This is David and Indigo Crone's yard, made verdant by all those April showers. The poppies are so abundant and beautiful they take my breath away. Sorry the video is so bumpy. Of course I'm on my bike and the sidewalk is a bit choppy.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Eden Enjoying The Parade
This morning we went to Sebastopol's apple blossum parade. We went with Art, Aja and Tyjal, but ran into lots of old friends. And saw some more marching in the parade. My favorite part was the weiner dog section--there must have been at least 100 of them! Many dressed up in costumes. A long march for all those short little legs.
The parade went on and on. There were way too many strictly commercial entries, including two drywall vans that weren't even decorated.
And right in the middle of a long line of vintage and antique cars and fancy hot rods, someone was driving a 1982 Chevy pickup truck. That had about 1000 of us scratching our heads.
We got to cheer for our congressperson Lynn Woolsey, the first to call for the end of the war.
Much of the standard Americana parade fare seems so weird to me (drill teams for example) that I often felt like a visitor from another planet.
Aila
Aila just got her new braces. So cute.
She's the daughter of our friends Pam and Mark, and an amazing thespian and fellow homeschooler. I noticed she was reading an autobiography of a girl in war torn Bagdad. Heavy reading for an 11 year old!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Earth Day
As I'm sure you are aware, yesterday was Earth Day. So the girls and I joined Meredith cleaning up a beach. It was amazingly warm, though overcast, with hardly any wind at all! Very unusual conditions for the Sonoma coast.
After our labors we played frisbee next to Salmon Creek, which was running full and strong all the way into the surf! I'd never seen it so full. A few times our frisbee flew into the creek and India had to run and jump in to catch it.
We picked up quite a bit of garbage over on Schoolhouse Beach. Lots of styrofoam and tangled bunches of fishing line and other dainties that could harm sea creatures. Nothing too gross, thankfully.
Eden's First Solo Bike Ride!!!
Today Eden and I took her bike to a big parking lot and she made the leap! (It was soooo hard for me to let go.)
Once Eden was able to ride more or less straight, she was keen on learning to kick off on her own. Then she braved doing curves and finally riding in a circle! Yaaa Hooo!
Amazingly, I caught her very first solo on video. I have it here for your viewing pleasure.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
Arm Bands for Peace
I just ordered an armband. They're $5 shipping included. I guess it's a fashion statement whose time has come. Check it out.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Paisley and Ethan
Yesterday we had a nice potluck with Donna and Lee and their two kids, Paisley and Ethan, along with Karen, Danny and Zoe. It was sunny and warm and the grownups had dinner on the back deck. It was like being in a sunset magazine photo shoot.
A fun time was had by all. But I didn't get a good photo of Karen or Donna, alas.
The New Moon Troupe
Eden and Zoe have been taking bellydancing lessons for the last three weeks. It really shows, too! Paisley and India did a nice job of improvising. They put on a good show.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Easter At Art's
We were invited over to our friend Art's house for an lovely afternoon Easter egg hunt. They've got bunnies!
I've posted some photos of Art's artwork below. Check it out!
Art Moura
Art is one of the most creative and prolific artists I've ever met. He's really got something going on! Sometimes it's a little dark or spooky for me, but it's always soulful and moving. I always emerge from his studio/home with a big WOW on my lips.
Art has applied to be in Artrails this fall (an open studio show here in Sonoma County, California) and I sure hope they accept him. I think they'd be insane not to. He needs to sell a lot of his work, just to make room for more!! Personally, I think it's only a matter of time before he's "discovered" and his work becomes 'collected'.
If you see something here you might want to buy, or you want to know more about this amazing guy, here's his email:Amoura@cognex.com
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Eden Fay Ecstatic
This is what it's all about, for me. Eden is the perfect age to enjoy the whole Easter ritual--finding the hidden basket, the easter egg hunt. She put carrots out last night for the Easter Bunny and wanted to check on them first thing. She believes and is rewarded with a magical enjoyment.
Alas, notice how dark it is outside. India woke us up at 6am.
India's Basket
The Easter Bunny added a beautiful velvet belly dancing scarf. And way too much candy.
This Year India Played Easter Bunny
India made Krista and I our own special Easter basket (with the assistance of Grandma and Grandpa). There were felted bunnies, and truffles and macaroons! She's so sweet.
Our Basket
India was up til 12:30am apparently, finishing the felted bunnies and sneaking downstairs to hide the basket.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Sweet Doggie
I'm not much of a dog person, but this little guy has won my heart.
When his people are home, he makes a little show of barking at us, almost apologetically.
But when they're away he just wants to be petted.
A Visit
My sister Andrea and her new-ish husband Joe and his son Daniel came to visit for a few days. We had a nice relaxing time, lots of good chats and they took us out to dinner at Cafe Japan! Woo Hoo! We visited the Luther Burbank home and garden, which I had never done. Fascinating! And we got to show off our pretty neighborhood, which is looking very lush these days. Between the diverse architecture and awesome gardens and trees, we had a good time.
They also, somehow, brought the sun with them.
Meditation Pagoda
Peeking over someone's back fence we spied this cool building. It looks as though it's made of rusting copper, but is actually faux painted wood.
At The Coffee House
Enjoying a quiet afternoon at Coffee Catz, a homey little cafe in Sebastopol. Four guys were playing bluegrass in the next room over.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Non Petroleum Aircraft
I just read an interesting article on a gravity fueled aircraft that would use no fuel, produce no emissions and would be virtually silent. Just a concept at present, but it sounded good to me!
Monday, April 10, 2006
Bio Diesel Class 101
Jennifer Radtke, our wonderful teacher, has just made up a one liter test batch.
Meredith, Steve and I attended an all day workshop yesterday to learn how to 'homebrew' our own fuel. It seems entirely do-able.
Quite a few of our class mates were middle aged contractor type fellows, who all have big Ford 250 and 350 diesel trucks they use for work. They spend so much filling up these monsters that they are very enthusiastic about making fuel for 60 cents a gallon! Practical, funny and down to earth, they made a welcome addition to the class.
Next month we go back to build our own processor!
Bio-diesel class
Here's a shot of the 'apple seed' processor we'll be building next month. Here they are measuring out the KOH to add to the methanol. This being the only scary part of the whole process, I was greatly relieved to see it done. I can handle this!
I like how the processor is built on a little trailer. Very handy.
Another Good Reason to Shop At Community Market
Last week I set up a rack of our cards at the Santa Rosa Community Market. I'm going to keep it stocked and bill them for whatever we actually sell.
Krista and I both worked at the Market back in the late 80's. It was a collective with a very heartfelt mission-food for people, not for profits. We very carefully screened our products to try and offer the best organic, local, vegetarian, unprocessed, sugar free food from ethical companies.
The Market has changed its structure (and location), but still has the same mission. It feels great to be a (small) part of it again.
Red Bud Trees
Eden in a world of pink. This is the very street where Krista grew up. We now live about 6 blocks away.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Occidental Fools Parade
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Our friend Art had told us about this parade up in Occidental, and since there was a break in the rain, we decided to check it out. Turns out we were seriously under-dressed (just wait 'til next year). I think my favorite was the dodo bird, hauling a nest full of big paper mache eggs. She'd toss the eggs about to other paraders, and sure enough some of them broke (jeez, no wonder they became extinct).
Strangely enough, we never did see Art, though Krista's folks showed up. Joyce even put on her mask and joined the parade.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Deva Luna Art Show
Here's a 4 minute video I made today, featuring some of Krista's beautiful artwork. I got her to play some ditties on the guitar and recorded it with my little spy camera! Super low fidelity!!
So she composed the music too. What a gal.
I used Ulead VideoStudio 9 to put it all together. I hope you enjoy it.
rob
So she composed the music too. What a gal.
I used Ulead VideoStudio 9 to put it all together. I hope you enjoy it.
rob
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