*Another Severe Clear Day*

My Uncle Billy calls days like today "severe clear" where the sky is completely cloudless, and so blue it almost hurts your eyes.

This week is camp-free at Timberlake Farm because of the holiday this weekend. I didn't realize it, but my body and mind could really use a break from being a camp counselor! So, to fulfill the minimum weekly garden intern requirements, I am working 6 hours in the garden this week. I gave myself Monday off and planned to work 2 hours for 3 of the remaining weekdays, but Tuesday morning was so cool outside that I ended up working 3 hours without even realizing it! I mostly weeded the beds; the sunflowers that Sandy and I planted are HUGE! They were just "born" in April, but they are easily nearly 7 feet tall already---I like to think it's because I sang to them and weeded them as seedlings:)

I'm finished with my online Economics class and made a far lower grade than I wanted, but I'm so glad it's done! Now it's time to get caught up on my journaling, scrapbook a little, find some buttons for my sewing project (putting straps on my picnic blanket in place of the broken zipper) and RELAX. It will be nice to  come home from a long day of camp and not have to do homework!

Those of you who know me know that I hate to be cliche'--and at the risk of sounding cliche', I realized during my severe clear gardening days that this summer is going to be a real growing experience for me. I am working amongst spiritual naturey people at the Center who care so much about the people they encounter and who seem to exhale love and passion: it comes naturally to them! And we all know that kids are so insightful, some of their questions or responses have simply blown me away. I'll never forget Sandy's story about Quinnie, a previous camper, who stopped short in the middle of a trail and whispered "Miss Sandy, can you hear it?? Can you hear the earth's heart beating??" Precious, absolutely precious. Between working at the Center surrounded by so many wise souls and living by myself, I know that I'm really going to learn a lot about Mica. 

"You're Like a Big Boy!"

Wow, the last month has flown by (as it always does, I'm noticing). The week at the beach was fantastically relaxing and beautiful, as always. Big shout out to the Morgans for inviting us to join in the Lucky Dog party. Oh, and the ocean was cool too:)

Birthday birthday, now I'm 20 and not quite sure what to do with myself. Old enough to vote and buy cigarettes, but still dependent on my Daddy to get me through college: Maybe I'll just stay in college forever! I think that would make everyone unhappy... especially my poor little brain.

Bonnaroo was phantasmagorical, magicatastic, fantastafabulous--can I make up any more words that mean REALLY SUPER GREAT? Kali and I signed  a contract pledging to be each other's best friend until the last day of the concert (a largely successful attempt to prevent fighting since we were each other's only company). We saw too many bands to keep track of, but definitely  gained some new favorites like De Novo Dahl (from Nashville, honk honk), Lez Zeppelin (how can a cover band of your favorite band go wrong??) and saw some old classics, like Rilo Kiley, Jack Johnson, and (Kali's favorite) Death Cab for Cutie. We got offered shroom milkshakes: "Hey, pretty ladies. You want some shrooms?" "Um, nah, no thanks (from Kali)" Me: "No. Do you even have a blender?" Boys: "No, but we'll find one." (Kali was baffled by my practicality in the midst of hilarity.)

So, after Bonnaroo I hitched a ride with the sis back to Elon to move into my "new" house and start the internship working as a camp counselor and garden intern at the Center for Education, Imagination and the Natural World at Timberlake Farm. 

Oh, the internship. 

I'm having a great time:) Since I've come to college and been to busy to babysit, I have suffered tremendously from child-deficit. Now I'm happy in the presence of 13 5-7 year old children at Make New Friends camp! One of my favorite little boys, Owen, told me I was like a "big boy" since I am--at least a tiny bit--bigger than the 5 year olds. I asked him if he meant big girl and he did, but I think it's a funny little quote. I was thinking about that show Kids Say the Darnedest Things, and (yes, this was during internship time, I fail) I could not for the life of me figure out how to spell darnedest. Darnest? Durndest? Aahhhh, so this is how I occupy my time....

The job description of my internship is to help out where needed, basically. I'm working with Scott and Sandy (who have both been working in this field for years, if not decades!), and find myself holding baby hands, creek wading, picking flowers, cutting fruit for snack, attempting to get wee ones to listen to directions, and cleaning up after the end of the day. Energetically draining, but worth it in the end to take home some adorable artwork for my fridge, and some great compliments like "Your skin is soft like my Mommy's" from Ellie, and Natalie's "Are you married?" "No." "Are you married?" "No, Natalie, I'm not." "Are you married?" "Yes, just got married a minute ago." "YAY, you're married to me!!"

Week 2 of the internship was a camp called Exploring Secret Places for 12 8-10 year olds. You guessed it, there was a 10 year old girl as tall as me! I'm a little worried about week 4 when I'll be with 11-13 year olds.... Anyway, the reward was at the end, Ellie wanted a picture with me and Grace asked excitedly if I was coming back next year:)

In the creek we found lots of water striders, a few crawdads, and lots of MUD (glorious mud, you should hear the kids' song!) We didn't see many salamanders for Salamandra (Sandy's new name), but we did see several turtles, and some turtle eggs that were all broken and hatched into adorable bebe turtlees (which we did not see). We hiked through the woods, made our own poison ivy remedy spray (by boiling jewelweed), made mint tea and lemon balm tea, and built additions/ put a roof on the Woodland Haven from last year!

great times, I'm sleepy. Finishing my online Economics class this week, spending a few hours every morning in the garden while it's cool(er), then headed to University of VA this weekend for a ragin' good time on the 4th of July. And all weekend after that:)

Test*Test*

Hey, just making sure this works: I'm home in TN for a few weeks before I head back to NC for the summer, just hanging out with the family and friends while I'm home.

Starting to get excited about Costa Rica and Ghana, but I've got a few events that are a little closer in the future. Tomorrow I head to the beach for a week with the fam, then another birthday while I'm home, a weekend at Bonnaroo Music Festival with my twin sister, then back to NC for the summer internship at the Center for Education, Imagination and the Natural World. 

I'll keep you updated on all things exciting in the life of Mica and will post links to some pictures of my life. Enjoy your days :)