Jewelry, couches and cows

Last week Susan Nisly, Director of Service Adventure, came to Philippi for her fall visit, so we were all on our best behavior! Really, we had a lot of fun with Learning Component, meals, and just hanging out. Tuesday (October 12) night after Susan arrived, Ranita prepared a great meal and later Heidi taught everyone to make beaded flower rings - an advantage for Heidi in having an all girl group!

Tara, Heidi, Susan, Ranita and Christina

Concentrating

Later that week we got a new-to-us futon from Heart and Hand to replace a very uncomfortable couch we had in the computer room. So before the couch left us for good, we had a little fun...

the girls

the boys

And today is Christina's 19th birthday! This is McHugh's week to cook, so Heidi made lasagna and chocolate cake at Christina's request. After moving furniture and sorting clothes at work all day, we think it was a nice birthday evening, including a Skype call home!

A cow cake of course! (she grew up on a dairy farm)

All lit up!

Confetti blast

Moooo!

Relief Sale and Home Visit

This past weekend we traveled to the Shenandoah Valley for the MCC Harrisonburg Relief Sale and a home visit with Ranita's family. It was the longest road trip our group has taken yet and we made it round-trip without van trouble! (We lost two lug nuts on a relatively short trip to Buckhannon early on).

Helping make apple butter

We arrived in Harrisonburg, Virginia late Friday night and some of the group stayed with Ranita's aunt while the rest stayed with friends Ranita's (actually the family of a current Johnstown SA participant!) Early Saturday morning we headed over to the Relief Sale for a tasty breakfast of hot sausage & egg sandwiches, omelets, and pancakes. After our fill we walked around and met up with Ranita's family. We spent the rest of the morning watching how corn meal is made, riding the 'cow train,' helping make apple butter and watching the quilt sale.

Ian, Tara, Ella and Ranita riding the "cow train"

Poor Christina, only 2 kids and 3 participants :(

The afternoon was relaxing time at Ranita's which was easy to do with the trampoline and gorgeous farm view behind the house. Sunday we attended Springdale Mennonite, Ranita's home church, and had another delicious meal with her family before making our journey back to Philippi.