A Break from Cookies

We still have one more week before the end of the cookie sale, but Elise's troop decided to take a much-needed break from cookie booths this weekend. They signed up for the Scouting Out Tryon Palace Girl Scout event in New Bern, NC.  I agreed to go along as a chaperone. Younger Girl Scout sisters were invited as well, so I brought Nina along. I always seem to sign up for these events thinking they sound fun at the time. Then, as the date approaches, I start to dread the long drive, squealing girls, inevitable squabbles, and lack of sleep. I always end up having fun though, so I need to get over the dread. This trip was no exception. The drive was long, the girls squealed and fought, I didn't get much sleep, but we all had fun.

 

I think I have been to New Bern once before, but I had never visited Tryon Palace. It is the original governor's palace for the state of NC and dates from the 1700's. New Bern is North Carolina's second oldest town, the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, and just generally a charming, quaint little town on the waterfront.

The girls toured the palace

 
 

and gardens.

 

They made butter,

 

toilet water ("ewwww!!!", they all exclaimed until they found out it was perfume!),

 

and sewing kits.

 

They learned what life was like for girls in the late 1700's and early 1800's. They played games from the time period,

 

and learned how to write with a quill.

 

 

After a long, tiring day, we drove to Washington, NC, to the Girl Scout camp, Camp Hardee where we spent the night. Camp Hardee, on the bank of the Pamlico River, is so pretty and peaceful. One of the girls who had been to summer camp there previously said that dolphins swim by every day about noon. The girls were up past midnight, of course, and the "mattresses" were as thin as cardboard, but I somehow managed to catch a few winks. With all the time and energy I put into cookie sales, it is nice to see and use the camps that are paid for with cookie money. It helps remind me that all the cookie stress and burden goes to a good cause!  Now I just need to keep telling myself that over and over for another week until we are done!

Comments

[SMccoy]

What a great trip!! They'll always remember it.
Welcome home.