September 22nd is a big day for us. Aside from being the Autumnal Equinox, and Frodo and Bilbo's birthday, and our wedding anniversary, it is also, and for us primarily, India's birthday.
This year was her eighteenth and she wanted a party. A big party. I resisted this idea mightily. Our house is not big and she wanted to invite 40 people. The most we'd ever had over was maybe 15. Oh, and it had to be a dance party!
Of course she won the struggle. In fact, I came to embrace the idea. We used to have big parties and loved them. And after all it is her eighteenth birthday. Of course, India isn't leaving for college. She has no job. She doesn't drive. Her life really isn't changing much at all right now, and yet this birthday seemed to be some sort of milestone--I guess she can vote (well, next year when there's an election).
Turns out everyone thinks 18 is a big deal and they all made it happen. She was showered with love and affection and beautiful gifts (even though I'd put "no gifts" on the invitation.
I think she'll remember this birthday very very fondly.
We used India's party as an excuse to get our back yard scene all gussied up. I bid fond adieu to quite a few veggies in containers on the deck that just weren't going to produce any more. We took down the last two butt ugly planters from the top of the fence (I've still got scratches and bruises from that job). We strung lights, set up tables with pretty cloths, put out candle lanterns and bouquets.
And of course it rained.
I mean, c'mon, why wouldn't it?
The day of the party was a just a little extra stressful. All that pretty stuff we'd put out back was piled in the living room. We didn't know how we'd fit everyone in our little home if it kept raining. We didn't know where to put all the food and punch bowl and presents that were supposed to be outside. We didn't know how the hell anyone would have room to dance.
But it kindly stopped raining about 3:30pm and we pulled the tarps off everything about 4:15 and Karen, our first guest, arrived right on time at 4:30. It all went fine. Even the pretty lights still worked! And the rain front had taken the nip out of the air, so we could sit on the deck without shivering, on this, the first day of Autumn.
India's shindig was billed as a "Mad Hatters Tea Party" and so most folks were clued in to wear a silly hat of some sort. Others went above and beyond and came with a full on costume! We like that sort of thing.
There were many excellant parts of the party, including the India quiz that Krista put together, but my favorite was the dancing. Our house is so tiny we had to take out some furniture from the back living room and put it on the deck--but this worked out great, since folks would sit and cool off outside between dances.
We also had the windows open and a big plastic carpet (we got it at an Asian grocery) spread out on the back lawn. The kids took this over and danced and tumbled and generally had a blast.
We kept the living room pretty dark, with a blacklight going, our fiber optic butterfly and a candle lantern.
I borrowed Jon's stereo amp and hooked up our old speakers which had been sleeping out in the shed, so the sound was good and loud. I'm not sure how the neighbors like it, but we were all shut down by 10pm.
I had slaved over the dance mix, with help and input from Krista and India. It was pretty successful, though we ended up skipping a few songs. Amazingly, we only got through a third of the list!!! I guess we'll have to have two more dance parties. There were some awesome songs we missed.
Anyway, it was damn fun.
Meredith and Steve, my greenest of green friends, installed a bamboo fence this weekend.
Their old one was rotting away and falling over, but they couldn't stomach using redwood. So Steve found out about this bamboo fencing that was comparable in price (to 6 foot redwood) and is supposed to last about 40 years.
Of course, the bamboo is basically an annual crop and the redwood takes many decades to grow. I don't know where this bamboo was grown (possibly China). But it's clearly a vastly greener solution. And if it catches on, there's no reason why bamboo couldn't be grown domestically.
On top of all that, it's just totally beautiful. Hats off to Meredith and Steve. They've done it again!!
The fence has three parts--the posts, cross beams and the rolls of screening. They put the posts in concrete and are going to fill in the seams where the cross pieces go into the posts with caulk. Steve screwed the cross beams into the posts and the fencing to the cross beams every foot or so top and bottom.
I would be inclined to use pea gravel instead of concrete, or at least to try it. My ex-neighbor Ralph taught me that. He felt the extra drainage actually prolonged the life of the post. He probably didn't care that it's also more eco-friendly.
The fence is 8 feet tall (I think this requires agreement between neighbors) and presents a very smooth surface to would-be climbers. I can't imagine a cat getting over this, or even a normal human.
It doesn't provide total privacy. You can sort of see through the gaps if you move your head back and forth, but after a while they'll have replanted the trees, vines and shrubs on their side anyhow.
All in all, a very beautiful fence indeed.
Monday morning, Eden and I took off for Ashland, on the way to Eugene to pick up India from Not Back To School Camp.
For a long time I've wanted to check out Dunsmuir, so we made a little stop over and landed here at the Brown Trout.
Dunsmuir has some very scenic streets. It's an old train town and seems very charming.
It was a rather hot day and the Brown Trout rewarded us with a lovely and unusual feature--a large ornate grate covers a hole down to a running creek below the shop. Refreshing cool air and the wonderful sound of the rushing water gave us a natural delight.
This more than made up for the awful food we got there. We actually were served a "jaffle" instead of the grilled cheese sandwich we ordered. The first one we'd ever seen outside of Bali. Ugh.
Andy says there's a much better cafe in Dunsmuir, so we'll have to stop in again some time.
We got to visit Jim Haim and Macy. Jim and his wife Katie run a charter school for juniors and seniors. The built a strawbale classroom and teach permaculture, natural building, rainwater catchement and sustainability issues. Lucky kids!!!
Jim was co instructor at the cob workshop I took last Summer. He invited us to stay with them in Ashland, so we did! They have a lovely old home close to downtown. Katie actually grew up in the house! But they've remodeled it beautifully. We got to sleep in Macy's room, with the window open and the dreamy sound of crickets singing all night.
Jim and I got to talk while the girls played and his friend Andy came over to join us for dinner. What a great time.
Jim actually invited us to stay another night! Which made me feel really good. I would have loved to , but we had to get on to Eugene. I love having friends.
Eden and I delivered a card order to Alchemy Botanicals on Main Street, then walked down to Lithia Park. It was lovely. We stopped for ice cream and stopped at the duck pond (seen here), the playground, which had some great new equipment, and the little creek that flows through it all.
I had thought about taking Eden to see a play at the Shakespeare festival, but it was Labor Day. We had a lot of fun just bumming around.
Eden and I decided to make a stopover in Wolf Creek to re-visit Meka's cottage. We got to meet Dragonfly, the lady who owns the land there, and had a nice visit with her, standing in the cool Oregon rain.
We were there last year with Krista, on our natural building road trip. Not a lot has changed. A little bit of work on the outside bathroom. But it was just as enchanting--in the rain this time, instead of broiling hot sun.
Eden loves this place as much, or more, than I do. In fact, I practically had to drag her away. She's ready to move in. I don't think I've ever been in a house the feels so homey. It just gives off a lovely magical energy.
And even though it's very small--I walked it off as roughly 15 by 20 feet, but it's not really rectangular, and the loft another 12 by 15 feet--it has so many clever niches and built in features, it seems much much bigger.
I think it only cost about $6000 or so to build the place. I want some land please.
I love everything about this little place, but especially the stairs (in the foreground) and the lovely loft.
Eden and I showed up tuesday night and here we are about to take off on Thursday afternoon, shortly after claiming India from the camp bus drop off.
Nancy kept us very well fed, with her famous waffles and other yummy meals. I tried to earn my keep by getting her computer scene upgraded. She had this old steam powered antique computer and we finally got her onto a newer model. I got her hooked up with Stumble Upon and Pandora and other web delights.
We had a good time.
Nancy has a full size trampoline in her backyard. What a good idea!
On Wednesday, Riley came over and I took them to the park. I got to read my science fiction novel on the sunny bench while they played and played and played. It was wonderful.
We actually went to two different playgrounds and the Keystone Cafe in between. Back at Nancy's they jumped on the trampoline until Vicky came to take Riley home. Happy girls.
We nearly always have a backyard fire at Nancy's. This time we didn't roast tofu dogs. Just enjoyed the primal energies and warmth against the approaching Autumn chill.
A fire really feeds my soul and lifts my spirits. Especially when all the crickets and frogs are singing their hearts out in the dark.
I love Mount Shasta, but I often find nearby Black Butte more compelling. I always look out for Frodo and Sam scaling it's sides with that ring.
About halfway home, we stopped in Mount Shasta to have dinner with my sister. A nice chance to catch up over Chinese food.
Yesterday we went to our friend Dave's lovely birthday party with the Tumbleweeds. A perfect summer afternoon.
More pictures on Flickr.
Tomorrow morning Eden and I are dashing off to Ashland, on our way to pick up India in Eugene. Another road trip.
Gotta go and pack!
