4QF

[badseed1980]

So, I finally purchased a membership to Four Quarters. 'Bout time, too, seeing as I've been to SIX Stones Risings there already. I'd like to eventually get a lifetime sustaining membership, but I have to be a regular member for three years first, and that's something for which I'll have to save up.

I think when it gets closer to Thanksgiving, I'm going to have to make an "I'm thankful" post. But right now, I just want to say briefly: I'm thankful I'm in a position where I can help where help is needed, and where I can support those organizations that are near and dear to my heart.

It probably won't be long before I become a member of WGBH, too. I grew up listening to that station: Morning Pro Musica with Robert J. Lurtsema, who had one of the most soothing voices I've ever heard, A Celtic Sojourn with the leprechaun-like Brian O'Donovan...they were a part of my childhood. I still listen to A Celtic Sojourn, and although Robert J is dead, I still like classical music in the morning, thanks to him. But that membership will probably wait until the new year.

Comments

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I've wanted to for a long time, and I probably could have before now, but I just didn't do it until now. Stones has been awesome. I've been six years in a row now. I can't make it down more often than that, really, but it's awesome. You should see the circle now! Holy crap, it's getting big!

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Which Stones did you go to?

I'm not out to try and convince anyone that they should go, but there was a massive sea change in how things got done there, and i think it happened in 1999, the first year I DIDN'T go, until 2002.

I think it's much better now than it was in 95-98.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Ah, the year before I got there.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Ah, I thought that year was an AMAZING year, but, then again, it was my first year back after a three year painful hiatus, and I met great people there who helped me through the pain.

And the ASW work, while not my path, was good, and it worked well, IMO.

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

Four Quarters as in western Maryland?

Oh my, that does take me back. I was one of the consultants when Oren (?) was debating buying the place. Lovely site, but I told him the only way *I* would ever be coordinator of an event there was if a horse was provided for my getting-around needs.

I do remember hanging out in an absolutely lovely swimming hole for a while, while I was there.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Yup!

Orren's still around, but Four Quarters now owns the land. And the place is much easier to get around now that the roads are graveled and cars gan get through.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Actually, as in Southwestern PA; Artemas, specifically.

My first time was before Stones #1, doing a work party weekend, three or four of us.

It's changed so much since then, but the land is still gorgeous as ever it was.

As for mobility issues, I know there are a number of people with limited mobility who manage it fine (but they also have car permits because of that).

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

Ah. Back before Orren bought it, it was pretty rough, and there was no easy way to get to the high part from the low part, and vice versa. At the time he wasn't sure he was going to put in too many roads. Hence, I told him I'd run his first Stones Rising -- if he provided a horse for my use! (of course I didn't even go, but that's another story)

But that swimming hole was just lovely... :)

Re: Hemlock Hole!

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I used to swim mostly up at fairy cairn hole/stones ledge, then float to the farside stony area that fed into hemlock.

My first three years I camped around what's now known as fox altar, and swam there, too.

Brrr!

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

He's put in roads, just not a lot, and not heavily improved - he's still trying to stay as low impact and green as possible.

That first year we had torrential rains on the last day, and NO ONE could get their cars into the bottom, it was tractor and flat bed for everyone to pack out.

Much of it has been gravelled, but it all gets a major spring cleaning once the storms come in the winter and the melts start in the spring.

I miss the late spring/early summer there, because the swimming holes were always VERY full thanks to melt-off - but COLD.

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

I was there in...August I think, to look at the property. The swimming hole was cool, but the day was beastly hot and humid (it rained as we were leaving), so it was PERFECT!