Because I have completely lost my mind, I scheduled a Get-to-Know-Your-Camera workshop for the day after our week-long letterpress workshop. A basic class for folks who want to get off the green square on their SLR cameras.
It was a bit of a blur, but I think it went well.
This is one of my few photos of the day. I think I was demonstrating “shooting from the hip”, which I think we can all see is always a bit of a crapshoot.
Have I mentioned that Tom is an amazing father? I know, I do it a lot, but it’s so very true.
To celebrate, this morning we gave him the book Geek Dad. Later, I found him thumbing through it, and a short time after he was off to the hardware store (with all three kids in tow, bless him, so I could prep for the photo workshop).
By the end of the day he had constructed a 60 foot slip-n-slide in my parents’ front lawn (they have the best incline for maximum speed). By afternoon the kids had discovered the best techniques for the fastest slide (which is with a running jump, totally naked).
By late afternoon, I gave him the option to go spend some time by himself, but instead, he decided to take the whole family to see Toy Story 3. Ellery had only been to one movie before, and was beside herself with excitement. Mid-way through the previews, I looked over to see her clutching her popcorn in one hand, her ticket stub in other, overjoyed. It was such a good movie, and particularly bittersweet to see with your own children. I recommend packing tissues.
We tucked into bed three exhausted kids who had spent the day with their father, building, slipping, sliding, and movie-watching. Very lucky kids, those three.
I was busy cleaning up the kitchen when I noticed Neko kept zipping in and out, grabbing snacks and a few other things.
When I hadn’t heard voices for a few minutes, I looked out the window and saw all three of my little ones, having a picnic under the big tree, talking and laughing with one another.
Hello, summer.
The chickens moved outside this weekend. Although I was excited to reclaim our kitchen, I was a little sad to not hear their peeps as the evening wound down. And despite my assurances to Neko that they’d be okay, I was a little nervous myself.
So I started going outside in the evening to check on them. I’d sit down, and Fluffy would climb into my lap and snooze. The others would wander around my toes. I’d sip a glass of wine, and feel my whole body relax, muscle by muscle.
I can’t say enough good things about this whole chicken business. And neither can my blood pressure.
Yesterday was all kinds of bad. Tom left early Friday morning for San Francisco. I stayed up too late the night before. And the kids? They’ve been simmering for a few weeks.
At some point I’ll write down the details of the day when I have time to do it justice. It started miserably, but ended well. And left us all spent.
Today we took it slow. After swimming lessons, I parked myself under a tree. For hours. It started by keeping an eye Daisy to make sure she didn’t eat the chickens, which meant I had to stay put. I brought out my phone and listened to my book club book, which I downloaded a week or so back.
And I sat. And sat. An hour in, my mom walked up the hill and sat with me, which you would think we do all the time, with them just down the hill and all. But life gets busy and then you don’t. But today we did!
Neko and Shep created a massive mud puddle with the hose, stripped off all their clothes, and got as muddy as they’ve ever been. And we just sat and laughed.
We only took a little break to go in and take a few photos of Ellery, who passed out in her beanbag chair reading a book during quiet time.
Funny what happens when you force yourself to stop moving. I hope for more of that this summer.
Did you know my father grew up on a farm? When he got older he went running as fast as he could for a big city. In their time, my parents lived in St. Louis, Pasadena, and Philadelphia. But then they began the steady decline back into rurality (totally not a word, but I’m claiming it). And now? He’s back to living on a farm. Very full circle.
You’d never know he lived on a farm until he runs into a snake. And then suddenly a ten-year-old boy appears in our midst. In the time we’ve been here, he’s managed to find a slew of snakes, and Neko is right behind him cheering him on.
They’re beginning to perch! Which is really quite entertaining, especially when they’re all in a row.
On a side note, did you know chickens love hot air balloon rides? Apparently this is something only seven-year-olds know.
This is really not what I pictured when I thought about getting chickens.
This morning I found Neko loading the chickens into Ellery’s Calico Critters house. My first impulse was to rescue the girls from the hands of an eager seven-year-old. But then I noticed they were all snoozing away in their cozy beds.
I’m not sure how they’re going to take to the coop after this. I imagine it might be like moving from the Four Seasons to the Holiday Inn.
