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*Warning: The following content is extremely, unapologetically cheesy.*

As cornball as it is to blog about how much I love the Valley Crew, I have to do it. I’m still practically gushing over how happy I am. The reason? With the help of our amazing team, bitten and rashed by the jungle yet still so jovial and party hardy, within two days of being back in the valley, enough materials were collected and work put in that my entire wigwam was thatched two hours ahead of schedule on the day I was to leave for my time off. What was completed in those two days with everyone’s help would have easily taken me four or five days of solid work and lots of those little paper cut type slices in my hands, beyond what I already have.

One day was spent gathering materials—which granted, doesn’t sound very hard, but it is the part I like the least about making wigwams. Tall grasses for the bottom half of the structure are very sharp and often have ants on them that like to attack you when you’re carrying them. Reeds make you itch like crazy. Fan fronds are usually a good hike away and are surprisingly heavy. Normally, I gather as much as I can carry and work with that, but it’s never enough, and I have to stop thatching and go get more. It can be frustrating to stop and go like that; however, with the help I received from Amber, Ransom, Brie and Ashley, I had 90% of the materials needed to finish thatching the entire structure (minus the crown of the dome, which is not going to be thatched). I am forever indebted to them for their help!

Thatching day came next, and with it came even more folks from camp willing to sacrifice their time and hands to learn the ways of the mighty thatch. A huge thanks to all the gatherers plus Max, George and Kylie who are now Jedi Masters in my book. I honestly believe that they were born with special gifts concerning wigwams because, my goodness, the speed and agility with which these guys learned and then thatched their hearts out was astounding. I was so happy, proud and thankful all at the same time! My goal was to be done by 4:00 p.m. on Friday so that I could be able to make it to the city that night, and I know I would have never been able to get it all done by myself. Without assistance, it just wouldn’t have happened—and I didn’t even ask. That’s probably what I love most about it all, that everyone just pitched in. It reminded me of the good ole barn raising days…only we were raising a wiggly wam!