The Ferguson Files: Week Two

Here are pictures of our second week at music camp. WARNING: This may seriously be the LONGEST blog post you have ever seen. It literally took me three days to put together. So, continue on at your own risk.

We make scones every year for dessert the first night at M & S. It all started the first year when we discovered that the freezer didn't actually freeze the food. When we found the roll dough bursting out of it's package, we turned a tragedy into tradition. And a yummy one, if I do say so.

Jenni's photo

Sugar, (Alice Ashton) became James' best friend during the retreat. She was so nice to let him follow her around EVERYWHERE! He accompanied her to coaching sessions, meals, activities, etc. One morning, he walked over to her room and knocked on the door. When she didn't answer he became concerned. He came back to our room and said, "Mom, you need to go wake up Sugar because she doesn't know it's morning." At one point, she drove all the way to a little store in Island Park JUST to buy bubble gum for him. Can you believe it? She really is THAT cool!

Jenny Oaks Baker performed at our Wed. night concert.

One of our original founders, Mindy Hillman, and her family came to this concert. It was so good to see them after several years. She is one amazing lady!

William made up a little skit involving himself and a turtle. And, you guessed it, James was the turtle. William did the costume himself. Not bad, huh? Jenni took this picture below.

We threw Thomas and Marianne in a little quartet with Lauren Baker (Jenny Oaks Baker's daughter) and Holly Hunt (younger sister of two camp participants). They played a little piece called "Hopak" for everyone right before skits. Jenni did a great job working with them and getting them all prepared for this. They sounded super good! Photo taken by Jenni.

And Jenni took this picture too. This is part of the actual skit. James thought it was pretty much the coolest thing he got to do all week. All 20 seconds of it. Totally cute!

The young man (and the one behind him) on the left were impersonating Richard. They are both Richard's students so they knew all the right hand expressions and "Richard" talk. It was great!

And, once again, the leaders skit was the coolest. Sugar played the teacher and the other leaders were her "students". Jenni was the shy student. Sugar is offering her some burnt toast - something to do with a lesson Jenni had with Jack in high school. It was hilarious, but maybe you just had to be there...

Ariel (One of our leaders) was playing the student who hates violin, lessons, and everything in general having to do with music. If only her parents would let her quit... This was a funny part to see her play since she is really very fun

and bubbly. And she loves the violin.

Richard was the music nerd who wanted to show off all the cool stuff he knew/could do rather than listen to the teacher. So, I guess he was pretty much just playing himself.

I was the student who had to check my text messages, check myself out in the mirror, and check out my zits during the lesson.

Karin was the intense student who wanted to play everything "Rock-n-roll" style. (Karin Hendricks is a fabulous cellist and coach, by the way. We love her!)

Pat was the annoying student who likes to argue, "But, my last teacher told me I should do it this way..."

And the great Jack Ashton himself with his Lassie shirt! He was the student who couldn't play a single note in tune. Oh, we laughed so hard at all of these. And I think the students laughed a little too. We love being teachers - really, we do!

And, of course, we had to do s'mores afterwards.

This was during a two-minute break I took one day. I seriously couldn't even relax. My mind was going 100 miles an hour constantly.

Jenni Warner helping Marianne with her part during rehearsal. Thomas and Marianne got to participate in two small chamber groups the second week. What a great opportunity for them! I love to see my own children participate in this!

It was fun seeing all the wildlife.

If you look close, you can see a pretty little Mountain Bluebird. (Just click on the picture so you can see it bigger.) These were all over this year and I LOVED them. So vibrant and beautiful. This also happens to be Idaho's state bird.

The kids didn't care much for the birds or the deer, but they couldn't get enough of this little snake. (And, actually, I think this picture was from the first week. Oh well.)

And then there were the bats. Everywhere. As the sun went down at night, if you were walking around outside, you had bats zooming right past your face. It always seems one is going to crash right into you. They get that close. But, they never do. Those bats are pretty good at maneuvering. You can always hear them squeaking in their little bat houses under the eves of the buildings any time of day. There are thousands of them. Now, I know you may think this is a gross thing, a little unnerving to say the least, right? But, we decided to love the bats. You see, one bat can eat 300 mosquitoes in one second. (Or, was it one minute?) Either way, I think I put mosquito repellent on maybe once the entire two weeks and only got a few bites. Yes, we loved the bats. Even this one hanging on our screen door.

The Fiddle Concert!

Thomas also got to participate in the cello choir this year and LOVED it.

This little group played a Cuban fiddle piece, so a couple boys decided it would be fun to "smoke" some Cuban cigars. (Well, sticks.) Oh! The creativity!

Jenni was so cute with the kids. I am so glad I was close by with my camera for the next several shots.

And, I love this one! Oh, Jenni, you are the best! :)

Lance and Becky came to the fiddle concert which meant we got to see Lauryn. I love seeing family at our concerts. Thank you everyone who came!

Later that evening, us leaders got to read through some chamber music. This is nothing new - we form groups and do this almost every night. It's one of the things that makes this camp so much stinkin' fun! I was especially excited to read through the Mendellsohn Octet. Yup, that's eight. We actually performed it a couple years ago at M&S. And the piece is BEAUTIFUL! Go buy it off I-tunes right now!

Yes, this is our idea of fun. Are we nerds, or what???

Our little "trio" that performed at the chamber concert. They played so great!

Jack leading the orchestra in the final concert.

Natalie Ashton and her kids. It was great having their family at the final concert. We wouldn't be holding this camp if it weren't for our good friends, the Ashton's!

This is Pat, gazing out at the beautiful backdrop of Harriman during the last concert. She is from Michigan and has come for several years now. She helps us so much and is a joy to have around, as well as a great musician.