Summer of Love

We are home! After 38 days on the road I am happy to report that the children have all of their digits and Mr Mooks and I are still married. More to come...

West Enfield Water Moccasins

have their first swim meet Saturday morning! Teeth chatter, lips turn blue and they make huge strides in ability and confidence every day!

Smiling with anticipation
Cold but still smiling
Spring water pump'in
Kick boards
Starts
Non Moccasin activities featuring earache art

Schools out for Summer!

My Grandaddy's wake and funeral in Georgia renewed my faith in the goodness and generosity of people. Like the preacher said, LBJ looked forward to returning to his Texas Hill Country ranch after living in the White House because, "in the country, people ask how you've been doing when you are sick and cry when you die." The folks that loved my Grandaddy were many and they all came to pay their gracious respects.

Sweet summer is in full swing in my own Hill Country home....

Cruising town
Leveling for the pool
Pool pony
Sandcastle cake

Ella illustrates early in the morning
... and spies a baby rat snake outside her bedroom window
Daddy day at the nature center

R.I.P. Grandaddy

My Grandaddy died at age 96 yesterday. He had a girlfriend, a house with a hot tub and a fast car. He loved nice cars and driving fast. Too fast. I've been thinking about the day he showed me how to widdle a dogwood tree branch into a tooth brush and how he looked like a little boy when he tipped his head back for a nap. And how sometimes his temper got the best of him -- especially on the golf course. And his voice and his stories and his colloquialisms. And cold cucumbers, sweet tea and fried chicken at his Sunday table. His humor and his intelligence and his bottomless optimism and how tight he would hug me to himself to say hello or goodbye or I love you.

The Center
With all us Grandchildren

Not a dry eye

If you know me even a little then there's a good chance you've seen me cry. I've embraced my tendency toward tears and have found many worthy weeping opportunities of late.

For one, The International Festival at Ella Rae's school in all its idyllic glory, where 32 countries are represented in the student body.

Flag ceremony
Pretty in pink
Beloved teacher and best friends
Ballet Folklórico
Attentive brothers
More tears shed during The Grapes of Wrath at Zach Theatre. Janelle Buchanon, A+ classroom parent and "the heart of this production" set a new bar for strong female characters with her portrayal of Ma Joad. I've never read Steinbeck's novel but the majority of the dialogue was taken directly from the text. The language is folksy and full of force. Nothing like a dust bowl saga to put the current economic climate in perspective.

My hero Ma Joad and brood
Last but not least Wilco's live recording of California Stars took me for a teary-eyed ride. The lyrics written by American folk legend Woody Guthrie and music composed by Wilco and Billy Bragg wash over you like a warm wave. Just a few days after this goodness gush I heard news of the untimely death of Jay Bennett, musical genius and former member of Wilco. Our friend Don, who shared musical collaboration and a roof with Jay eloquently wrote about his life for the press and on his blog Greedy Love. Certainly I'm not the first or the last to feel deep emotion while listening to this song, or the many others that Jay Bennett helped coax out and set free during his time on earth.

Jay and Woody

Memorial Day

Thank you Dad and the many like you that have faithfully served our Country.

Fred S. White -- Vietnam
purple heart and sandbags

The Dirt

This special mix of compost, granite and soil is destined for the backyard berm. Mr Mooks big and little are smitten. Big Mr Mooks wistfully uttered "isn't it pretty." As for Mr Mooks little....

gemme 10!
joy + drool = mud kings of the hill

Happy Mama

Mamarama weekend included....

*Ella Rae's gymnastics performance and award ceremony! You rock Hotshot!!!
*Construction site play and pilfer. We couldn't resist a few souvenirs (rebar, pipe, rock).
*Late night dinner prepared with great skill and love by Mr Paparama (farm raised lamb chops, roman artichokes and oliver hill shiraz).
*Sleep in and killer breaky.
*Hamilton Pool hike, swim and multiple water moccasin sightings.
*Good tunes and interior mexican food at Polvos.

Lemonade and Crystal Sale

and other images. Ella Rae and her pal Citlalli each banked $14 and change. Next entrepreneurial endeavor Pizza and Biscuits.

advertising
setting up shop
hearts
more digging

Sleepers

I feel so "home on the range" when I look at my chickens asleep in the same bed. The upper bunk is cushy and warm but for these precious, numbered nights, big sis demonstrates that the bed is too big without little brother.

...(whistling ensues) where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day....

Smash

The original owner of our house built a concrete ping pong table specially equipped to accommodate his disability. He was crippled due to injuries acquired in World War II. The subsequent owner (a contemporary of R Crumb) used the concrete table for art projects. Our gang has enjoyed the slab too for messy creative play and picnics but the time has come to make way for native grass and a hugantic blow up pool.

hunky hubby sludgehammer time
rubble

Creepy Crawlers

Ella's first grade class just completed their study of the Tribolium Beetle life cycle. Ella brought home her specimens which include a live beetle and larvae in a plastic cup. This project has inspired a fascination with little critters dead and alive.

Lizard Carcass
Carcass with Skink Tail

Palaestra for Preschoolers

Cy proudly gave buddy Austin a tour of his Preschool.

Balance Beam
The Pit
Trampoline
Trampoline hair
Swimming pool