Hello, friends and family. There will be three work days at the Pond this year. You don’t need to come to all three.

– Saturday May 11

– Sunday June 2

– Sunday June 23

The May 11 work day will be focused on setting up for the season and cleaning up after the winter storms; moving tables and chairs, repairing the play fort, cutting up fallen branches and spreading gravel to improve the roads in/out of the parking areas.

The June 2 day is a Painting Party. This is the main project I wanted to focus on this year, repainting the dock and bridge. But it’s only possible if the weather is clear. If it rains, we will still have the party, work in barn instead and paint later.

The June 23 day will be focused on landscaping: Cutting blackberries and ivy, weeding the garden beds, planting flower, painting signs, And other projects to spruce things up before the big events and weddings are booked.

Barn Sale

We are also planning a multi-family garage sale in the barn this summer (proceeds will help pay for Pond related expenses).

If you prefer, you can help with the barn clean out and garage sale set up on any Saturday in June. (1st, 8, 15, 22, 29)

If you would prefer an indoor/seated activity, I can put you to work cleaning, sorting and pricing items on June 22 or June 29.

The actual date of the sale has not been scheduled yet.

Note:

⁃ Volunteers are welcome to stay and socialize at the end of the work day.

⁃ A shared meal will be provided at the June 2nd event. Please bring you own food and drinks on other days.

⁃ If you are helping on the paint day, please wear old clothing and shoes. Bring brushes and rollers, but we will have a few extra.

>> see the updated work schedule in the next post.

There will be three work days at the Pond this year. You don’t need to come to all three.

– Saturday May 11

– Sunday June 2

– Sunday June 23

The May 11 work day will be focused on landscaping; Cutting blackberries and ivy, raking leaves, and spreading gravel to improve the roads in/out of the parking areas.

The June 2 day will include moving tables and chairs, cleaning the kitchen area, weeding the garden beds, planting flower, etc.

The Jun 23 day will be a Painting Party. This is the main project I wanted to focus on this year, repainting the dock, deck and bridge. But it’s only possible if the weather is clear. If it rains, we will still have the party, and paint later.

Barn Sale

We are also planning a multi-family garage sale in the barn this summer (proceeds will help pay for Pond related expenses).

If you prefer, you can help with the barn clean out and garage sale set up on any Saturday in June. (1st, 8, 15, 22, 29)

If you would prefer an indoor/seated activity, I can put you to work cleaning, sorting and pricing items on June 22 or June 29.

The actual date of the sale has not been scheduled yet.

Note:

⁃ Volunteers are welcome to stay and socialize at the end of the work day.

⁃ Please bring you own food and drinks.

⁃ If you are helping on the paint day, please wear old clothing and shoes. Bring brushes and rollers but we will have extra too.

This year, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, the Pond is hosting a historic re-enactment group called the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). A “community pursuing research and re-creation of pre-seventeenth century skills, arts, combat and culture.”

This week long event will include classes in arts and sciences, lectures on leadership and chivalry, live weapon tournaments and a visit from the group’s reigning monarchs.

Local chapter “Three mountains” – https://baronyofthreemountains.org

Event Details – https://baronyofthreemountains.org/events/event/academia-voluntaria/

Oops, I had the date wrong. It’s Sun, August 6 (not 5th). Dinner is at 3:00pm.

The Whitmore/Woodward/Bolton family Reunion

** Please help spread the word. Everyone is welcome. **

Where: Whitmore farms – 26450 S. Beavercreek rd. Beavercreek, OR

When: Sun. Aug 6. 12:00pm till “the cows come home”. Dinner at 3:00.

Food: Dinner will be catered (pulled pork, corn on the cob, 3 bean salad, potato salad, lemon squares, root beer floats). BYOB.

Camping: You can camp at the pond from Friday till Monday. RVs ok (but no hookups)

What to bring: Family photos. swimwear and towels. Snacks and drinks.

Remember the weather may be very hot. There is plenty of shade, misters and ice water.

Contact: Patrick Whitmore 503-704-9197

Thank you to our volunteers from the SCA, Women of the 14th moon, and the Calavan family.

The construction crew will be working on the bridge, stage and horse shoe game.

To-Do list

• Paint;
  • Stain wood wall behind fridge on deck
  • Paint Parking sign board
  • Paint kitchen benches
• Clean:
  • Scrub shower
  • Clean spare fridge (on deck)
• Garden:
  • Weed flower beds
  • Trim ferns
  • Spread bark dust
• Landscaping:
  • Cut blackberries
  • Clean fountain and path
  • Weedeat around bridge
• Other:
  • Pressure washing (paddle boat, lawn furniture, toy castle)
  • Fill floaties with air and check for leaks

For a seamstress (in progress)

⁃ We have a conastoga wagon shaped bench with a canvas cover. The replacement canvas is too small. We would like to find a way to adapt it, maybe by adding grommets and ties or by sewing in a panel in the middle.

For painters…

⁃ paint kitchen benches

– Restain dock

⁃ Wood wall behind fridge on deck (low priority)

For carpenters…

⁃ Replace stage steps

⁃ Repair horseshoe toss boxes

⁃ Repair/build benches. (The boards are cut and painted for new benches, they just need assembled.)

– (optional) Repair door to play fort.

For Gardeners…

⁃ Weed flower beds and “water fountain” path

⁃ Spread bark dust

– Trim ferns

⁃ (In june) plant flowers in beds and pots

For other workers…

⁃ Cut blackberries in flower beds and behind chicken coop

⁃ Pick up branches

⁃ Rake paths

⁃ Pressure washing (paddle boat, lawn furniture, toy castle)

– Fill floaties with air and check for leaks

Big projects for a future date…

⁃ Replace brocken window in “sauna”.

⁃ Build a screen or box to hide pump and electrical box.

July 15-16: The Gowey family gathering (camping July 13-18th).

August 5-6: The Whitmore family gathering (aka Patrick’s Debacle) (camping Aug. 3-8th).

Work Day: There will be a work day April 30th and June 11th. There are also several painting projects that can be done any day with good weather.

This year, we aren’t having a family reunion, but family is invited to the pond on two weeks…

August 6-10 – Grams and Carrie will be hosting this camp week. No scheduled activities or meals, just a casual week of family time.

August 20-21 – Pat and Jimmy will be hosting this weekend for friends and family. *Gathering canceled due to extrema heat, but individuals are still welcome to camp out*