Automotive Museum

A neighbor shared a New York Times article about a license plate exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.  A similar article was in A.'s ALPCA magazine so we were well read before deciding to visit.  I was excited until I realized that everyone else going wanted to stay and look at cars much longer than I thought I could be patient.  So off went A., a friend, and D.

This seems to be the new way of enjoying a museum - photograph everything!

And they're off...

probably faster in this car (nice that they have cars the kids can climb in)

fuel cell vehicle

This is THE car from Who Killed The Electric Car? (all the others are crushed).

But where are the pictures of the license plates?  Sorry, D. didn't take any.  You can check out some other blogs here and here if you want to see some.

At It Again

Before the new sidewalks were poured in January there had been work done at each corner many months (maybe even years) ago.

not my picture, but just what it used to look like

This week all the ramps facing the main street were removed.

And it looks like they will pour concrete to discourage people from crossing the main street at intersections without a light.

Or is this to satisfy ADA requirements?  I wonder if it falls into the same category as eliminating crosswalks, which we have been told give pedestrians a false sense of security.  When I rule the world I will enforce speed limits, use of turn signals, and cell phone laws.  I will give pedestrians and cyclists following the laws gift cards for local businesses.

Annual Events

How does one keep a blog lively but still post about the the happenings in town?  Every year there is a talent show at the school and it really is the same every year, but I want to share it anyway.  I figure no one is obligated to read the post so I can write about repetitive things and people can skip it, if they wish.

There were the cute kids singing songs, musicians showing an enormous range of skill, a couple magicians, several karate kids, hoola hoopers, and jump ropers.  The acts that stood out to me were

the girl doing a traditional Hawaiian dance,

a pie-throwing family that tied the act into educational standards,

and my own son and his friend miming (here he is losing at tug-o-war).  He is a boy of many talents.

The show always ends with the full cast singing the school song.  I think this is the first year I didn't cry, but I am sure I will next year when it is our last year at the school.

Black History Month

My son attends the least diverse elementary school in the district so we have search for a little variety, but sometimes it finds us.  A letter arrived announcing an exhibit at an L.A. County library about 15-20 minutes away.  The focus was Black History Month and included autographed photos, stamps, album covers, and license plates.

It wasn't a large display and I am guessing the people highlighted were chosen based on availability of paraphernalia.

I had no idea there was an Obama license plate!

Many of the autographed photos were personalized.

No autograph from Prince.

Sorry about all the reflections.

I also wonder how the person setting up the display got the different plates.  Maybe a request on the ALPCA site?  Or maybe on eBay?

Afterward we explored the library, which was made better by the fact that anything we checked out could be returned to our local library, which is also part of the L.A. County library system.

Like New

About twenty years ago we bought four Stakmore folding chairs to supplement to the two dinner chairs we had.

They looked almost exactly like this originally, but after time and much use the off-white was stained and the edges were wearing away.

Thanks to the amazing people at Oscar's Upholstery Studio (which specializes in antiques more elegant than these) our chairs are as good as new.

Passing Time

I sit on several committees and I have been going to meetings about the introduction of Common Core so my hands need something to do while I listen. Having long finished the green scarf shown here I started another project.

I had seen infinity scarves in stores and a friend shared how easy it was to make one. I found circular needs that were one size too small and decided to use yarn I already had.  I thought I had been careful not to twist it while knitting, but still ended up with some in the final project.  Despite the imperfections I am very happy with the final result and happy I finished it before it got too hot to enjoy wearing it.

I have one meeting tomorrow and at least two next week so it is time to finish another project, the logo from my hometown.

Not a Snow Day But

What do you do with a ten-year-old who had less than six hours sleep and has no school?

 

play Fluxx inside with friends

play Munchkin on the garage roof with friends

make macaroni and cheese with friends

Be forced to practice cello and do some homework (no photo!).

Be dragged to a neighbor's birthday party, but then have an attitude adjustment being outside.

A bit of reading, goalkeeper practice, regular practice, watch a few videos, family meeting, snack, and bed.  Phew!

Community Garden

My friend and fellow blogger shared that one of the many empty lots being developed in Claremont was being considered for a community garden by a former principal whose school was down the block.

When the new bike path was built at the east end of First Street there was one block between it and the main drag.

The western portion had a few plantings, but

the larger portion was bare.  There was a sign about developing a community garden and I added my name, but never heard anything.  I know a garden is a logistical challenge, but I would love for Claremont to protect this little island.

Routes

A great thing about swimming is that no matter how slow you are you can't get more than 25 yards (or 50 meters, depending on the pool) behind the fastest person.  The downside (for some people) is that there isn't a variety in the view.  I find that a positive because it means I am not distracted by cars/dogs/potholes, etc.

When I run I have an opportunity to vary the route.  My favorite one takes me to campus to run around the un- (less-) developed area that is packed dirt.  I like the hens, the farm, the massive oaks, and the always-clean portapotty.  This time of year I find myself avoiding this route because I am so depressed by the wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata).

not my picture since I don't run with a camera

The vine takes over trees and shrubs and completely covers the tree's leaves so it can't make food and shrivels and dies.  The vine produces these large, prickly seed pods (that don't look like cucumbers to me) and the cycle starts again.

Running by these vines is so disturbing to me because they are so invasive and so destructive.  I find myself stopping and pulling them out and then I haven't run much and I get home late.  Sometimes I can stick with my route if I focus on the path and don't let my eyes wander, but that isn't as joyful.

It makes me homesick for Shaker Lakes (maybe not in winter), South Hill Rec Way, the Boulder Creek Path into Boulder Canyon, and my favorite route in Denmark.

taken in August, not February

Bed & Breakfast

our guestroom

Before airbnb or couchsurfing, the local League of Women Voters started a Bed & Breakfast as a fundraiser (copied from another nonprofit).  Local members open their homes to visitors and instead of collecting a fee the guests make a donation to the local LWV.

Because we are within walking distance of the Claremont Colleges it is easy to host parents who are in town for Family Weekend or graduation.  This weekend we have a couple from Boulder, Colorado whose daughter is a student at Scripps College.

When we have visited Boulder we have used the same system and stayed with a family that lived across the street from one of D.'s former students.  It was even better than a hotel because the family had shelves full of books, a yard to play in, and we had great conversations.

Fresh produce

When we lived in Ithaca we learned about CSAs, or community supported agriculture, which gives support to farmers by having customers commit to buying food before the season begins.  In Ithaca some of the farms require supporters to do work on the farm (I planted broccoli one day), which also allows them to learn more about the process of producing food.  It is nothing like that here.

I went to the annual Village Venture, a local arts and crafts fair, and stopped at the booth promoting a business that delivers organically grown fruits and vegetables.  They could be only locally grown, but if you want more of a variety you can accept that some of them are grown farther away in the state.  Other options include fruit only, vegetables only, and raw/no cooking (e.g., fruit, lettuce, bell pepper).  We chose to have a box delivered every other week, but we could get it more or less often and get a larger or smaller box.  

So far I have been pleased with the service.  It gets us to eat a variety of foods, the quality is good, and I like the element of surprise (although I could look online to see what is coming). 

packing slip

one week's food

Freshening up

After talking about it for months and looking in stores for a while, I finally ordered a new kitchen rug online.

It isn't very big, but came in this enormous box.

I wish I could figure out what to do with all this paper.

The new rug is smaller, but it has a non-stick bottom and can go
in the washing machine.  Obviously the other one could not!

For reasons I don't understand we got a free sample of children's cough and allergy medicine.

Sharing

Sometimes I download photos from the camera and am surprised to find some on there that I haven't taken.  Are these the things I will miss when the kids are off on their own?

Money, Money, Money

The day after Christmas I bought some coin holders at 90% off.
I love collecting and it brings back fond memories of my mom's coin holders.

A. was disappointed that the penny holder goes back to only 1979.

Only two nickels - time to buy a roll.

Time for a trip to the east coast since we have so few quarters minted in Philadelphia.

I like that our National Park quarters folder has a description for each state.

Next up, sorting my postcard collection.