Lately, things have been a bit busy at my pesky day job, to the point where the only break I've had since the beginning of July was a few days up at our camp with some of my beady friends in early August. Other than these days I've worked non-stop (nights and weekends) for what seems like an eternity. Now you all know why I've been M.I.A. in the blogosphere lately.
All that said, my handful of days up at the camp were bliss. Christine and Amy joined me for a few days of beading, hiking, drinking some wine, birding, did I say beading? There was lot of that, which was fantastic. There was the usual bead swapping, pattern sharing a bit of tutorials and teaching. It is exactly as a bead retreat should be. It was made better by being able to bead out on the screened porch and bead to the sound of the birds and the water.
Amy brought a book of patterns she had organized for Christine and me, which included a tutorial on a bangle pattern she has designed. We all tried the pattern, then Christine did an extra for good luck. The pattern is gorgeous and the beads Amy chose gave the best sparkle to this bracelet.
There was also some birding going on. Both Christine and Amy are experienced 'birders' which I can't say I understood much of that discussion! But I did enjoy the hike looking for a few of the local birds up at the camp. We caught the Chief Birder (Amy) birding and taking pictures at the end of the lake where many of them nest. She is an experienced photographer who takes the most amazing close ups of birds! No idea how she catches them in her photos but it always takes my breath away when I see them. Seriously look at these of a snowy owl on the beach. How does she get these pics?
Hard to believe that we're heading into Fall, and somehow I seemed to have missed most of my summer. We're talking about getting another retreat set up, which I can't wait to escape again with my beady friends. Soon.
When I think of camping, I think of the Adirondacks. We go up every year to our little house on the lake. It is not what they call 'winterized' which means that there is no insulation.
Anyone been in Northern NY State in the dead of winter? Believe me when I say you need insulation. So each year we 'open camp' in the spring once the snow has melted and we 'close camp' in the Fall once the leaves turn.
What makes the place special is that it is quiet. Just you, the birds and the water. Well and in our case a few dozen families with cousins, extended cousins, long-time friends through the generations. It is the kind of place where families hand down the camp to the next generation, which is what happened with our camp.
Originally my husband's grandfather (Alfred) and his brothers discovered this remote location. They bought the camp we own, and built several more along the lake. Our camp is full of the memories that Alfred brought back from his decades of living in India. Nothing of great value, just the memories and stories of another place and time. But I have told you all this in a previous post, or on Instagram where I have lots of pictures from the lake.
This post is actually in response to a challenge Erin has going over on Earrings Everyday asking for our designs inspired by camping and the deep colors you see in the campfire. She wanted to know what images or memories it brings. For me it will always be this place. There are many gatherings around the dock campfires (it is safer to have an open pit fire near the water), or on cold days we will sit in front of the fireplace (in the camp) to roast marshmallows with the girls with the same long camp forks my husband used as a child.
My design uses sea urchins in an orange-brown color and gold-orange beads with an Indian flare. And of course one of my two favorite models is showing us how they look. Thanks Kate. I will miss you more than words when we take you off to college in September. You can see everyone else's designs at the reveal over on Earrings Everyday.