"The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."         —Walter Bagehot (1826 - 1877)

FARM REPORT - Hey, the hay's in. Thanks to all the brutes who helped lift those bales. And welcome to 5 new calves! At last, Charlotte the Pig got a bath. About time!
MILL REPORT - So far in A Session: 86 trout, 33 pounds of cornmeal, 15 pounds of grits, 16 pounds of chicken feed and 12 gallons of ice cream have been created. Way to go!

THE TAJAR'S TEA PARTY

     THE GREEN - If you were at Breakfast this morning, you already know something strange is happening. Did you see the paddles on the Green?
     And what was RB doing sleeping on a table?! 
    This sounds like the work of the Tajar, so let's celebrate with a tea party. And you're invited!
     Word has it that a very famous magician will be on our Gwynn Valley stage this evening. The Great Shazam from North Dakota, (a state with magic of its own!), will be here, plus a lot of other fun things, too. And maybe you'll even see the Tajar!

A TAJAR REPORT

     THE OWL'S NEST - by Margaret Vaughn, Age 6, Playhouse - The Tajar is part tiger, part jaguar and part badger. The Tajar used to have a long tail. He ripped it off when the Tajar was at a cabin with nails in it. It didn't hurt him because it was magic.
     He loves to hide. You may find him under the camp, on a branch or walking around
.    If you see the Tajar, please bring him to me so I can see him and draw a pictures of him.
     He sounds cool!

WHAT WE SAW AT THE FARM

     THE FARM - article and artwork by Emily Cahill, Age 10, Dancing Waters - On Tuesday we went to the Farm. We saw a pregnant pig, chickens, roosters and barn swallows.
     There also was a few cats.
     We milked Shaggy the Goat and Sally the Cow. We also fed baby cows and picked vegetables.

ALL ABOUT THE TAJAR

     THE OWL'S NEST - by Amelia Schneider, Age 8, Peter Pan - The Tajar is part badger, part jaguar and part tiger.
      He likes to dance in the moon light and he swings in the trees. He also likes to do tricks on people, write notes to campers and to take care of the world. Well, at least I think so!     But I wonder if that's true.

THE SONG OF THE GECKO

     DANCING WATERS - by Elizabeth Kahn and Holly Millure, Both age 10, Dancing Waters - Late in the night, everyone was screaming because of a gecko that was standing on the ceiling. Grace said it was red.
     When everybody started screaming, I knew it was going to be a long night.
     Sparky (our counselor) said she saw the gecko, too. Now nobody wanted to sleep in their beds. Jackie (our other counselor) made us get in our beds and go to sleep very late.
     Now, this little gecko has a funny name. It's called Agahflagah Fleegah Flagahis Gahnishgah Hagahnogoh Agah Flagah Fleegah Flaghah Geeecoo!

REVIEW OF THE TAJAR DRAMA

     THE LODGE - by Kristina Koskores, Age 8, Peter Pan - I think we can all agree that the Tajar Tales play was outstanding.
      And, if you can believe it, they only had less than 3 days of practice. Now that's just amazing! Less than 3 days to do all that hard work!
     I know I'd rather be playing games and doing other things. I bet they would, too, but they didn't. Instead they worked very hard on the play!

FEELINGS ABOUT GWYNN VALLEY

     THE OWL'S NEST - by Kristina Koskores, Age 8, Peter Pan - It was my first time at Gwynn Valley. I have to admit, I was pretty scared.
     My counselors helped me and now I feel a whole lot better about Gwynn Valley.
     I like Gwynn Valley because everybody help you if you get scared or hurt.

THE TAJAR

     OWL'S NEST - by Savannah Sowers, Age 9, Shady Grove - The Tajar is an animal or person or whatever. Some people say that they have seen the Tajar.
     The Tajar is nice. He is maybe watching you right now. Watch and see if you can find the Tajar.

GOING ON A HAYRIDE

     THE FRONT PORCH - by Caroline Smith, Age 6, Playhouse - Today is the Tajar's Birthday. We will have fun and we will get to go on a hay ride!
     I haven't been on a hay ride but I think its going to be very, very fun. A horse pulls the wagon for the hay ride but there's only one little piece of hay.
     We're going to have ice cream, too! I'm looking forward to that and you should be looking forward to it, too, because it's real, real fun.

The Truth About The Tajar
by Wade Bolick, Age 7, Echo

The Tajar is really mysterious.
There mysteries about him.
He does crazy things
And he makes laser beams!

All because he lives in
   Gwynn Valley!

A Poem for the Tajar
by Vanessa Wilkins, Age 9, Running River

The Tajar is an animal
   that I admire,
It has the head of a badger
   and the body of a tiger.

It seems like it has 
   a jaguar's tail.
It swims in the river
   and creeps down
   the trails.  

A word of wisdom
   that comes from RB,
The Tajar's not as scary
   as it seems.

The Tajar
by Wilson Adams, Age 8, Chipmunk Hut

The Tajar is cool,
mysterious and has never been seen. 

The Tajar is not so mean.
On the night of the Tajar's Ball,

You may see him fall,
but only in 3 years,
   and that is all!

     Duke the Mouse is so lazy. I have to answer his mail for him because he's busy taking a nap after helping Dale and Team Maintenance put up the hay. Oh, well. Here goes:   

Dear Duke: I have never met you before but I would like to be your writing buddy. I know you don't know how to write, but I will write anyway. Sincerely, Your Writing Buddy.

Duke was very happy to find this letter in his mailbox. He said he knows how to write but he'd rather have me answer his mail in the Tajar Times. Now, is that lazy or what?

Dear Duke: It was a very happy time for me to know that all camp learned about my birthday! I didn't expect the cake so it was a wonderful surprise for me. But that night a terrible sound woke me up! I saw you, Duke, eating my last piece of birthday cake. Don't do that again to the next "birthday" guys. Sincerely mad at you, Lina, Counselor of Meadowbrook Cabin

Well, I didn't know about this one! I'm very sorry that mouse got into your birthday cake. I have talked to him and he said he is very sorry and he won't do it again, unless the cake is chocolate. Hey, that's no excuse, Duke!

Dear Duke: Everyone calls me a pig. That really hurts my feelings. Please tell them to be nice to me for a change. I have feeling, too! Sincerely, Charlotte the Pig.

Duke says from now on, you're a tree. I hope that helps.

Dear Duke: How do you play "nick-nack paddy whack" on your knee? I was just wondering. Sincerely, A Dog With A Bone

Well, Duke said the rules are quite long but Debbie can probably play it if you can hum a few bars for her.

Dear Duke: I'm tired of that pig telling me what to do all the time. Sincerely, Shaggy the Goat

Duke said there are a lot of personalities at the Farm and good luck. 

     And that's the way it is with Duke.