The Cherry Tree is Empty Because...

Millie's other request (Another?! Sheesh. You'd think it was her birthday or something) was for Papa to set up the tent Andy and Wendy gave us before their move to Alaska.  It's an 8-person tent, which is big enough to fit all the children and Candida and DEBBIE (cheers erupt).

Debbie was drowning in tasks to prepare for the new year of teaching and her last year of grad school, but the fact that she took a night off to spend with these girls shows why they all adore her so.

She read to them, 

inspired shadow puppeteers, 

and spent the night outside with them so that no wildcats dared come near. 

Two more pictures from the following morning, and then I'm done.  Millie's not the only knitter in the house.  Enter Candida!

And this last picture, for those people who wonder what children can do all day without television and computer games.   They can entertain themselves, sometimes indoors and sometimes even quietly, and it's a beautiful thing.