Emandal Happenings - 2008
Sweet Times at Emandal... 100 years of celebration... an all sweets cookbook published in honor of Emandal’s Centennial. A savory one is in process...
Trail to the river, dubbed the Emandal Centennial River Trail, was widened and made much gentler in a couple of weekends in March, thanks to numerous volunteers. Although most folks continued on the much steeper, older trail, at least an option was opened up for the older, and the much younger, folk.
Bryan Tedrick brought his fanciful metal sculpture to the milk cow pasture, and using our back-hoe, was able to set it up in a few hours. Since then “Damsel-fly” has been delighting everyone who crosses the cattle-guard with it’s whimsical, yet powerful presence.
Former Emandal staffers and their families showed up in early summer, including Janne and Ulla and sons Victor and Gustav from Sweden, Phil Finkel from the Susanville area, Louisa and Paul Porter, with Wolf and Cody Rose, Maria and Joel Riggs with their new son, Rocket, and from Wisconsin, Jessica Laub, with husband Julio and son Amaru... and even my own children for a few days of chicken butchering, hauling hay, wood cutting, pepperwood steak grilling, and pizza baking.
Brian and Marion, two former kids camp counselors took over the whole place around the 4th of July for their wedding.
Forest fire smoke was omnipresent throughout several weeks this summer... and helicopters scooping water from the river and the lake became common occurences.
In August, a fundraiser for our local hospital brought out the creativity of the staff... they entered the 1st Annual Hospital Bed Races in Willits. The decorated bed, dubbed “Udderly Emandal” took “Best Name” and won us a bunch of tickets to the community theater.
Bob got here in time to help with the new chicken house pour. Casey had carefully taken down the old one, so that the siding could be re-used. It should be done this spring.
A really local turkey graced our Thanksgiving table... shot with an arrow by my nephew. Wild turkey reminds me of the meat we ate as a kid... a bit dry, lacking in natural fat. Now I know why my mom always basted her bird with butter... and lots of it.
Just before Thanksgiving (just ask me about the Bags o’ Buns I made for Friends of the Library), Dumpster Kitty arrived on the scene... a long-haired, six-toed sweet thing, that was found in a dumpster, in a cage, at the local transfer station. The employee who found her couldn’t keep her, so stood in front of Safeway, until I came along...
Always looking for new and different dishes to try, I made a pear terrine at my brother and sister-in-laws... which we ate with creme fraiche, and a late harvest reisling. Don’t expect this at family camp... it took over an hour to put together, and much longer to bake. Well worth the effort... but making 8 of them? I don’t think so...
At Christmas time, snow on the mountain... music in the dining room... Boggle in the evenings.
