by Stevie Pignatiello, Age 12, Indian Paintbrush

Have you ever written an article for the Tajar Times?
YES: 18
NO: 20

WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA

     THE FRONT PORCH - Today we will learn a lot about the country of South Africa. The counselors from South Africa will be doing a Campfire tonight and it will be the perfect place to learn many interesting facts about this amazing country.
     If you know some of these things, you will be in good company today. If not, you will learn about them at Campfire.

• Who is the present president of South Africa?
• How many official languages does South Africa have?
• What is a South African thong?
• How many SAFFA's are at camp and what is their history?
• Do SAFFA's have electricity and hot water in their homes?
• What is the biggest cat in South Africa and who had one as a pet?

See if you can find the answers to these questions today during South Africa day at camp.

AT THE STABLES

     THE STABLES - by Farrell Scappator, Age 9, Dancing Waters - Have you been horse riding yet? Well, if not, you should be looking forward to it.
     Shasta, Seger, Gracie, Copy, Sir, Mello, Rowdy, Comanche, Ish, Stitches, Cochese, Boomer Hank and Cat are all waiting for you, horsy happy to be ridden. The Stables are a great place to be.
     It's fun and not as smelly as you would normally think. So don't wait one more day!

PESKY BUGS

     FRONT PORCH - by Luke Hawkins, Age 10, Possum Manor - With the rain gone and the sun out, bugs have taken over.
     How many times has a bug flown into your eye?
     First we were on the verge of flooding, now it's a bug take over! Try to stay away from these little life forms.

STABLE STAIN-GLASS WINDOWS

     THE STABLES - by Miranda Battle, Age 8, Mountain View - There are 3 stain-glass windows at the Stables. They are beautiful and nice.
     To see them, look up in the air when you first come into the Stables because they are hard to notice.
     The middle one is the most interesting. It has a horse on it and a green border and 2 letters: G and V. The windows on the ends have horseshoes on them.
     Next time you go to the Stables, be sure to see your favorite horse and the stained-glass windows.

THE DRESSING SPILL

     THE DINING ROOM - by Ella Stancill, Age 11, Meadowbrook - You know a lot of funny things happen in Gwynn Valley that get untold. Here's one I captured. Hold on to your funny bones because this one is coming from Nurse Wanda.
     One day Nurse Wanda was putting dressing on her salad (courtesy of Farmer Fred) and the dressing just wouldn't come out. So she shook it so much the top came right off.
    The dressing poured everywhere. It was the biggest mess ever and Nurse Wanda was caught off guard.

BLANKETS AND COVERS AT CAMP

     THE WELCOME HUT - An informal poll revealed today that blankets and covers fall off more often than at home. Quicker than you can say, "Skitama rinky dink," fingers began to point, "It's the Tajar!"
     Mountain Bike Dan said his covers slip off because he sleeps under a slick sleeping bag. Pat, who sorts the mail, said the same thing happens to her. But people who sleep under two blankets have the problem, too, like Megan, who works at the Stables.
     Tom, who takes our camp photos, says he never has any problem with blankets—here or at home—but someone close to him might think otherwise.
     How about you? Do your blankets and covers fall off the bed more at home or at Gwynn Valley?

QUESTION: Who bugs you in the field?
COPY: Stitches. She kicks out if you come up from behind.
QUESTION: Do you like being that shade of black?
COPY: Yes, it makes me look very slim.
QUESTION: Who do you think are best buds in the field?
COPY: Boomer and Sage, of course!
QUESTION: Do you like being ridden?
COPY: Yes, as long as the person riding me doesn't yank on my mouth!
QUESTION: Are you tired of this interview yet?
COPY: Well, it's almost lunch time . . .

     And so, that was the end of my interview with my favorite horse, Copy.

Mellow and me, riding away!
It is fun!

That's why
    Miranda likes Mellow!

Ice Cream
by Daniel Drakeford, Age 9, Raccoon Ridge

Ice cream is a dessert,
So be alert.
If you get one,
You will want more.

The Mountains
by Jack Duffy, Age 9, Raccoon Ridge

The mountains are high
   some say they touch
   the sky.

They are God's beauty
   they will never stop
   their mystical, magical power.

It's just like a flowers
   spurting with growth.

It is very obvious that
   they are one of the tallest
   things in the world.

And those that are blessed
   are the ones who dream of finding
   their lost souls
   that was been waiting for so long.

     Everyone keeps busy here at Gwynn Valley because there's always so many fun things to do. Except Duke the Mouse.
     Now, the way I heard this story, Duke asked Susan one too many questions. He asked her for a toothpick. He asked her for directions to the Pool. He asked her for a cup of water.
     Finally Susan told Duke he was needed at the Stables. She wasn't sure if that was true, but she certainly needed him away from her. As usual, Duke was driving her crazy.
     Now, my pet mouse is a real people pleaser. It really pleases people when he stops bothering them. Horses, on the other hand, are a horse of another color.
     Well, Duke showed up at the Stables willing and ready for work. He asked Lillie what he could do and she said he could check with Susan.
     That's when Duke said Susan sent him down to help with the horses.
     Of course Lillie had a whole list of things for Duke to do but that rodent wasn't too interested in any of them. When she turned her back to talk to her riding class, Duke slipped into her empty coffee cup for a nap.
     Now, imagine what happened when Lillie handed her cup to Helen and asked for a drink of water. I guess you can't exactly imagine it because Helen didn't get around to it. She set the cup down.
     Lillie, thinking the cup was full of water, tried to take a drink. Instead, she got a mouthful of Duke.
     Well, Duke was more than a little surprised to suddenly wake up and see all those teeth, up close and personal. Naturally Lillie shrieked which startled Duke even more. From what I heard, he still doesn't have his hearing back.
     Well, Duke decided to take a day off. Frankly, everyone else is thankful, too. He's earned this one.
     And that's the way it is with Duke.