When August arrives with a slight chill in the air, and the acorns started falling you knew that summer was about to end and the Penobscot camp would be coming to a close. You would have the feeling that every one at the ranch was trying to savor each moment by cramming the days full of swimming, horse riding fishing & just clinging to all the wonderful stories that the staff share. The bunk houses are looking like they could use a good cleaning and face lift, the cook I know, is probably so tired of Monday spaghetti Tue gummy rice etc etc. but he always has great smile on his face & greets each child with a wink as if they were his very own. We must not forget the horses, 57 of them of all kinds of breeds. The requirement to be a Penobscot camp horse was to be gentle. Some came without love & by the end of the summer they knew just what to do. Stand to be saddled , knew the trail better than the trail master, and oh yes stand for that well deserved bath.
What a sight to see the children trekking down the hill to the barn with a bucket of half eaten breakfast, to feed the chickens, heaven help the dogs if they try and eat out of the bucket, "that's garbage" they would say, as if once it was out of their plates it was not good for anything else except the chickens. This was such a learning experience for all of them. A new concept. Parents would just be amazed at the change in their children. So many memories for all of us at the ranch.
When the last group had left I would go to the camp ground and experience such a strange, lonely almost homesick feeling. The horses would show up looking for the children, the ponies were ready for their grooming, this was such a rewarding time. Memories were made, seeds were sown. I would walk under the large oak trees and know that winter was on its way as the acorns were a plenty.
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