07.31.08
Wednesday concert in Waterfront Park
This is the first one we’ve made it to this summer, but there are still several left, and they’re always fun.
Here’s A. rocking to Submotive.
07.19.08
Boundy Farm
Beautiful, tons of fun, the annual day at the Boundys was especially fun this year with cousins who came along.
I got to play my cello, which made me so happy!
And K. did the pie-eating contest! (With whipped-cream pies, it went fast.)
07.07.08
Sand, sun, and strawberries
Fay Bainbridge was on the agenda for today. Here are all three kiddos trying to get their driftwood log launched. “That’s far enough!” I called when they actually did get it afloat. I know, I know, but they didn’t have life jackets on and I didn’t want to go fishing them out of the water.
On our way back, we stopped at Suyematsu Farm on Day Road and bought a flat of raspberries. The farm stand lady told me about U-pick strawberries over at the Manzanita Road farm, so we headed over there and picked a flat in under half an hour–thanks to my three great little pickers! They’re going to keep it open for U-pick throughout this week, and we may be back for more later. There can never be enough strawberries in the freezer in February 
.
06.17.08
First Day of Summer Break
It was a half-day, so the girls came home early, bearing end-of-year report cards and huge grins. After lunch, we walked to a copse of cottonwood trees and picked all the cotton our four bags could hold.
Our gleanings will be the raw materials for making paper later on (this week, or later on this summer, who knows–it doesn’t really matter! I’m giddy and high on sympathetic freedom ).
It’s nearing the end of cottonwood season (allergies, I will not miss you) so I was relieved to find these pods still draped over some of the further bushes.
This was S’s best find.
Tea-time today was a picnic of sorts at Battle Point Park. We went to the grocery store beforehand, and I told the kids they could each choose whatever they wanted. After nixing a whole sheetcake and an entire apple pie, I okayed this stuff:
Guess which treat is mine!
06.06.08
A wonderful night for a gallery walk
After days of rain, rain, nothing but rain, the clouds skulked away and let the sun out for an hour or two tonight.
As usual, I was inspired by the art we saw. Plus, I heard some really good music: guitarist Cesar Medel was playing something Spanish and classical at A is for Artists that brought tears to my eyes as we walked in.
And over at Island Gallery, we caught a bit of Ranger and the Rearrangers warming up for their gig tonight. Gypsy jazz–it’s got to be good!
05.26.08
In praise of artisanal ice cream
The last time I visited Mora, I’d had a hearty dinner and the weather was dicey.
Go hungry on a hot day and singing angels appear as they hand you your cone. My coconut ice cream was by far the best I’ve ever had, creamy and chock full of fresh coconut. B’s chai ice cream was perfectly spicy and sweet, and best of all for him, they make gluten-free waffle cones!
K. got strawberry and A. got raspberry ice cream–both of them tasting just like fresh berries and cream. Soft frozen, atop a cone. I didn’t taste the rest of the kids’; they were busy talking to a couple of dog owners who’d brought their animals along to Mora. These weren’t ordinary dogs; they were puppies in training to be guide dogs, and the owners/trainers were quite friendly and told the kids all about training the dogs.
Meanwhile, I kicked back on a sunny bench and licked my platonic ideal of an ice cream cone and savored the moment.
05.16.08
Bike to School Day
It was a great success, judging by the numbers of fellow cyclists and bikes in the bike rack at Ordway! S. bit the dust going around the roundabout, but the drivers were wary and watchful and several people called out to ask if she was okay.
She was, tough kid! K. has developed a lot of stamina; she pedaled almost all the way up High School Road without stopping. And A. did great on the trail-a-bike, despite being fearful at first. It’s a big shift for him to go from the completely passive bike trailer to the tandem, where he has to hang on, pedal, and do his bit to keep balanced.
Later in the day, A. and I walked back to help with Ordway Gives Back day. Bright, sunny, and hot! Tonight, surveying the damage, we range from sun-kissed to downright sun-scorched. Time to keep the sunblock handy.
05.12.08
The Secret Garden
I took the girls to BPA’s current musical The Secret Garden yesterday for Mother’s Day. It’s a beautiful production with a very talented local cast. The set was inspired by the Little & Lewis gardens here on B.I. Which reminds me, I’ve got to go see their gardens!
05.10.08
St. Barnabas
When they’re not in my garden or snacking on my buds, I’m quite fond of the island deer. We came upon two fawns while we were walking on the back pathway of St. Barnabas church yesterday, as they were thoughtfully trimming the weeds around a stop sign.
Speaking of St. Barnabas, we attended a remarkable organ and trumpet concert there last night. The church itself is like a little Gothic gem, with its polished gleaming wood and red brick interior contrasting with the blue coolness of the stained glass windows.
One of the side windows was open during the first half of the concert, and one of my favorite moments was hearing the birds chirping in the gardens during Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G Minor — an unorchestrated and utopian touch.
Mel Butler was the organist and Robert Gale was the trumpeter, (such an appropriate last name, don’t you think?) and together they performed beautifully.
04.19.08
Happy Earth Day!
Earth Day being right around the corner, Winslow joined in the spirit of worldwide celebration/education today. The girls and I went to Eagle Harbor Bookstore’s science demo with Lynn Brunelle, who is super cool. (She won a couple of Emmys writing for Bill Nye the Science Guy and has written several books for kids.)
She showed how to make a leaf print T-shirt and a solar pizza-box oven, which the girls are really keen to do. Too bad it’s hailing outside! Maybe when La Niña lets up a bit we’ll try.
