THINGS TO DO AT LONE ROCK RANCH

Welcome to the house that Kit's dad Bob built in the 1950s. It hasn't changed much, and in fact offers a respite from the hustle-bustle of modern life. No internet access or cell coverage. No soccer practice or planning commission meetings. Instead, get up a game of tennis among the pines; relive the glory of the Olympics with non-stop Ping-Pong; experience a pristine, private beach where you can build a sandcastle or just dodge the incoming waves. Play some horseshoes; take a walk; read a book; take a nap. Do make time for simple enjoyments between the more organized activities planned for the weekend:

Friday, after everyone's arrived, set up camp, and eaten dinner, we'll make s'mores and tell ghost stories around the fire pit. Earlybirds on Saturday morning can get some coffee and go pick huckleberries while the dew is still heavy in the meadow. After breakfast, we'll commence the big teeshirt tie-dye operation led by Brenna Blessing. Meanwhile there will be expeditions to the beach for disorganized play, including an exciting walk through a tunnel and down a cliff to get there.

After lunch, gather for the big hike of the Ratcliff property, visiting Kit's uncle Walt's place (with the original house built by Walter Ratcliff). Later on the grudge matches will begin as the 33rd annual Mandatory Volleyball Championship pits the jocks against the couch potatoes for fierce rivalry and pulled muscles.

Dinner will come together with the helping hands of many as we prepare everything fresh and from scratch. Sue Estey cranks up her magic ice cream machine for anyone wishing to take a turn. Save room for dessert which we hope features a masterpiece of huckleberry harvesting in a locavore "buckle" (and homemade ice cream). After dinner (and liberal libations) we will get to know one another in a game of truth or tall tale, when we all (employees, better halves and young'uns) put our make-believe skills to the test to mislead the audience about our claims to fame.

Sunday morning is the perfect time for another walk to the beach or around the property, just so long as you report for a decadent French toast brunch before 10:30. Then it will be time to clean up and head home, or head to the local attractions in the town or Gualala or, north, to the seaside communities of Anchor Bay and Point Arena. A museum of the area's history is located at the Point Arena lighthouse and is highly recommended.

We have a great group attending this year, and know everyone will chip in and help out to keep everything running smoothly. We have given the “help” the weekend off, so all the cooking, cleaning and organizing will be our responsibility. You need to "volunteer" for chores and a list is circulating through the office which we need back by Wednesday.

HUCKLEBERRY HEAVEN



Last year was a bumper-crop year for huckleberries at the ranch, and this year looks to be another.  This means fresh huckleberries on cereal, huckleberry syrup on dessert, huckleberry cobbler, huckleberry ice cream, etc.  We'll send out the foragers with empty tin cans to gather the berries, then sit around the table sorting out the stems and duds until there is a beautiful bowl of blue.

Retreat planning is off to a great start, with Kit, Ron, Brian, Patricia, Jorge, Tom, Mike, Bill and Alison Blessing kicking things off.  Alison is our guest chef, helping to plan Saturday night's big dinner and Sunday morning's brunch. We've also asked Sue Estey if she will make a return appearance with her magic ice cream maker.

Everyone is welcome to the planning meetings, every Wednesday at noon from now until the retreat.  We are eager to know our guest count, so please let us know your plans.  Look for the retreat sign up sheet, via email this year, that  asks about food allergies and other predelictions.

Time to place your tee shirt order!  Please complete the order form, also via email, by Wednesday, August 22.

LOOKING GROOVY

Did tie-dye ever really go out of style? Here is this year's tee shirt design, Bill Blessing's 11th hour entry that launched a wave of nostalgia today and handily won first place over the other 6.5 entries.  The plan is to issue two versions, one on factory-dyed product, the other on white shirts that will be hand dyed at the retreat.  Jorge snagged second place with his cubist parti, and Rob won the bronze with his stately riff on the Ratcliff corporate look.

Thanks everyone for entering, with a special shout-out to Miss Aanika Feagans for letting her dad show her art.

SALT AND PSYCHOLOGY

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SALT AND PSYCHOLOGY:  Fitting thoughts with which to begin ramping up for the 2012 Ratcliff Retreat. 
Salt:  suggestive of the sea or sailing life.  To add zest or liveliness to, to season.  Sharp, lively wit, pungency of expression.  To stock up or store away.  [Worth one's...] worthy of continued support, deserving of sustenance.  [With a grain of...] with reservations concerning truthfulness or accuracy.  Psychology:  The science of mental processes and behavior.  The emotional and behavioral characteristics of an individual, group or activity. 

You will find lively psychology, fresh air and exercise, wonderful food, laughter, relaxation, conversation and quietude, closer to nature than most of us get to experience in our daily lives.  What's more, there's Kit, expounding on deep stuff.

We hope you will join us this year, the 33rd annual.  The dates are September 7, 8, 9 at the Ratcliff ranch, at the coast in Mendocino County, about 10 miles north of the town of Gualala.  Planning gets underway Wednesday August 8, at noon, with meetings every Wednesday through August.  All are welcome. 

Who We Are

It's been two weeks since the 2011 Retreat, one of the more distinctive ones in memory. Fewer people meant longer conversations and more time in the kitchen. We ate very well, from Kit's homemade chili, Janet's squash stew and Terrie's cornbread on Friday to Alison Blessing's English muffin/egg concoctions with their veggie counterparts at Sunday's brunch. In between was Saturday's dinner, an omnivore's delight featuring grilled pork, baked salmon, grilled vegetables, quinoa salad and risotto primavera, all prepared at the ranch by many helping hands. Menu designers included at least one vegetarian, Grace, who made sure there were plenty of fresh veggies and protein options. We ate freshly, organically, sustainably and quite locally, with a heavenly syrup (another of Alison's concoctions) made with huckleberries picked that day at the ranch, served with chocolate cake on Saturday.

Thirty adults, two teenagers, one little kid and two dogs. Neither ping pong nor volleyball; not even poker. Instead there was berry picking, Kit's big Saturday hike over the property, high tide and vigorous surf at the beach; drinking, games, drinking games, s'mores; free time to unwind. There was primal gathering around the Webers where Jorge tended the fire and minded the pork while Art, Sal, David, Grace, Terrie, Janet and others grilled bushels of vegetables. Saturday night, our emcee Brian, assisted by his lovely daughter Aanika, entertained with an indie film about getting to know your audience. More than just a rhetorical question, the answer to "Who are we?" occupied the evening. Brian discovered a freaky dimension to Jorge's tee shirt design which, when worn, interacted with the wearer's DNA to direct the scanning device beyond the office's website to the individual's alter ego. Grace rounded out the theme with a trivia quiz designed to reveal things that matter about one another, e.g. first car, unique talent and what you wanted to be when you grew up. Guess who wanted to be a clown? That would be Terrie, who now fills the "big shoes" of previous recipients of the Spirit of the Retreat Award as this year's winner.

Many thanks to everyone for making this year's retreat so memorable. Special shout out to Miyo and Jack who returned to the Retreat after several years' absence and made the delicious baked salmon with arugula pesto. We discovered a lot about one another in work and in play. Hope to see everyone there next year!

See ya there!

The scouting party heads up this afternoon, so this last post is just to say: drive carefully, relax and enjoy the weekend! THIS JUST IN: the weather report has changed since yesterday, and there will be cool breezes and fog in the mornings and evenings ... oh, those weather forecasters! SHOUT OUTS to: The committee! Jorge, Brian, Janet, Grace, Kit & Terrie have worked hard to anticipant any and all contingencies. (Why is it that there is the same size pile of stuff for a small gathering as for a large one???) Special shout out to Ron, who as we speak is counting the minutes until we are all outta here. Extra special shout out to Brian, who will put his reputation on the line headlining Saturday night's entertainment. No pressure, Brian! The buzz is we will be witnessing a fresh new talent. (Hint: see photo.) Brian will be ably assisted by the multi talented Grace, who is also our official vegetarian and will ensure that we eat healthfully. And where would we be without our fearless leader, Kit? Not only will he be fixing the plumbing, he is fixing Friday's pot o' chili. We are so very lucky to enjoy the Ratcliff family's property. It goes without saying that we will treat it respectfully.

Warm weather and full moon

Strange things occur during a full moon! While we won't be seeing the big Saturday Nite productions (shown) of recent retreats this year, we will have balmy weather and a waxing moon to inspire creative genious if not silliness. Forecast is in the 70s for Saturday and Sunday, with clear skies showcasing an almost full moon. (Perfect conditions for a nocturnal stroll on Friday night.) High tide will be around 11 am Saturday as well as Sunday, but that will leave enough beach for relaxing and exploring. Bring your PBAs (personal beverage accessories) to stay hydrated, and don't forget the sunscreen! Thanks everyone for signing up for chores. We will try and keep on schedule Saturday so we can wrap up the evening program before it gets too dark. That will mean keeping breakfast, lunch and dinner on schedule, so make sure to report for duty in time to get things ready. The chores list will be posted in the ranch house kitchen. The tee shirts are in, the tee shirts are in! We will be passing out tee shirt orders tomorrow. A key element in Saturday's entertainment requires wearing your special 2011 edition, so keep that in mind. We will need several ice chests and a renewable supply of ice considering the weather. If you have room in your car, please bring along an ice chest. And, before you head out, please check the center aisle and area near the rear exit--that pile o' stuff is going with us and whatever you can take will be appreciated!