Safety Dip

down the lazy river...

Black Hawk Down?

Yup, this photo pretty much covers what I remember as the important aspects of the town where I grew up: love of God and Country. This Black Hawk made a "controlled" landing a couple of blocks from my Grandfather's place this afternoon, after an emergency light went off when it shouldn't have; no harm done, but it did give people something to talk about.

Heritage

Today, Grandfather and I had wonderful lunch with a few of the other influential grownups in my younger life: "Mama" Bayer (our gracious hostess for a lovely celebration at the Heritage Club), "Uncle" Fred, and "Aunt" Barbara. Although I'm not technically related to any of these fine folks by blood, I wouldn't hestitate to call them family. They play major parts in the stories of my childhood (the ones I can remember, at least!) and always watched out for me just like they did their own kids. It takes a village, as they say, and I had a really good one...

Just Peachy

My Grandfather knows me well: I'd barely set my luggage down at his place in Alabama when he presented me with two big baskets of magnificent Southern peaches. I could wax poetic about these peaches in the same way Proust babbled on about his famous madeleine; the associations conjured up by this particular kind of peach are so strong that one bite catapults me back to the happiest summers of my childhood.

True, I've become spoiled by California's wealth of local, organic produce, but nothing can replace the feelings I have for the velvety orb that is the Southern peach. They are practically the size of grapefruits, with tender flesh that is perfectly ripe from pit to skin. If you are going to bite into one, you must roll up your sleeves and stand over the sink because the sweet juices will run down your arms and drip off your elbows. I think I'll do that right now...

Looking Up

Chloé and Wynham just left this afternoon for their annual visit to France. Computers were down at SFO, so we waited a long time in the check-in line. The delay gave us ample opportunity to stare up at the naturally-lit ceiling, reminiscent of old airplane wings. It's an uplifting sight...

(photo taken with my iPhone)

Les Etoiles, the high school girl's choir that Chloe sings in, was fortunate enough to win 2nd place in both the historical and folk categories at the Golden Gate International Choral Festival this week. Although only 1st place winners usually sing at the final concert, Les Etoiles were asked to perform in special consideration of their lovely rendition of Lead Belly's "Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie". The picture's not great, but the performance was worth all the hard work they've been putting into it for the last several months. Well done, Les Etoiles!

I Am the Eggplant

Claire thinks dolls are "stupid girl stuff'," so imagine our surprise when her maternal instincts kicked in for this lone eggplant from my weekly organic veggie delivery. She rocks it, sings it lullabies, and with James' help, she even built a bassinet for her newly adopted Eggalina... Should I be worried?

Buzz Cuts for Boys

Keeping cool-headed this summer!

Jackademics

Jack is the studious sort, it's true, but I don't think he really needs glasses quite yet. It's probably just a style thing...

Peace, Cloves, and Understanding

Chez Panisse (a.k.a. the Temple of Alice Waters), celebrated the French day of independence by festooning their front gate with this inspired artwork. How appropriate. How Berkeley.

Vive la France!

Last year, I remember, Bastille Day was a long, disappointing day of trying to get to our overpriced hotel at the foot of the Eiffel Tower for an extravaganza of fireworks. Due to thunderstorms and a late plane, we missed them completely. This year for Chloé, it's fireworks of a completely different kind, but never mind about that...

Shake It, Shake It, Baby

When it's hotter than blazes outside, the tough go to In-N-Out for milkshake relief. While Claire is a vanilla purist, Jack prefers chocolate. I wonder what flavor Thomas Keller goes for?

Jumping Jack

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME*:
1. Put new inner tubes in your bike tires.
2. Suspend old inner tubes from "S" hooks

hanging off the garage roof overhang.
3. Insert 3-yr-old.
4. Bounce.
*(James, are you listening?)

Southern Lights

This evening brought an unseasonal double rainbow to the south, though we never saw any precipitation. It cast an unusual aurora across the clouds that this photo simply can't do justice. Some things you just have to enjoy in the moment.

Evel Knievel?

Who could forget the glorious Evel Kneivel?

Apparently, he got his start this way,

though probably outside and not on the kitchen stairs...

Dog Days of Summer

Fahrenheit 99 is NOT our idea of cool Bay Area weather...

Three's a Crowd...

Wynham loves to crash a party...

One Fish, Two Fish

Technically, starfish are echinoderms, aren't they? These aren't red or blue, either, rather orange and purple, but Jack loves them anyway. When he announced this morning that he wanted to go to the place with the crabs and the gushing water, his daddy knew he meant the Discovery Museum. So off we went!

Teen Text

I had this fantasy about my trip down to SoCal with Chloé: it would be a wonderful mother-daughter bonding time, we'd get to just be girls and hang out, she'd love me more and decide that I'm still fun...

What I didn't realize is that I'd be the third wheel in her relationship with her cell phone: talk about true love! In the car, in the bathroom, on the sidewalk, in line, at the dinner table, and -- unbelievably -- in the closet at the hotel! I've tried to teach Chloé to practice safe text, but she was even doing it in the crosswalks, holding onto my arm like I was a guide dog for the blind.

I actually had to text her when she was sitting right next to me at the Rose Bowl, just to get her attention. When I took Chloé's phone away from her a couple of weeks ago, she started having severe withdrawal symptoms, first writhing and moaning on the floor, then breaking out in a sweat, finally slumping listlessly in a corner, unresponsive. On our trip, I simply gave up.

Maybe I'm just jealous. What about that technology is better than interacting with a human being? Instant gratification, perhaps, though it can't give her a hug, or spending money, or keys to the car... I don't know, but next time I get my hands on that phone, I'm going to give it a cold shower.

Eye of the Beholder

While we were packing up all the camping gear this morning, Claire "borrowed" Chloe's camera and went around the area snapping shots. I love her eye for the details...

Everyone Loves A Parade

Pretty much anytime we all go somewhere together, we're automatically a parade. Add to that all the other folks who joined us for 4th of July picnicking, fireworks and camping, and the only thing missing is a float or two (does Jack's bike trailer count?)...

Red, Sweet, and Blue

I didn't intend to spend ALL day making these sparkly cookies, but that's how it worked out. At least we have a little patriotic bling for tomorrow's picnic.

Be It Ever So Humble...

...There's No Place Like Home. That thought was running through mind every time I looked at these shoes over the weekend. They were a "mid-life-crisis-wish-it-was-a-convertible-instead" purchase right before the birthday that planted me firmly in middle age. I was planning to return them, but then Coco saw these ruby slippers, decided they were the perfect audition shoes, and that was the end of that. Anyway, I'm glad to be sleeping with my head on my own pillow tonight. Do you think I could wear these shoes to bed? I'm pretty sure I won't be able to walk in them...

American Idol Auditions: It's a Wrap