Year: 2018

B and I volunteered to be part f the horticulture 4-H team this year. We really didn’t get much chance to study. We did enjoy a few trips to gardens and nurseries in the weeks coming up to the contest. We stopped by a meeting of the Brooker Creek Explorers and learned a little more about the contest and the stations. It’s been so rainy lately. We have finally broken into the summer rainy day craft pile. I have a mini loom I am working on. It is really annoying and hard to do but I am sticking with it so far. we went to a Stakeholders meeting for 4-H at the extension office one afternoon. We had to talk about 4-H and what we enjoyed. I enjoyed the meeting but was very quiet.

Dad signed us up to do a Marriott Vacation Club preview. We got to stay at one of the Vacation Club properties for a few nights in Orlando. Originally we planned to go to Disney most days but the report had so many cool things to do we decided to just stay there. We packed food for most means and snacks and headed over. We enjoyed the pool, even in the rain. Once the thunder rolled in the pools closed until it passed. There were so many activities to do like candle making, soap making, jewelry, ice cream socials, fishing and other games. We waited out the rain and did all sorts of fun crafts. The room was HUGE. I took the fold out sofa. B had his own room, as did Mom and Dad, complete with a GIANT hottub! The rain just kept coming down. We found a path from one end of the resort to the other with the minimal rain walking. We played some air hockey and ping pong.

After the sales pitch, Dad and Mom went to a wine and cheese paring. We hung out at the resort and watched TV in the room and then went to do some activities at the center. Dad headed back home to catch a flight to DC for the workweek. We headed to the pool for more fun! They had a giant bubble end of the pool. The place was empty because of the rain so we had it all to ourselves most of the evening.

One night we went to watch their Dueling Pianos show. It was rainy so it was head up undercover. The rain still found a way to sneak in so the show was delayed a few times as water poured off the roof. The next day we participated in a fishing derby. B didn’t catch anything but I caught a little fish. We tied for first place with one fish! For our prize they have B and I each an icee. I hated it and felt it was far too sweet so I threw it out at the next trash can! The rain started to get worse with lots of thunder and lightning. A huge front was approaching just as our pool SCUBA was scheduled for. We waited it out as did the instructor. Finally the storm passed and the pools opened back up. We eager raced to the location and listened to all our instructions. My vest and tank had to be put on in the water since it weighted as much as I did! I was fine with the mask for the first time in my life. I hate masks! We swam all around under the water. We played torpedo catch. I had a super fun time. We relaxed and watched a movie on tv at night when another storm rolled through. In the morning we loaded the car and headed down to cash in some prize coins we earned on our stay. I got a squeaky green alligator. We played another round of wizards chess. On the way home we stopped at the outlet mall to get dad a few shirts for work. We found the BreaverTails truck that just opened the day before. We had BeaverTails in Banff last summer and were eager to have them again. YUMMY! We had an amazing, relaxing getaway.

I gave an amazing talk on Lepidoptera of Florida and collecting techniques. I had one minor error on a slide that cost me high points. Unfortunately it wasn’t caught at county events. I still had a great time with my first ever blue ribbon at Districts! I attended the 4-H District IX Council meeting as a voting delegate. I had no idea that this would lead to me volunteering to be on the district council as the reporter for next year. It seemed like a lot of fun and since I have to go to the meetings when B goes anyway, I may as well get something out of it and help out. Time for awards and me receiving a blue for my demo. B got high points in his category. I had tough competition! I was just happy to get a blue. Celebrating with our county youth. I may look angry but I was really just exhausted. Public speaking is NOT my thing and it really wore me out.

When we were in Tennessee we each got an atlatl with a dart. We had a lot of fun throwing them at the park. When I throw I actually leave the ground, hover and come back down. I can’t really fly but every photo Mom took I seemed to be in the air. Grandma Susie stopped by and we played a few songs on the ukulele. I  don’t like my little one from Ron Jon very much. B and I are signed up to take a ukulele camp this summer and I wanted to practice a little so I had some idea of what I was doing.  Mom and Dad surprised me with a cool new Uke! I am super excited to learn how to play it.

We arrived early int he morning back at the festival. We parked in the designated lot on my fancy parking pass. We left everything in the car and went to explore and figure out where I needed to check in and all the details. We stopped to watch a demo on corn grinding. It was quite a unique machine and it worked really fast! We went by the Lodge store and bought a lot of new skillets and other things for the kitchen. I picked out a wolf skillet and one that was from this years festival. I got checked in and they gave me a huge bag of Lodge swag. I love my apron! It even has my name on it! We had a pancake breakfast and spent some time relaxing until it was time for me to report to the stage for cooking. I set up my station. It was quite chilly in the shade. I turned my oven on to start it to heat up. A few final checks and I was all set to go. We started with a little introduction and got the instructions for the contest. I was nervous but kept calm. Off and baking. The longest 10 minutes of my life as I followed my directions, talked to the judges and made sure that the oven was working correctly. I couldn’t get the burner going and finally they found me someone that could help me. All done and in the oven. The oven was warming up like it should. The other kids items were coming up done and mine was no where near done. I got upset and with a little guidance from Mom was able to pull myself together. It cooked in the time limit but barely. Some of the other ovens were pre-heated due to an earlier cooking demo. Mine was on the end in the wind and cold. It just was super slow to heat for a gas range! Oh well. Coming together a few hours later for the final awards. Since there were multiple heats in the contest we had to wait a little while since I was in the first one. I didn’t win but I had a fun time trying. I learned a lot about gas ranges, speaking to judges and staying on track. The photo of our heat. My final product! Decompressing back at the campground. Blowing dandelions. Identifying different trees. Running as fast as I could to wear myself out.