabasso - there might have been a tornado, even!  We were camping in Tinuwen and I am happy to say that thanks to the rock climbing wall, the pavilion stayed dry, and my girls were very brave - no panic.  Our access was cut off for a short time by a fallen tree but the doughty Bruce brought his chainsaw and the tractor, and freed us.  The girls enjoyed his lesson on chainsaw safety.  He graciously opened up Christa's house for us so the girls, who are very interested in space science, could visit her memorial.  Bruce was planting sunflower seeds, but who knows what other seeds were planted by his patient answers to their questions?   Thanks, Bruce, for keeping our camp so beautiful.

The other storm was the emails exchanged by committee members as we go live with registration!  Take a look at the workshop list and make your picks.  We are also ordering new patches and mugs for sale this year - pictures will be available as soon as I finalize proofs with the vendors.

Other than downed trees, camp came through the storm unscathed!  Here are a few pictures to remind you of how beautiful it is, even before the leaves come out.  Sign up soon to ensure your space for our fall gathering.

Our 2018 Book Club Author

When Julie suggested "Being Mortal" for our book club selection, I knew immediately that it would be a good book, because I've long been familiar with Atul Gawande's writing via the New Yorker magazine.

Gawande has a website at atulgawande.com.  You might want to take a look! 

Patriots' Day is almost here!

In Massachusetts and Maine we celebrate Patriots' Day.  Lexington and Concord pull out all the stops parades and events.  In Lexington, our Girl Scouts will be participating in both parades this year.  And of course, there's the big reenactment which attracts 10s of 1000s of people!

In between, there are pancake breakfasts and a road race.  After the race, there's a concert of Patriotic and American Music!  I'll be appearing as the MC.

Patriotic and American Music

Broadway, Ragtime, Jazz, Spirituals, Marches, Sing-alongs

Monday, April 16, 2018

11:15-12:00 Noon

Hancock Church

(The stone church opposite The Battle Green seen in the photo above)

1912 Massachusetts Ave

Lexington, MA

Family-Friendly, Accessible

Suggested Donation $3/person

Proceeds to benefit
The William E. Russell School, Dorchester

(the concert was a great success in spite of epic rain!  Thanks to all who attended and participated...see you next year.)

Great Escape Book Club Selection 2018

The Great Escape book club selection for 2018 is “Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande. 

 It's about dealing with the issues that arise at the end of life - where to live, what to do and what kind of medical care to pursue.  Although that may seem a bit dour, the book's question based strategy: asking  people what they want in the long run instead of telling them what they could have in the short run - is a useful tool.  So many Great Escapers are facing, will face or have faced these questions and we hope that this book will equip us to cope with the pressures of modern life and medical care.

Gawande is a surgeon at Brigham and Women's and a wonderful writer. Many of the examples he uses in this book are drawn from events in his (Indian) family and his wife's (Anglo) family, which illuminates some cultural contrasts between attitudes toward aging.   He also writes about people and institutions in MA who are providing innovative solutions for families.  Below are the back of book review quotes from the paperback (the book is available in both hardcover and paperback.)  Time Magazine said: "This should be mandatory reading for every American."

And the forest beckons....

Yes, we are still working on this year's plans and hoping for spring.


 Kaye "Cookie" reminded us of how lovely it was at last year's event, so I am sharing her reaction to this photo with you!

AND THE FOREST BECKONS...

I hope you had a moment this last week to reflect on our 106th anniversary on March 12th and that you have a good week.  It looks as if there will not be a northeaster on the first day of spring! Yeah!

Thanks to Michelle K for the photos!