We cant believe how much shes grown since this picture was taken. And we didnt know that Charliegirl was gonna show up on the cover of this months @madisonmagazine (just stumbled across a tag on social last night).If anybody from Madison is reading this, can you please get us a copy?? Charlies 10th birthday is Monday and wed love to get her a copy – I think shell get a kick out of it (she had so much fun that day eating all the photoshoot prop cookies).If you zoom in on the picture, youll see the @crateandkids pennant wall hanger – all of the little flags are individually silk screened with the names of the roads around here at the lake – our two favorites are the one in the lower right hand corner says Mt.Charlie and another one that says Camp Frankie – BFFs.Also, if you happen to be in Madison, and cant make it to visit us here at camp, we recommend staying at the @graduatehotels in the Camp Wandawega family Suite, we furnished it with some of our favorite antiques from here, so it still feels like home away from home. Partnering with the talented @chelleko for the #LandOfNod line was the dream to bring this to life pics by @bobcoscarelli
Theyre here! (Finally) Between 1940 and 1960, every self respecting tourist roadside souvenir shop stocked these. Every national park postcard rack boasted their own designs. They dont exist today.Postcards on Cardstock are so much cheaper, faster, easier, shinier… and modern. You can occassionaly find vintage wooden postcards like these on Etsy, eBay and antique stores. But the attempts at versions that are made today are actually just paper thin veneer run through digital printers. (If you look closely at the print surface on a veneer, the lack of ink bleed is on one of the tell tale signs) and – They are not nearly as hardy as the original old school ones were.The only difference between ours and the OGs is that back in the day of the Hoover administration, they would be retailed for a quarter and now they cost us $7.49 a piece to have custom made. (And ours will likely take a helluva lot more postage to get to their destination)Wooden souvenir postcards have always had a soft spot in our hearts, and now they have a little spot in our camp store.We just added them this morning. We arent kidding ourselves and realize that we very well may be the only ones in the country who give a damn about staying true to printing methods of souvenirs that date back to the 40s. Fourth pic here, design inspiration collection weve been building for more years than we care to admit.DEETS: 3 x 5 inches thick Cherry wood board silkscreened one pass black Photo feature is the first postcard made of (then named) Hotel Wandawega, Circa 1929 Made in the USAThe instructions were lifted from the originals, that explain to Write In Pencil. There is something weirdly satisfying knowing that the modern technology of a sharpie marker just wont work on these things.
It’s fall.Charlie should be back in school.She was looking forward to it, so were we.Like so many other kids, she’s remote learning.But instead of letting that feeling of pandemic anxiousness take over, we’re choosing instead to lean in on feeling grateful.Grateful for those in our lives who are making all of this so much more tolerable than it could be.Its the teachers. (That are educating, inspiring and literally helping to raise Charlie virtually.)Every teacher everywhere deserves some praise right now, But here in our little camp bubble, we wanted to pay respect to those holding court right now at Charlies school,@NearNorthMontessori.Its a place where they teach inclusion and acceptance. They teach kindness and math,They teach empathy and history. They teach the arts & science.They teach COMPASSION in a world that is sorely lacking.In a nutshell, they teach the power of community which in turns grows smart & caring kids.So today we are leaning in on that feeling of gratitude.For her school, the staff & fellow parents who check in on Charlie and invite her to remote play dates.For the huge part the school plays in helping to raise our daughter during a time thats harder than ever to be a parent.Every year, the NNMS community hosts a fundraiser to raise tuition for children from low income families to attend.We always donate a group camp stay.And although it’s not much when compared to what so many others give, we are grateful to have something with some value to donate to a meaningful cause, with human purpose.For the auction night, we make a film in hopes of encouraging folks to make a bid on our little donated family vaca package.We made this little birds eye view to accompany this years fundraiser auction item.Like so many other parents, we are hopeful that by the time the leaves are changing again next year, we’ll all be back in person, too.In the meantime – thank you, Near North Montessori.And thank you, teachers.This beautiful song is One Sunday Morning by Wilco – used with permission of our friends @wilco @glennkotche @stirratt2 (parents at NNMS).Thanks Jack for the footage! & @hows_it_golin for edit
ITS HERE!Look what just showed up in our mail box.If you are also a WESfan, you have to check out @accidentallywesanderson and this new book. As he says in his intro (zoom in)This book is full of all of the places that we have not yet visited, but intend toAlthough you wont find us in this global collection tour, you will find us in the three features posts theyve shared on their feed (shots 2,3 5) and in the story they wrote about camp featured on the books accompanying website: https://accidentallywesanderson.com/places/camp-wandawega-2/they even have a pop up in NYC for the book happening right now, (that we are so sad to be missing). Congrats to our friends Amanda & Wally on their gorgeous book! We are grateful to take a little vacation in our heads through your pages;)
At this time last fall we were hosting the crew from @goodbeerhunting For their annual Olly Olly event, a gathering of beer makers, beer lovers, chefs & friends.Weve been hosting this inspiring community of people for years, until this year (in an effort for all of us to keep each other safe).So were toasting yall virtually, friends – and sending everyone good vibes and well wishes from camp! Photos by the talented @beautyofthebeer
My sister Amy talks to animals..Shes a self-taught photographer.But what I find even more incredible is that she didnt pick up a camera until she had her two kids and was in EMT school, while also holding down two part time jobs. I dont know where she found the time, but she did – because she loved doing it. And still does. When it can feel like Instagram is dominated by selfies on made-for-social backgrounds its the hard-to-get moments like these that I respect so much.These photos meant getting up before the sun, to wait for hours on end for that animal to look right at her. I swear she has conversations with them.Its not fast or easy. The fact that she doesnt promote it, hustle her work or obsessively post is another reason I respect her work (and her) so much. She just does it because she loves it and then sometimes shell share it..There a quiet confidence in her photos – which is exactly why I think that we should take note and take notice. Someday if I can get just one damn chipmunk to look at me long enough to get one shot off- Ill feel like I accomplished something. Until then, Ill have to just keep using our taxidermy as models;they require a lot less patience.Well done, big sis: @amypoturnicki – And for the record, some of my fave shots are your BTS- that deer peeing will never get old ; )
Craft therapy. As things start to slow down here in the fall, we break into the craft cabin and start making all the things. Digging through some of my fave fall themed projects we make here, these are my top five (and one of my favorite styling gigs for a camp feature story we did for @SweetPaulMagazine )1- Sketching with white paint pens on dried leaves.2- Painting heads of pinecones in autumn palette3- String leaves & thrifted wooden beads on brass thread for a wall garland.4- Cut up antique photos into tiniest of leaf ornaments.5- gold gilding thrifted pottery Our favorite thing to do in the world is to make things with friends. It never gets old. Best styling assignment from @JolineRivera. Taking photos with @nathanmichael. Making garland & gilding bowls with BFF @finney____finney . And getting paid to shop for props on the holy grail for craft supplies – Etsy is my damn dream. (If only it paid enough to pay the mortgage on this place- Id change my job title to full time crafter).One can dream.
I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees- Henry David Thoreau Great advice. It turns out that a fall walk in the back acres is a good source of creative inspiration.We took a walk yesterday to hang with friends @lori_seidemann @struggle_inc (last couple pics here of the path we take to shortcut to neighbors)And we also just came off of a visit this week from @nathanmichael & co (thanks for sharing your homemade booze, time, and photos with us).In 16 years of owning this place, we have never been able to spend so much time here. Getting to witness the seasons change daily has been an eye opener for new possibilities & new ideas…so weve been brainstorming and now hatching plans for options to share more of camp in new ways for next season. Apple trees getting planted Resurrection of our 90-year old stone walled terraces happening now w/ a new fire pit.A new (our first and long overdo) camp canteen to build out over the winter.A big flower cutting garden finally going in that Ive always dreamed about. Hatching plans for a dining experience with guests (in partnership with some of our local culinary friends).Excited for 2021 – but equally looking forward to soaking up as much of this fall season as we can before we move into winter. (In a few weeks well be sharing details about our limited cozy winter season rentals & activities).Were grateful for creative and inspiring friends (and for the 25 acres of wooded inspiration that this little camp is tucked into.)
HOTDOGS?A: roasted on a campfire with a whittled stickor B: grilled over charcoal on an old school Webber?We cant decide, but think that this one here may be the most handsome weve ever seen (and we cant take credit for it)Nothing makes us happier than friends + guests here, embracing the outdoors by cooking in it. The only thing we dont like the fall season is that it goes by too fast. And wed all happier if we took some counsel from our kids – jumping in the leaf piles, taking all color hikes and making more hotdogs- any style. Thanks for paying us a visit and sharing your stay with us, @nathanmichael @julia_and_child @thefoodiest Thanks for sharing your visit wirh us!Come back soon
