Busy, Busy, Busy

Has it really been more than two weeks since I last updated? I can't believe how much time has passed. I've now been gone for two months, but it doesn't feel like it's been that long. It's crazy how much time flies here. Especially when I'm having so much fun.

So I guess I can start where I left off. On Thanksgiving, we met the other team and had an awesome dinner. It was really great. The next few days we went to Boulder and shopped for all the sales. We also went to Estes Park to hike and shop. I didn't buy much, but I did get to see the place from The Shining. It was a great long weekend.

The week of November 29th-December 4th we finished the house and worked outside too. It was a cold week. On Saturday we also worked, so we had the Monday after off. On Friday, we cleaned Bluebird boxes. It was not pleasant. There were a few old eggs and dead baby birds. They had been there since spring. Saturday was all about Christmas. A ton of people came in and got to cut down their own tree. I was inside with the kids. We played games and decorated cookies. It was a great day. That Sunday and Monday, we went camping on Calwood property. It was very cold, but we made a fire and all sat around it. We had smores and hot dogs too.

The week of November 7th-10th was all about slash, sanding, and chopping wood. It wasn't that bad. It got colder later in the week. It's been pretty good though. I can't believe I have one week left. We will leave for Denver on Thursday. I'm going back home on Saturday for two weeks. I can't wait, but I know I'll miss the team.

Picture #1: We took an ugly sweater picture for a Christmas card.

Picture #2: PT(physical training) for one Wednesday. We had to carry logs up a hill on our shoulders ten times. Then we had to carry it down the hill in our arms. It was a long and steep hill.

Picture #3: I was cleaning the Bluebird nest. We had to wear gloves and masks as caution.

Picture #4: The picture of our camping experience in the tent.

Crazy, Short Week

Monday, we all worked together. Cody went to Urgent Care for a sore throat. She was back before noon. We were working on building slash piles that would be burned in later winter. We may even get to see some at some point. After lunch, a couple members and I stayed in the lodge and cleaned it up and down. We washed the walls and ceilings, vacuumed the floors, and I even vacuumed the stuffed bears. It was a fun-filled day.

Tuesday, two more people went to Urgent Care. One went for a cornea scratch. Another went because her whole body is covered in bites. She started to get them since day one. She washed her sleeping bag, changed beds, even used the Calwood blankets and sheets, but she was still getting bit at night. For some reason, none of the others got bit once. The sponsor thought it may be bed bugs, but nothing was discovered in the cabins. A bed bug specialist even came to the cabins, but found nothing. We still don't know what it is. We are going to try to freeze out tonight because it is extremely cold. It is 6 degrees now. Hopefully they will be gone. Other than that, we skinned trees in the morning and some planted grass seeds in the afternoon.

Today, we went down to Jamestown to work inside on a house owned by Calwood. We are not allowed to work outside when it is below 25 degrees. We cleaned everything and painted. It took all day long and we are still not done. The house is for future Calwood workers or AmeriCorps NCCC members. It is 2500 sq. ft. and was $150,000. They only pay $600 a month on it.

Not much else has happened. We are sleeping in the Lodge tonight so we can freeze the cabin. Tomorrow, we are having Thanksgiving at Calwood with another team that is in Boulder. I'm excited!

Community Mapping

Yesterday, we went to check out Boulder for "Community Mapping". We also just hung out down there. A couple of members and I went to see Harry Potter. It was awesome! I can't wait for the other one. We then went shopping, ate lunch, and found a geocache. Later, we went back to Calwood to cook dinner for teachers that were here for an Outdoor Learning class. I also washed my clothes and a couple of us watched Lion King.

Today, we did Community Mapping again. We also went to Goodwill and Savers. We were looking for ugly sweaters to wear for a Christmas card we are making. It will be an amazing card. I'll be sure to post it when we do it. Later, we are going to watch a movie.

First picture: The lodge

Second picture: A view from the trail