April 1st...it was not an April Fools Joke!...it really was snowing! But at least the Tieton Road was clear!...and the entrance into our camp, but we still have hills of crusty ice! We had to shovel our driveway several times that day!
The Lodge is just down the drive from our house. It has 16 bunk beds in the loft and can sleep more in the "great" room. It has a huge fully equipped industrial size kitchen as well as showers and toilets. We have many family reunions and youth conferences that use it on weekends throughout the year. A lot of families stay in the Lodge when they come up to ski at White Pass Ski Resort or to go sledding right here at Zarahemla.
We have a creek that runs through the camp now...a sign of spring!...nearby there is a bathroom building, just below the Lodge, near where the Girl's Camp tents will be. It has showers and toilets for men on one side and for women on the other.
There is a run-off from the mountains across the road from us...it runs more like a river at times! It runs parallel to the road quite a ways down, and then finds a way under the road and down to the river. Nature's Spring has a mind of its own and knows just what it is doing!
The island by the entrance was buried in snow just a few weeks ago...now we can see real progress!
With the snow melting, our blue bird friends do not come to visit our feeder as often.
We love to go to Yakima each week to see the signs of spring there...beautiful blooms everywhere!! I had to photograph the blooming trees...I am so in love with Spring! The forsythia along side of the road, all the way to Yakima, makes me think of my mother! I just love forsythia!! Oh, and yes, all of the ice on the lake is gone!! Yay!!
Beavers must have strong teeth! "Our beaver" downed a tree on our camp's property, and then stripped the branches to create a cozy haven.
My "Famous Stump" is pictured, on the hill above the river running into our lake. Most of the winter it was covered with 6-8'' of snow. I would say, "Hi Stump!" after I would brush off the snow and then sit down with my feet stretched out with snow walls all around me...but I could still see out over the water and up into the trees and mountains to say my daily prayer!
The stump pictured below mine is one of Nature's Miracles! It is next to our Camp Zarahemla sign on the island as you enter the camp. Lo and Behold...it has given birth! On top of the dead stump, a new little tree has emerged!...symbolic of eternal life! Another of Spring's Miracles!...we discovered two beautiful yellow blooms popping out of the ground near the lake...seemingly out of nowhere! We think they are gorgeous!
When no one is in Camp, Chuck and I go down by the dock, set up targets, and take shooting practice. Ha! Carol is quite the marksman! Chuck hits bulls-eyes!
Last of all, our ward had a Relief Society Retreat in the Lodge April 27. There were about 30 women for dinner, crafts, and service...they cleaned all the tables, chairs and two ovens! Now, that was truly a Spring Miracle!
