HOW WE "DO A MUDGATHER" (ymmv!)

You will find the space waiting for you, a crockpot going, beds all made up, clean towels laid by in case you forgot yours, and chairs for a little picking. We've had many, almost-entirely GREAT experiences hosting... but to preclude a repeat of the few issues that arose, here's what we hope guests will keep in mind.

First, a MONTAGE of previous MudGathers (plus faces of MudBuds met on separate occasions). It shows the old PA setup; except for being all on one level, you will not find OH so different.


The management policies are based on two fine experiences I had on a regular basis, as a child and as an adult.

1. "Carpenter Camp" was an Adirondack fishing camp owned by elder family members, where anyone in the clan could go (for as long as the whole summer) for R&R. I was there often as a child. Hardi and I made week-long visits several times, seeing the adult side of keeping it all going. At Camp, anyone off on their own is assumed to be either sleeping, or otherwise not desiring company. You do what you can do for yourself, and ask help for the rest. Camp is always an adventure in being self-reliant and cooperative. And you can breathe there, and reflect.

You always arrive to find it clean-swept, dishes set to dry-- all ready for the first arrival to fire up the heat and turn down the beds-- and several days' food left where the mice can't get it to tide you over till you venture out for supplies.

And at Camp, you always leave it that way for the next arrival (unless you are physically unable, in which case you let the managing family know ahead of time that they will need to pick up the slack).

Camp Ridgebury's laundry facilities ensure that prepping for the next visitors is a snap-- about 30-45 minutes of prep time for each departing guest leaves us ALL glad we Gathered.

2. "Pleasant Valley" was an outdoor education center/summer camp getaway for inner city kids, on a real working farm. People learned how to live in the country, where milk comes from, what comes out besides milk, and how to work together to live lightly on the land.

When I went to a workshop there-- and later when I managed the demonstration farm and presented programs-- I found it heaven on earth. You left town concerns behind, because you met the concrete realities of life there. You could stretch. And, if you needed to, you could work hard enough to sleep deeply. (Between hikes.) It's gone now… redeveloped.

Camp Ridgebury adjoins 65+ miles of paved bike/hike paths, and enormous state parks are nearby.


MUDGATHER MEALS. I usually make a hearty crockpot for Friday arrivals (non-vegetarian). People tend to bring a lot of buffet-ready and beverage items and, well… people eat all day! Spare fridges are set for the overflow. At our MudGathers, breakfasts are self-service: whatever you can make, with whatever has been brought. First one to get up makes the coffee. Kitchen cabinets are left open so you can find what you might need, before I go to bed.

TEAMWORK. I don't "manage" all this very much-- I'm more of a resource person-- but if the size of the Gathering warrants, I will recruit teams to make sure we all have a good time. Usually it all takes care of itself quite well.

STANDARD "CLEAN ENOUGH?" DISCLAIMER. A super-clean house is not my first priority! A house with room for all sortsa people, that IS a priority. This place houses just two rapidly-geezifyin' people busy with ministries that are pretty time-consuming. And the occasional Catters who usually assure me that our house is cleaner'n theirs!

So here's the thing. If there is anything in the house that offends you when you come to stay with us, OK! Come to me privately and tell me your plan for resolving it. I'll be glad to point the way to the requisite cleaning supplies and equipment, in between tending to the other priorities in my life which are PEOPLE oriented! :~)

MUDCAT DONATIONS ACCEPTED. For us, a MudGather is a lot like parish events, where the host parish supplies the entree and other specified items, and others bring the missing items. It is our privilege to have folks come here when we can't go "there," and what actually motivates us more than anything else is timely RSVP's. So if anyone is thinking along those lines, a contribution to Mudcat is always appreciated and will be duly forwarded to Max.

THE "ALCOHOL? QUESTION" People sometimes get nervous around clergy, so here's the real deal: Hardi and I seldom drink but, as long as neighbors are not disturbed, neither are we. We do take keys off anyone who tries to drive and should not. The dog is available as a Designated Walker. :~)

~S~