DIAMOND DAYS WITH SOTF

Another happy and fun time with the Sisters was in store for us at Little Diamond - Diamond Daze.

All set up and ready for us with good use of the many bandanas.

Intertwined amongst the bandanas were uplifting, happy thoughts and reminders.

The first few hours provided everyone time to chat and get to at least know each other’s name ;’-). 

The remainder of our first day was for relaxing, and more getting to know some of us. The following morning people met at the coffee urn and discussed what everyone planned to do for the early part of the day as we were on our own for a bit of exploring. Susan and I took a little bike ride to the shop that everyone else drove to. The store store is run the Mennonite folks and has a fresh produce section as well as some souvenir type things, a deli, and basic grocery supplies. 

We saw only a few things on our short bike ride, but sure enjoyed the ride.

A hare! I seldom see one and it sat still for my photo.

Of course I can never pass up anything bicycle related.

Happy rocks cheering us on.

And though we did not see this next one as I was on my solo ride the following day, this is a good place to show this cute little family.

I kept a distance as I could see that the parents were getting a little nervous about my presence. The babies are so very young.

Cows often watch curiously as I ride by them and I always wave and say a greeting. I’m always happy to see the farm animals out in the countryside.

A very rural mailbox along a very quiet country road.

Back at camp for a short rest before everyone ‘dressed’ for our ice cream social.

Kathy has a social chat with Leslie.

And Allie has a sun moment…

Regina prepares to capture the group photo. Ain’t she cute?

This next photo is the in waiting for the final word. There had been several photos taken but they all needed to be checked before people could move. So many different expressions as they wait yet again.

Here is the final outcome and pay off for their patience - all proper and smiling now.

THEN we got to enjoy ice cream made by Carolyn. Yummmy!

It is difficult to keep up here, but — we had chosen shot glasses the day before and were asked to bring them with us for our circle gathering.The glasses were either cities or states. Susan had the Seattle shot glass, mine was Pennsylvania.

Once gathered, and retrieving forgotten shot glasses, we were each to tell a made up story about the one we had chosen. The stories were basically hilarious! We laughed and giggled a lot and found out that many of us have quite the imagination, especially on the spur of the moment. It was really great fun and lasted well into the evening.

Susan took her night photo and we were on our way to sleep land.

The fun of course — was not over yet! The next day while I took my solo bike ride into town to mail a couple of cards, that two people will receive late, there was a horseshoe competition that I would miss. Susan agreed to play for both of so was actually on two of the four teams. 

But first — someone said that Susan was being hauled off!

And that I had to go catch her and bring her back. Here I show off my lip gloss holder that we ALL got in our prizes ;’-). I used mine right away.

The four teams (in partial costume — bras for one team, red hats, tiaras, gold belts — had fun at ‘shoes, and Susan apparently scored the most points of any one person. Brought her team up and mine to tie for the last.

Susan was on the BRA team and the Gold belt team (playing for me). She so proudly wears the bra.

She gets to the task.

We had a catered dinner tonight of barbecue ribs and chicken with sides. Last night our dinner was Tacos and everyone brought an item for that. 

After dinner was our next activity. We had each chosen a bell the evening before, and were told to practice a song to play for others to guess the tune. Imagine — a song with a single bell that others would get!! Seemed like an impossible task to me, but I diligently practiced. I played over and over, John Denver’s song Country Roads, but when Susan had no idea what I was playing, I switched to Happy Birthday and thought maybe, just maybe I had a chance.

We brought our bells to the evening circle and paid rapt attention to hear the details.

Jody was doing her best to keep our attention as she told us the NEW RULES! They switched on us and collected our bells to be sorted by sound and retrieved afterward as we were put into groups to perform a melody for everyone. 

HUH? This wasn’t part of the plan as we knew it — we all, en masse, skedaddled to try hiding from our leaders.

Joi found us and we were brought back to the bell table. There would be no escaping.

Jodi had our bells all in order.

We chose our bell (the same one we had had but was now put into a group of complementary tones), and told to take our group away and practice our performance. The practice alone had us in stitches and not at all convinced (in my group) that anyone could ever guess the song. The groups were laughing more than playing. The first two groups played “We Will Rock You”. Both got correct guesses of the song title.

One Two Three..

Oh no, I missed a beat!

Susan had practiced so diligently and so hard, she broke her bell.



No one guessed my groups “Sweet Caroline” to no surprise!

Of course, this being Diamond Daze I suppose, we all collected more prizes for our efforts — or for no effort. The prizes never stopped all weekend! Susan has an idea to put all our prizes together when we get home and take a photo of it all. I may post that later if we do end up doing it. 

We end our happy time event with our morning gathering over coffee — and THIS morning with temps in the 40s — we definitely need the fire.

We say our goodbyes and “see you round the camp fire” and each depart for home. It has once again been a wonderful Sisters event that we all treasured and will keep good memories of. We thank the leaders all (Joi, Vi, Carolyn) and especially say to Carolyn, thank you for all the games, the laughs and the prizes.