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Lila Gilmore named Outstanding Girl of the Year at W F George Middle School Awards Ceremony
- Update on Reunion Plans 13, 14, 15 ofJune
Event Description
First of all, our FRIDAY THE 13TH CRUISE has been scheduled for
Food will be ready at the Gathering House. Everybody is on your own to eat before we go to the Texoma Belle Riverboat. Bring a sweater or jacket, since it gets pretty cool on the water after dark.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH CATERED SIT-DOWN DINNER AT
IMPORTANT: We must have a head-count. If you know NOW that you WILL NOT BE HERE, please let me know. And if you know you WILL, let me know….. Otherwise, tell me as soon as your plans are secure. Everything hinges on numbers……
The new building is still far from finished. Plan just the same as if it was ready to occupy. And if it is not in a usable state by then, you will be invited to the PUBLIC HANGING of our contractor at sunrise Saturday morning!!!
I know all of you kept the last newsletter, as a reference page for reunion information….. Sure you did…..!!! This is the last you will hear from me until after the
- Chambers Family Reunion June 13-15, 2008
Event Description
CHAMBERS FAMILY
[Father’s Day Weekend]
Tranquility Place, between
Well, it’s planning time again! Please keep this page for references.
We have chartered the TexomaBelle Riverboat again…. Hopefully, this year the water will be still enough for us to sail. We will go Friday evening late, so that we are still on the lake after dark, to view the lights on the water. This was really an enjoyable event 3 years ago. This time, we will all eat in our Gathering House before we leave, and not have dinner on the boat. Everybody agrees that I am a better cook…….
Let us know by May how many will be in your group. Buying the right amount of food depends on it. We will only have one full sit-down meal, and it will be catered. There will be plenty of prepared food for all the other meals and snacks… but you will each be responsible for putting it together for yourself when you are hungry. That allows all the young people free time to spend down at the creek, along the trails, or at the lake.
As I write, dirt is being hauled for the foundation to a new multi-purpose building here at
Due to the displays in the rooms, and the screen on the porch that might be damaged, children will not be allowed to play in this building without adult supervision. If children want to sit on the floor in the Doll Room to play quiet games, that’s permitted. But otherwise, no playing in that room or bathrooms, at all, ever !!
In the past, we have tried to furnish AeroBeds, linen and towels. We can’t do that anymore. We do still have a few AeroBeds that have not been ruined. And we do still have such things as old sleeping bags, etc, and a few towels have managed to remain. But don’t depend on those items being available.
We will put the thickest, softest carpet on the floor that we can afford in the rooms. You will need to bring your own bedding. If you can’t sleep directly on the floor, bring a blow-up bed. I’m entering the link to QVC where I shop. You will find all kinds of AeroBeds from $60 to as much as you want to spend. Twin size are easy to carry with you. http://www.qvc.com/qsearch/search.aspx 1-800-345-2525 for assistance.
Each bathroom will have a private stall for the shower, and one for the commode, so that the sinks will remain open to use while the booths are occupied. The men’s bathroom will have a urinal in the commode area. A clothes line and pins will be available, possibly on the screened porch, for wet towels, since you will not be able to leave them in the bathrooms, or on our new carpets!!!
I suggest that you get a fabric marker and put your name on your bedding and towels. I’m not saying our family is dishonest…. I’m saying people forget what they brought, and the things might look alike. We are just trying very hard to keep things organized.
The RV’s are still here for sleeping a few people. However, they have proven to be impractical as far as showers, commodes, and kitchens are concerned. Of course, we still have three hook-ups for RV’s and could probably find a spot for more, if you want to bring your own.
We are learning by trial and error what works with a group, and what doesn’t work. Our experience is with all the groups we have entertained here… school, Harley, other friends, and family. I think it’s best to discuss all these things in advance, so that our family will understand what is expected and what is taboo…..
I will remind you that there is no smoking in any building, or on the porches of the buildings. I have been known to shoot slobs who drop their butts on our property. So carry a pocket ash tray with you if you must smoke. Do NOT drop your butts into a coke bottle, can, ash tray, etc. and leave it on a picnic table for me to clean up, or to be knocked over and the contents scattered across the grounds. [Oh YES! It has happened!!!!]
We no longer purchase individual soft drinks in cans or bottles. We found that everybody took a drink, opened it, put it down, didn’t remember which was theirs, opened another and put it down. After an event, we had to comb the property, picking up full cans and bottles, and throw them away. That should not be our responsibility, and nobody needs that waste. Therefore, we buy soft drinks in 3 liter bottles. We require each person to take a Styrofoam cup, and write your name on it. That way, you know it is yours. And, if you leave it ANYWHERE, either full or empty, WE know it’s yours!!! When the meal or snack is over, you may either keep your cup with you, or throw it away.
We have plenty of small cafeteria trays that are very easy to hold. We also have a dishwasher. If we could get the procedure across to everyone, the trays make sense. But even with signs, we have discovered that people will not throw paper and foam items in a large PLAINLY MARKED trash can; put knives, forks and spoons in the PLAINLY MARKED pan of soapy water provided; scrape food from the tray into a PLAINLY MARKED pail provided; and stack trays WITHOUT FOOD on top of the dishwasher. Seems simple. Doesn’t work. Every time we have tried it, even with intelligent adults, the trays with silver, paper and food get stacked all over the kitchen, with the food from one sticking to the bottom of another…. So, we went back to the old paper plate routine, so that it can all be thrown away together.
Now, if our family can be trained to follow these directions, we can use the sturdy trays again!!!!
It’s our desire that
Please clean up after yourself, no matter where you are….
FOR YOUR OWN COMFORT AND SAFETY
Please remember that we do have snakes. They are not everywhere all the time. If they hear people, they usually will go away on their own. So we suggest that you carry some object that makes noise, such as a bell, or radio…. In a group, the talking is usually enough to warn them.
If you do come upon a snake, back away. Don’t try to decide if he is poisonous or not. Come get Granny Oakley, and I will take care of that sucker! That is, if he is a copperhead or rattler. I don’t kill harmless snakes.
Watch carefully for brambles and trees with thorns. They are numerous, and very painful.
Be aware that we DO have CHIGGERS. Most of you don’t need to worry about them, if I’m around, because they hunt me down and jump over tall buildings to find me. They don’t want YOU. I have learned to defeat them by wearing socks and long pants dusted with sulpher, if I plan to be in weeds. Walking across the field, or Bermuda grass, a simply spray like OFF will keep them away. We have sulpher on all the porches. But you should bring plenty of OFF, not only for chiggers, but for mosquitoes and gnats as well. That’s not saying they are bad… but prevention is prudent!!!!
Don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses. Only bring half the clothes you think you need. No dress-up stuff…. Sturdy walking shoes…. A hat with a brim….. Bring your sense of humor, your determination to have fun, and lots of love to give away….
I’ll try to send another newsletter before June, but no promises!!!! I’m loaded. Besides that, I’m busy.
See you in June! Love to everybody.