A Family Summer Vacation
at SPU's Camp Casey

COVID-19 precautions cut our long-awaited big family vacation from seven days to five, but from the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12th to the morning of Monday, August 17th, we had a marvelous family holiday.

Because I had never before scheduled vacation time at SPU's Camp Casey Conference Center, and due to my many years of service at SPU, I knew that we would have first choice of dates for a long stay.  We received our reservation for "up to 10" to stay at the Faculty House West for the cost of just $15 per night.  Food, of which Annie was in charge, cost far more than lodging for our stay.

Annie, Thomas, Charis, Nancy, and I came in their van "Goldie." Nathanael, Cynthia, Jonathan, and Reuben also joined us for the entire time.  Susan joined us through midday Friday, and Randy then took her place, bringing us a big Chinese dinner from Port Townsend on Friday night, after a day of golfing.  Family friend Julie Adams also joined us for the weekend.

Joel, Jean, and Luna came on both Saturday and Sunday.  They could not stay over since pets were only allowed on leash and not in the buildings.  Having the Sitte newlyweds with us, made the family clan complete.

Most of the entertainment was provided, as usual, by Charis and Jonathan.  The younger Jonathan seems to be the leader (or instigator) of the two. 

Although Charis can and does now speak in complete sentences, we often need her parents to translate.  Jonathan, on the other hand, speaks clearly with a growing vocabulary, but keeps to one and two word announcements.  "Up, down beach, gunk (I taught him that one), light, dark, Dick, man" etc..

Thomas and I went out on most nights to look at the Perseid meteor shower.
We saw a few nice meteors. And later, Randy and I saw a good one slice through Scorpio, just as we had turned to head back to the Faculty House.  Alas, Thomas waited too long to get out his big telescope as it clouded up on our final night.  Jupiter, Saturn, and a few hours later Mars, were bright.

On Thursday, we took a long self-guided tour of the fortifications at Fort Casey State Park.  Nancy bought a State Park Pass for Goldie.  I was anxious about the grandkids climbing all over places with limited railings.

Friday, we went up to Fort Ebey State Park and enjoyed a beach where we could find crabs and other critters under rocks as the tide came in.

Saturday, the kids played Dungeons and Dragons on the big front porch of the Faculty House while I entertained grandkids and Charis and I conked out with naps.

It's hard to imagine if we will ever have another all-family vacation like this one.

On one of my first walks to the Camp Casey beach, I spotted a bald eagle perched on the top west corner of the BOQ roof, the building just west of ours.  The shot of it taking flight "made" my vacation!

When we returned from Fort Ebey State Park the next day, there was a doe and her two fawns in front of the Faculty House.

I brought home "wishing rocks" and other elegant rocks from trips to the beach each day. By the end of the vacation, I had quite a load.  I imagine them in a new fish tank when
I retire (and Shadow expires.)

Meals were generous and timely.  Annie was chief cook and we all took turns with clean up.

The Faculty House, while old, was fun.  The main stairs looked elegant and the unique servant's stairs that joined up with them were fun.  The basement and attic were locked, but having four bedrooms on the second floor was just right for us.  The main floor had a back stoop, kitchen, pantry, dining room, living room, and entry.  The only limitation was the single bathroom.  But the three grandkids enjoyed sharing the old tub for their nightly bath/playtime!

Camp Casey's Faculty House is divided into two halves that are mirror images.  Another faculty family with older children stayed in Faculty House East.

Family Work Party in Auburn 

On the 28th, many of us drove to the Lake Holm  area east of Auburn to help Nathanael and Cynthia get a start on their new gravel driveway.

The gravel was a "Christmas gift" from Susan. 

The process involves putting down Roundup and Casoron herbicides, topping that with newspapers and cardboard, wetting that down, adding a layer of coarse gravel over the less well-travelled areas, and then fine gravel over all.

It was another opportunity for us to get rid of van loads of cardboard that Nancy had hoarded in our garage. 

Susan was on the job with Nathanael as the gravel was delivered on this Friday morning. Jean arrived soon after. Nancy and I joined an hour later.  I put in five hours of shoveling, slinging, and carrying gravel, with lunch and increasingly frequent water breaks.  It was in the mid-80s as we worked.

On the way home, Nancy made an "emergency" stop at Safeway so I could get her a cold bottle of Mr. Dew to cool her down on the long drive home.

We stayed off SR-167 during rush hour going home.  Driving from Auburn to Kent brought back so many memories, especially as we passed Meeker, Smith, and James.   We had driven up James on our way south, via Covington where we gassed up the van.

It was no surprise that I conked out at home before dinner and was sore for a few days.  This was longer and harder manual labor than digging holes for tomatoes in the spring.

How Did My Garden Grow in August?

What few beans Charis and I picked were from the pot on the deck.  All the other beans, including the pole beans, were dinner for other critters.

The tomatoes are not large, but are more than we can eat.  And most will ripen in September.

The pumpkin has leaf mold and may not make it.  It's hard to make sure the female flowers get fertilized when they bloom.

But, in general, the garden thrives.  And my little Assistant Gardener has learned that sometimes managing grandpa is easier than working.  Sitting in the summer sun is easier than hauling jugs of water.

The Zinnias are the first to say, "Water me!"  When they droop, it's time to water everything. 

Charis often enjoys a fresh green onion leaf she picks herself.

And it turns out that Jonathan loves tomatoes right off the bush!