Another trip to Shaw Island! It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since we last made the trip. Once again, we headed out before day break to catch the 6:20 ferry to Edmonds. Robin Rees and the missionaries rode to the ferry with us, and we met up with the Blackfords and the Tophams on the boat. The ferry ride was quite rocky since it was very windy and rainy. We were prepared for a wet day, but hoped the sun would decide to come out.
No one wanted their picture taken so early in the morning!
The drive to Anacortes was uneventful and rainy. By the time we got to the ferry, the rain had stopped, and once were were on the boat, tiny patches of blue sky appeared. We met up with the rest of the group on the Anacortes ferry.
Ben and Hiram thought it was really cool that there were puzzles on the ferry for passengers to work on. They started this one, and on the way home were excited to see that someone else had almost completed it.
Kylie pretended to sleep, but Erin wouldn't let her.
The "LOPEZ" crew! We're just coming in to the Lopez Island dock, the first stop.
Some enterprising ferry workers made this bulls-eye game on the ferry landing for people to throw money at. Several of us gave it a shot; I think the closest anyone came to a bulls eye was Alan Blackford in the 25 ring.
Here's a good part of the group: the missionaries, the Blackfords, Nowjacks, Van Akens, Tophams, Ross Boundy, Bryce Keyes.
Lovely Madronas cover the shores of Lopez. I think this is a wonderful color palate.
And then we arrived at Shaw Island!
Once we arrived at Our Lady of the Rock, we were greeted by the mothers who seemed very happy to see us again.
Mother Hildegard quickly set to assigning us tasks, everything from cleaning the chicken house to clearing dead trees, working on the compost piles, washing the chapel windows and skirting wool. I quickly volunteered to help with the wool, since I'd never done that before. I like to try something new every time we're there. Ben and Brad were put on tree clearing duty, Kylie went with Erin to work on the compost, and Jillian and Cerise Nowjack ended up helping in the kitchen.
I felt a little guilty about not joining Mother Mary Grace in her task of clearing the path around the pond, since she remembered my name and was so happy to see me again.
When Ross Boundy saw this picture, he astutely pointed out that it portrays a Four-Square Church Pastor (the man in the black jacket), a Catholic Mother, and two LDS Bishops. And Kylie, in the middle. I think it's interesting that the women are looking in one direction and the men in another.
This is the reason I wanted to help with the wool...lambs! They were just born a few days ago and are so cute!
I'd never skirted wool before, but Sharon Boundy has, so she knew exactly what to do, and Mother Hildegard gave us good instructions as well. Basically, our job was to pick out the mud, manure and hay from the fleece, then roll it up in a sheet so it could be sent to various locations. Some fleece they sell to women on Lopez, some they send to the spinner and then sell the yarn. There were 20 to 25 sheep being sheared.
The shearer is from Wales. He was very quick, getting all the sheep done in under two hours!
Elder Paniagua helped wrestle the sheep into the shearing shed.
And Elder Norcross decided it was easier just to carry some!
Paniagua also helped hold the sheep for their shots and "bang trim". He's a good sport!
Freshly sheared mama with her babies.
Ben and Hiram loved the lambs. They followed them around, making sure the babies were reunited with their moms after the shearing.
Kylie and Erin worked on the compost. I like the design of their compost shed. The slats come out easily so the compost can be stirred and shifted to the next "station" as it decomposes.
Hard working girls!
Jillian and Cerise helped out with clearing trees for a while, then went to help in the kitchen, where they made delicious dutch oven cobbler!
After all the work was done, the kids had time to explore and play!
The cattle are intimidating, but they love to be fed!
And look...there's blue sky! We were truly blessed, it didn't rain on us at all, and the sun came out for most of the day.
This guy could poke your eye out!
After working on compost, Kylie helped with the clearing crew.
Grandpa came up the night before and spent the night in the barn with the boy scouts. It was fun to have him there with us again.
Don't these guys look like they were made for the farm life?
This is so Matt Topham-esque...a kid on his shoulders!
We had a great turn out from the Young Women. There were more teenage girls than boys this year. Way to go girls!
After all our work was done and we ate a hearty lunch, it was time to pile into the Llama Van and head back to the ferry. We crammed 21 people into the van, a new record, I think!
The Blackford family enjoyed the "togetherness" in the back of the van.
Brad spotted his funny, but slightly creepy, sleigh near the ferry terminal...in honor of St. Patrick's Day.
And once again, our day came to a close too quickly. For all the effort it takes to get to Shaw Island and back, the waking up early, the four ferry rides, and the three hours of driving, it's worth it. Having the sun come out was an added blessing, but even if it had been pouring rain, we always love our time there serving the Mothers and working with our friends, soaking in the peacefulness, and feeling like we've stepped back in time for a moment.
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