I’m not sure if I’m referring to the chickens or the seven-year-olds. But having five chickens came in quite handy when I got brave enough to have five girls over for a super-sized playdate. Thank goodness Nancy H. was there. She gets full credit for this photo, as I was trapped under a cranky three-year-old.
And thanks to Susie for hosting Shep, so the we could book a bit of quality girl time.
There are times when I doubt our decision to live here. As I stood amidst the skyscrapers in Chicago, watching Neko beg to try public transit as we tried to make a choice between our many museum options, I was having a few doubts. Are they too far from art and culture? Should they feel the pulse of a big city? Goodness knows this town could use some more diversity, both culturally and in terms of ideas. There are times where we feel like we don’t quite fit in.
Tom left for Chicago with Shep yesterday, so I was on my own with the girls. As I picked Neko up from her art class, we spotted our friend Jacob, hopping aboard a double-decker bicycle. We flagged him down, and discovered he was headed to the Kinetic Sculpture Race, the first to happen in our town.
Now, I should say, folks in town (myself included) were a bit befuddled as to what this was. (A quick Google search reveals they happen all over the place, and I can see the amazing possibilities.) So there were less than ten entries. But as I watched all these folks make their way down the road, I thought, “Now here are our people!” If they do it next year, I’m sure Tom will be tinkering for weeks on an entry.
(I should mention that last photo is a mobile cornhole game. The guy in front has a cornhole board attached to the top of his bike and the guy behind him is catapulting beanbags at it.)
After the race, we walked down to a breakfast place that our friends own. We got to chat for a bit before our table was ready. When I had to take the girls to the bathroom, I only had to look one table over and ask our painter and his son to watch our table for us.
By the end of the day, we tossed in a trip to the library and a two-hour skating show (featuring Neko’s friends Celeste and Mercy).
I fell into bed that night, exhausted from our day full of rich experiences. And fantastic people. All right here in our back yard. A good reminder that there are good people and great ideas just about anywhere—you just have to find them.
(Special thanks to Neko for having her camera with her…thank goodness!)
Today we opened our house to 11 of Neko’s girlfriends to have a belated birthday celebration. It went off without a hitch and was downright dreamy. I think we attribute a good part of that to the glorious weather.
Each girl brought a doll or stuffed animal. They silkscreened shirts for themselves and their little friends. Then we gathered for tea, complete with cups and plates for the little friends.
So lovely. One of those days where the camera doesn’t do it justice. But it was—you’ll just have to trust me on that one.
I sort of didn’t realize we had no school today. Some in-service/conference/something-or-other day. Anyway, no school. So I quickly texted Marlo, when I remembered Vince was on spring break this week.
Nancy joined us with the triplets and we all headed to the zoo. (Griffin was in school and very much missed.)
I barely took any photos, but I did snap this one, which makes me smile. These three girls, holding hands, who weren’t even around when this friendship of families began.
We met Chris’ friend Chris P. a while back. He and his partner came to visit on the farm last year. And then when we went to San Diego, their neck of the woods, we met up again.
So when Chris P. came to town last week for business, we jumped at the chance to meet up for dinner. He brought with him two bottles of wine, as it was Open That Bottle Night. This is a holiday which we knew nothing about, but we adore the idea. Pick one of those wines you’ve been saving for that perfect moment (which we all know often never comes), and open it with friends or family. Both bottles were fantastic (in my very uneducated opinion).
Chris wandered in today with this lovely bottle of wine, a gift from Chris P. I am always amazed when folks have the ability to put their hands on the perfect thing. The label on this wine is illustrated by Gary Taxali, one of Tom’s favorites.
A big thank you to Chris P. for all his generosity and thoughtfulness. Currently mulling over that something extra-fantastic to send out west…
The idea started brewing mid-week. It was kind of a joke where a few friends started talking about boarding a plane this weekend to get away from the February grey skies.
And then we all started asking if maybe we could really make it happen. And for a few hours, we thought it might. Husbands offered to watch children. We compared itineraries. But, alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
As a consolation, Beth and Becky came down for the day and joined Anne, Libby, and I for a girlie day out. And Mother Nature sent the sun out to make a guest appearance. Not quite the beach, but I’ll take what I can get.
We headed over to Duncan’s house for dinner. The sun was about to set, so the kids squeezed in a quick visit with the sheep. (Which, wheeee! Sheep! I’d have a whole farm full of animals if Tom weren’t here to keep me in check.)
Then there was this great ramp, which was excellent for running and leaping.
And the hairless rat, which Neko held the entire time we were there and tried to smuggle into her shirt and take home.
For the grown-ups? Moroccan stew and good company.
Our district had one of those weird days off to file paper or something of that ilk, so Nancy and I took advantage of the day to take Neko and Mary Beth skiing.
Since most folks were still in school, the slopes weren't very crowded. The girls were skiing down the green hill by the end of the day thanks to a guardian angel ski instructor named Bill, who had the patience and demeanor you find in few folks, but was just what we needed.
(The song in the background can be heard sung quite loudly around our house by Neko, thanks to the school music program. I love when kids learn to sing “real” songs!)
