The Clearing

Sunday, we departed the Spring Green area and headed northeast toward Door County.  We had signed up for a week of classes at The Clearing.  The Clearing is a folk school established by Jens Jensen back in 1935.  Jens Jensen was a landscape architect who worked in the Chicago area.  He is known for his "prairie style" design work.  Jensen built the school in Ellison Bay to train future landscape architects.

Today, people come to take classes such as weaving, painting, woodcarving, writing or exploring nature.  You can take a workshop for a day or spend an entire week.  There are charming cabins on the property and a beautiful lodge where students can gather and all meals are served.  There are no T.V.'s and limited wifi service.  At The Clearing you go to "clear" your mind.
   

We stayed here in the professor's quarters.  We had to climb a steep staircase (inside the building) to our room.  Lance and I had a gorgeous view of the lake.

Everyday a bell rings at 7:00 A.M. to warn you that breakfast will be served in a half hour.  After we are seated one of the five staff members who help to run the school, or the teachers they have hired for the week, present a short reading.  

Each breakfast begins with a warm bowl of oatmeal and an assortment of toppings...some kind of fruit, brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon and milk.  Then, depending on the day, we would be severed eggs, potatoes, bacon, pancakes, etc.  What a feast!  Our lunches and suppers where equally delightful.  It was truthfully some of the best cooking I have ever tasted.  All the meals were hearty, flavorful, and filling.  I heard from one guest that some people come just for the food that they serve.

Every meal people would sit someplace new so they could meet the other guests and learn about what they were doing in their classes.  I think that was my favorite part...talking and sharing with the other guests.  Speaking of guests, 80% of the people return...some of them have come for the last 20 or more years. The majority are women, but there were some men present as well.

 Lance and I took a class called, "The Winds of Change."  We had 8 students in our class and our fearless leader, Deb.  We spent part of each day outside exploring nature and seeing some beautiful sights in Door County.  We also viewed videos, heard readings, held discussions, and wrote reflections.

Here are 7 of the 8 students in our class.  From left to right is...Herman, John, Roberta, Leigh, Deb and Gail.  Standing behind the first row is Lance and me.  Unfortunately, Cliff missed being in the photo.

This is a picture of Deb, our teacher, and Lance.

On Wednesday, a terrible storm blew into town.  The entire area lost power for about 2 and a half hours.  No problem...we just lit some candles and carried on.  The lights were back on before we went to sleep.  When we awoke, summer was gone and fall had arrived to take it's place.

Thursday we had the afternoon off and took advantage by going to see some friends who were staying at a farm house near Egg Harbor.  We all went for dinner together and saw a play in Fish Creek.

This was also the day that Lance started to have some problems with his tooth.  He called his dentist to get some medication, but by Thursday evening he was in a lot of pain and the meds weren't helping.  Friday morning we finally found a dentist to check out the situation.  They began the first steps of a root canal, but he will need follow-up work when we return from California.  We just have to hope he makes it through next week.  

Friday night everyone gathered at the school house for "show and tell."  The painters talked about what they had learned and displayed their work...

and the weavers explained the process of weaving and showed what they had achieved.

Our class also presented a short program and video.  In addition, there were several people who came for independent study and they talked about their projects.   Afterward, we all gathered at the lodge for punch and cake.

On Saturday we ate our final breakfast and said, "good bye" to all our new friends.

Lance and I loved The Clearing.  We met some wonderful people and had a great time.  Perhaps we will return some day.  I hope so.  

We are taking two days to re-group in Milwaukee, and then we are off to California.   When we return it will be time for the Milwaukee Film Festival.  Retirement sure is great!