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Camp Wandawega

Wandawega Blog Archive

The Quarantine Distraction Project Series No.10: (Is it weird to dream about flyswatters?) .. We always pick up the oldies when we can find them at barn sales.They used to be free advertising giveaways in the 40s for bait shops and liquor stores.The real old school ones were made with real metal screens.Had hand sewn thick canvas edging.They had heavy-duty wire arms.Wooden handles with hanger holes.They would have kitschy names like KANT-MISS & GOT-YA .Weve never found a new version that comes close to the old ones I remember my grandpa had out at the barn.So were customizing our own to get as close as we can. Cause, #StayAtHome Projects In Quaratine.Every camp house (and outhouse, rabbit house, storage house, boat house) is gonna get one of these cutting-edge tech pest control devices installed in it. Then were making another run of 50 in case their are any other weirdos out there also dreaming about fly swatters-(Hope to get a virtual version of our onsite camp store up at some point.). The model showing off our first SHOO-FLY prototype is EarleFor color: hes leaning towards someplace between John Deere Green and International Harvester Yellow- .But he is still undecided for the hanger: leather boot lacetwine or braided cord?Earles taking suggestions.If you are bored in quarantine, zoom in on our packaging on the last few shots. This copy was lifted From a WWII fly killer advertisement back when they where really serious about swatting flies.. More at #wandawegacustoms

April 10, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Frankie took me on a walk at 6 am through the fog. (Camp sure does look different at this hour in this season in this cloud that has settled upon us.). . But now we see the sun peeking its head out again, as it always does eventually.

April 9, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Home Quarantine project No. 10 (In our continued mission to find and make microdoses of happy through distraction projects)-We are recreating little products by finding the small businesses who still fabricate them the old school way.Does anybody else remember these from grandmas fridge?Hard to find the 60s era molded ones anymore. (Most out there are printed shiny, flat and modern slick). So we were excited to find that this little shop still not only makes them the old school way, but still spray paints them by hand (that perfect shade of National Park Brown, sea foam green, weird 70s beige)Custom Made in Union, Missouri from the only manufacturer of molded magnets in the US that can still make them in house. .David is less excited about this, because we had to order enough for a small army so well still be handing these out until were all raisins. .Thank you, @classicmagnets! When you support them you #SupportSmallBusiness… . ( last shot: some of our research aka; hoarding) .we arent open yet to sell these, so were going to give them away along with a few other products from this throwback collection – deets to comeMore at #WandawegaCustoms

April 8, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

CLOSED…For now.Since we’ve been getting so many inquiries from folks looking for a remote location to shelter in place, we wanted to let yall know that were currently closed in support of Wisconsin’s Stay at Home order. (While hotels in Wisconsin are still allowed to remain open, out of an abundance of caution for everyone’s safety, we’ve opted to not to take in guests while the order is in effect). ..During this downtime, we remain committed to continuing full employment for our small staff so they can continue to support their families. (And we are counting our blessings the David & I have other jobs that allow us to keep working so we can keep others working.) ..In its 95-plus years, this small business has weathered devistating setbacks, from the stock market crash of ’29 and the Great Depression, to World War II and the Great Recession. .While this pandemic will be tough for Americans and especially small businesses, one way or another, were optimistic that well all get through this and come out on the other side with a new resilience, perspective and determination.As dad would say : Its time to bootstrap, kid. .So Well be ready to hit the ground running once our gates open back up. .And when we do, we look forward to welcoming back the community that built us.#WellBeBack#StayHomeSaveLives ….Shot 1: @bobcoscarelli

April 5, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Take comfort in the little things at home..@nathanmichael reminded us to do this with his pics from his stay here, before the lockdown. .Showing us how to take notice of, and appreciate the little corners, lost objects and moments. .And yes, a shot of tequila in the middle of the afternoon is pretty comforting, Nathan

April 4, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Starting a hunker down plans list, (since its sounding like well be here for a while) .. Create some sort of makeshift office annex in the treehouse.Row across the lake. (Going to at least attempt to ward off that quarantine 15)Blow the cobwebs out of the Travelall & take her off-road on camps back acres. .Bring Frankie, coffee thermos, flask of Baileys, WiFi hotspot and do zoom meetings from the Aframe..90 miles away from the Chicago homestead should cover us off for social distancing front..#stayhomesavelives @evantsheehan

April 1, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Some things you can’t break.When youre trying to make a home in a place thats nearly 100 years old, you come to accept that many things will be broken most of the time.THINGS THAT BREAK HERE: The toilets, drain tiles, the wifi, our pickup, Frankies eyesight.So we were surprised that after weeks of being lost, this soggy box showed up on our driveway..Look close – you can just make out “unbreakable.” A tiny reminder that there are still some things that can’t be broken.This place has sustained without breaking longer than we ever will:A Wall Street crash in 1929, just a few years after opening.The Great Depression.Several wars…eventually becoming a get-away for refugees displaced by one of those wars (Davids mom was one)..Its always managed to stay open, partially because it never grew too big for its britches.Its owners were families that lived and worked here, and the church who kept it going by sheer elbow grease, grit and will power..They kept their dreams small enough to manage, to keep this place going, no matter how tough times got.We hear now that things are likely to get worse before they get better. So we’re trying to take stock of the Unbreakable things…When we were stocking this 1950s-era display we noticed the brand name printed at the top says FAITH.These combs are unremarkable in every way.They are not bone, horn, handmade, or carved from old-growth hickory.They are the definition of a disposable.Unless you – like us- have a soft spot for the throwaways from another time.We like to think that little things can remind us of the bigger things.Like how my dad carried one of these in his shirt pocket when he was still young enough to care.There is a dignity in hanging on to things without pretense; when it has no “show” value but still holds meaning.This place will continue to fall apart faster than we can fix it.So we accept the fact that there are a million things broken here.But we will not let our faith in human resilience be one of those things that break.So while we’re all in quarantine, dont forget to keep the faith.And keep combing your hair..More at #WandawegaCustoms

March 31, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt