Hello again. Perfectly beautiful weather here today at Long Beach..I'm hoping it will hold up.

We have some wonderful, truly wonderful, singers signed up to come. Sign up soon because spaces are limited (just joking..this year will be very small and cozy).

But if you are going to come, if you could let me know here or by email mgarvey@pacifier.com. It makes planning for food etc. easier. If you can't pay until the time of the camp, that is OK.

If money is a problem, let me know. I can not promise any scholarships at this time because we have to generate enough extra income..it will cost us $32 per person for the camp alone. But maybe we can work out a couple of things.

I am worried about one thing and that is dry wood, since it is our only source of heat. I am going to buy wood from the camp, but if they leave it outside we are doomed. So if you come and could throw in some dry wood for the first night, that would be great. It's just a little insurance policy. There is wood in a covered area and more under a tarp at the camp but if we have super heavy rains (only before the camp of course) they could get at least really damp.

Kindling and an ax would also be great. I plan to burn all of my love letters from this year alone and that should be a great roaring flame. Old bills etc..too..

Well, so far I have bought curry powder, beans, olive oil..that sort of thing. Popcorn. We won't starve and we won't get malnourished. If you have fruits and vegetables from your garden, bring them for snacks and a stone soup we can make for lunch on Saturday..minestrone plus a lentil soup.

Menu is tentatively:

Friday: potluck..which often turns out to be people stopping at KFC so we have crispy wings and chocolate deserts..Yum.

Sat. a.m. Probably breakfast fixings for omelettes, pancakes, cereal, fruit, yogurt. Since the group will probably be small, and the kitchen is fairly big, people will probably just fix their own.

Lunch: sandwiches, fruit, soup, cookies.

Dinner: I hope to get a nice bunch of salmon. Oysters will be available nearby for people to either harvest (I think) or buy, but you are on your own for this. Wild rice mix, coleslaw, veges,maybe blackberry cobbler.

Sunday a.m. Similar breakfast..maybe something fancier too. Who knows. Getting some cranberry honey. I won't stop you from going to the Arc for their brunch. My feelings won't be hurt.

Sunday lunch: eat up the leftovers..nothing fancy.

Soups etc. will be vegetarian. Fish and meat will be on the side so I think vegetarians will be OK. We'll also have ingredients on hand for creative cooks, and a store is right nearby.

Candles are OK for the main lodge but not for the cabins. You can't bring heaters for the cabins so bring warm stuff.

Save your big birthday balloons or wahtever, especially if you arrive early (will notify you later how soon you can come..I can't be there too early myself..) so we can identify the turn..which is hidden...

Bring flashlights.

We won't have a lot of cabins to chose from...so there won't be much privacy, although there will be cabins for men or women. If privacy is needed, there is a nice little motel for about $60/night almost next door..Harbor View.