Spring Frolic 2015 {Day 1} -

Here are the pictures from Day 1 of the Spring Frolic at Barberville Pioneer Settlement on April 25th!! 

It was so fun seeing friends that we don't get to see because we all live 2-3 hours away from each other, and all have different work schedules! 

These are special friendship times. Lots of jokes and laughter. ;) 

Leila is growing up so quickly! (Obi & Emily Acevedo's first daughter, 2nd one is due soon!) 

(You can actually see me in her eyes reflection, so cool!) 

 And Eliana! (Isaac & Lydiana's little girl) 

 Sweet girl. She looks like such a mix of Lydi & Isaac to me!

 Matt & Jeff looking at the schedule in front of the chapel. 

 Checkers, anyone? ;) 

 I love the light sea foam wood paneling in this little house. 

Sometimes I make my friends stand still so I can take pictures of their shoes. Thanks Batman. 

 I love the Settlement so much. You can always hear something abnormal: the blacksmith shop, or 4 banjos taking off in a riff or the whistling and crack of a bullwhip in the pasture or 10 voices in perfect harmony on an old Gospel tune.

 Zander was here, I just know it......

 Bubble glass window reflections are at the top of my favorites list. Love the signed upright bass too. 

 Mmmmm. yes. Spring in FL. 

Intricate. 

Bees enjoying the sweet blossoms. 

 Jam Tents

 Old men discussing how everything works in a Print Shop, and a girl's reflection in the window. 

 Dragonfly resting in the sun. 

 The chance to get to see wheel maker craftsmen firing up a wheel. 

 Measuring and preparing the wheel....

 While the fire roars and crackles.

 Charts on the wheel maker's shed. (I actually used this picture for a recent NYIP assignment) 

 One of the woodworkers with a lathe & wheel. 

 The broom maker's spools of thread. 

 I love this picture so very much. Soaking straw. 

 The elderly and kind broom maker. 

 Fitting the now extremely hot wheel rim onto the wooden wheel! 

 Pouring water on the super hot wheel made some absolutely wonderful pictures. ;) 

 It was so amazing to watch them!! 

The Sparlings & little baby John! 

It was such a joy to feel baby Alice moving around in Emily A's belly - she sure is a mover! 

Joel & Jeff singing.

 "Beulah land, I'm longing for you. And some day on thee I'll stand, 

and there my home shall be eternal. Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land." 

The peacocks. ;) You can hear their strident calls all across the Settlement. 

More jamming....

There's Kricket in the middle! :) I've known Kricket since I was 6. 

"TORI!!" I actually helped them out in the kitchen for awhile, Kath and I got super good at tossing water bottles from the cooler to the register. Next stop - playing baseball in the major leagues. Hahaha. "Two waters!" *waters come soaring through the air* 

Well at least these guys do. They rocked. 

Nathan & I found a mystery insect that I still haven't figured out what it was. Any guesses? 

In the chapel....

I stood right over one of the vents blasting 70 degree air into the chapel.
 It felt AMAZING, because it so super hot outside. 

The pottery cottage and its lovely teal windows. 

I loved these pottery herb markers! 

Pottery on the windowsill. 

My ice cream. Everything is more fun with a wooden slat spoon, haha. 

He's always getting roped into sitting still for photos. 

He never seems to mind.....much. ;) Hahahaha. He's one of the most hilarious people I know. 

We walked over to see the cutest little red car EVER. 

Like, stop it. It was adorable. 

It was SO.SMALL. I towered over it. Haha. (You can see Nathan and I and the landscape in the reflection on the hood!)

Old cars are so fantastic. New cars? Kind of boring. 

Cody & Obi (who were both on duty, and were put to a lot of work that day) checking it out:
"Look, of all the dials and switches they could have put in there, they put in a clock. Look, there it is! Haha." 

The cutest. I love how huge the windows are too. 

Contra dancing in the schoolhouse! I didn't dance until later that night, because it was unreal how 
stifling hot and packed it was in there. Nope nope nope. The ones who knew better waited until 7 or 8 that night and danced 'till 9. Sooo much better, haha. Contra dancing truly is great for all ages!

Sweetest Nixie girl and her Wubbanub. 

Hahaha, Leila was crazy about the dirt and the leaves, and playing with Nathan. Nathan is the baby whisperer and all the toddlers favorite person. He just speaks their language. ;)

"Baby?" ~  Phoenix & Leila. 

Georgia, Phoenix & Leila. 

There's her smile. :) 

And a wonderful way to end this post. Oh! Except these from Instagram.

"I failed Astro-Physics today at the Settlement School." {Nathan was my classmate}

"Oh, Barberville. I find joy here year after year."

"Barefoot in the Chapel at Barberville. 
Enjoying standing on the vent of chilly air (God bless the AC inventor: Dr. John Gorrie) 
and thinking about all who have stood before me on those wood planks, thinking about God on Sunday mornings. 

And that was Day 1!! :) Hope you enjoyed looking through these photos and reliving happy memories with me.

With love always,
~ Jean Marie ~