Imagine This: August 2012 posts

Camp T: The Big Girls, Day 1

The First Ever Camp T Threesome!

Met the gang at the Woodlands Cafe Express to pick up our three teenagettes!!

As you can see we have added a new camper, the effervescent Angela (front row left). Returning for the sixth year are the vivacious Mairead (front row middle) and my darling, scintillating granddaughter, Carly (front row right). Of course, that's Mimi and PapaT in the back row.)

We met Clint, Stacy, and last sesson camper, Korie, (Kade had gone to the beach with friends so we didn't get to see him - boohoo. But his Camp T will come next, so Yea!!) Anyway, we met at the Woodlands Cafe Express to pick up our three campers for this week. These three girls have been friends for 10 years as the three of them were in gymnastics together from age three!

The Fine Ride to Camp T

We had to borrow the kids' Expedition because now that twe are having THREE campers at the big girls' Camp T, we need more room in the vehicle for our camping "Expeditions!" (Notice that Mairead brought along her beaded headdress in honor of Camp T past. See photo below. Aw, they look so young. Korie was still in a car seat!)

Beaded Jewels from 2009

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Carly, Mairead, and Angela's Day 1 at the Camp T site:

OH, We've Shown Angela the Nerdy & Sundglasses Drawer

A Huge Nerdy Tradition at Camp T, Day 1

The dig through the sundglasses drawer has been a favorite of the grandkids since before Camp Turlingtons even began. Naturally, it has been a tradition for the first day of each camp since then. Check out one of the first pics of findings from that drawer:

Original Exploration of the Sunglasses Drawer

Back to Camp T:

First Things First

Hey, we've goofed around 'til we're hungry again! Let's hit El Chico, a family favorite, but a first for any Camp T. Way to go, Carly! We went to her mom's favorite restaurant in Huntsville - El Chico (where Stacy worked while she was in college here.)

Speaking of food, let's show Angela that Camp T traditonal "Grocery Store Romp."

Angela Marvels at the "Anything-You-Want" Rule

The first order of business at camp Turlington includes the famous trip to the grocery store. This year the big girls made a menu for the week before heading out to Kroger which included a request that PapT make them a roast one night (Yea, I'm always for that!)

(Click on the image to see a larger version)

Hazing the Rookie

"Oh, yeah, Angela - We have to eat carrots at Camp T, it's a rule!!"

Ha, showing the ropes to Angela is going to be fun!

Games and Olympic Games

(Sorry 'bout the burry pics but the cameralady gets excited during these games, too!)

The fun first day ends with a new card game that Mairead brought called, Swish. Competition got so high, we had to bring in a little fan to cool things off! Of course, there were many interruptions in the game to watch the Olympics. Go America!

See Ya later for Day 2 and more . . .

As seen on the Streets!!!

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Camp T, The Final Day for 2012 - Day 5

Work with Paintings on Canvas

Actually, we've been working every day a little bit on our paintings and two other art projects. Mimi just forgets to take photos of everything - especially during the exciting parts of working in the studio! But for sure, we get photos of the final products.

Sunset on the Golf Course (16"X20" Acrylic on canvas by Liz)

Remember last year when the girls wanted to make paintings on canvas of sunsets? Instead we created handmade books and painted one of the pages with sunsets. Well, this year, the girls still wanted to do those paintings on canvas. So we did! Both of the girls knew exactly what they wanted to paint and after a few suggestions from Mimi on perspective and texturing, the pieces were awesomeness on a canvas!.

Road Through the Woods (16"X20" acrylic on canvas by Korie)

During periods that our canvases were drying, we took on two minor projects. One was acrylic painting on a smaller canvas.

Liz and Her Canvas, My Big Eye (5"X5")

Bird in a Tree (5"X5" Acrylic on canvas by Korie)

The other small project we did was a plaster on guaze encaustic collage. We first shaped the gauze which is empregnated with plaster by wetting it to activate the plaster and doubling it over a wire. When it was dry, we paintied it, and did a small wax collage on it. Lastly, we "antiqued" it by rubbing it with dark with oil paint to make it look seasoned and old.

Feather & Egg (4"X3.5" Encaustic on Plaster on Guaze by Korie)

Dragonfly (4"X3.5" Encaustic on Plaster on Guaze by Liz)

[These photos do not do the artwork justice - especially the small ones. I'm sorry for my lack of photography skills, girls. I'll do better next time.]

So Then We Had a Gallery Show for PapaT

[Click on this image if you want a better look.]

The Final Art Journaling Session

Sadly, it was time for the campers to gather all their belongings and pack up.

Tote Bags and FlipFlops We Bought the First Day

Paris tote bags and silver flipflops were official camp gear. We shopped for them at Katy Mills Mall before we ever left Katy for Camp the first day. How cool is that?

Dividing up Candy and Groceries for Packing

Of course, there is always left over food and candy. On the last day, they eat all they can and pack the rest! And then . . .

The Sad Part

My granddaddy used to always say as we were getting in the car to leave, "Well, the sad part's here." That meant it was the final goodbye for that visit. At Camp T we are really sad at that part.

Camp T isn't like anything else. It isn't like a regular visit to the grandparents' house where the adults talk and hang out a little with the kids - like to go eat out or something. No. Camp T is where the adults become kids and do everything with the kids! EVERYTHING!!

If the campers are in the kitchen, Mimi and PapaT are in the kitchen. If the campers are in the living room, PapaT and Mimi are in the living room. If they are in the art studio -- well, Mimi is in the art studio & PapaT is taking a break (ha) -- Anyway, it's different because wherever the campers are, whatever they are doing -- PapaT and Mimi are right in there doing it with them . Not just watching -- playing a game, making a movie, doing art, taking photos - whatever. And at Camp T, the campers are in charge of the schedule and where to have fun next! There's nothing like it! We all love it!!

The Trip Home with Our Beautiful Campers

So long, sweet campers. We'll miss you.

Till Next Year

(BTW, Sam Houston TShirts are a traditional parting gift. Go Bearkats!!)

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Camp T, Korie and Liz - Day 4

Finally! Incredible Pizza Day!

Yes, indeedy! The event we always look forward to for camp T - the major fun for the girls - Incredible Pizza.

Photo Op and Food -- Our priorities for starting off the fun.

Seems we alsoways Start with Golf - Yea, fun.

There is Ice Skating and Games, games, and more games. We love "Deal or No Deal."We can't take pictures of Laser Tag but that has become a favorite this year. And don't forget bumper cars! Woohoo!

Play Each Other and Watch Each Other Play

Last chores at Incredible Pizza include tallying up all our winning tickets to see how much we have for buying goodies at the toy bar before we go. And then -- have a little dessert just before we hopscotch our way out of the building! Yes!!

Last Minute Things to Do

Of course, our little angels are very tired on the way home.

A Pretend Nap, Eh?

After a shower and some supper, it was time to take advantage of Mimi and PapaT's new recliners and do a bit of journaling.

A Great Journaling Spot

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Camp Turlington Day 3

Korie and Liz, Day 3

Darling Friend, Sam Houston Museum Park

Photo Ops

One of the highlights of our annual trek to the park at the Sam Houston Museum grounds, is the awesome opportunities for photographing flora and fauna. BTW, do you like the hiardo that Korie did for Liz? Yes, they are growing up - working on becoming real teenagers ~ but not yet, please.

Look Out, Chicken.

New Life at the Park

Morning Coffee Clatch

Park Citizens

So after the leisurly stroll around the pond, taking many photos - all of us, we turned our attention, as we always do, to the historic home of General Sam Houston and his wife, Margaret.

The Girls Get a Shot of the Kitchen Garden at the Houston Home.

Downstairs: Master Bedroom (top), Living Room (middle left), Sewing Room (middle right) Upstairs: Girls' Bedroom (bottom left and middle), Boys' Bedoom (bottom right)

Upstairs Breezeway in Sam Houston Home

Over the dogrun downstairs in Sam and Magaret Houston's woodland home, is a breezeway between the children's two bedrooms.

Sam Houston Steamboat House

A visit to the Steamboat House is a tradition at Camp Turlington. This was the home the Houston's lived in when Sam Houston died. His funeral was here and then innmates from the prison carried his coffin to Oakwood cemetery for the burial as that is where this home was located at the time. It was later moved to the museum grounds.

Lunch at Kings, We Call It.

Though the place is no longer King's Candy, we still call it that. It's under new ownership and is still a great place for lunch - especially if you like candy. They still have candy, though not handmade. Sandwiches, old fashioned drinks, and an ice cream palor atmosphere complete with the ice cream and sodas make it ok in our book.

Waiting for Our Lunch Order

Last, but by no means least: The Girls Select Candies to Go!

And a Good Time Was Had By All!

Next, we head out for the swimming pool at Elkins Lake.

Stop for a Shot with the Lake Behind

Then the girls walked over to the pool, started to put a toe in when the life guard's whistle blew. "Thunder, everyone out of the pool for thirty minutes." Oh NO! No swimming today.

Everyone Out of the Pool While it Thunders!